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!
Page 2
Speedrooter 91™
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
WARNING! Read and understand all
instructions. 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. Instructional videos
are available for download on our website, and
may be ordered. If you have any questions or
problems, please call General’s customer
service department at 412-771-6300.
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 of fumes.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
These instructions are intended to
familiarize all personnel with the safe
operation and maintenance
procedures for the Speedrooter 91.
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.
Never operate machine with
belt guard removed. Fingers
can get caught between belt and
pulley.
CAUTION indicates a hazard with a low level of risk which,
if not avoided, will result in minor or moderate injury.
Do not overstress cables.
Overstressing cables may cause
twisting, kinking, or breaking of
the cable and may result in serious injury.
2
Page 3
Speedrooter 91™
GENERAL SAFETY RULES
Work Area
1. Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered benches
and dark areas invite accidents.
2. Do notoperate power tools in explosive atmos-
pheres, such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust. Power tools create sparks
which may ignite the dust or fumes.
3. Keepbystanders, children, and visitors away while operating 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. 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.
3. Do not expose power tools to rain or wet condi-
tions. Water entering a power tool will increase the
risk of electric shock.
4. 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.
5. When operating a power tool outside usean out-
door extension cord marked “W-A” or “W” . These
cords are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of
electric shock.
6. Test the Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
provided with the power cord to insure it is operating correctly before operating machine. Machine
must have a properly functioning ground fault circuit
interrupter on the power cord. GFCI reduces the risk
of electric shock.
7. Only useproper three-wire extension cords in
good condition which have three-prong grounding
plugs and three-pole receptacles which accept the
tool‟s plug. Use of damaged, inferior, or other extension cords will not ground the tool. Increases the risk
of electric shock and bodily injury or death.
8. Extension cords are not recommended unless
they are plugged into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) found in circuit boxes or outlet recepta-
cles. The GFCI on the machine power cord will not
prevent electric shock from the extension cords.
9. Keep all electric connections dry and off the
ground. Reduces the risk of electric shock.
10. DO NOTtouch 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 moment of inat-
tention 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. Plugging in tools that have the
switch on invites accidents.
4. Remove adjusting keys or switches before turn-ing 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 bal-ance at all times. Proper footing and balance enables better control of the tool in unexpected situations.
6. Use safety equipment. 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. Do
not force tool. 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 usetool 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 be-
fore 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.
3
Page 4
Speedrooter 91™
8. Only use 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.
Service
1. Tool service must be performed only by qualified
repair personnel. Service or maintenance per-
formed by unqualified repair personnel could result in
injury.
2. When servicing a tool, use only identical replace-
ment 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. Never operate machine with belt guard removed.
Fingers can get caught between belt and pulley.
3. Do not overstress cables. Keep leather-gloved
hand on the cable for control when machine is running. Overstressing cables because of an obstruction
may cause twisting, kinking, or breaking of the cable
and may result in serious injury.
4. Place the machine at a distance not greater than two feet from the opening. Greater distances can
result in cable twisting or kinking.
5. Machine is designed for ONE-PERSON operation.
Operator must control foot switch and cable.
6. Do not operate machine in reverse (REV). Operating machine in reverse can result in cable damage
and is used only to back cutting tool out of an obstruction.
7. Keep hands away from rotating drum. Do not
reach into drum unless machine is unplugged. 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 skin and eyes. Drain cleaning chemicals can
cause serious burns as well as damage the cable.
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. Al-
ways replace worn out (kinked or broken) cables with
genuine GENERAL replacement cables.
12. Only use this tool in the application for which it
was designed. Follow the instructions on the
proper use of the machine. Other uses or modifying
the drain cleaner for other applications may increase
risk of injury.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Your machine is equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter, which protects you against shock if a short circuit
should occur. Check that receptacle is properly
grounded. Test the GFCI before each use.
1. Plug into 120-volt receptacle.
2. Push test button. Indicator light will go out and power
to machine should cut off.
