Safety and Instructions Manual

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SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

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Read and understand all warnings and instructions. Failure to follow all warnings and instructions may result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious injury.

 

Work Area Safety

 

• Keep the work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark areas invite accidents.

• Do not operate tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gasses, or dust. Tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.

• Keep children and by-standers away while operating tools. Distractions can cause you to lose control.

• Keep floors dry and free of slippery materials such as oil. Slippery floors invite accidents.

 

Electrical Safety

 

• Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces such as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electrical shock if your body is earthed or grounded.

• Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of electrical shock.

• If operating a power tool in a damp location is unavoidable, use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected supply. Use of a GFCI reduces the risk of electric shock.

 

Personal Safety

 

• Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense when operating tools. Do not use tools while you are tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment of inattention while operating tools may result in serious personal injury.

• Use personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protection. Protective equipment such as dust masks, non-skid safety shoes, hard hats, or hearing protection used for appropriate conditions will reduce personal injuries.

• Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. Proper footing and balance enables better control of the tool in unexpected situations.

 

Tool Use and Care

 

• Do not force tools. Use the correct tool for your application. The correct tool will do the job better and safer at the rate for which it is designed.

• Store idle tools out of the reach of children and do not allow persons unfamiliar with the tool or these instructions to operate the tool. Tools can be dangerous in the hands of untrained users.

• Maintain tools. Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts and any other condition that may affect the tool’s operation. If damaged, have the tool repaired before use. Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained tools.

• Keep handles dry, clean and free from oil and grease. This allows for better control of the tool.

 

Service

 

• Have your tool serviced by a qualified repair person using only identical replacement parts. This will ensure that the safety of the tool is maintained.

 

 

• Always use safety glasses and gloves in good condition while handling or using. Use latex or rubber gloves, face shields, protective clothing, respirators or other appropriate protective equipment when chemicals, bacteria or other toxic or infectious substances are suspected to be present to reduce the risk of infections, burns or other serious personal injury.

• Do not allow the sewer cleaning chain knocker/end of the flexible shaft to stop turning while the drill switch is depressed. This can over-stress the flexible shaft and may cause twisting, kinking or breaking of the cable assembly and may result in serious personal injury.

• Practice good hygiene. Do not eat or smoke while handling or operating the tool. After handling or operating drain cleaning equipment, use hot, soapy water to wash hands and other body parts exposed to drain contents. This will help reduce the risk of health hazards due to exposure to toxic or infectious material.

• Only use the flexible shaft drain cleaning equipment for the recommended drain sizes. Using the wrong size drain cleaner can lead to twisting, kinking or breaking of the flexible drain cleaning shaft and may result in personal injury.

• Keep hand on the cable assembly whenever the flexible shaft is running. This provides better control of the cable and helps prevent twisting, kinking and breaking of the cable and reduces the risk of injury.

• Position machine cable outlet within 3' (1m) of the drain inlet or properly support exposed cable assembly when the distance exceeds 3' (1m). Greater distances can cause control problems leading to twisting, kinking or breaking of the cable. Twisting, kinking or breaking cable may cause striking or crushing injuries.

• One person must control both the cable assembly and drill. Do not lock the drill switch in the ON position during operation. If the cable stops rotating, the operator must be able to release the drill switch to prevent twisting, kinking and breaking of the cable and reduce the risk of injury.

• Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Keep your hair and clothing away from moving parts. Loose clothing, jewelry or hair can be caught in moving parts.

• Do not operate this machine if the operator or machine is standing in water. Operating a machine while in water increases the risk of electrical shock.

• Do not use it if there is the risk of contact with other utilities (such as natural gas or electric) during operation. Visual inspection of the drain with a camera is a good practice. Crossbores, improperly placed utilities and damaged drains could allow the cutter to contact and damage the utility. This could cause electrical shock, gas leaks, fire, explosion or other serious damage or injury.

• Read and understand these instructions, the battery drill instructions and the instructions for any other equipment used with this tool before operating. Failure to follow all instructions may result in property damage and/or serious injury.

 

 

If you have any questions concerning PLUMBER-TOOLS products: – Contact us via email: office@plumber-tools.com or visit https://plumber-tools.com/ to find more information about the products.

 

 

We manufacture flexible shafts, sewer chain knockers, circular chains, tools for pipe relining, accessories for the pipe cleaning, removing blockages and descaling pipes. We distribute our tools worldwide from our workshop which is located in the European Union (Finland). Our workshop makes tools for the biggest plumbing brands in the world.

