RIDGID WD1246, WD1635 Operator's Manual

SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

WARNING:

To reduce the risk of injury, the user must read and understand the operator’s
manual before using this product.

!

Thank you for buying a RIDGID product.

WD1246/WD1635

12 U.S. GALLONS/45 LITRES OR
16 U.S. GALLONS/ 60 LITRES
WET/DRY VAC

FOR QUESTIONS OR INFORMATION CONTACT US AT

CALL 1-800-4-RIDGID (1-800-474-3443) OR

www.ridgidvacs.com

Part No. SP6661 Printed in Mexico

OPERATOR’S MANUAL

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Table of Contents

Important Safety Instructions. . . . . . . . . 2

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Unpacking and Checking

Carton Contents. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4

Caster/Caster Foot Assembly . . . . . . . . 4

Replacement Filter Assembly . . . . . . . . 5

Wet/Dry Vac Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Cord Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

To Store Your Accessories. . . . . . . . . . . 7

Operation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Vacuuming Dry Materials . . . . . . . . . . 8

Vacuuming Liquids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Emptying the Drum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Cord Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Moving the Wet/Dry Vac. . . . . . . . . . . 9

Blowing Feature . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10

Cleaning and Disinfecting

the Wet/Dry Vac . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Casters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

Repair Parts. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14

Section Page

S

ection Page

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

Safety is a combination of common sense,
staying alert, and knowing how your
wet/dry vacuum cleaner (“Vac”) works.

Safety Signal Words

DANGER: Indicates an imminently

hazardous situation which, if not avoided,

will result in death or serious injury.

WARNING: Indicates a potentially

hazardous situation which, if not avoided,

could result in death or serious injury.

CAUTION: Indicates a potentially

hazardous situation which, if not avoided,
may result in minor or moderate injury, or
property damage.

When using your Vac, always follow basic
safety precautions including the following:

WARNING - To

reduce the risk of fire, electric shock,
or injury:

• Read and understand this operator’s
manual and all labels on the Wet/Dry
Vac before operating.

• Use only as described in this manual.

• Do not leave Vac running while
unattended.

•

Sparks inside the motor can ignite
flammable vapors or dust. To reduce
the risk of fire or explosion, do not
vacuum or use near flammable or
combustible liquids, gases, or
explosive dusts, such as gasoline or
other fuels, lighter fluid, cleaners, oil­based paints, natural gas, hydrogen,
coal dust, magnesium dust, aluminum
dust, grain dust, or gun powder.

!

!

!

!

• Do not vacuum anything that is burning
or smoking, such as cigarettes,
matches, or hot ashes.

• Do not vacuum drywall dust or cold
fireplace soot or ash with standard
filter. This is a very fine dust which may
be exhausted back into the air. Use a
fine dust filter instead.

• To reduce the risk of health hazards
from vapors or dust, do not vacuum
toxic materials.

• Do not use or store near hazardous
materials.

• To reduce the risk of electric shock, do
not expose to rain or allow liquid to
enter motor compartment. Store
indoors.

• Do not allow to be used as a toy. Close
attention is necessary when used by or
near children.

• Do not use with a torn filter or without
the filter installed except when
vacuuming liquids as described in the
Operation section of this manual. Dry
debris ingested by the impeller may
damage the motor or be exhausted
back into the air

.

•

WARNING: The power cord on this
product contains lead, a chemical
known in the State of California to cause
birth defects or other reproductive harm.

Wash hands after handling.

• Do not leave Vac when plugged in.
Unplug from outlet when not in use and
before servicing.

• Turn off Vac before unplugging.

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replacement parts. Read the
instructions for Servicing Double­Insulated Wet/Dry Vacs before
servicing.

• Use only extension cords that are rated
for outdoor use. Extension cords in
poor condition or that are too small in
wire size can pose fire and shock
hazards. To reduce the risk of these
hazards when using an extension cord,
be sure it is in good condition and that
the connection does not come into
contact with liquid. To keep power loss
to a minimum, use the following table
to choose the minimum wire size
extension cord.

• To reduce the risk of injury from
accidental starting, unplug power cord
before changing or cleaning filter.

• Do not unplug by pulling on cord. To
unplug, grasp the plug, not the cord.

• Do not use with damaged cord, plug or
other parts. If your Vac is not working
as it should, has missing parts, has
been dropped, damaged, left outdoors,
or dropped into water, return it to an
Authorized Service Center.

