Operating Instructions
For 1-1/4" through 3" lines
(30mm – 75mm)
Your Drain-Rooter PH is designed to give you
years of trouble-free service. However, no machine
is better than its operator. We therefore suggest
you read these instructions carefully before using
your machine. This will enable you to operate the
Drain-Rooter PH safely and effectively. Failure to
follow these instructions may cause personal injury
to operator or damage to equipment.
Symbol Name
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
Read and understand all instructions.
Failure to follow all instructions listed below may result
in electric shock, fire and/or serious personal injury.
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. Don’t expose power tools to rain or wet conditions.
Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of
electric shock.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS.
Work Area
1. Keep your 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
operating a power tool. Distractions can cause you to
loose control.
4. Do not let visitors contact the tool or extension cord.
Such preventative measures reduce the risk of injury.
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 tools 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.
5. Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord to carry the
tools or pull 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
extension cord marked “W-A” or “W.” These cords are
rated for outdoor use and reduce 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 moment of inattention while operating
power tools may result in serious personal injury.
2. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry.
Contain 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
plugging in. Carrying tools with your finger on the switch
or plugging in tools that have the switch on invites
accidents.
4. Remove adjusting keys or switches before turning the tool
on. A wrench or a 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. Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection.
Dust mask, non-skid safety shoes, hard hat, or heating
protection must be used for appropriate conditions.
2
Tool Use and care
1. Use clamps or other practical way to secure and support
the work piece 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. 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 serviced
before using. Many accidents are caused by poorly
maintained tools.
8. Use only accessories that are recommended by the
manufacturer for your model. Accessories that may be
suitable for one tool may become hazardous when used
on another tool.
9. Inspect tool and extension cords periodically and replace
if damaged. Damaged cords increase the risk of electrical
shock.
10. Keep handles dry and clean; free from oil and grease.
Allows for better control of the tool.
11. Store tools in dry place. Such measures reduce the risk
of electrical shock.
Service
1. Only qualified repair personnel must perform tool service.
Service or maintenance performed by unqualified
personnel could result in a risk of 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 Information
1. Be sure that the unit is plugged into properly grounded
and polarized outlet. If in doubt, check outlet before
plugging in machine. Check power cord to see that there
are no cuts or frays.
2. The Skil drive unit used in the Drain-Rooter PH 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.
3. If the power cord is not long enough, be sure to use a
minimum 16 gauge heavy duty extension cord no more
than 50 ft. long and in good condition. Use of lighter cords
can result in severe power loss and overheating.
4. Wear rubber boots and rubber glove inserts when work
area is wet. Do not operate machine if operator is standing
in water.
5. The equipment is designed to be used by a single
operator only.
6. Wear safety glasses when operating machine.
7. Wear leather gloves only, not cloth gloves, when handling
the cable while it’s rotating.
8. Neutralize or remove corrosive drain cleaners from drain
before starting. Exposure to these chemicals can cause
injury to operator and damage cable.
9. Never take hold of a rotating cable. Pull the cable out of
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 power cable feed and the other
hand around the guide tube.
10. The Drain-Rooter PH must be operated within one foot of
drain opening. If you can’t get the guide tube this close to
the drain opening, run the cable through metal tubing or
conduit to prevent cable whipping and kinking.
11. Before starting each job, check that the cable in the
container is not broken or kinked, by pulling the cable out
and checking for wear or breakage. Always replace worn
out (kinked or broken) cables with genuine GENERAL
replacement cables.
3
Variable Speed Switch
A variable speed control is built into the trigger mechanism.
You can control and increase the machine’s speed by applying
morepressure to the foot pedal until you get the speed that you
want.
Table 1. Cable Applications
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, and small drains (not roots)
The 1/4" and 5/16" diameter cables with EL-Basin plug heads can be spun through most strainer crossbars
and work well in lines blocked by soft stoppages such as hair, soap, fats, etc.
Table 2. Cutter Applications
Cutter Catalog # Typical Applications
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.
Arrow Head AH Ideal for heavy cutting and scraping.
Flexible Arrow Head FAH More flexibility than Arrow Head; can take sharp turns in small lines.
Boring Gimlet BG To remove or retrieve loose objects
1-1/4 " Side Cutter 1-1/4 SCB Works well in grease stoppages, scrapes walls of pipe.
Assembly
1. To attach the guide tube, remove the connecting screw
from the female connector at the end of the cable.
2. Pull five feet of cable out of the container and slide it
through the guide tube.
3. Align the spring pin connector with the holes in the spout
on the front of the container.
4. Slide the connector over the spout until the spring pin
pops into place.
4
Operation
1. Position the Drain-Rooter PH so that the guide hose can
be placed within 2” to 6” of the drain opening without
excessive bending of the guide hose.
Note: Avoid sharp bends or kinking of the guide hose
by repositioning the machine. The Drain-Rooter PH is
designed to be positioned either horizontally or vertically
to facilitate this.
