Cleaning The Drain; Working The Blockage - RIDGID K-750 Manual

Figure 14 – Operating the K-750 using the AUTOFEED
If it is difficult to get the cable through a trap or other fit-
ting, the following methods or combinations of methods
can be used.
• Sharp thrusts of the cable, both with and without
the cable rotating, can help the cable through a
trap.
• In some cases with the switch in the OFF position,
rotating the drum by hand can change the orien-
tation of the cutter to allow it to more easily ne-
gotiate the fitting.
• Run the drain cleaner in REV (REVERSE) rotation
for several seconds while pushing on the cable.
Only do this long enough to get the cable started
through the trap. Running the cable in reverse can
damage the cable.
• Use a flexible leader between the tool and the
cable.
• If these options don't work, consider using a smaller
diameter or more flexible cable, or a different drain
cleaner.

Cleaning The Drain

As you feed the cable into the drain, you may see the
cable slow down or build up outside the drain. Always
keep your hands on the cable. You may feel the cable
start to wind or load up (this may feel like the cable is start-
ing to twist or squirm). This may be a transition in the drain
(trap, elbow, etc.), build up in the drain (grease, etc.) or the
actual blockage. Feed the cable slowly and carefully. Do
K-750 Drain Cleaning Machine
not let cable build up outside the drain. This can cause the
cable to twist, kink or break.
Pay attention to the amount of cable that has been fed into
the drain. Feeding cable into a larger drain, septic tank or
similar transition may cause the cable to kink or knot
and prevent removal from the drain. Minimize the amount
of cable fed into the transition to prevent problems. Each
wrap of the cable in the drum is approximately four feet
long. If using 5 / " cable with a
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connection through the AUTOFEED. This could damage
the AUTOFEED.
If an additional length of cable is needed, see the section
"Adding Additional Cable".

Working The Blockage

If the end of the cable stops turning, it is no longer clean-
ing the drain. If the end of the cable becomes lodged in the
blockage and power is maintained to the drain cleaner, the
cable will start to wind up (this may feel like the cable is
starting to twist or squirm). Having a hand on the cable al-
lows you to feel this wind up and control the cable. If the
cable end stops turning or if the cable starts to wind up, im-
mediately pull the cable back from the obstruction:
• Manual Operation – pull back on the cable to free
the cable end from the blockage.
• AUTOFEED Operation – move the feed lever in the
direction opposite the cable rotation to free the cable
end from the blockage.
Don't keep the cable rotating if the cable is stuck in a
blockage. If the cable end stops turning and the drum
keeps rotating, the cable can twist kink or break.
Once the cable end is free of the blockage and turning
again, you can slowly feed the cable end back into the
blockage. Do not try to force the cable end through the
blockage. Let the spinning end "dwell" in the blockage to
completely break it up. Work the tool in this manner until
you have moved completely past the blockage (or block-
ages) and the drain is flowing. Manual operation is usually
the best choice if the cable repeatedly gets stuck when
using the AUTOFEED. If using an AUTOFEED machine
manually, the feed knob may need to be loosened, and
the feed lever placed in the neutral position.
While working the blockage, the cable and tool 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" .
3 / " pigtail, do not feed the
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