Maintenance Instructions; Cables - RIDGID K-40 Manual

K-40 Drain Cleaning Machine
feel this wind up and control the cable. As you feel the
cable wind up or if the tool stops turning, immediately re-
lease the advance feed and depress the retrieve feed
lever to free the tool from the blockage. Don't keep the
cable rotating if the tool is stuck in a blockage. If the tool
stops turning and the drum keeps rotating, the cable can
twist, kink or break.
Once the tool is free of the blockage and the tool is turning
again, you can slowly feed the rotating tool back into the
blockage. Let the spinning tool "dwell" in the blockage to
help completely break it up. Do not try to force the tool
through the blockage. Work the tool in this manner until the
tool has moved completely past the blockage (or block-
ages), and the drain is flowing.
While working the blockage, the tool and cable may be-
come clogged with debris and cuttings from the blockage.
This can prevent further progress. The cable and tool
need to be retrieved from the drain and the debris re-
moved. See section on "Retrieving the Cable".
If the tool continues to get hung up in the blockage, stop
using the auto feed and work the cable by hand as detailed
in the Manual Feed Section. To do this, the cable must be
retrieved from the drain and the guide hose and AUTO-
FEED removed from the machine to allow proper
positioning of the machine to the drain and access to the
cable. Do not try to work the cable by hand with the guide
hose and AUTOFEED in place.
Handling a stuck tool
If the tool stops turning and the cable cannot be pulled
back from the blockage, release the foot switch, maintain
a firm grip on the AUTOFEED and guide hose and release
the feed lever. Do not remove your hand from cable or
the cable may kink, twist and break. The motor will
stop and the cable and drum will turn backwards until
the energy stored in the cable is relieved. Do not remove
hand from the AUTOFEED and cable until the tension is
released. Place FOR/OFF/REV switch in the OFF position.
Freeing a stuck tool
If the tool is stuck in the blockage, place the FOR/OFF/-
REV switch in the REV position. With both AUTOFEED
levers released press the foot switch for several seconds
until it is free of the blockage. Do not operate the machine
in the REV position any longer than required to free the
cutting tool from the blockage or cable damage can occur.
Place the FOR/OFF/REV switch in the FOR position and
continue cleaning the drain.
Retrieving the cable
Once the drain is open, start a flow of water down the drain
to flush the debris out of the line. This can be done by run-
14
ning a hose down the drain opening, turning on a faucet in
the system or other methods. Pay attention to the water
level, as the drain could plug again.
With water flowing through the drain, retrieve the cable from
the line by depressing the retrieve feed lever. The
FOR/OFF/REV switch should be in the FOR position – do
not retrieve the cable with the FOR/OFF/REV in the REV
position, this can damage the cable. As with feeding the
cable into the drain, keep hands firmly on the AUTOFEED
and guide hose for control. The tool can become caught
while being retrieved. The flow of water down the line will
help to clean the cable as it is retrieved. Continue retriev-
ing the cable until the tool is just inside the drain opening.
Release the feed lever and release the foot switch, al-
lowing the drum to come to a complete stop. Do not pull
the end of the cable from the drain while the cable is
rotating. The tool can whip around and could cause se-
rious injury.
Place the FOR/OFF/REV in the OFF position and with dry
hands unplug the machine. Pull the remaining cable from
the drain by hand and feed into the drain cleaner. If
needed, change the tool and continue cleaning following
the above process. Several passes through a line are
recommended for complete cleaning.

Maintenance Instructions

Maintain drain cleaning machine according to these
procedures to reduce risk of injury from electrical
shock, chemical burns and other causes.
FOR/OFF/REV switch should be OFF and machine
unplugged before performing any maintenance.
Always wear safety glasses and RIDGID drain clean-
ing gloves when performing any maintenance.

Cables

Cables should be thoroughly flushed with water after every
use to prevent damaging effects of sediment and drain
cleaning compounds. Remove guide hose and drain debris
from drum by tipping machine forward after every use to re-
move sediment and chemicals which can corrode cable.
To help prevent corrosion during storage, cables can be
coated with RIDGID Cable Rust Inhibitor. Once the cable
is clean and dry, pull the cable from the drum. While
manually feeding the cable back into the drum, wipe the
Cable Rust Inhibitor on the cable with a cloth.
Do not apply the Cable Rust Inhibitor to a rotating
cable. The cloth and your hand can become entangled in
the cable, and Cable Rust Inhibitor can be slung from ro-
tating cable.
Ridge Tool Company
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