ABS Cleanout Loose Fit

wildbilly · 03-14-2009, 11:20 AM

I got a cleanout to put at the end of my 3" main drain line. It seems to fit very loose. Do you need to put pipe dope or something on it?

brokenknee · 03-14-2009, 01:55 PM

Do not use pipe dope on plastic pipe. If it doesn't tighten up you could try a new plug. Is it leaking? You could use teflon tape if you need to.

wildbilly · 03-14-2009, 03:23 PM

I just bought a 3" cleanout at the store for a new installation and it seemed fairly loose. I tried a couple different fittings on both sides and they seemed the same. It does thread in a ways and I'm wondering if it's kinda tapered and it tightens up the farther you screw it in. It doesn't have much of a seat so I doubt it seals there. It shouldn't get much pressure on it as it will be on the end of a Wye that flows the waste the other way. I'm just trying to ensure that it won't leak in the future.

brokenknee · 03-14-2009, 03:27 PM

Tighten it up without anything it should be fine.

Bondo · 03-14-2009, 05:08 PM

Quote:

and I'm wondering if it's kinda tapered and it tightens up the farther you screw it in.

Ayuh,.... All pipe threads are Tapered....

wildbilly · 03-21-2009, 09:57 PM

Well guess what dudes. I did my pressure test and my drain system is leaking in two spots and they are both threaded pieces. One is this cleanout and another is a threaded connection I screwed in what was a cleanout to connect to 3" pipe.

So there has to be something in the threads to keep it from leaking; what is it???? The one I could cut and take apart and use ABS glue and rethreat it; the splice won't be easy to do it though. The cleanout wouldn't be a cleanout if I did it on that. I did tighten them pretty good with a pipe wrench in my vise before they were glued although I didn't get riduculous since it's plastic.

A guy a Menards told me he uses never seeze on his so you can get it open later in life. That thought was unprovoked and I was in regards to any sealant.

wildbilly · 03-21-2009, 10:35 PM

I found on another forum that Teflon pipe thread tape nor that with thread seal for ABS pipe didn't work.

Guess what worked is bowl wax. Said they had a tub of it. All I can find on the web is bowl wax gasket (for a toilet?). Think that will work? Where can I get some?

Wethead · 03-21-2009, 11:57 PM

How loose is it?

I would Teflon tape it with 3 to 4 wraps and then dope it,

It its still leaks, then I would replace the clean out plug, maybe its defective or made in china !

JDC · 03-22-2009, 08:10 AM

I'm with Wethead. Six or seven wraps of teflon tape then a good pipe dope with teflon. Some people say not to use dope on plastic, but there are plenty of pipe dopes out there that are fine on PVC and ABS.