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UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > manhole help? (Viewed 438 times)
yohan12 


Location: Chilliwack B.C.
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manhole help?
< on 12/9/2009 5:43 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
So i have been draining a few times and I am wondering if you guys have any tips for opening a manhole on the ladder from underneath in an emergency without smashing my head with the manhole

mello 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 1 on 12/9/2009 5:58 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
I get as high up on the ladder as I can, then bend so that my shoulders are pressed against it, leaning against the wall of the shaft if possible. Then I use my legs to push my body up, as opposed to using my back or arms to prevent strain on them. Always be sure that the ladder rungs can support this though!

I have not had to do this many times, but for the the occasions where I have tried by myself, this method has worked.

Good luck

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bonnie&clyde 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 2 on 12/9/2009 5:58 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
The round ones wont fall in. I push up with my shoulder. If it is open-able it will @ least budge. If it don't move with decent force it may be stuck/sealed or something on top. Clyde

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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 3 on 12/9/2009 6:00 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by yohan12
So i have been draining a few times and I am wondering if you guys have any tips for opening a manhole on the ladder from underneath in an emergency without smashing my head with the manhole


Manholes are round, so their width is the same in all directions - they only menace hands. It's the grates that make poor hats. Bonk.

You have to trust the rungs you're standing on. You may have to loosen the manhole. Use a rock or a prytoy. Straighten your arms above your head and stand up into the manhole. If that doesn't work, and you're willing to use a pry bar, they're really hard to use in a manhole shaft.

Edit: I am slow.

Posted by le_button_m
I get as high up on the ladder as I can, then bend so that my shoulders are pressed against it, leaning against the wall of the shaft if possible.
Good luck


The shoulder method is good. Lift on the side of the manhole though, so that a car will push you down instead of flipping the cover (This will hurt, you won't stop the lid)


Edit2: For grins
Imagine the difference in response if this had been a question about opening a normal door ;)
[last edit 12/9/2009 6:02 AM by AnAppleSnail - edited 2 times]

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yohan12 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 4 on 12/9/2009 6:07 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
thanks guys!

terapr0 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 5 on 12/9/2009 6:40 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
most people say they use their shoulders to push, but I really hate spiders, so I always just climb as high as I can, lean my back against the wall of the manhole shaft (no homo) and use my arms to lift the lid. If I cant lift it with my arms, I probably couldnt do it with my shoulder, but thats never happened. Doing so also ensures I stay a heck of a lot cleaner and tend to get 78% fewer spiders in my hair. Also remember to either wear safety glasses or consciously avoid looking up at what you're doing - or you WILL get shit in your eyes. That also applies to when you're standing at the bottom of a manhole shaft looking up. its inevitable that you'll get some free-of-charge sewer fresh eye-drops from the drain gods. who needs visine?

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Loki 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 6 on 12/9/2009 6:45 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by AnAppleSnail
Edit2: For grins
Imagine the difference in response if this had been a question about opening a normal door ;)


There is no difference! This is why I only explore abandoned drains!



Be careful not to push to hard, I've hurt myself pretty badly not knowing when to give up.

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mello 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 7 on 12/9/2009 6:48 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by terapr0
most people say they use their shoulders to push, but I really hate spiders, so I always just climb as high as I can, lean my back against the wall of the manhole shaft (no homo) and use my arms to lift the lid.


Or you can always send the female up the shaft first to take care of the spiders for you


Also remember to either wear safety glasses or consciously avoid looking up at what you're doing - or you WILL get shit in your eyes. That also applies to when you're standing at the bottom of a manhole shaft looking up. its inevitable that you'll get some free-of-charge sewer fresh eye-drops from the drain gods. who needs visine?


Good point, I forgot to include that. I recently started wearing them, and have been grabbing extra pairs from work for my fellow drainers. They definitely do come in handy, even while just walking through a drippy system.




when you are here, you wish you were there. but once you're there, it soon becomes a here, and you again wish to be there instead of here...

we will never be completely satisfied.
ErkzO 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 8 on 12/9/2009 12:10 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
any manhole to open without tools in my area would be difficult. They all weigh over 30kg, so its very hard

trent 

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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 9 on 12/9/2009 12:23 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Make sure your manhole isn't in the middle of a busy intersection/road so you don't get runover by a car. If possible, how where your MH's will exit. If you exit an unknown manhole you'll have better odds of surviving if you do it early in the AM hours on say Sunday night/Monday morning.

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Mr_Fiend 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 10 on 12/9/2009 2:58 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by trent
Make sure your manhole isn't in the middle of a busy intersection/road so you don't get runover by a car. If possible, how where your MH's will exit. If you exit an unknown manhole you'll have better odds of surviving if you do it early in the AM hours on say Sunday night/Monday morning.


Life saving advice there. Opening a MH to an unknown location can be very dangerous, and if a car passes over as your opening it up or already opened it up, you could be in a world of hurt. I have had a couple of very close calls, and I only opened them up out of desperation. Based on how the structure is around the MH is how I base my technique of opening it, I usually use my arms and brace my back against a wall, and if there isnt a wall I use my back and shoulders. As for unknown MH's, I like to wait and listen for awhile to hear any cars that may go over it, and some times I've even used my trusty iPhone (usually can get reception right under one) to figure out if I'm under a street or not.

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micro 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 11 on 12/9/2009 7:31 PM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
This has worked for me in the past for lids that are just too heavy to lift from underneath using my back or arms. Use a climbing harness and anchor yourself to the top rung, swing back and push up on the lid with your feet. Just make sure the rung is going to be strong enough to support the pressure you're putting on it or else you're going to go for a nice fall.

Oh yeah, and a dentist mirror can come in handy if you need to determine what's around you before exiting.

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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 12 on 12/10/2009 2:10 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by micro

Oh yeah, and a dentist mirror can come in handy if you need to determine what's around you before exiting.


I wonder if this is any good? It's certainly cheap.

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logtec 


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 13 on 12/10/2009 3:07 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
wedge your self at the top of the ladder then put your back to it, then hope the manhole is NOT in the middle of a road...

They say "you can't judge a book by its cover!" I say "YES you can, if the cover has a girl on it with a cock in her mouth, its PORN!" if she's 18 and the cock is black, its GREAT porn!
yohan12 


Location: Chilliwack B.C.
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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 14 on 12/10/2009 5:50 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by le_button_m

Or you can always send the female up the shaft first to take care of the spiders for you



lol


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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 15 on 12/12/2009 12:14 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by AnAppleSnail



Lift on the side of the manhole though, so that a car will push you down instead of flipping the cover (This will hurt, you won't stop the lid)




i have defiantly almost had my head taken off by a manhole that was run over while i was trying to get it off, i usually get as high up on the rung's then i just use my arm muscles to pop it off

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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 16 on 12/12/2009 1:51 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by yohan12


lol



it was a true story :p

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Re: manhole help?
<Reply # 17 on 12/12/2009 5:20 AM >
Posted on Forum: UER Forum
 
Posted by SourDiesel


i have defiantly almost had my head taken off by a manhole that was run over while i was trying to get it off


Were lucky over here, all the drains are marked as to if its an exit or not, so you know which manholes will lead to a road or not. Though normally if i dont know the exit i wait for about 10 mins before popping it to hear whats around, if traffic is driving over it or beside it.

Also ones that are in the middle of the road and can be run over are normally a lot harder to open, the seals have had a lot of dirt pushed into them over time and harder to crack.

UER Forum > Archived Rookie Forum > manhole help? (Viewed 438 times)



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