General Pipe Cleaners BD Drain Gun Operating Instructions Manual
™
BD Drain Gun
Operating Instructions
For 1-1/4” through 3” lines
(30mm—75mm)
Your BD Drain Gun is designed to give
you years of trouble-free, profitable
service. However, no machine is better
than its operator.
Read, understand and follow all safety
warnings and instructions provided with
the product. Failure to follow the warnings
and instructions may result in electric
shock and/or serious injury. Save all warnings and instructions for future reference.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
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BD Drain Gun™
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
Failure to follow all instructions listed below
may result in electric shock, fire and/or serious
personal injury. Replacement manuals are
available upon request at no charge, or may
be downloaded from our website,
www.drainbrain.com.
If you have any questions or problems, please
call General’s customer service department at
412-771-6300.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
Electric shock resulting in
death can occur if you plug
this machine into an improperly wired outlet. If the ground
wire is electrified, you can be
electrocuted by just touching
the machine, even when the
power switch is off. A ground
fault circuit interrupter will not protect you in this situation. Use a
UL approved tester to determine
if the outlet is safe.
Do not operate power tools in
explosive atmospheres, such
as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust.
Power tools create sparks which
may ignite the dust or fumes.
These instructions are intended to
familiarize all personnel with the safe
operation and maintenance
procedures for the BD Drain Gun.
This is the safety alert symbol. It is
used to alert you to potential personal
DANGER indicates a hazard with a high level of risk
which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARINING indicates a hazard with a medium level of risk
which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid
possible injury or death.
Only wear leather gloves.
Never use any other type of
glove, such as cloth, rubber, or
coated gloves. Never grasp a
rotating cable with a rag.
These items could become
wrapped around the cable and
cause serious injury.
Always wear safety glasses
and rubber soled, non-slip
shoes. Use of this safety equip-
ment may prevent serious injury.
Do not overstress cables.
Overstressing cables may cause
twisting, kinking, or breaking of
the cable and may result in serious injury.
CAUTION indicates a hazard with a low level of risk which,
if not avoided, will result in minor or moderate injury.
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BD Drain Gun™
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
Work Area
1. Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered benches and dark
areas invite accidents.
2. Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such
as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust.
Power tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.
3. Keep bystanders, children, and visitors away while operat-
ing a power tool. Distractions can cause you to lose control.
Electrical Safety
1. Grounded tools must be plugged into an outlet, properly
installed and grounded in accordance with all codes and
ordinances. Never remove the grounding prong or modify
the plug in any way. Do not use any adapter plugs. Check
with a qualified electrician if you are in doubt as to whether
the outlet is properly grounded. If the tool should electrically
malfunction or break down, grounding provides a low resistance
path to carry electricity away from the user.
2. Double insulated tools are equipped with a polarized plug
(one blade is wider than the other). This plug will fit a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does not fit fully in the
outlet, reverse the plug. If it still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install a polarized outlet. Do not change
the plug in any way. Double insulation eliminates the need for
the three wire grounded power cord and grounded power supply
system.
3. Avoid body contact with grounded surfaces such as pipes,
radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an increased risk
of electric shock if your body is grounded.
4. Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water
entering a power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.
5. Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord to carry the tools
or pull the plug from an outlet. Keep cord away from heat,
oil, sharp edges or moving parts. Replace damaged cords
immediately. Damaged cords increase the risk of electric shock.
6. When operating a power tool outside use an outdoor exten-
sion cord marked “W-A” or “W”. These cords are rated for
outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric shock.
7. Keep all electric connections dry and off the ground. Reduces the risk of electric shock.
8. Do not touch plugs or tools with wet hands. Reduces the risk
of electric shock.
Personal Safety
1. Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense
when operating a power tool. Do not use tool while tired or
under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A mo-
ment of inattention while operating power tools may result in
serious personal injury.
2. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Con-
tain long hair. Keep your hair, clothing, and gloves away
from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be
caught in moving parts.
3. Avoid accidental starting. Be sure switch is off before plug-
ging in. Plugging in tools that have the switch on invites accidents.
4. Remove adjusting keys or switches before turning the tool
on. A wrench or key that is left attached to a rotating part of the
tool may result in personal injury.
5. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all
times. Proper footing and balance enables better control of the
tool in unexpected situations.
6. Always wear safety glasses and rubber soled, non-slip
shoes. Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing
protection must be used for appropriate conditions.
Tool Use and Care
1. Use clamps or other practical way to secure and support the
workpiece to a stable platform. Holding the work by hand or
against your body is unstable and may lead to loss of control.
