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    conroy's Avatar
    conroy Posts: 2, Reputation: 1
    New Member
     
    #1

    Jul 6, 2007, 11:39 AM
    Leaking cast iron waste pipe
    First, my thanks to those who answered my last question. I epoxied the pipe and covered it with mastik. Still a few small drips but I think another coat will fix the problems.

    Sink drains fine, tub drains fine, toilet is the one that causes the drips. My thinking is that the waste pipe has a partial clog. I've been here for over 20 years, lots of daughters who generate lots of hair etc. I've had the main roto-rootered a few times over the years but this one is off on a separate line.

    Because of the patches I don't think roto-rooter is an option. There is a clean-out cap right at the end of the horizontal pipe and if I could get that open I'd probably be able to flush it out myself. But the cap is on tight - can't budge it with a monkey wrench.

    Any ideas on how to loosen the cap?
    iamgrowler's Avatar
    iamgrowler Posts: 1,421, Reputation: 110
    Ultra Member
     
    #2

    Jul 6, 2007, 02:22 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by conroy
    First, my thanks to those who answered my last question. I epoxied the pipe and covered it with mastik. Still a few small drips but I think another coat will fix the problems.

    Sink drains fine, tub drains fine, toilet is the one that causes the drips. My thinking is that the waste pipe has a partial clog. I've been here for over 20 years, lots of daughters who generate lots of hair etc. I've had the main roto-rootered a few times over the years but this one is off on a separate line.

    Because of the patches I don't think roto-rooter is an option. There is a clean-out cap right at the end of the horizontal pipe and if I could get that open I'd probably be able to flush it out myself. But the cap is on tight - can't budge it with a monkey wrench.

    Any ideas on how to loosen the cap?
    Try tapping it (the monkey wrench) with a hammer in reverse (tightening) and then back it out by tapping on it again with a hammer.

    If you can tighten it in a bit, you'll break up the pipe dope in the threads.
    scirocco70's Avatar
    scirocco70 Posts: 128, Reputation: 9
    Junior Member
     
    #3

    Jul 6, 2007, 04:32 PM
    Hey there!

    I had a similar problem, and I was really scared that I'd break the fitting...

    Things I tried:

    - tapping the outside of the fitting, and the plug with a hammer
    - heating the fitting with a torch until it was way too hot to touch (I was very worried that uneven heating might cause the CI to crack)
    - using a cold chisel and a hammer to 'drift' the plug around
    - lots and lots of PB Blaster (penetrating oil) over two weeks time
    - an 18" pipe wrench, with me (180lbs) literally hanging/bouncing off the end of it
    - hammering on the pipe wrench with a 5lb sledge

    What finally worked? Goo-Gone.
    Amazon.com: Goo Gone: Home Improvement

    I soaked a rag in this stuff and draped it around the plug, where the Rector-seal was all gooped up (see pics in the link below). This softened the formerly-hard goo, and I was able to scrape a lot of it out and expose the female threads. Then, more goo-gone into the threads, and another four hours of soaking with the rag (cover the rag with a ziploc to contain the fumes).

    FINALLY, the pipe wrench plus about another 2' of "cheater bar" and it came right out. I swear I thought I was going to break it.

    Link to my post, with pics of nasty rector-seal:
    https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/plumbi...ee-101860.html

    ~aaron
    iamgrowler's Avatar
    iamgrowler Posts: 1,421, Reputation: 110
    Ultra Member
     
    #4

    Jul 6, 2007, 04:48 PM
    Quote Originally Posted by scirocco70
    What finally worked? Goo-Gone.

    I soaked a rag in this stuff and draped it around the plug, where the Rector-seal was all gooped up (see pics in the link below). This softened the formerly-hard goo, and i was able to scrape a lot of it out and expose the female threads. Then, more goo-gone into the threads, and another four hours of soaking with the rag (cover the rag with a ziploc to contain the fumes).
    BTW, they make a Goo-Gone sprayable gel as well.

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