How to remove rusty cast iron gully grid

[perrancott]

I have been clearing the gullies round my house but have got a problem with one of them - the one that definitely needs clearing. The cover is very rusty and seems to have welded itself to the ceramic surround. Can I smash the grid with a hammer or will I risk damaging the whole gully or is there another way to remove the grid?

 

[Burnerman]

Scrape around the cover with a screwdriver and do some gently prising - its just stuck there with rust and crap.
Being cast iron, its likely the cover will fracture quite easily leaving the salt glaze untouched, but you never know!
A metal bar with one end just bent at 90 deg in an 'L' shape may help you pull it clear.
John

 

[perrancott]

Scrape around the cover with a screwdriver and do some gently prising - its just stuck there with rust and crap.
Being cast iron, its likely the cover will fracture quite easily leaving the salt glaze untouched, but you never know!
A metal bar with one end just bent at 90 deg in an 'L' shape may help you pull it clear.
John

Thanks John. Scraping worked eventually. I will check the gullies more often in future so this does not happen again.