2. Do not force tool. 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.
3. Do not use tool if switch does not turn it on or off. Any tool
that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must
be repaired.
4. Disconnect the plug from the power source before making
any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the tool.
Such preventative safety measures reduce the risk of starting the
tool accidentally.
5. Store idle tools out of reach of children and other untrained
persons. Tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
6. Maintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean.
Properly maintained tools, with sharp cutting edges are less likely
to bind and are easier to control.
7. Inspect for misalignment or binding of moving parts, break-
age of parts, and any other condition that may affect the
tool’s operation. If damaged, have the tool serviced before
using. Many accidents are caused by poorly maintained tools.
8. Only use accessories that are recommended by the manu-
facturer for your model. Accessories that may be suitable for
one tool may become hazardous when used on another tool.
Service
1. Tool service must be performed only by qualified repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed by unqualified repair
personnel could result in injury.
2. When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts.
Follow instructions in the Maintenance section of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow Maintenance
Instructions may create a risk of electric shock or injury.
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES
1. Only wear leather gloves. Never use any other type of glove,
such as cloth, rubber, or coated gloves. Never grasp a rotating
cable with a rag. These items could become wrapped around
the cable and cause serious injury.
2. Be sure that the unit is plugged into a properly grounded
receptacle. If in doubt, check receptacle before plugging in
machine. Check the power cord to see that there are no cuts or
frays, and that the grounding prong on the plug is still in place.
3. The drive unit is double insulated, and therefore has no
grounding wire. To reduce the risk of electric shock, this
equipment has a polarized plug (one blade is wider than the
other). The plug will fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the
plug does not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If the plug
still does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install the proper
outlet. Do not change the plug in any way.
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BD Drain Gun™
4. If the power cord supplied with the machine is not long
enough, be sure to use a 16 gauge heavy duty extension
cord no more than 50 feet long and in good condition. Using
lighter cords can result in severe power loss and motor overheating.
5. Place the machine at a distance not greater than six inches
from drain opening. Greater distances can result in cable twisting or kinking.
6. Machine is designed for ONE-PERSON operation. Operator
must control trigger switch and cable.
7. Never take hold of a rotating cable. Pull the cable out, or
push it back into the container by hand only when the motor
is stopped. When the motor is turning, always have one
hand controlling the trigger switch and the other hand
around the grip shield. Operator’s hand may be caught in the
moving parts resulting in serious injury.
8. Be careful when cleaning drains where cleaning chemicals
have been used. Avoid direct contact with corrosive drain cleaners. Drain cleaning chemicals can cause serious burns, as well
as damage the cable. Neutralize or remove corrosive drain
cleaners in the drain before starting the job.
9. Do not operate machine if operator or machine is standing
in water. Will increase risk of electrical shock.
10. Wear safety glasses and rubber soled, non-slip shoes. Use
of this safety equipment may prevent serious injury.
11. Before starting each job, check that the cable in the drum is
not broken or kinked, by pulling the cable out and checking
for wear or breakage. Always replace worn out (kinked or bro-
ken) cables with genuine GENERAL replacement cables.
12. Only use this tool in the application for which it was de-
signed. Follow the instructions on the proper use of the machine. Other uses or modifying the drain cleaner for other appli-
cations may increase risk of injury.
VARIABLE SPEED SWITCH
A variable speed control is built into the trigger mechanism. You can
control and increase the machine's speed by applying more trigger
pressure until you get the speed that you want.
You can also control the machine's direction of rotation by switching
the forward and reverse lever, which is located just above the trigger
switch. Move the lever toward the Forward arrow for forward rotation
and toward the Back arrow for reverse rotation. Switch to OFF position when the tool is not in use.
Cable Application Chart (Table 1)
Cable Size Pipe Size Typical Applications
1/4” 1-1/4" to 2" Small lines, tubs, and shower drains.
5/16" 1-1/2" to 2" Sinks, basins, and small drains.
3/8" 2" to 3" Stacks, toilets, small drains (No Roots).
The 1/4" and 5/16" diameter cables with EL Basin spring heads can be spun
through most strainer crossbars and work well in lines blocked by soft stoppages such as hair, soap, fats, etc.
OPERATION
1. Place machine at a distance no greater than six inches from the
drain opening. If you can’t place the machine this close to the
drain opening, run the cable through a hose or pipe to prevent
cable whipping.
