Does anyone know of any tips/tricks for lifting a concrete manhole
cover which seems reluctant to be lifted ?

Are there any special tools which would ease such an operation?
If so, where would I get it?

dan22 wrote:
Does anyone know of any tips/tricks for lifting a concrete manhole
cover which seems reluctant to be lifted ?

Is it locked, or just heavy?

If locked - obtain key. Google uk.rec.subterranea

Are there any special tools which would ease such an operation?
If so, where would I get it?

Manhole cover lifters

A google for manhole cover lifters .co.uk gives quite a few results
including

http://www.newtooleng.co.uk/cover.php
(key type handles)

http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/Loa...p?idproduct=86
(big one with wheels, for hire)

http://www.marwoodgroup.co.uk/product.php?PID=71
(another big one with wheels)

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/638-857
(manhole lifter, 4 key heads)

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/638-859
(foot lever)




Owain

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:17:19 +0100, Owain wrote:

dan22 wrote:
Does anyone know of any tips/tricks for lifting a concrete manhole
cover which seems reluctant to be lifted ?

Is it locked, or just heavy?

Not locked, jjust heavy - and has not been lifted for years
SNIP

On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:17:19 +0100, Owain wrote:

dan22 wrote:
Does anyone know of any tips/tricks for lifting a concrete manhole
cover which seems reluctant to be lifted ?

Is it locked, or just heavy?

If locked - obtain key. Google uk.rec.subterranea

Are there any special tools which would ease such an operation?
If so, where would I get it?

Manhole cover lifters

A google for manhole cover lifters .co.uk gives quite a few results
including

http://www.newtooleng.co.uk/cover.php
(key type handles)

http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/Loa...p?idproduct=86
(big one with wheels, for hire)

http://www.marwoodgroup.co.uk/product.php?PID=71
(another big one with wheels)

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/638-857
(manhole lifter, 4 key heads)

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/638-859
(foot lever)

Owain
Many thanks for your suggestions.
I have now solved the problem.
Too complicated to explain exactly but it involved

1 a large breaker bar
2 two bricks
3 a length of bicycle chain
4 a steel woodscrew
5 a hydraulic car lift
6 a mixture of curses and prayers

However success eventually - thanks again

On 27 Mar 2005 17:27:08 GMT, (Huge) wrote:

dan22 writes:
On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:17:19 +0100, Owain wrote:

dan22 wrote:
Does anyone know of any tips/tricks for lifting a concrete manhole
cover which seems reluctant to be lifted ?

Is it locked, or just heavy?

Not locked, jjust heavy - and has not been lifted for years

IME, they're very, *very*, *VERY* heavy. I could barely lift the ones
in our garden, and I'm not called "Huge" for no good reason.

At the first opportunity, I changed them for steel ones, which I now
(some 10 years later) have to change for *galvanised* steel ones.
Thanks for the suggestion - especially the warning about the need for
galvanised.

"dan22" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 27 Mar 2005 15:17:19 +0100, Owain
wrote:

dan22 wrote:
Does anyone know of any tips/tricks for lifting a concrete manhole
cover which seems reluctant to be lifted ?

Is it locked, or just heavy?

If locked - obtain key. Google uk.rec.subterranea

Are there any special tools which would ease such an operation?
If so, where would I get it?

Manhole cover lifters

A google for manhole cover lifters .co.uk gives quite a few results
including

http://www.newtooleng.co.uk/cover.php
(key type handles)

http://www.brandontoolhire.co.uk/Loa...p?idproduct=86
(big one with wheels, for hire)

http://www.marwoodgroup.co.uk/product.php?PID=71
(another big one with wheels)

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/638-857
(manhole lifter, 4 key heads)

http://www.plumbworld.co.uk/638-859
(foot lever)

Owain
Many thanks for your suggestions.
I have now solved the problem.
Too complicated to explain exactly but it involved

1 a large breaker bar
2 two bricks
3 a length of bicycle chain
4 a steel woodscrew
5 a hydraulic car lift
6 a mixture of curses and prayers

However success eventually - thanks again

That sounds an intriguing and unusual combination.

dan22 wrote:
1 a large breaker bar
2 two bricks
3 a length of bicycle chain
4 a steel woodscrew
5 a hydraulic car lift
6 a mixture of curses and prayers

Wot no sticky-back plastic!

Owain

In article ,
(Steve Firth) writes:
dan22 wrote:

Does anyone know of any tips/tricks for lifting a concrete manhole
cover which seems reluctant to be lifted ?

A lever. And some sort of wedge to shove under the edge when you do get
it lifted.

A face mask can be useful too (or at least keep your mouth closed),
so when it slips back shut the first few times with a splash because
the manhole's up to the brim with sh!t, you don't get a face full...

--
Andrew Gabriel

"Andrew Gabriel" wrote in message
...
In article ,
(Steve Firth) writes:
dan22 wrote:

Does anyone know of any tips/tricks for lifting a concrete manhole
cover which seems reluctant to be lifted ?

A lever. And some sort of wedge to shove under the edge when you do get
it lifted.

A face mask can be useful too (or at least keep your mouth closed),
so when it slips back shut the first few times with a splash because
the manhole's up to the brim with sh!t, you don't get a face full...

--
Andrew Gabriel

That's certainly worth remembering.