3. If light does not go out when test button is pushed,
equipment should not be used until proper repairs
can be made.
4. To restore power after test, push reset button. With
the reset button depressed, if the machine doesn't
start, stops while running, or if the operator experiences a mild shock, do not use the machine! Tag
the machine out of service and take it to a motor repair center or return it to the factory for repairs.
THE SECTION OF CORD BETWEEN THE WALL PLUG
AND THE GFCI IS NOT IN THE PROTECTED CIRCUIT.
FEATURES
Truck
Loading
Wheel
Motor
Switch
Stair
Climbers
Wheel
Brake
V-Belt
Drum
Distributor Tube
Speedrooter 91 shown (Right)
with Cable Guide Tube
(Cat. # S91-GT)
Adjustable Height Handle
Belt Guard
Feed Pressure
Control Knob
Feed
Control
Lever
Cutter
Foot Pedal
4
Page 5
Speedrooter 91™
Cable Application Chart (Table 1)
Cable Size Pipe Size Typical Applications
3/4”
(Large Drum)
5/8”
(Large Drum)
1/2”
(Small Drum)
4” to 10”
3” to 6” Floor Drains, Roots
2” to 4”
Large Drains, Long Runs,
Roots
Stacks & Small Drains
(No Roots)
Cutter Application Chart (Table 2)
Cutter Cat. # Typical Applications
Cutters for 1/2” Cables
Arrow
Head
1-1/2”
U-Cutter
Small
Retrieving
Tool
13” Flexible Leader LE-1
Cutters for 5/8” and 3/4” Cables
Spear
Head
2”
U-Cutter
3” & 4”
Side
Cutter
Blades
3” Heavy
Duty Saw
Blade
4” Rotary
Saw Blade
Large
Retrieving
Tool
26” Flexible LeaderLE-3
Note: There are no fixed rules for what cutter to use. If
one tool doesn’t take care of a stoppage, simply try
another.
AH
1-1/2UC
RTR-1
SHD
2UC For Cutting and Scraping
3SCB
&
4SCB
3HDB For Cutting Roots
4RSB For Cutting Roots
RTR-2
Starting Tool, ideal for
cutting and scraping.
Finishing tool, works well
in grease stoppages.
To remove or retrieve
loose objects.
Tool for negotiating
around difficult bends.
Starting Drill—gets water
flowing.
For Cutting—Scraping
walls of pipe.
For removing loose objects or broken cables.
Helps cable get through
tight traps and bends.
POWER CABLE FEED
Feed Control Lever Feed Pressure Knob
Reverse
Neutral
Raised Cap
Forward
OPERATION
SET-UP
MAKE SURE THE MOTOR SWITCH IS IN
THE „OFF‟ POSITION!
1. Place machine at a
distance not greater
than two feet from the
drain opening. Be
sure the Speedrooter
Guide Tube (S91-GT)
is in place. If you
can't get the machine
this close to the drain
opening, run the cable
through the optional Guide Tube Extension (GTE) or
a metal guide tube to prevent cable whipping.
2. Position the air foot pedal for easy accessibility. The
machine is designed for one-person operation. Be
sure you can quickly remove your foot from the pedal
in an emergency.
3. Lock the wheels by lifting the brake handle located
next to the left wheel and pressing it into the clip.
4. Be sure the motor switch is in the off position.
5. Make sure the Power Cable Feed is set to match the
cable size you have selected. If you’re using 3/4" or
5/8” cables, the feed should be assembled with the
raised side of the lower two caps outward. If you are
using 1/2" cables, the feed should be assembled with
the raised side of the caps inward.
6. Select the proper cutting tool (See Cutter Application
Chart—Table 2). A good tool to start with is the
Spearhead or 2” U-Cutter. If you are having difficulty
getting around a P-Trap or close bend, try the flexible
leader. After the line has been opened, follow with
larger blades, which scrape the inside edges of the
pipe, assuring a real cleaning job.
7. Insert the cutter into the female connector at the end
of the cable and tighten the connecting screw and
5
lock washer firmly in place.