FEATURES
Collet Chuck
Grip Shield
Forward/Off/
Reverse Switch
Variable Speed
Trigger Switch
Container Back
Container Front
Cable
2. Loosen the chuck. Insert the cable into the drain opening as far
as it will go. Tighten the chuck by turning it in a counterclockwise direction. Note: Chuck does not require a key. Simply
rotate the chuck until the jaws firmly grip the cable.
3. Be sure the Forward/Off/Reverse switch is in the FORWARD
position.
4. Gently squeeze the motor trigger and move the machine forward
toward the drain opening.
5. DO NOT FORCE THE CABLE. The job won’t go any faster and
you could kink the cable.
DO NOT USE TOO MUCH FORCE –
LET THE CUTTER DO THE WORK.
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BD Drain Gun™
6. After the cable has been fed into the drain, release the trigger.
7. Loosen the chuck by turning it in a clockwise direction. Pull the
Drain Gun back while holding the cable in place. After you are
past the first bend, you probably will not have to hold the cable
as you pull the machine back.
8. Tighten chuck, squeeze the trigger and move machine toward
drain again.
9. Loosen chuck and pull back. Be sure to allow no more than six
inches of cable between the machine and the drain opening.
Too much slack in the cable can cause it to tangle and kink.
10. Repeat procedure until you have worked through the stoppage.
11. Reverse procedure to pull the cable out of the line.
DO NOT USE REVERSE TO PULL THE CABLE OUT
OF THE DRAIN. ALWAYS RUN MACHINE IN FOR-
WARD. USE REVERSE ONLY TO RELEASE CABLE
IF CAUGHT IN LINE.
Hint: It's often helpful to have a small stream of water running
in the line to wash the cuttings away while the machine is in
operation and after.
TO CHANGE CABLES
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER SOURCE BE-
FORE INSTALLING CABLES OR DRUMS!
1. Loosen the chuck so that the cable will pass through it easily.
2. Push the back end of the cable through the chuck and into the
drum.
3. If you are loading a 3/8” cable into the drum, put a slight bend in
the cable one inch from the end so that it will load more easily.
MAINTENANCE
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER SOURCE BE-
FORE PERFORMINGMAINTENANCE ON MACHINE!
To keep your machine operating smoothly, it is essential that all bearings and bushings be lubricated. Oiling moving parts is particularly
important where machine comes in contact with sand, grit and other
abrasive material.
CABLE MAINTENENCE
To get maximum service from your cables,
be sure that they are clean and well oiled.
This not only provides running lubrication
but greatly extends the life of the cables as
well. Some users periodically pour oil directly into the drum. Then, as the drum
turns, the cables get complete lubrication.
Our SNAKE OIL is ideally suited for this
purpose, since it not only lubricates the
cables, it deodorizes them as well.
TO REMOVE MOTOR
1. Pull the cable out of the drum.
2. Loosen the three screws that hold the drum front and back together.
3. Pull the drum front off of the machine.
4. Loosen the two set screws in the beveled collar and remove both
the collar and the felt washer.
5. Slide a flat head screw driver into the Hub Spindle and unscrew
the Left Hand locking screw from the drive shaft by turning it
clockwise.
6. Unscrew the Hub Spindle from the Right Hand Drive Shaft by
rotating the drum back counter-clockwise. Note: The Hub Spin-
dle, Hub, and Drum Back remain as one unit. The thrust bearing
will slide freely.
7. Reverse these instructions to re-assemble.
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BD Drain Gun™
TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE (TABLE 2)
Problem Probable Cause Solution
Cable kinks or breaks. Operator forcing the cable. Do not force the cable. Let the cutter do the work.
Too much slack between machine and drain. Do not allow more than six inches between machine and drain.
Cable used in wrong size drain line. A cable that is too large or too small in diameter for a line is more
likely to kink. (Consult Table 1—Cable Applications.)
Cable exposed to acid Clean and oil cables regularly.
Cable tangles in drum. Operator forcing the cable. Do not force the cable. Let the cutter do the work.
Machine run in reverse. Do not run machine in reverse to retract cable from drain.
Use reverse only if cable is caught in line.
Motor does not run. Trigger in neutral (off) position. Switch Trigger to either Forward or Reverse.
Symbol Name Symbol Name
V
A
Hz
n
o
Volts
Amperes
Hertz
No load speed
Action direction or arrow
Alternating current
Designates double insulated
Designates this tool is listed by Underwriters Laboratories
…/min
Revolutions per minute
Designates this tool is listed by Canadian Standards Association
See page 19 and 20 for Parts List and Schematic.
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