We use the expedited delivery service, which takes 3 to 4 days on average for your tools to arrive. In some areas, customers can choose the option of a slower delivery time if they wish to.

The shipping cost is calculated automatically on our website based on the weight of the goods you are purchasing and the dimensions of the package.

For a list of our products and catalog, please visit:

https://plumber-tools.com/products/

Our aim is to provide the highest quality tools at the most affordable prices, which is possible to achieve by delivering to the end user directly from our workshop.

 

 

Acceptable Battery Powered Drills:

 

Rotational Speed ……............. 1800 to 2500 RPM

Chuck Size ……....................... 3/8” (10 mm) or greater

Drill Clutch ……........................ Adjustable torque limiter

Switch Type ……...................... Momentary

Contact Switch Lock ............ Not equipped

 

Drills must carry appropriate certification marks for the market (CE mark, c()us mark, etc.).

Do not use hammer drills or impact drivers. Use of an inappropriate drill increases the risk of equipment damage and personal injury. See Battery Powered Drill Set-up and Operation section.

 

 

Refer to the PLUMBER-TOOLS catalog (https://plumber-tools.com/products) for details on equipment supplied with specific drain cleaning machine catalog numbers.

These tools are made to clean drains. If properly used, they will not damage a drain pipe that is in good condition and properly designed, constructed and maintained. If the drain is in poor condition, or has not been properly designed, constructed and maintained, the pipe cleaning process may not be effective or could cause damage to the drain. The best way to determine the condition of a drain before cleaning is through visual inspection with a camera. Improper use of this drain cleaning equipment can damage the tools and the drain. These tools may sometimes not clear all blockages in pipes.

 

 

Before each use, inspect your drain cleaning equipment and correct any problems to reduce the risk of serious injury from electric shock, twisted or broken cables, chemical burns, infections and other causes and prevent damage to the tools. Always wear safety glasses, and other appropriate protective equipment when inspecting your sewer cleaning equipment.

1. Clean the flexible drain cleaning shaft. This aids inspection and helps prevent it from slipping from your grip.

2. Inspect the flexible shafts, chains knockers/circular chains and accessories for:

• Proper assembly and completeness.

• Any broken, worn, missing, misaligned or binding parts.

• Smooth and free movement of the flexible shaft assembly in and out of the shaft holder, if you have one.

• Any condition which may prevent safe and normal operation.

If any problems are found, do not use the drain cleaning equipment until the problems have been repaired.

3. Clean any debris from the cable assembly and chain knockers. Inspect the protective sheath for wear and damage. There should not be any cuts, kinks, breaks or excessive wear. Inspect the flexible shaft near the chain knocker. Cable assemblies should not be bent or deformed. Flexible shaft strands should be tight to one another without separation. Inspect chain knocker for damage and wear of the drain cleaning chain itself. If chain links are worn more than ¼ through or damaged, replace the sewer cleaning chain knocker. Replace worn and damaged equipment before using a drain cleaning machine or setup. Confirm that the chain knocker/circular chain is properly set up and is secure on the flexible shaft.

4. Inspect the battery powered drill per its instructions. Make sure that the drill is in good operating condition and the switch controls the drill operation. Confirm that the drill meets the requirements in the Specifications section and is properly set for use with the flexible shaft machine.

5. Inspect and maintain any other equipment being used per its instructions to make sure it is functioning properly.

 

 

Set up the drain cleaning machine (drill, flexible shaft, chain knockers/circular chains and pipe cleaning accessories) and work area according to these procedures to reduce the risk of injury from electric shock, fire, machine tipping, twisted or broken cables, chemical burns, infections and other causes, and prevent machine damage. Always wear safety glasses and other appropriate protective equipment when setting up your drain cleaning equipment.

1. Check for an appropriate work area. Operate in a clear level, stable, dry location. Do not use drain cleaning tools while standing in water.

2. Inspect the drain to be cleaned. If possible, determine the access point(s) to the drain, the size(s), length(s), and material(s) of the drain, distance to mainlines, the nature of the blockage, presence of drain cleaning chemicals or other chemicals, etc.

If chemicals are present in the drain, it is important to understand the specific safety measures required to work around those chemicals. Contact the chemical manufacturer for required information. Confirm no other utilities are present in the drain or area to reduce the risk of damage. Visual inspection of the drain with a camera is a good practice.