Page 6
Speedrooter 91™
OPERATION
1. Before stepping on the foot pedal, pull cable from the
drum and slide it into the drain as far as it will go.
2. Tighten the knob at top of the Power Cable Feed so
that the feed roller presses against the cable. Be sure
not to over tighten since this could cause excess cable wear.
3. The feed lever controls the feeding rate and direction
of the cable. Move the lever down to feed cable out
of drum. The further the lever is moved downward,
the faster the cable will feed out. Move lever up to
retract cable into drum. When the lever is in the middle (neutral) position, cable will spin in place.
4. Move the motor switch to the forward position.
5. With a gloved hand on the Guide Tube, depress the
air foot pedal to start machine. Feed the cable into
the line and against the obstruction with a firm, even
pressure. Adjust the feeding rate to the resistance
met. Do not force the cable - let the cutter do the
work. The job won’t go any faster and you could
damage the cable.
6. Don't leave too much slack in the cable since this will
cause whipping. If the cable starts to bend or build
up too much twist, release pressure on the foot pedal
and rotate the drum in the opposite direction to relieve the twist on the cable. Push any excess cable
back into the drum and then continue.
7. If you're having trouble getting around tight bends, try
putting the machine in reverse while applying steady
pressure.
10. Be careful not to let the cutter get caught in the stoppage as you work through it. This can cause kinking
and breaking of the cable. When you feel the cable
starting to twist in your hands, stop the machine and
retract the cable. This will free the cutter from the
obstruction. Then allow the cable to move forward
slowly into the stoppage. Remember, no cutting
takes place when the blades stop turning.
11. After the line has been opened, retract the cable by
moving the feed lever up. Make sure the motor
switch is in the forward position. This is important to
prevent the cable from tangling in the drum or in the
line.
12. When the cutter is near the drain opening, take your
foot off the pedal to stop drum rotation. Never retract
the cutter from drain while cable is rotating. The cable could whip and cause serious injury.
DO NOT USE REVERSE TO PULL THE
CABLE OUT OF THE DRAIN.
RUNNING MACHINE IN REVERSE
CAN CAUSE THE CABLE TO TANGLE
IN THE DRUM.
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
IF CABLE GETS CAUGHT IN LINE
The motor can be reversed to free the cable if it gets
caught in line. (Note: if using Power Cable Feed, putting
motor in reverse will cause the feed control lever to operate opposite of normal.)
1. Move motor switch to the reverse position.
2. Depress the foot pedal while pulling on the cable.
3. After cable is loose, move switch back into forward
position.
Don't do this for more than a few seconds at a time
since this could cause tangling in the drum or kinking.
8. If you still can't get around the bend, you're probably
using too large a cable. Switch to a 5/8" or 1/2”
diameter cable. (See Cable Application Chart—
Table 1)
9. When the cable reaches the stoppage, allow the cable to progress forward 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 often
works best.
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.
DO NOT RUN MOTOR IN REVERSE FOR
MORE THAN A FEW SECONDS AT A TIME
SINCE THIS COULD CAUSE THE CABLE
TO KINK OR TANGLE IN THE DRUM.
IF CABLE TANGLES IN DRUM
This is caused by using too much pressure when feeding
the cable or feeding the cable into the line while running
the machine in reverse. To untangle the cable, rotate the
drum in opposite direction. This will usually get the cable
to lie in the drum properly.
If the cable has become badly tangled, which shouldn’t
occur if used properly, it can be straightened out by removing the distributor tube from the machine. To do this:
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER
SOURCE BEFORE UNTANGLING CABLES
6
Page 7
Speedrooter 91™
1. Remove drum from machine frame. (See TO REMOVE DRUM.)
2. Set drum down so that distributor tube is pointing up.
Unscrew knob at the back of distributor tube. (See
Figure 1.) This unlocks the distributor tube from the
drum shaft. Be careful not to lose the thrust bearing
and race attached to the knob.
Figure 1
3. Slide the distributor tube off the shaft and out of the
drum. (See Figure 2.)
