RIDGID K-40 Manual page 11

4. Confirm that the equipment to be used has been
properly inspected.
5. If needed, place protective covers in the work area.
The drain cleaning process can be messy.
6. Take the drain cleaning machine to the work area
along the clear path. If the machine needs to be
lifted, use proper lifting techniques. Use care moving
equipment up and down stairs, and be aware of pos-
sible slip hazards. Wear appropriate footwear to help
prevent slips.
7. Position the drain cleaning machine. If using a ma-
chine without the front guide hose and AUTOFEED,
the opening of the drum must be within 2 feet of the
drain opening. If using a machine with the guide hose
and AUTOFEED, the end of the AUTOFEED must be
within 6 inches of the drain opening. The guide hose
should not be pulled tight or kinked to reach this
position. Greater distances from the drain access in-
crease the risk of the cable twisting or kinking. The
K-40 can be placed either with the drum horizontal or
vertical as long as it sits squarely and firmly on the rub-
ber feet provided.
8. If the machine cannot be placed close enough to the
drain opening, extend the drain access back to 2'
from the drum opening or 6" from the AUTOFEED with
similar sized pipe and fittings. Improper cable support
can allow the cable to twist and kink and can damage
the cable or injure the operator. See Figure 9.
Figure 9 – Example of Extending Drain to Within 2' of
Drum Opening.
9. Evaluate the work area and determine if any barriers
are needed to keep bystanders away from the drain
cleaner and work area. The drain cleaning process can
be messy and bystanders can distract the operator.
10. Select proper tool for the conditions.
Most of the cable choices for the K-40 Drain Cleaning
Machine incorporate a bulb auger end configuration.
This is a good choice for use in small secondary
drain lines. Use of a bulb auger allows the obstruction
to be probed and fiberous blockages to be pulled out
of the line.
The C-4, C-6 and C-6IC cable available for use with
the K-40 Drain Cleaning Machine incorporate a male
coupling that allows for the installation of various
tools for cleaning drains.
If the nature of the obstruction is unknown, it is good
practice to use a straight or bulb auger to explore
the obstruction and retrieve a piece of the obstruction
for inspection.
Once the nature of the obstruction is known, an ap-
propriate tool can be selected for the application. A
good rule of thumb is to start by running the smallest
available tool through the blockage to allow the backed
up water to start flowing and carry away the debris and
cuttings as the drain is cleaned. Once the drain is
open and flowing, other tools appropriate for the
blockage can be used. Generally, the largest tool
used should be no bigger than the inside diameter of
the drain minus one inch.
Proper tool selection depends on the specific circum-
stances of each job and is left to the users' judgement.
A variety of other cable attachments are available
and are listed in the Accessories section of this
manual. Other information on cable attachments
can be found in the RIDGID Catalog and on line at
www.RIDGID.com.
11. If needed, install the tool to the end of the cable. The T-
slot coupler allows the cutting tool to be snapped into
Drain
the cable coupler. As the cutting tool is installed make
Extension
sure that the spring-loaded plunger in the coupling
on the end of the cable moves freely to retain the
tool. If the pin sticks in the retracted position, the cutting
tool may fall off in use. To remove cutting tool, insert
the pin key into the hole in the coupling to depress the
plunger and slide the coupling apart. (See Figure 10.)
To Couple Cable
and Tools
Snap Together
Figure 10 – Coupling and Uncoupling Tools
Ridge Tool Company
K-40 Drain Cleaning Machine
To Uncouple Cable and Tools
Insert Pin
Slide Apart
9