If needed, remove fixtures (water closet, etc.) to allow access to drain. Do not run the chain knocker in a fixture. This could damage the flex shaft or the fixture.

Best drain cleaning results will occur if water is flowing during the drain cleaning process to wash away debris.

3. Determine the correct equipment for the application. For more details and descriptions of all the tools, please visit our catalog and select the tool you wish to know more about:

https://plumber-tools.com/products/

4. Make sure all equipment has been properly inspected.

5. If needed, place protective covers in the work area. The drain cleaning process can be quite messy.

6. Remove the battery from the drill. Properly set-up the drill. (See Battery Powered Drill Set-up and Operation section.) Securely attach the drill chuck to the hex of the input flexible shaft.

7. Position the drain cleaning shaft so that the cable outlet is within 3' (1 m) of the drain access. Greater distances from the drain access increases the risk of the cable assembly twisting or kinking. If the flexible shaft cannot be placed with the cable outlet within 3' (1 m) of the drain access, extend the drain access with similar sized pipe and fittings. Improper cable assembly support can allow the cable to kink and twist and can damage the cable or injure the operator. Extending the drain back to the drain cleaning flexible shaft also makes it easier to feed cable assembly into the drain.

8. Pull approximately 4' (1.2 m) of cable assembly out of the carrier.

9. Mark the protective sheath to indicate when the chain knocker is approaching the drain opening when withdrawn. This can be done with tape. This reduces the risk of the chain knockers coming out of the drain and whipping around. The distance depends on the configuration of the drain, but should be at least 4' (1.2 m) from the chain knocker.

10. Ensure that the chain knocker is properly installed (see Installing/Adjusting Chain Knocker).

11. Insert chain knocker’s end at least 1' (0.3 m) into the drain.

12. Evaluate the work area and determine if any barriers are needed to keep bystanders away from the drain cleaning equipment and work area. The drain cleaning process can be messy, and bystanders can distract the operator.

13. Position the flexible shaft for easy accessibility. You must be able to hold and control the cable assembly and the drill switch.

14. With dry hands, insert the battery into the drill.

 

 

See the Specifications section along with this section for information on acceptable battery powered drills for use with the drain cleaning flexible shaft. There are many types of battery powered drills available, and not all are appropriate for use with the drain cleaning flexible shafts. If there is any question about the appropriateness of a drill for this application, do not use it. Remove the battery from the drill before making any adjustments or attaching to/removing from the sewer cleaning flexible shaft.

 

Drill Switch

 

The drill must be equipped with a momentary contact switch without a switch lock. This means that the drill will only turn when the operator is depressing the drill switch. If the drill switch is released, the drill will turn OFF.

 

Drill Speed

 

When using your flexible shaft, the required rotational speed range is 1800 – 2500 rpm. Cleaning will be optimized by rotating the chain knockers/circular chains closer to the 2500 rpm maximum. To do this, know your battery powered drill specifications and settings to optimize operation. Many battery powered drills have multiple speed settings, and typically the highest speed is in the range for operation of the equipment. Do not operate the sewer cleaning flexible shaft at over 2500 rpm.

 

Drill Adjustable Clutch/Torque Limiter/Slip Chuck Setting

 

Always use a battery powered drill equipped with a properly set torque limiter. The drill should be used only in the “screw driving mode” for the slip chuck to work. When the adjustable clutch releases, the motor continues to turn but the drill chuck does not. Many times this is accompanied by vibration/noise from the drill. When using the flexible shaft, always start with the torque limiter set to approximately 25% of the total clutch adjustment range (example – if the markings on the drill go from 1 to 20, the initial setting should be 5).

Battery powered drills are often also equipped with “Drill” and “Hammer” modes of operation. In these modes, the torque limiter does not work, and these modes should never be used for the drain cleaning shaft operation.

 

 

1. Select proper chain knocker for the conditions. Chain knockers are designed for specific flexible shaft sizes and drain pipe diameters. ¼" chain knockers are used on ¼" cable, etc. Do not use a larger size chain knocker on a smaller cable (for instance 5/16" on ¼"). Chain knockers without hard metal bits can be used in common pipe types. These chain knockers work well in grease in pipes and other similar blockages. Chain knockers with hard metal bits or carbide tips are used for removing limescale from the pipe and can be used for removing tuberculation, urine scale and root intrusion. Carbide cutting tips are used for aggressive pipe cleaning and could damage the pipe, especially softer materials (such as plastics and Orangeburg), thin walled pipe, or if the chain knocker is kept in one position for an extended time.

