RIDGID K-45 Quick Start Manual

K-45 Drain Cleaning Machine
AUTOFEED Operation
Confirm that at least 12" (30cm) of cable is in the drain
and that the cable outlet of the drain cleaner is no more
than 6" (15cm) from the drain opening. Move the handgrip
away from drum to disengage the chuck from the cable.
Do not engage the chuck while using the AUTOFEED.
Press the ON/OFF switch to start the machine. To ad-
vance the cable into the drain, depress the advance feed
lever. The rotating cable will work its way into the drain. Do
not allow the cable to build up outside the drain, bow or
curve. This can allow the cable to twist, kink or break.
6" (15cm)
MAX.
Figure 10 – Feeding Cable With 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.
• First, sharp thrusts of the cable, both with and
without the cable rotating, can help the cable
through a trap.
• A second method is to 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.
• 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. You may
feel the cable start to wind or load up (the drain cleaner
may want to twist or move sideways). 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 not let cable build up
10
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 or simi-
lar 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.
The cables are not attached to the inner drum. Use care
when feeding out the last 5 to 7 feet (1.5m to 2.13m) of the
cable, to insure that it does not come out of the ma-
chine.
If using a cable with the "Speed Bump" feature (See
Figure 11) this indicates that there is only about five
more feet (1.5m) of usable cable.
Figure 11 – C-13-IC SB Cable With Cable End Indicator
Advance Feed
Working The Blockage
Lever
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 (the drain cleaner or cable
may want to twist, squirm or move sideways). If the cable
end stops turning or if the cable starts to wind up, pull the
cable back from the obstruction:
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
blockages) and the drain is flowing. If needed, the
AUTO FEED feed levers do not need to be used, and the
K-45 can be used manually. If using an AUTOFEED ma-
chine manually, pulling rearward on the handgrip will
cause the chuck to grip the cable.
Speedbump Is Approx. 84" (2.1m) From Back
End Of Cable
• Manual Operation – with the chuck gripping the
cable, pull back on the drain cleaner to free the
cable end from the blockage.
• AUTOFEED Operation – depress the retrieve
feed lever to free the cable end from the blockage.