I have 3 questions relating to this. I have 5 Hepworth inspection chambers around my small garden. They are all identical and are 10.5 inches across, metal and have 3 flat head screws securing them (that have all sized up) My property only has one toilet.. First question, Why are there so many of these all on my property? (Am one of 60 houses on the estate which has 2 build styles, built in the late 1980's) Second question. What is underneath these inspection chambers? And third question. Water board and leak specialists could not open them band where frightened they may bust the lids! So how do you open up stuck solid screws on these Hepworth lids please.
5 inspection chambers
Dec 06, 2016
8 Replies
I've had the same problem with screws on similar "modern" chambers, ended up drilling out the head and not bothering to replace, since the cast lids fit quite snugly on the plastic bodies.
If you manage to get the threaded bits out, I suppose you could replace them with stainless cap screws (readily available from eBay etc).
Drill the heads off the screws
Probably rodding points?
Try a little impact - well fitting screwdriver and tap the end with a hammer whilst applying a turning torque.
Impact screwdriver.
Mike
Muddymike wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@brightview.co.uk:
Penetrating Oil for a week. My screws are stainless steel, but they go into cast aluminium. All are now coated with Coppaslip.
Best I've found - for aluminium engines - is an aerospace gunge. ScotchClad 776 thread sealer. It totally prevents steel bolts seizing in ally - even where they go through into the water jacket. And locks them too against vibration.
Likely to be surface water inspection chambers - usually installed due to a 90 degree carnage in direction of pipe run. Soil chambers are usually 450mm ... to allow easier rodding access.
I solved a similar problem with one of these:
Draper Expert 22322 12-Piece Impact Screwdriver Set
[Nothing else would move the screws.]Join the Discussion
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