atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Cabling Telephones Systems Wiring Clearing Unused Cable in underground Conduit

Send a mouse into the conduit--they can eat up ANY Telco cable :rofl:

If they really want this to happen, at this point it sounds like you're pulling EVERYTHING out starting on a Saturday morning. Then install new as needed, with plenty of spare. Consider dual fiber, you're only gonna get 1 chance! Be sure to pump a BUNCH of cable lube in there to try to 'Grease The Ways'! Good Luck! John C. (Not Garand)

With no other option I tried to pull a Cat5 cable through but unfortunately the cable snapped 42 feet into the pull.

That's interesting. How did you pull it? Were you able to push a snake all the way through?

One possibility as to what has happened is that the conduit, probably EMT, has filled with water as every below grade run will. The water caused it to corrode and cause the cable to stick.

Another possibility is that the lube that was used dried out, again causing the cable to stick to the conduit wall.

If you were able to get a fish tape through that's a good sign. I will have to do some looking but I do remember somebody who makes a kind of solvent that you can pump into the conduit that will soften whatever is in there. If that is sucessful and you are able to pull everything out there is a wire brush that you pull through to clean the garbage out.

When you pull back in make sure the lube you use won't dry out and stick everything together again.

-Hal

Thanks everyone for your advice. Hal, I believe you hit it on the head with your comment about water in the conduit and the cables sticking. There was a pull string in the conduit and that is what I used to almost get my CAT5 cable through. When looking at the pull string I could see water stains. Unfortunately now I can't get a snake through & I can't budge the cables, so I'm taking Ed & Skips advice and utilize the 6 Pair cables.

Thanks again. -Tom-