2. Set the chain knocker hubs the correct distance apart to allow the chains to spread an appropriate amount when rotated to clean the pipe walls. Distance between hubs varies based on cable size and drain pipe diameter, and is generally set using a piece of a protective sheath (“shaft protector”). If additional flexibility is required to navigate a bend, the shaft protector can be removed and the hubs’ distance can be set with a tape measure. Operating without a shaft protector makes it more likely for the flexible shaft to flip over in use and be damaged. Do not operate carbide cutters without a shaft protector to reduce risk of flexible shaft damage.

Exposed flexible shaft: Minimize the amount of exposed cable (cable not covered by the protective sheath). The more exposed cable there is, the more likely the cable will flip over in use and be damaged. Exposed flexible shaft should be limited to no more than ¼" (6 mm), and is set with a bushing made from protective sheath (“Shaft protector”). Exposed cable varies with the amount of cable out of your carrier. The more flexible shaft out of the shaft holder, the smaller the exposed shaft. Exposed cable may need to be set with cable out of the carrier for best results.

Protective sheath is supplied with the drain cleaner and is available as a service part to allow configuration as needed for your specific application. Only use PLUMBER-TOOLS flexible shaft protective sheath of the correct size for the cable. Any time the protective sleeve is cut, it should be cut cleanly and squarely. Do not damage the flexible shaft when cutting the protective sheath.

3. Chain knockers are retained to the flexible shaft with set screws that use a hex key. Loosen set screws and remove chain knocker and a shaft protector from cable.

4. Inspect the protective sleeve end for damage or wear. The sheath end should be square and clean. If needed, the protective sheath end can be trimmed slightly.

5. If needed, cut a section of the protective sleeve to use as the shaft protector to the appropriate size.

Distance between hubs can be modified to your preference for the specific pipe/application. As the distance increases, the diameter of the chains decreases, and vice versa. Improperly set hubs’ distance can reduce the efficiency of pipe cleaning.

6. Test fit the chain knocker and the shaft protector on the cable. Chains should be straight – do not assemble with chains twisted. To prevent excessive cable end wear, cable end should be flush with the end of the hub.

Check the length of the exposed cable. To reduce the risk of cable flip over and damage, exposed cable cannot exceed ¼" (6 mm). If needed, cut a part of the sheath to limit exposed cable. Always use a shaft protector to reduce wear on the sheath end.

7. With the chain knocker correctly installed on the flexible shaft, use a hex wrench to securely tighten the hub’s set screws. Place the set screw tip against the cable, then tighten an additional 1⁄8 to ¼ turn (45° to 90° degrees). If the set screws are not secure, the chain knocker could slip and damage the cable or be lost down the drain. We always say that the set screws should be so tight that they leave a dent in the shaft itself.

 

 

Brushes are available for various uses, such as pipe cleaning, centering the chain knocker in the pipe and spreading lining compound. We manufacture nylon cleaning brushes and carbide cleaning brushes. Check the specific brush information for the types of uses it is appropriate.

Brushes can be assembled in a variety of configurations.

Installation of nylon cleaning brushes and carbide cleaning brushes is similar to the installation of chain knockers. The hub of the cleaning brush is placed over the cable and retained by securely tightening the set screws. When at the end of the cable, the cable end is flush with the brush hub. Brush locks are available to improve brush retention if set screws loosen in use.

As with chain knockers, minimize the amount of exposed cable (cable not covered by protective sheath). The more exposed cable there is, the more likely the cable will flip over in use and be damaged. Limit exposed cable to no more than ¼" (6 mm), set with shaft protector.

 

 

Penetrating drill heads are available to help create a hole in a blockage to get the drain flowing and allow the chain knocker into an area.

 

 

Always use safety glasses and gloves in good condition while handling or using. Use latex or rubber gloves, face shields, protective clothing, respirators or other appropriate protective equipment when chemicals, bacteria or other toxic or infectious substances are suspected to be present to reduce the risk of infections, burns or other serious personal injury.

Operating with a corded drill may increase the risk of electrical shock.

