Sewer/Drain Pipe Rooters

[ultrarunner]

I'm looking at buying a year old Spartan 300 Sewer/Drain Cleaner. It's a commercial model made for rooting 3 to 6" lines and comes with 150' of .55 Magnum Cable.

Anything I should look for... has anyone used one?

 

[450EXC]

Did you buy it ?

I have never used a Spartan but I don't think they are top of the line machines.

1/2" cable is normally for 2" - 3" and 5/8" cable can be used in 4", so it is really 2-4" machine.

Being only one year old it should be in good shape. May have to replace cable if it is worn out or kinked. Maybe bearings on power feed.

 

[ultrarunner]

I decided to go ahead and take a chance.

Spartan Tool has been around since 1943 and the unit is made in USA. The Magnum cable has an inner-core for strength and flexibility... at double the price of the larger, non inner-core variety. Also, individual parts are readily available.

Spartan does have a much heavier 1065 model for drains up to 10".

If it pans out... I will have saved about 30% by buying used. My local dealer would not budge on price and wanted me to pay freight in addition to full retail.

 

[450EXC]

Yee-Ha, New sewer machine.

30 % off sounds good. Like you said, I think full retail + frieght is the norm.

I have never been a big fan of innercore. Is she in good shape, ready to roll ?
Are you using it for bussiness or rental property or something ?

 

[ultrarunner]

Yes to all of the above... but primarily for rental property and ocasionally for the Hospital where I work. I've never needed a rooter for any place that I've lived.

All of the rentals have cast iron under the buildings which transition to buried 1920's clay tile to the street.

I firmly believe at least 80% of lateral line blockages are caused by tenants with 99.9% of in home blockages are tenant caused.

My one exception is a property built in 1955 with 400' of Orangeberg sewer line... looks like rolled tar paper. I'm working with my neighbor, we share part of the line, to use my BX23 to run a new ABS. The estimate to do a trench-less replacement for my portion was more than I paid for my BX23 new.

Latest case was last a blockage last Sunday. Called Mike my regular rooter guy. He pulled up two hypodermic syringes along with a wad of "Hygiene" products.

Mike is a great guy, almost one of the family... at least I see him more than I see some members of my family. He's almost 70 and starting to slow down and looking to retire out of California any day now.

I went with Spartan because he swears by them and not at them!!! The 300 is the machine he uses most for my jobs. He also has a 1065 model for big jobs.

I expect it will take at least a week before my machine arrives...

Thanks for you help.

 

[450EXC]

Are you sure you'r not on the East coast.

Same thing out here, C.I. to tile, Orangeburg used on most everything built in the late 50's and 60's. I refer to it as really good cardboard.

Lines change to 5" tile out here though, we squeeze down 6" blades from the 4" co to scrape the 5". So you and Mike run 1/2" for house laterals ? What size blades ?

Might as well buy a camera also. I think you can get a basic one pretty cheap now.

 

[ultrarunner]

Everything I deal with is in the Oakland City limits.

Mike only uses the .55 Magnum cable. He says it gives him the best performance and the drum will hold 100' with magnum vs 50 or 75' of the larger cable.

http://www.spartantool.com/images/product_images/cable-end-options.jpg

He usually starts with a small "Spade" to get the blockage moving and then switches to a "Double Cut?" blade.

I've also managed property with cement/asbestos to the street...

I think orangeberg was only approved for a few years in the 50's and I only have run into it once.

I'm slowly converting over to ABS. Had a lot of trouble with under house Cast Iron being eaten away with tenants pouring bottled acid down the drain. The acid leaves 100's of pin holes in the cast iron.

Inside the house, my biggest problems are cooking grease down the drain and q-tips that dam the toilet paper just before the wax ring

Outside, my biggest problem is hygiene products, disposable toilet brush scrubbers and baby wipes and paper towels. Recently, I've been finding syringes and glass crack pipes too.

 

[450EXC]

Yea, tenents are great. I only own one rental house so its not so bad for me.

I run 3/4 or 11/16" cable and finish the job with full size blades scraping the pipe wall. The cleaner you can get it the longer it will go to the next plug up.

Good luck with the new machine, feel free to ask if you run into a tough one or repeat offender. Bonus points to Mike too for still going at 70 years old.

 

[ultrarunner]

Update... It's been a month now and I've already used my sewer rooter several times...

Christmas morning I got a frantic call from my renter at a duplex I own with my brother... she tells me all the drains are backing up and she has the whole family coming for Christmas Dinner. I know sooner hang up the phone and the other tenant is calling with the same problem.

Normally, I would have had to scramble and pay big money if I could even get someone out on a Holiday.

I told them not to worry and that I will be there in 20 minutes...

I arrive, check the clean out and see the main line is blocked. In about 10 minutes I had the line cleared. Found a wad of fine tree roots about 30 feet out.

So far so good... at least I was able to "Play" with my new toy on Christmas...

On a separate note... my uncle had a trench-less sewer line replacement this week. I was able to watch and it sure looked slick... hum, about $34k for the whole set-up new??? He paid 5k for his one day job.

Anyone use their Kubota as a power source for a trench-less sewer power head?