RIDGID Auto-Clean K-30 Manual page 12

Auto-Clean™ Drain Cleaning Machine
Figure 14B – AUTOFEED in Retrieve Position
Cleaning The Drain
Always keep one hand on the guide hose. As you feed the
cable into the drain, you may feel and see the cable
slow down and feel the guide hose start to load or wind up
(this will feel like the guide hose is starting to twist or
squirm). This may be a transition in the drain line (trap,
elbow, etc.) build up in the drain (grease, etc.), or the ac-
tual blockage. Feed the cable slowly and carefully. Do not
let cable build up outside drain. This can cause the cable
to twist, kink or break. Keep end of AUTOFEED within 6"
(15 cm) of drain opening.
Pay attention to the amount of cable that has been fed into
the drain. Feeding cable into a larger drain line 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.
Working The Blockage
If the end of the cable stops turning, it is no longer clean-
ing the drain. If the cable end 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 guide hose
is starting to twist or squirm) or buildup outside the drain.
Having a hand on the guide hose can allow you to feel this
wind up and control the cable. As you feel the cable
wind up or if the cable end stops turning, immediately re-
lease the advance feed and depress the retrieve feed
lever to free the cable end from the blockage. Don't keep
the cable rotating if the cable end 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 the cable
end is turning again, you can slowly feed the rotating
cable end back into the blockage. Let the spinning cable
end "dwell" in the blockage to help completely break it up.
Do not try to force the cable end through the blockage.
Work the cable end in this manner until it has moved com-
pletely past the blockage (or blockages), and the drain is
flowing.
10
While working the blockage, the cable end may become
Retrieve
clogged with debris and cuttings from the blockage. This
can prevent further progress. The cable needs to be re-
trieved from the drain and the debris removed. See
section on "Retrieving the Cable".
If the cable end continues to get hung up in the blockage,
a different drain cleaner may need to be used.
Handling A Stuck Tool
If the cable end 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 guide hose 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 guide
hose until the tension is released. Place ON/OFF/REV
switch in the OFF position.
Freeing A Stuck Tool
If the tool is stuck in the blockage, hold the ON/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 cable
end from the blockage or cable damage can occur. Place
the ON/OFF/REV switch in the ON position and con-
tinue cleaning the drain.
Retrieving The Cable
Once the drain is open, if possible start a flow of water
down the drain to flush the debris out of the line. This can
be done by 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
ON/OFF/REV switch should be in the ON position – do
not retrieve the cable with the ON/OFF/REV in the REV
position, this can damage the cable. As with feeding the
cable into the drain, keep hands firmly on the AUTO-
FEED and guide hose for control. The cable end can
become caught while being retrieved. The flow of water
down the line will help to clean the cable as it is re-
trieved. Continue retrieving the cable until the tool is just
inside the drain opening. Release the feed lever and re-
lease the foot switch, allowing the cable 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 serious injury.
Place the ON/OFF/REV in the OFF position and with
dry hands unplug the machine. Pull the remaining cable