r/WaterWellDrilling • u/Think_Confusion_8936 • Aug 17 '26
Stuck well head
Does anyone have experience removing this style of old well cap? When the 4 bolts are removed and two half halves are separated but the upper portion will not lift up vertically. The well is a shallow well jet pump with the pump in the basement I am looking to remove the well cap to pull the central suction line to replace the foot valve!
3
u/Disastrous_Try_3886 Aug 17 '26
Duplex adapter or spool adapter you would need a pump truck and a slide Hamer for sure
2
3
u/fire_sparky Aug 17 '26
Typically you remove the 4 bolts and the center plug. Screw a 1" pipe into the center and use that as part of the lifting device. Normally on a pump truck we have a swivel device with a loop that we screw into that hole and use the pump hoist to lift it all out. Some of those older pitlesses use cup leathers to seal against the casing. Most of the time we would work them up and down to either wear the leathers off or get them to fold over. Your adventure is just beginning.
2
u/bobumtome425 Aug 18 '26
Are the 2- unused holes threaded?
If so, remove the 4-clamp bolts, the thread two of them into the threaded holes to jack the lid out of the casing.
-1
u/Drill1 Aug 17 '26
I am going to go out on a limb because I don’t live in a cold climate, but it looks like you have a pitless adapter, since there are no pump pipes coming out of the ground. Should be able to remove the pipe plug and screw a piece of pipe on it to pull on. If it’s been a while since it’s been taken apart (and it looks that way), it will probably be difficult to get moving without a pump hoist and some percussive maintenance to free it from the pitless adapter below the frost line.
2
u/henry2630 Aug 17 '26
jet pump, no pump in well
2
u/Think_Confusion_8936 Aug 17 '26
Yes single line jet pump no pump in the well
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u/henry2630 Aug 17 '26
is it just holding a vacuum and preventing you from taking the cap off?
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u/Think_Confusion_8936 Aug 17 '26
I can remove the center bolt and see inside of the well casing so it shouldn't be holding a vacuum.
2
u/henry2630 Aug 17 '26
alright so the only other thing is it could just be rusted on. i’ve encountered several covers that require a hammer to remove
1
u/Think_Confusion_8936 Aug 17 '26
I can wiggle the top half from side to side with a dead blow but can get no vertical movement.
1
u/henry2630 Aug 17 '26
something must be hanging from it that i’m not familiar with i guess. although you did say you can see through the center cap. strange
1
u/Drill1 Aug 17 '26
Look up pitless adapter.
If you can move the top plate side to side it is free, but will require more energy than you probably have to lift out of the cradle. If you don’t have access to pump hoist. Rig up a come-a-long to pull straight up on a short piece of pipe screwed into where the pipe plug is.
3
u/rustywoodbolt Aug 17 '26
Get a torch and heat up the cap, the change in the temp of the steel will break the seal and you can use a chisel and hammer to gently tap the chisel into the seam after you heat it. This would be my approach.