Stuck Fish Tape

Status
Not open for further replies.
N

Nardie

Member
Location
North Augusta, SC USA
I have a fish tape stuck in a 3/4" embedded RGS conduit. I believe it is stuck roughly 43 ft from the end. From discussions with the E&I mechanics, they wrapped three small cloth rags to clean the conduit out once we removed the existing wires. I know the guys used to many rags, so please don't tell me. The wires had to be replaced due to internal short. I know the tape is stuck due to the rags. We have been able to remove some of the fish tape today, but now it won't budge. So we used other fish tape to determine the location its stuck thus the 43 ft. At this point we have left tension on the tape overnight to see if it might break free. Due to the location I don't believe we can get any soap to the location. So I am asking for any ideas? Thanks
 
Take a blasting cap like used in rock quarries. Attach it with your LV controll wires to another fish tape. Push to the 43 ft location, then boom. It might take more then one try. Good luck and you're welcome.:happyyes:
 
If you can remove the box and access the end of the pipe, you might be able to use compressed air or pressurized water to force it out.
If the rags are cotton or other natural fiber, you might be able to digest them with sodium hydroxide.
Do you have any boll weevils handy?
 
Nardie said:
I have a fish tape stuck in a 3/4" embedded RGS conduit. I believe it is stuck roughly 43 ft from the end. From discussions with the E&I mechanics, they wrapped three small cloth rags to clean the conduit out once we removed the existing wires. I know the guys used to many rags, so please don't tell me. The wires had to be replaced due to internal short. I know the tape is stuck due to the rags. We have been able to remove some of the fish tape today, but now it won't budge. So we used other fish tape to determine the location its stuck thus the 43 ft. At this point we have left tension on the tape overnight to see if it might break free. Due to the location I don't believe we can get any soap to the location. So I am asking for any ideas? Thanks
Click to expand...

pour some of this in. leave it a day or so. it migrates thru the pipe. there is probably corrosion
in the pipe, and the rags have dry packed the fish tape. use a lot of the goop. fill up the pipe.
a handful won't get it.

https://www.polywater.com/product/polywater-cablefree-loosener-cable-removal-aid/

you need a fish tape puller, and a come along. i've also cut off the fish tape, made an eye,
and pulled it out with a come along.
 
Nardie said:
I have a fish tape stuck in a 3/4" embedded RGS conduit. I believe it is stuck roughly 43 ft from the end. From discussions with the E&I mechanics, they wrapped three small cloth rags to clean the conduit out once we removed the existing wires. I know the guys used to many rags, so please don't tell me. The wires had to be replaced due to internal short. I know the tape is stuck due to the rags. We have been able to remove some of the fish tape today, but now it won't budge. So we used other fish tape to determine the location its stuck thus the 43 ft. At this point we have left tension on the tape overnight to see if it might break free. Due to the location I don't believe we can get any soap to the location. So I am asking for any ideas? Thanks
Click to expand...

You need to put something in the conduit to dissolve the rags... I can't remember what we used to dissolve concrete but that is the tack I would take. If you break the fish tape, all bets are off. Now it's Dig up the pipe, cut a section out, remove and repair...
 
How far is the clog from the other end? A real jam is often best cleared by reversing the force when possible.
 
Dissolving rags would be great, I've never tried it

I'd push another fish tape in from the other end with whatever hooks I could improvise, and try to hang the rags and pull back toward the end the rags entered from, hoping to tear pieces off and pull out and eventually have less jammed
 
readydave8 said:
Dissolving rags would be great, I've never tried it

I'd push another fish tape in from the other end with whatever hooks I could improvise, and try to hang the rags and pull back toward the end the rags entered from, hoping to tear pieces off and pull out and eventually have less jammed
Click to expand...

I think we used pool acid to dissolve concrete in the pipe — Apply and leave overnight. The last resort to a problem. Rags should be easier to dissolve... Then, we would clean it out, WITH RAGS! This time, not too many rags...

Since it's 40 plus feet, you cant use a drill and piece of the snake to roto the stuff out. Concrete a few feet away from the 90 we would cut a part of the snake and attach to a drill. Drill the material out.
 
Gary11734 said:
I think we used pool acid to dissolve concrete in the pipe — Apply and leave overnight. The last resort to a problem. Rags should be easier to dissolve... Then, we would clean it out, WITH RAGS! This time, not too many rags...

Since it's 40 plus feet, you cant use a drill and piece of the snake to roto the stuff out. Concrete a few feet away from the 90 we would cut a part of the snake and attach to a drill. Drill the material out.
Click to expand...

I'd be *really* hesitant to put acid in the pipe. Muriatic acid is terrible stuff and without being able to flush the pipe out afterwards i'm afraid you'll end up with a caustic slimy mess. Not to mention what residual acid could do to the insulation on the conductors when you pull new ones in. Im not sure it would even dissolve rags.

I'd be tempted to try the power drain snake as someone else suggested. See if you can't get it to tear up or dislodge the rag. The compressed air isn't a bad idea either if you can get a good seal and aren't at risk if having something explode and injure someone.
 
Andy1845c said:
I'd be *really* hesitant to put acid in the pipe. Muriatic acid is terrible stuff and without being able to flush the pipe out afterwards i'm afraid you'll end up with a caustic slimy mess. Not to mention what residual acid could do to the insulation on the conductors when you pull new ones in. Im not sure it would even dissolve rags.

I'd be tempted to try the power drain snake as someone else suggested. See if you can't get it to tear up or dislodge the rag. The compressed air isn't a bad idea either if you can get a good seal and aren't at risk if having something explode and injure someone.
Click to expand...

Yeah, last resort. But, It got us out of a jam a couple of times...

Good luck with the problem
 
coca cola will dissolve concrete. well, slag and the mud that ends up in our pipes.. as far as fish tape, when the lead end opens up and jams (for instance 9/16'' of the bent leader is trying to open in a 3/4" pipe) cut it and chuck it in your strongest drill. the only proplem with trying to pull it free with great force, it can hook in the pvc, break and stay in there..
 
well heck...yoink it then. i really do try to read things carefully.. I think most of these issues (rags aside) stem from cutting the factory leader and just bending a quickie leader with tape... just sharing a prognosis of what is mechanically screwing up in the pipe.

and ill pretend to be the boss for a second.. "why did we run rgc the whole way?!"
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top