• Do not pull or carry by cord, use cord
as handle, close a door on cord, or pull
cord around sharp edges or corners.
Do not run Vac over cord. Keep cord
away from heated surfaces.

• Do not handle plug, switch, or the Vac
with wet hands.

• Do not put any object into ventilation
openings. Do not vacuum with any
ventilation openings blocked; keep free
of dust, lint, hair or anything that may
reduce air flow.

• Keep hair, loose clothing, fingers, and
all parts of body away from openings
and moving parts.

• To reduce the risk of falls, use extra
care when cleaning on stairs.

• To reduce the risk of back injury or
falls, do not lift a Vac that is heavy with
liquid or debris. Partially empty the
Vac by scooping or draining liquid to
make it comfortable to lift.

• To reduce the risk of personal injury or
damage to Vac, use only Ridgid
recommended accessories.

• When using as a blower:

- Direct air discharge only at work

area.

- Do not direct air at bystanders.

- Keep children away when blowing.

- Do not use blower for any job except

blowing dirt and debris.

- Do not use as a sprayer.

- Wear safety eyewear.

• To reduce the risk of eye injury, wear
safety eyewear. The operation of any
utility Vac or blower can result in
foreign objects being blown into the
eyes, which can result in severe eye
damage.

• To reduce the risk of being struck by, or
pulled down by, a rolling Vac, block the
casters when using on any uneven or
sloped surface.

• This Wet/Dry Vac is double-insulated,
eliminating the need for a separate
grounding system. Use only identical

Extension Cord Length Gauge A.W.G.

0-50 Ft. 14
50-100 Ft. 12

Observe the following warnings that
appear on the motor housing of your Vac:

WARNING: For your own safety,
read and understand operator’s
manual. Do not run unattended.
Do not pick up hot ashes, coals,
toxic, flammable or other hazardous
materials. Do not use around
explosive liquids or vapors.

W

ARNING: To reduce the risk of
electric shock - do not expose to
rain - store indoors.

DOUBLE INSULATED
GROUNDING NOT REQUIRED.
WHEN SERVICING USE ONLY
IDENTICAL REPLACEMENT PARTS.

!

SAVE THIS MANUAL

CAUTION:

• To reduce the risk of hearing damage,
wear ear protectors when using for
extended hours using in a noisy area.

• For dusty operations, wear dust mask.

NOTE: Static shocks are common in
dry areas or when the relative humidity of
the air is low. Vacuuming fine debris with
your Vac can deposit static charge on the
hose or on the Vac. The best remedy to
reduce the frequency of static shocks in
your home or when using this Vac is to
add moisture to the air with a humidifier.

!

SP6661-1 ES.qxd 11/28/07 1:07 PM Page 3

Unpacking and Checking Carton Contents

4

Introduction

This Wet/Dry Vac is intended for house­hold use. It may be used for vacuuming
wet or dry media and may be used as a
blower.

Read this operator’s manual to familiarize
yourself with the product features and to
understand the specific usage of your
new Vac.

Carton Contents List

Key Description Qty

A Wet/Dry Vac ................................1

B Tug-A-Long Hose.........................1

C Caster ..........................................4

D Caster Foot w/Storage.................4

E Extension Wands.........................2

F Utility Nozzle ................................1

G Wet Nozzle...................................1

H Car Nozzle ...................................1

J Operator’s Manual .......................1

A

B

G

E

C

J

D

F

H

Remove entire contents of carton. Check
each item against the Carton Contents
List. Contact 1-800-4-RIDGID or E-mail
us at [e-mail] if any parts
are damaged or missing.

1. Turn the dust drum upside down on
the floor.

2. Insert the caster feet into the bottom of
drum, as shown (4 places).

3. Push on the caster foot until the foot is
flush with bottom of the dust drum.

4.

Insert the caster stem into the socket
of the caster foot, as shown (4
places).

5. Push on the caster until the ball on the
caster stem is inserted all the way into
the socket. You will hear the ball snap
into the socket and the caster will
swivel easily when positioning is
correct.

6. Turn the drum upright.

Caster/Caster Foot Assembly

Caster
Caster Stem
Caster Ball

Pin

Caster
Foot

Hole

Dust
Drum

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1. Carefully slide the filter over the filter

cage, sliding it over the center ring
covering the 3 slots until the filter stops
against the lid.

2. Place filter nut and filter plate onto

threaded stud and tighten it down.
Finger tighten only.

NOTE: Lever of filter nut should be away
from plate as shown.

