HYDRAMASTER RX-20, CMX-20 User Manual

11015 47th Avenue W, Mukilteo, WA 98275

RX-20 / CMX-20

Table of Contents Page

Introduction ........................... 1

Machine Specifications ................... 2

Assembly Instructions .................... 3

Operation ............................. 4

Cleaning Information ..................... 6

Machine Maintenance .................... 8

Machine Parts .........................11

Repair ...............................21

Troubleshooting ........................22

Limited Warranty Plan ....................24

Machine Serial Number _______________________

Copyright © 1998

HYDRAMASTER© Corporation

Mukilteo, Washington

182-006

No part of this manual may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means (i.e. graphic, electronic, photocopying or
electronic retrieval systems) without the express written permission of the HYDRAMASTER© Corporation. All rights reserved.

Revised September 10, 1998

RX-20 / CMX-20 Page 1

Congratulations!((!((

You now own a piece of equipment
that incorporates the latest in carpet
cleaning technology. The RX-20's
features will almost certainly increase
the productivity of you and your
business, while decreasing the fatigue
factor that may have prevented you
from going after some of the large
cleaning jobs that are available to
carpet cleaners and maintenance
professionals today. With competition
as strong as it is in most communities,
you have invested in not only a
cleaning tool, but a marketing tool that
will enhance your professional image in
every way. The RX-20 is
REVOLUTIONARY. Your foresight in
purchasing this ultimate "cleaning
machine" will be rewarded with the
knowledge that you care enough to
give your customer the maximum
cleaning process available.

The RX-20's weight distribution and
rotary motion enable the technician to
maneuver the unit easily with less
fatigue and without back strain.

The RX-20's electric motor drives its
precision transmission which, in turn,
rotates the star assembly. Cleaning
solution is injected through the center
of the gearbox shaft directly to the five
spray jets. Soiled solution is then
extracted from the carpet by five
cleaning heads and drawn through the
aluminum exhaust manifold to your
cleaning system's recovery tank.
NOTE: The operating temperature and
pressure of the cleaning solution as
well as the vacuum power depends
entirely on the type of cleaning system
you use.

Using the RX-20 in your business will
turn you into a professional carpet
cleaning operator, rather than a
professional laborer.

Once again, congratulations to another
cleaning professional who will not wait
for tomorrow, and will not have to
compete against the RX-20. The
competition will have to try and
compete with you!

An Evolution

That Had To Happen

Your new RX-20 has been precision
engineered to bring you to the state-of­the-art in carpet cleaning. In the past,
a wand technician had to supply all the
pressure and motion to do the cleaning.

Construction

The base, exhaust manifolds, handle,
gearbox housing and cleaning heads
are all cast or molded aluminum. Other
parts are either metal or high impact
plastic.

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Page 2 RX-20 / CMX-20

Machine Specifications

RX-20 HIGH SPEED RX-20

CMX-20 HIGH SPEED CMX-20

Length: 27" 23"

Base Width: 15" 15"

Height: 45" 43"

Weight: 75 lbs. 70 lbs.

Motor: 115 V, ¾ HP 115 V, ½ HP TEFC

Gearbox: 1725 RPM Input 1725 RPM Input

90 RPM Output 130 RPM Output

Permanently Lubricated

Helical Gear Drive

Oil Capacity: 14 oz. 14 oz.

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RX-20 / CMX-20 Page 3

Assembly Instructions

To prepare your machine for use, If you purchased a High Speed RX-20,
follow these instructions: it may require assembling if it was
a) Remove the machine from the shipped in two separate boxes.

packaging. Inspect the machine
carefully for any damage that may To assemble:
have occurred during shipping. If a) With the three bolts provided,
any oil spillage is noted be sure to attach the handle to the base using
check the gearbox lubricant level a 9/16" wrench (see illustration to
(see instructions). right).

b) Now attach the star assembly to b) Next attach the stainless steel hose

the base. Lean the machine back to the rotary union using 7/16" and
and rest it on the handle. Thread 1/2 " wrenches.
the star assembly onto the exposed c) Next attach the 2" vacuum hose to
shaft remembering to go in a the base and handle using the hose
counter-clockwise direction. clamps provided.

c) Important: Remove the solid d) Next plug the male and female

shipping plug from the top of the electrical connections together.
gearbox and replace it with the
vented plug provided before
operating the machine.

Your machine is now ready to

operate.

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Page 4 RX-20 / CMX-20

Operation

Preparation

1. Handle Adjustment: Loosen the
adjustment knob located below the
RX-20 label (turn counter­clockwise to loosen, clockwise to
tighten). Adjust the handle to a
comfortable height. Several
adjustments may be needed before
a desirable operating position is
found.
NOTE: Most technicians have
found better control and less
fatigue when the handle is in a low
position just around the hip line.
There is an ideal position for each
person which will ensure the RX-20
will do the work instead of you.

quick connect is required. The
vacuum inlet requires a two inch ID
vacuum hose for proper air flow
with a truck mounted system.
IMPORTANT: The vacuum hose
must be in good condition to
ensure maximum airflow. If you do
not have a 440 female quick
connect and can not find it locally,
it can be ordered from the
HydraMaster Parts Department.
Call [phone] and request
part # 052-051 (440 QC).

3a. Electrical Cord Hook Up (Regular

RX-20): The 50 foot electrical cord
on your RX-20 is a detachable
three-prong grounded line requiring
a three-prong, 15 amp receptacle.
A three-prong to two-prong
adapter may be used, providing its
ground wire is properly attached to
a grounded terminal.

