Posted By Chris Pope I expect if you used mechanical aids such as a hiab you would be at risk of lifting the cover and frame - maybe then you could solve the problem at source. There is not a safe way to do the job you describe without mechanical aids. In some places loosening them with a sledge hammer ignites the petrol vapour lying around in the chamber

Posted By Martin Gray We often encounter these problems and have adopted the following procedures. Hire in a hydraulic manhole lifter these come in kit form and enable you to place them fairly easily where needed, additionally if the ground is soft we have blocks of 2 inch thick wood to place under the wheels/feet, thereby spreading the load. Use a rubber headed mallet on the cover prior to starting lift this may loosen the cover seal. If cover does not move after a little hydraulic pressure is applied then use the mallet again. Try this have only been defeated by one cover and that was due to a tar seal from road surfacing. Martin

Posted By Stuart Nagle Lifting manhole covers, whatever equipment is used, needs a stable base to place either human feet or lifting tool upon. This is often lacking in borders where flowers and shrubs are planted. I suggest: 1) A concrete plinth being put around covers or the use of thick timber 'pads' on which tools can be positioned. 2) After a great deal of experince, the main problems arise with manhole covers becoming 'stiff n stuck' through the ingress of fine material between the cover and frame and the formation of rust. 'Rocking' of the covers is necessary to break this hold and enable covers to be lifted. 3) A long crow bar and/or chisels should be used to perform the 'rocking' of covers, be careful if the latter is used as two much pressure, particularly on round covers and frames will result in the frames spliting and having to be replaced. The method is to insert two chisles after baring with the crow bar, and hammer in until a could tight fit is obtained (mind they don't 'spring' out and hit you in the face when hammering them in!!). Most covers and frames have specific points around the frame for doing this. once tight, a club hammer should be used to pound the cover on opposite sides to the chisles to 'Rock' the cover breaking the seal formed (if necessesary on double triagle heavy duty covers a sledge hammer can be used). on the cover and bared further if necessary and chiseled again until the seal is broken. 4) Of all lifting devices, in my experience the most effective is a simple tool consisting of a steel box section bar that is suspended between two hydraulic bottle jacks. Steel keys are fitted through the bar and into the keyholes of the manhole cover (which should be cleaned out using an old screwdriver or the like to remove dirt etc first. Once positioned the bottle jacks can be lifted to take a strain on the cover (whilst sitting on concrete plinth or suitable thick wooden feet, and the manhole cover, if it does not lift out straight away can be given some assistance with the bar and clouting with a club hammer on either side to provide the 'rocking' motion. (Some idiots apply too much pressure and end up bending the steel box section bar. if used correctly with chisles and baring, this should not happen as the cover will come up) 5) Once to cover 'Springs' the lifting tools can be removed and keys used (min two man operation) to lift the cover clear onto a prepared and cleared area adjacent to the manhole. 6) Before replacing the cover clear the frame thoroughly of dirt and rust using a hammer and wire brush and lightly grease the frame with grease applied by a rag - do the same to the sides of the cover. Once the cover is replaced (min two man job) fill the keyholes with grease (or wax) to prevent them becoming clogged up again. Note: Similar jacking devices (also fitted with wheels) for use on hard surfaces are commecially available these days along with a range of other (and usually less effective) manhole lifting devices. This can be a physically demanding and labour intensive job, and although not usually done very often, unless you work in the water/sewerage industry, manhole cover lifting can offer some nasty injuries for those not used to the work, so all efforts to make it as simple and safe as possible for the inexperienced is well worthwhile, these lumps of cast iron cause fingers and toes to easily lost!! Stuart

Posted By Reg Brown Our company specialises in lifting and handling problems. We have a range of our own lifters that will remove stubbon covers up to 250 kgs One of our lifters runs on sand wheels which prevents it sinking into soft ground. visit our website for detail:- www.ashleighengineeringservices.co.uk Please ring me or e-mail. I am sure we can help you. Regards, Reg Brown.