Do not allow the chain knocker/end of cable to stop turning while the drill switch is depressed. This can overstress the cable and may cause twisting, kinking or breaking of the cable assembly and may result in serious personal injury.

Practice good hygiene. Do not eat or smoke while handling or operating the tool. After handling or operating drain cleaning equipment, use hot, soapy water to wash hands and other body parts exposed to drain contents. This will help reduce the risk of health hazards due to exposure to toxic or infectious material.

Keep hand on the cable assembly whenever the flexible shaft machine is running. This provides better control of the cable and helps prevent twisting, kinking and breaking of the cable and reduces the risk of injury.

Position the flexible drain cleaning cable outlet within 3' (1 m) of the drain inlet or properly support exposed cable assembly when the distance exceeds 3' (1 m). Greater distances can cause control problems leading to twisting, kinking or breaking of the cable. Twisting, kinking or breaking cable may cause striking or crushing injuries.

One person must control both the cable assembly and cordless drill. Do not lock the drill switch in the ON position during operation. If the cable stops rotating, the operator must be able to release the drill switch to prevent twisting, kinking and breaking of the cable and reduce the risk of injury.

Follow operating safety procedures to reduce the risk of injury from twisted or broken cable, cable ends whipping around, machine tipping, chemical burns, infections and other causes.

1. Make sure that the machine and work area are properly set-up and that the work area is free of bystanders and other distractions.

2. Pull flexible shaft assembly from the shaft holder (if operating from the shaft holder) and feed into the drain. At least 1' (0.3 m) of cable must be in the drain so that the chain knocker will not come out of the drain and whip around when the drill is engaged.

Directly route the cable assembly from the machine cable outlet to the drain opening, minimizing exposed cable and changes in direction. Do not tightly bend the flexible shaft assembly – this can increase the risk of twisting or breaking.

If using a camera to view the drain cleaning process, the camera can be fed in at the same time. Typically the cable assembly and the camera push rod can be gripped and advanced/retrieved at the same time. Keep the camera at least 1.5’ (0.5 m) behind the chain knocker.

Do not allow the spinning chain knocker to hit the camera head/push rod. It can damage it.

3. Assume a proper operating position to help maintain control of the cable assembly and drill:

• Be sure you can quickly release the drill switch.
• Your gloved hand must be on the cable assembly to control and support as the cable assembly is fed into the drain and blockage.
• Be sure that you have good balance, do not have to overreach, and cannot fall on the equipment, drain, etc.

This operating position will help to maintain control of the cable assembly and tools.

4. Confirm that at least 1' (0.3 m) of cable assembly is in the drain.

5. Confirm that the drill directional switch is in the forward direction, and depress and release the drill switch, noting the direction of the drill chuck.

6. Place one (gloved) hand on the cable assembly and the other hand on the drill grip.

7. The drain cleaning flexible shaft should utilize high rotational speed and good torque to clean drains. Our flexible shaft assemblies are more rigid than other types of drain cleaning cables. The sewer cleaning flexible shaft is best used by applying light pressure and slowly working the chain knocker into the blockage when withdrawing the cable. It’s important to let the speed of the chain knocker clean the drain – do not force chain knockers into blockages. Let the chains do the job.

8. Advancing/Retrieving the Flexible Shaft Assembly

It is important and beneficial to apply lubricant to the inside of the protective sheath before feeding the flexible shaft down the drain. This can make it easier to advance the cable assembly down the drain and allow greater cleaning distance.

When retrieving the flexible shaft assembly, it is good practice to use a towel to wipe dirt and debris from the cable sheath as it is pulled from the drain and fed back into the carrier.

9. Rotating the Chain Knocker

Flexible shaft with a sewer cleaning chain knocker cleans in both directions (pushed forward or withdrawn). Most popular method among users is:

        1. Advance the chain knocker (generally not rotating) to the area of the drain             that needs to be cleaned.

        2. If there is a blockage, pass the chain knocker through the blockage.

        3. If possible, start a flow of water through the drain to carry cuttings and                    debris away as the drain is cleaned.

        4. Rotate the flexible drain cleaning shaft/chain knocker at full speed.

        5. Continue to rotate the sewer cleaning chain knocker. Gradually withdraw               the cable assembly so that the chain knocker can break up the blockage.

        6. Continue to gradually withdraw the cable assembly while rotating so that               the chain knocker can clean the walls of the drain.

