How do you remove stuck wire from within conduit

[Tractor Seabee]

Lesson learned on Romex and conduit. LOL, as others, abandon and do it right.

Ron

 

[4570Man]

I'd take the 90 degree bend off first thing. Then I'd build something to inject a lubricant. If you do manage to get it pulled out how do you plan on pulling wire through? I know such pulls are possible ( I've done longer) but the resistance wasn't that high.

 

[MossRoad]

As others have said, pull the 90's off at each end.

Tie a string to the wires at each end.

Dig out the damaged section of conduit in the middle.

Pull the wires from the middle, pulling a string in from each end.

Put a J box in the middle.

Pull the two strings into the new sections of conduit and J box.

Tie the strings together.

Now you have a string going from end to J box to other end.

Pull in new wires from one end to the J box, then the other end to the J box.

If the old wires don't pull out in the two 75' sections to the middle, there may be damaged/kinked conduit in multiple places.

Anyhow. When you pull the new wires in, use pulling lubricant, like this...
Shop IDEAL 32-fl oz Yellow Wire Pulling Lubricant at Lowes.com

Goober it up with a lot of lube and a rag as you pull it in.

 

[Zerk]

Lesson learned on Romex and conduit. LOL, as others, abandon and do it right.

Ron

Romex isn't the problem, the conduit size. We pull big multi conductor cables ins conduit. Stranded. Either way the size was to small, then add 180 degrees. But you pull big stiff single conductors in a conduit too.

I have pulled romex in conduit, rather then going from romex to j-box, to conduit, to j-box and romex again. Ya you feel goofy, but I would rather do that, and have continuous run.

I curious how then even did it. I am thinking maybe they shoved it through piece by piece, rather then a pull.

 

[Zerk]

We use trucks, equipment, or tuggers to pull cable. Sometimes you cab't pull by hand. Pull straight out of conduit, not at an angle.

 

[RNeumann]

Make the repair where it broke and forget about pulling a section out, it's not going to work. Install a waterproof J-box, splice a new section of wire to the two broken ends and seal it up. Put a new section(s) of conduit to existing by using couplings and glue, run the lengths of new conduit into the j-box and seal them into box. Mark location so you can go back later if need be. Done.
Next time run single stranded wires through the conduit instead of Romex, and use a pull cord so to be able to fix things like your current problem more easily. Current problem, get it, current problem!:laughing:

This is the solution. Trying to pull Rolex through 1/2" damaged conduit isn't going to work. Trying to lubricate existing wire is pointless. The lube goes in the conduit before the wire ensuring the whole wire is lubed as it's pulled through.

Cut out the damaged conduit, pull the two halves of damaged romex and replace with the proper wire.

 

[s219]

Is this standard white jacket Romex with a paper sheath, like you'd run in the walls of a home? If so, it's probably going to fail at some point since it has very poor moisture resistance. This might be a good time to replace it all together.

 

[Zerk]

Is this standard white jacket Romex with a paper sheath, like you'd run in the walls of a home? If so, it's probably going to fail at some point since it has very poor moisture resistance. This might be a good time to replace it all together.

I am not saying you are wrong, but have never heard of problems either. It is not UF. But you wouldn't be able to pull UF, under foot, direct bury, through a small conduit, that stuff is stuff. Being n PVC is is glued. Not sure what condensation is like underground.

 

[GregbkH]

It is a code violation to pull romex (NM-B) in conduit outdoors. The romex is not rated for damp or wet locations even if in a raceway (conduit). UF cable is required and can be direct buried without conduit until it comes out of the ground. 1/2" conduit is suitable for 3 conductors, black, white and green. Remember that the green wire is the most important wire in the group!

 

[dieselcrawler]

It is a code violation to pull romex (NM-B) in conduit outdoors. The romex is not rated for damp or wet locations even if in a raceway (conduit). UF cable is required and can be direct buried without conduit until it comes out of the ground. 1/2" conduit is suitable for 3 conductors, black, white and green. Remember that the green wire is the most important wire in the group!

^^^ x2, agree completely.

Licenced electrician for 15+ years here... Romex in conduit wrong to begin with, not worth the risk to repair. Please replace properly, with pvc conduit with proper wire inside, buried 18" deep or more, with warning tape approximately 6" below surface.