2. On units with a female connector at the end of the cable,
remove the connecting screw and insert the cutting tool
into the connector. Then tighten the connecting screw
and lock washer
Note: A good tool to start with is the Arrowhead or
Boring gimlet. If you’re having difficulty getting around a
P-Trap or tight bend, attach the down head boring gimlet
or flexible arrowhead. After the line has been opened,
follow with the 1-1/4” side cutter blade that scrapes the
inside of the pipe, assuring a real cleaning job.
3. Tighten the knob on top of the variable speed power cable
feed so that the feed roller presses against the cable.
Be sure not to over tighten since this could cause
excessive cable wear.
4. The feed lever controls the feeding rate and direction of the
cable. Move the feed lever down to feed the cable out of
the container. The farther the lever is moved downward,
the faster the cable will feed out. Move the lever up to
retract the cable into the container. When the lever is in
the middle (neutral) position, the cable will spin in place.
firmly.
7. With a hand on the guide hose, start the machine by
stepping slowly but firmly on the foot pedal. The harder
you press on the pedal, the faster the motor will rotate
and the faster the cable will feed.
8. Feed the cable slowly. Use both the foot pedal and
power cable feed to adjust feeding speed as resistance
is met.
Do not force the cable.
the cable can go into the drain. Too much cable between
the guide hose and drain will cause whipping and kinking.
9. If the cable starts to bend or build up too much twist,
take your foot off the pedal and rotate the container in
the opposite direction to relieve the twist on the cable.
Push any excess cable back into the container and
then continue.
10. When the cable reaches the stoppage, put the feed in
neutral. Then allow the cable to progress slowly, chewing
into the stoppage as it goes. This slow forward movement
will reduce stress on the cable while doing a more
thorough cleaning job. A back and forth action usually
works best.
11. When the obstruction is cleared, retract the cable by
moving the feed lever into the reverse position. Keep the
motor in the forward position. Running in reverse can
damage the cable. Use reverse only if the cable gets caught
in the 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.
Don’t feed faster than
5. Make sure the Forward/Off/Reverse switch on the motor is
in the Forward position.
6. Place the cable end and cutter into the drain opening.
5
To Change Cable Cartridges
Maintenance
1. Remove the cutter and connecting screw from the cable if
one is attached.
2. Loosen the knob at the base of the front post and swing
the front post and power cable feed forward.
3. Loosen the three screws around the outside of the
container that hold the front and back of the container
together.
4. Pull the container front off the machine, revealing the
cable cartridge within.
5. Retract the cable out of the feed and guide tube and slide
it into the cable cartridge by hand.
6. Remove the cable cartridge.
7. Press replacement cartridge firmly into the back of the
container. Make sure to line up the grooves in the cartridge
with the slots in the container back.
8. Slide the cable through the container front,
power cable feed, and guide tube.
9. Position the container front so that the three screws align
with the slots in the container back. Press the container
front into the container back and tighten the screws firmly,
making sure the screws are centered in the slots and the
heads are flush with the container.
10. Swing the front post and feed back into position and
tighten knob.
To keep your machine operating smoothly, it is essential that all
bearings and cables be as clean as possible and well lubricated.
Oiling moving parts is particularly important where machine
comes in contact with sand, grit and other abrasive material.
You can extend roller life by removing built-up debris as
necessary. It is essential that the rollers spin freely or the feed
will not work properly. In addition, frozen rollers will cause
cable tangling.
To get maximum service from your cables, be sure that they
are well oiled. Some users periodically pour oil directly into
the container. Then, as the container turns, the cables get
complete lubrication. Our SNAKE OIL is ideally suited for this
purpose, since it not only lubricates the cables; it disinfects
and deodorizes them.
To Clean Or Replace Feed Rollers
1. Remove the feed tension knob and spring.
2. Then lift the top roller assembly out of the cylinder.
Be sure control disc is aligned with slot to allow the
swivel pin to slide through.
3. Remove the snap rings and thrust washers from the
bottom housing cylinders. Then slide the bottom roller
assemblies out. Again, Be sure control disc is aligned
with slot to allow the swivel pin to slide through.
4. Clean or replace roller assemblies as necessary.
Table 3.Trouble Shooting Guide
Problem Probable Cause Solution
Operator forcing the cable. Do not force the cable. Let the cutter do the work.
Too much slack between
Cable kinks machine and drain
Cable used in wrong size drain line
Frozen or worn rollers.
Failure to Feed
Cable tangled in container.
Motor does not run Trigger in neutral (off) position. Switch Trigger to either Forward or Reverse.
6
Allow no more than six inches between machine and drain.
A cable that is too large or too small a diameter for a line is
more likely to kink. Consult Table 1 - Cable Applications.
Clean debris from around rollers. If rollers do not turn,
cable will not feed. Badly worn rollers must be replaced.
Make sure to use proper size cable for the job.
(See Table 1—Cable Applications)
Parts List and Diagram
7
1101 Thompson Avenue
•
McKees Rocks, PA 15136 USA
Phone: 412-771-6300
www.drainbrain.com
© General Wire Spring Co. 2002 C-DRPH-OI-0/00
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