General operating steps with chain knocker: Only rotate the flexible shaft/chain knocker when the chain knocker is at least 1’ in the drain. To rotate the cable, firmly grip the drill handle and depress the drill switch. The person controlling the cable assembly must also control the drill switch. Do not operate the equipment with one person controlling the cable assembly and another person controlling the drill. Do not allow cable assembly to build up outside the drain, bow or curve. This can lead to twisting, kinking and breaking of the flexible shaft. At any time, release the drill trigger to stop cable rotation. When clearing blockages, operate the cable at full speed for best cleaning. Do not force the chain knocker into blockages. In some cases, using variable speed will assist with navigating turns. Rotating the chain knocker in FORWARD or REVERSE for a short time while advancing the cable assembly can help it negotiate the drain and blockages.

10. Advance the cable assembly into the drain, generally not rotating. Grasp the protective sheath near where it exits the shaft holder. Pull 6" to 12" (150 to 300 mm) of cable assembly out of the carrier so that there is a slight bow in the cable. Gloved hand must be on flexible shaft assembly to control and support. Improper cable support can allow the cable assembly to kink or twist and can damage the cable or injure the operator. Feed the flexible drain cleaning shaft assembly into the drain.

11. Continue to advance the cable assembly until the resistance is encountered. Carefully work the chain knocker through the blockage. Do not force the cable assembly – if the chain knocker cannot turn, it cannot clean the drain. Pay attention to how far the cable has gone. Do not overrun the cable into a larger drain. This can cause the cable to knot up or cause other damage.

12. If possible, start a flow of water down the drain to flush the debris out of the line and help clean the cable assembly as it is retrieved. 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.

13. With the chain knocker past the blockage/ area to be cleaned, fully depress the drill switch to rotate the chain knocker. Slowly pull the cable assembly from the drain, allowing the rotating chain knocker to clean the drain walls and break up the blockage. If the cable stops turning, do not continue operating the drill. This may cause the cable to twist and kink. At any time, release the drill switch to stop cable rotation.

Monitor the feedback from the feel of the cable assembly in your hand and the sound of the drill/knocker in the drain. If the drill clutch disengages (indicated by noise from the drill and possibly some vibration of the drill), the cable has likely stopped turning. When this happens, release the drill switch to stop the rotation of the drill. Once drill rotation is stopped the clutch will automatically reengage, however, if the cable end is stuck, it must be moved out of the blockage before proceeding.

It may be necessary to move the chain knocker out of the blockage to allow it to come back up to speed.

If the chain knocker becomes stuck, it may be able to be freed by running the drill in reverse for a short time. In some cases, it may be possible to pull the cable assembly and the blockage out of the drain by hand. If this is done, be careful to not damage the cable assembly. Remove the blockage from the knocker and cable and continue cleaning the drain as detailed above.

If using a camera, do not run the chain knocker into the camera head or push rod.

In some cases, to clean the opposite side of the pipe it may help to run the drill in REVERSE for a short time.

14. Continue to clean the rest of the drain while retrieving the cable. Once the drain has been cleaned, retrieve the cable and feed back onto the carrier. Pay close attention, as the cable may lodge in a blockage while being retracted.

15. Watch for your protective sheath marking as the cable assembly is retrieved; listen carefully to the sound of the knocker as it approaches the pipe entrance. Release the drill switch when the chain knocker nears the drain opening. Do not pull the chain knocker from the drain while it is rotating. The chain knocker can whip around and can cause damage or serious injury.

16. If needed for complete cleaning, repeat the above procedure.

17. Pull any remaining cable assembly from the line by hand and place it back into the flexible shaft holder. Prepare the shaft holder for transport.

 

 

Using the machine with a brush is similar to using a chain knocker. Brushes are used for finer cleaning of the pipe; they are not used for blockage removal. Remove blockages and heavy debris with a chain knocker or other methods first. While chain knockers are most typically rotated while withdrawing the cable from the drain, brushes are typically used while advancing the cable. This is because the brushes typically fill the drain diameter and push debris in front of them.

1. Advance the brush (generally not rotating) into the drain.

2. When close to the area of the drain to be cleaned, if possible, start a flow of water through the drain to carry debris away during cleaning.

3. Rotate the flexible shaft/cleaning brush at full speed and gradually advance the cable into the drain to clean the walls as desired.

Brushes can also be used in conjunction with chain knockers as centering devices or for combined cleaning. Usage depends on the exact circumstances and is left to the judgment of the user.

