I had an old plumber once who used something like small needle nose pliers and the cap from a bic pen to reach in and trigger the release. I think I remember even doing it myself one time using his trick. All this does is help get the "manhole" cover open. So try googling something like using a pen cap to open the water main cover?
Edit: I took a swig of wine to enhance my recollection. Yes, this bic pen hack works. I was able to get the cover off this way. You grasp the "tail" of the pen cap with the pliers at a 90 degree angle and then the combined tool should closely match the shape of the key hole. Hold on really tight and it will work.
I now remember, it was the plumber who the foundation company hired to do the static test on my drainage side after I had piers installed. He smelled like he had been drinking for ten days straight so it was not surprising he could get the cover open with ease without the proper tool. I remember him telling me that the pen cap was the perfect fit.
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make my own water main shut off key ?? Author: cvcman (NY) I have borrowed the Village shut off tool before when replacing my main shutoff inside,,,,my neighbor just had an issue while on vacation with the connection before his main shutoff where it comes thru the wall...
Can I buy or make a shut off tool to shut the water off when we leave at the shutoff in my yard ?
The one I borrowed was like 5ft long Thandle with a square female end...
Or do they sell these ??
Thx
I just looked down into the pipe where the hut off is...looks like its ony like 2-1/2 ft down,,,I assume the actual waterline is below that or it would freeze...
And the shut off looks like a tang not a square....anyone make a shut off tool ??
The municipal water shutoff tools I've seen looked similar to this, they are available at many places, including hardware stores and the bigbox stores. They come in different lengths. I can turn the shutoff at my water meter with an ordinary pipe or crescent adjustable wrench, but I do have to lay on an old rug to reach down in there.
Although the water meters will vary, from what I've seen this is similar to what many municipal water shutoff valve looks like. The tool or wrench has to turn the rectangular post on top of the valve. Many of them have the holes in the "ears' so a lock can be installed with the valve in the closed position, when the account is closed or non-payment of the water bill.
Edited 5 times.
yea mine is a cap you unscrew about 3" dia level with the ground,,,then there is a pipe verticle going down about 3 ft,,,the shut off is down inside this pipe,,,looks like a 1" dia pipe ???
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Maybe something like this, called a street key or curb key?
Edited 5 times.
no that's way too short and I think the end is more like the end in the other one pictured above....im going to the village dpw tomorrow and take some dims off theirs....I found one laying in the road last year, it fell off their truck....should've kept it
I made one,,,1/2" rebar for the Thandle, welded a 1/2" drive extension on it and cut the female end of the extension to a 1/2" slot...works fine..
cant believe that Mueller valve only turns like a 1/4 turn to shut off !
What length did you have to make it?
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