CAUTION: Do not, under any
circumstances, remove the ground
prong from your RX-20 power
cord. Serious injury or death may
result.

To connect the power cord to the
unit, insert the male twist-lock plug
(from the unit) into the female end
(on the power cord) and twist until
they are securely locked together.

2. Solution and Vacuum Hose
Hookups: Your RX-20 is equipped
with 440 male quick connect for
the solution hose hookup and a
two inch OD vacuum hose inlet
(refer to the above illustration). A
solution hose with a 440 female

3b. Electrical Cord Hook Up

(High Speed RX-20): The
50 foot electrical cord on
your RX-20 is a
permanently attached,
three-prong grounded line
requiring a three-prong,
15 amp receptacle. A

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RX-20 / CMX-20 Page 5

three-prong to two-prong To move forward and backward,
adapter may be used position the handle so that the unit
providing its ground wire remains stationary, then push
is properly attached to a forward or pull back.
grounded terminal.

CAUTION: Do not, under any To familiarize yourself
circumstances, remove the ground with your RX-20,
prong from your RX-20 power practice on an open
cord. Serious injury or death may carpeted area. Depress
result. both the solution trigger

and motor trigger and
move the RX-20 slowly

Operating Instructions

4. Control Functions: There are
control triggers located on each
side of the handle under the rubber
hand grips. As you operate the
RX-20, the trigger on your right
hand side controls the electric
motor that drives the cleaning
heads. On the left hand side, the
trigger controls the high pressure
solution spray. The air flows
constantly while the RX-20 is in
operation.

in a three to five foot
arc, as shown in the
cleaning patterns on the
following page.
CAUTION: Do not
operate your RX-20 on
dry carpets. The
friction generated by
the revolving cleaning heads may
damage fibers in the carpet.

Once you have become familiar with
the speed and movement of the
machine, practice making it hover in
one spot. (The hovering maneuver is
useful for removing stubborn stains, as
well as removing furniture
indentations.)

Do not tilt machine sideways while
moving forward and backward. A loss
of control may result in damage to the
unit or location.

5. Maneuvering Your RX-20: Your
RX-20 maneuvers like a rotary floor
machine. To move the RX-20 to
the right, lift the handle slightly.
To move it to the left, push down
on the handle slightly. The more
you lift or lower the handle, the
faster the RX-20 will move.

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Page 6 RX-20 / CMX-20

Cleaning Information

Cleaning Patterns

For regular carpet
cleaning, use an
overlapping arc pattern
three times over the
same area (two passes
with solution and one
pass for drying). When
cleaning carpets, first
clean in a circular
pattern, then use the
overlapping arc pattern
to dry the area.
(NOTE: Dirtiest areas
may require two or
more cleaning passes.)
Using either pattern,
you should develop a
comfortable rhythm. To
obtain maximum
performance from your
RX-20, move it slowly and deliberately During the cleaning of some plush
with a 50% overlap, giving it time to carpets you may notice a "pilling"
clean and extract. (Unlike a manual effect. With an RX-20, loose yarns
wand, the RX-20 is doing the work you form balls and are kicked aside as the
had to do in the past.) A steady pace cleaning heads revolve. This is normal
rather than a frenzied one will increase when aggressive cleaning or even
efficiency and production and decrease normal vacuuming takes place, as
fatigue. evidenced by a number of dead, loose

Arc

Circular

The Following Cautions Should
Be Observed While Cleaning:

1. DO NOT operate your RX-20 over
metal floor moldings. Damage to
both the molding and the cleaning
head will result.

hardwood floors.

3. DO NOT operate your RX-20 over
loose or unraveled carpet seams.
The cleaning head may catch and
cause further damage.

4. DO NOT operate your RX-20 on
concrete floors. It will develop
sharp edges on the extraction
heads that will damage carpet
fibers.

5. DO NOT clean over the edge of a
loose carpet. Instead, clean only
up to the edge. Damage may
occur should the extraction heads
catch the loose carpet.

Special Information

yarns in the vacuum cleaner bag.
These loose yarns, in most cases, are
short staple yarns or filler yarns used to
give the carpet a denser appearance.
Because your RX-20 weighs
approximately 90 pounds and rests on
five four-inch cleaning heads, the yarns
are not sucked up into the vacuum
heads as they are with a vacuum
cleaner or old-style cleaning wand.

2. DO NOT operate your RX-20 on

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RX-20 / CMX-20 Page 7

CAUTION: On older, rubber backed, The RX-20 has been very successful in
glued down carpets that may be de- restoring badly matted traffic lanes in
laminating with age, the RX-20 may front of doorways and sofas. Even
cause further de-lamination. When in pivot areas can be brought back to life
doubt, DO NOT use your RX-20. again, in most cases. "Cornrowing" in

hallways can also be eliminated with
minimal effort.

Cleaning Hints

A. Most cleaners customarily clean

their way out of an area or room.
With the RX-20, it is possible to
clean into an area or room, as
shown in the illustrations below, so
that the hoses are dragged behind
you during the cleaning process
rather than kicked out of the way
as you back out of an area. The
"cleaning into" method works
especially well in hallways or
confined areas.

B.

The RX-20 is a very aggressive
carpet cleaning power head and
will leave the carpet with a freshly­cleaned appearance. The carpet
should be brushed or groomed
after the cleaning process to
remove any swirl marks left
behind.

HydraMaster Corporation 9/10/98