Penetrating drill heads can also be used with brushes or chain knockers for additional accessory customization.

 

 

Place all of the flexible shaft assembly and chain knocker into the flexible shaft holder. Remove the drill from the input shaft. Do not leave the drill attached during transport and storage to prevent tipping and damage to the drain cleaner. The drain cleaning equipment must be kept dry and indoors or well covered if kept outdoors. Store the shaft holder and the equipment for flexible shaft plumbing in a locked area that is out of reach of children and people unfamiliar with drain cleaning tools. This equipment can cause serious injury in the hands of untrained users.

 

 

Drill should be removed from the flexible shaft machine before any maintenance is performed. Always wear safety glasses and other appropriate protective equipment when performing any maintenance.

 

Cleaning

 

It is good practice to wipe dirt and debris from the flexible shaft assembly as it is pulled from the drain to help keep the equipment clean.

Clean the tools as needed with hot soapy water and/or mild disinfectants.

 

Lubrication

 

Always lubricate your drain cleaning flexible shaft before first use and check it regularly. This will not only help ensure that it performs efficiently, but also increases its lifespan.

We do not put lubricant in from the workshop because the lubricant could leak out onto the cardboard and make the tape that holds the package together not so sticky anymore. So it could be possible to lose the shaft in the delivery process. You'll need to lubricate your flexible shaft once when you receive it, and then after that, check it every few weeks just to make sure that it's still well lubricated.

Shaft lubrication ensures longevity and at the same time affects the performance quite significantly.

A flexible shaft will spin inside of a sleeve at up to 3000 revs per minute, and this will build up heat through friction, especially if that shaft is coiled into a smaller diameter. This is why we always suggest that you open up your flexible drain cleaning shaft as much as you can when using it.

The protective sheath has special additives in it that protect the sleeve from being damaged as a result of high temperatures and the chemicals that you would find in a sewer system. Shaft lubrication helps reduce the amount of heat that builds up between the sewer cleaning flexible shaft and the protective sleeve. The biggest advantage to lubricating your shaft is the effect that it has on the torque demand from your drill.

The less friction you have from your protective sheath, the more torque that is available for your chains. You can use any kind of lubricant that won't degrade in high temperatures and will not affect plastic negatively. These lubricants include machine oil, compressor oil, grease, graphite grease, and even paraffin oil.

Shaft lubrication is quick and easy. You can either put your sleeve bearing in a vice, or get somebody to hold it for you and remove about 50 centimeters or 20 inches to show a hollow space. Pour your lubricant inside that hollow space and wait a couple of seconds for the lubricant to run down the shaft.

After that, switch your drill back on; slowly but surely working the lubricant from one side of the shaft to the other. A little tip is not to push it back very quickly, because otherwise it will mess the lubricant all over the place. You can also lubricate the set screws to prevent possible rust.

We have created a video on how to easily lubricate your flexible shaft:

 

 

If the sewer cleaning flexible shaft is worn out, we highly recommend replacing it with a new one. Lubrication will ensure longevity of the flexible shaft but still it will also depend on how frequently you are using it, as well as the application.

 

 

 

 

Improper service or repair can make the equipment unsafe to operate.

The “Maintenance Instructions” will take care of most of the service needs of these tools. Any problems not addressed by this section should only be handled by a PLUMBER-TOOLS employee/authorized representative. Always use only PLUMBER-TOOLS service parts.

For more information or inquiries or any service or repair questions see Contact Information section in this manual.

 

 

To reduce the risk of serious injury, only use accessories specifically designedand recommended for use with the PLUMBER-TOOLS flexible drain cleaning shaft.

For a complete listing of PLUMBER-TOOLS equipment available for our tools, see the PLUMBER-TOOLS online store at https://plumber-tools.com/ or see Contact Information section.

 

Disposal

 

Parts of these tools contain valuable materials and can be recycled. There are companies that specialize in recycling that may be found locally. Dispose of the components in compliance with all applicable regulations. Contact your local waste management authority for more information.

 

 

We manufacture our own brand of flexible shafts, and by chance our clients started adapting them to their Ridgid K102 or Ridgid K204 sewer cleaning machines. They also informed us that our flexible shafts are a bit more rigid than the Ridgid flexshafts. We do not claim that we have a replacement shaft for a Ridgid Flexshaft.