TO REMOVE DRUM
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER
SOURCE BEFORE REMOVING DRUM FROM
MACHINE!
1. Remove belt guard by loosening the knob above the
motor.
2. Press down on motor and slide V-Belt off of drum.
Then rotate motor to the side.
3. Remove the cutter and connecting screw from the
cable end.
4. Unscrew knob behind the front post and pull Power
Cable Feed off the machine.
5. Loosen the knob on front post cap (S91-120), then
open cap.
6. Loosen knob on rear drum shaft clamp (S91-130),
then open cap.
7. Lift drum clear of machine.
Figure 2
The tension of the cable will force the tube to the side
of the drum as you pull it out; so keep some pressure
against the cable as you pull the tube out. After tube
is out, pull out the inner drum cage. (See Figure 3.)
Pull out enough cable to eliminate the tangle.
Figure 3
4. After the cable is straightened out, slide the inner
drum cage back into place. (Figure 3.) Then slide
distributor tube back so that curved section is adjacent to crescent-shaped notch in inner drum cage
and back of distributor tube fits over shaft in center of
drum. (Figure 2.) Keep pressing down on distributor
tube as you tighten knob with thrust bearing and
races. (Figure 1.) This holds tube into place. You
can now put the drum back on the machine.
TO INSTALL DRUM
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER
SOURCE BEFORE INSTALLING
DRUM ON MACHINE!
1. Hang V-Belt from motor pulley. (64” belt for large
drum, 57” for small.)
2. Place drum on the machine, positioning the shaft into
rear drum clamp first. Rotate the drum until the hole
in the shaft fits over the guide pin in the clamp.
3. Then put the distributor tube into the front post
clamp.
4. Close front and rear clamps. Then tighten knobs.
5. Slip V-Belt under drum.
7
Page 8
Speedrooter 91™
TO INSTALL CABLE IN DRUM
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER
SOURCE BEFORE INSTALLING
CABLE IN DRUM!
To install cable in the drum, simply connect the male end
of the cable to the drum connecting cable, which is already attached to the drum. Then remove the drum VBelt and turn the drum clockwise, while pushing cable
Note: The cable should lay in the drum
in a clockwise direction.
MAINTENANCE
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER
SOURCE BEFORE PERFORMING MAINTE-
NANCE ON MACHINE!
re-assembly. The top roller can now be removed.
2. Remove the snap rings and thrust washers from the
bottom housing cylinders. The bottom rollers can
now be removed.
3. Re-assembly is done in reverse order.
DAMAGED ROLLER
Excessive use may wear a roller to the point of failure. It
is recommended that all three rollers be replaced at the
same time (Cat # PO-703).
TANGLED CABLE
If a cable loops over itself in the drum, it will not feed
properly. Remove and reload the cable to restore function. If the cable kinks, it is evidence of abuse and results
from the use of too much pressure or use of the wrong
size cable for the line. Do not force the cable — let the
cutter do the work.
To keep your machine operating smoothly, it is essential
that all bearings and distributor tube 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.
FEED MAINTENANCE
Keep feed free of excessive soil and grit. It is recommended that the feed be flushed with fresh water followed by a light oiling of the moving parts. No disassembly is normally required. Failure to feed can usually be
traced to the following possibilities:
FORMOREINFORMATION
CONTACTTHE DRAIN BRAINS® AT :
412-771-6300 or 800-245-6200
www.drainbrain.com
info@drainbrain.com
DIRT ACCUMULATION
Over time, dirt can harden enough to stop roller rotation.
Flushing with water followed by liberal oiling can usually
restore function. If disassembly is required, proceed as
follows:
1. Remove the feed tension knob, springs and spring
plunger. Note the positioning of these parts to ease
8
Page 9
Speedrooter 91™
TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE (Table 3)
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.
Cable used in wrong size
drain line.
Allow no more than two feet between machine and
drain.
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 running in reverse. Do not run the machine in reverse to retract the