RIDGID K-400 Bedienungsanleitung Seite 15

• Finally, if none of these options work, consider using a
smaller diameter or more flexible cable, or a different
drain cleaner.
Figure 14 – AUTOFEED in Retrieve Position
Cleaning the drain
Always keep one hand on the cable. As you feed the
cable into the drain, you may feel and see the cable slow
down and feel the cable start to load or wind up (this will
feel like the cable is starting to twist or squirm). This may
be a transition in the drain line (trap, elbow, etc.) or build
up in the drain (mud, grease, etc.), the actual 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.
Pay attention to the amount of cable that has been fed into
the drain. Feeding cable into a larger sewer main, 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.
Working the blockage
If the tool at the end of the cable stops turning, it is no
longer cleaning the drain. If the tool becomes lodged in the
blockage and power is maintained to the drain cleaner, the
cable will start to wind up (this will feel like the cable is
starting to twist or squirm) and buildup outside the drain.
Having a hand on the cable allows you to feel this wind up
and control the cable. As you feel the cable wind up or if
the tool stops turning, immediately move the feed lever to
the full retrieve position (opposite of cable and drum ro-
tation - See Figure 14 ) 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 ro-
tating, the cable can twist, kink or break.
Once the tool is free of the blockage and the tool is turn-
ing 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
K-400 Drain Cleaning Machine
tool through the blockage. Work the tool in this manner
until the tool has moved completely past the blockage (or
blockages), 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 (leave the feed lever in the neutral po-
sition) and work the cable by hand as detailed in the
Manual Feed Section.
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 cable and move the feed lever to the
neutral (straight up) position. 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 re-
move hand from the cable until the tension is released.
Place FOR/OFF/REV switch in the OFF position.
The torque limiter helps to prevent cable damage from
cable flip over in the drum by stopping drum and cable ro-
tation when the torque ex ceeds a certain value. The
motor will continue to rotate as long as the foot switch is
pressed, but the drum and cable will stop rotating when
the torque limiter setting is exceeded. The torque limiter
cannot prevent all cable damage in the drum, and cannot
prevent cable flip over outside the drum. If drum stops
turning, the cable and tool also are not turning.
Freeing a stuck tool
If the tool is stuck in the blockage, with the FOR/OFF/ REV
switch in the OFF position and the foot switch released, try
pulling the cable loose from the blockage. If the tool will not
come free from the blockage, place the FOR/OFF/REV
switch in the REV position. With the AUTOFEED in the
neutral (straight up) position, Grasp the cable with both
gloved hands, press the foot switch for several seconds
and pull on the cable 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 running 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.
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