Unusual manhole cover

[pahgreen]

Twenty years ago we had the drive brick-paved. The manhole covers are steel trays containing paving bricks. They are apparently locked. They cannot be lifted with a standard key. The locks consist of a hexagon slot 13mm diameter, and lateral slots. I think there was once a dedicated tool, but it has been lost. The manufacturer's logo appears to have the letters "GBD".

Does anyone recognise the lock? Does anyone know where I could get a key? (We have had a recent blockage - which fortunately cleared itself.)

Link to photos below:

http://www3.snapfish.co.uk/thumbna....pfishuk

[Tony McC]

For anyone struggling with that link, here are the photies....

[henpecked]

Standard Allen key would do it. If not, try a plumbers merchant, they use a similar tool for rad valves.

Hp

[rimexboy]

i think this is them if you take a good look you will see the company who does or did them i hope that helps you cheers simon
http://www.ipo.gov.uk/t-find-....1532068

[pahgreen]

Thanks, Simon. That certainly looks like the same trademark. I'm just waiting for them to get back to me now.

[rimexboy]

Thanks, Simon. That certainly looks like the same trademark. I'm just waiting for them to get back to me now.

no probs keep us posted please
cheers simon

[flowjoe]

Its not a lock, its just a bolt going through to the frame.

You can try to get hold of a large hex key though in the past we have jammed two smaller keys in together (necessity being the mother of invention) and a large screw driver can also work.

Success depends on how corroded or solid the bolt is, how soft the metal is, spray with a loosener first and quit before you round out the bolt head.

HTH

[Dave_L]

Wouldn't even bother waiting for a reply from the manufacturer.

Just get a correctly-sized allen key and attempt to undo said bolts.....

[pahgreen]

Yes. All of you were right. It is a bolt through to the frame. I tried four plumbers merchants and other outlets and couldn't find a 13 mm allen key. Last weekend it all became a live issue, as the gullies backed up again. I undid the bolts with the end of a file jammed in, and turned it with a wrench. Although these manholes are outside, this type of cover can be used indoors, filled with concrete, and needs to be sealable - hence the bolts.

[Dave_L]

13mm hex key?

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/LASER-H....e6a7df1

[Exsparky]

If it's a 13mm hex, then one way to do it is to get a M8 bolt and two nuts. Lock the two nuts together tightly on the bolt, then put the head of the bolt, which (Japanese nuts and bolts apart which usually need a 12mm spanner) will be 13mm across the flats, into the hex. You will already have a 13mm ring spanner on the nut nearest the bolt head. Use this to undo the hex. These nuts and bolts are easy to find, you may have some already. I've used this trick on motorcycle fork top nuts. They were 27mm AF. Er, just looked at the date of the original post. Oh well.

[Dave_L]

The 'person' who replied to this old post with a link was a spammer.