IMPORTANT: Do not overtighten as this
may deform or crack the filter cage, or
filter.

NOTE: If filter cage or float needs to be
replaced or removed, use a flat blade
screwdriver and insert the blade near one
of the tabs between the filter cage and
the center ring of the lid. Pry the tab out
of the slot. Tilt the cage and lift away from
the lid. To replace, follow the assembly
instructions below:

3. Place the float over the opening in the

center of the lid with the words "This
Side Towards Lid" laying face down
over the hole.

4. Line up filter cage tabs with slots in the

center ring of the lid.

5. Push on the filter cage until the tabs

snap into slots for a secure fit.

Replacement Filter Assembly

WARNING: For your own safety,
never connect plug to power source
outlet until all assembly steps are
complete and you have read and
understood the safety and operation
instructions. Do not operate vac
with any parts damaged or missing.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of
personal injury or damage to vac be
sure to keep hands, fingers, or any
other foreign objects out of the
center opening when assembling
the float .

F

ilter Nut

Filter Plate

Filter

Threaded Stud
Filter Cage

Slots (3)

Filter Nut
Lever

THIS SIDE

T

OWARD LID

Filter Cage

Tabs (3)

Float

Solid End

Slots (3)

Filter Cage
Tabs (3)

Slots (3)

Power
Assembly

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!

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1

. Line up vacuum port in top assembly

with drain cap located on the front of
the drum.

2. Place lid on top of drum with the drum
latches snug against the drum
channel.

3. Be sure lid completely covers the top
of the drum so leakage does not
occur.

4. Push down on top of the drum latch
areas to cause the flexible locking
tabs to hook onto the drum lip of the
channel.

Wet/Dry Vac Assembly

Top Assembly

Pull Out

Flexible

Locking

Tab

Push

Down

Drum
Channel

Drum

Out

Flexible

Locking Tab

5

. Make sure that the locking tabs are

snapped in place to prevent the lid
from coming off. (See inset).

6. For WD1635, rotate both drum latches
down until you hear them snap over lip
of the drum.

Your new Wet/Dry Vac is ready for use.

WD1246

Out

Top Assembly

Pull Out

Drum

Latch Tab

Push

Down

Drum
Channel

Drum

Drum Latch

WD1635

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1. Slide extension wands and acces­sories over the rings on the caster
feet.

2. To remove wands and accessories,
lightly rotate and pull upward.

3.

Accessories may also be stored in the
rings provided on lid.

To Store Your Accessories

WD1635 Shown

Cord Storage

Simply, wrap the power cord around the
power head and snap the connector on
the plug to a wrap of the cord.

Insert Hose

Insert the push button end of the “Tug-a­Long” hose into the inlet of the vac. The
hose should snap into place. To remove
the hose from the vac, press the release
button in the hose assembly and pull the
hose out of the vac inlet, as shown.

Release Button

On-Off
Switch

Pull Handle

Hose

Caster

Drain
Cap

Caster Feet
w/Accessory Storage

Drum

Power
Cord

Cord Wrap
Area

Blower
Port

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Operation

WARNING

To reduce the risk of fire or explosion, do not operate this vac in areas with
flammable gases, vapors or explosive dust in the air. Flammable gases or
vapors include but are not limited to; lighter fluid, solvent type cleaners,
oil-base paints, gasoline, alcohol or aerosol sprays. Explosive dusts include
but are not limited to; coal, magnesium, aluminum, grain or gun powder.
Do not vacuum explosive dust, flammable or combustible liquids or hot
ashes. Do not use this vac as a sprayer. To reduce the risk of health hazards
from vapors or dusts, do not vacuum toxic materials.

CAUTION: To reduce risk of
hearing damage, wear ear protectors
when using the vac for extended
hours or when using it in a noisy
area.

WARNING: The operation of any
utility vac can result in foreign
objects being blown into the eyes,
which can result in severe eye
damage. Always wear safety
eyewear complying with ANSI Z87.1
(or in Canada, CSA Z94.3) before
starting operation. Safety eyewear
are available at many local retail
stores.

To reduce the risk of electric shock, this
appliance has a polarized plug (one
blade is wider than the other). This plug
will fit in 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 the
proper outlet. Do not change the plug in
any way.

Utility Nozzle - General purpose nozzle for
most vacuuming applications.

Wet Nozzle - Used for wet pickup on
smooth surfaces to pick up liquid and dry
the surface in one stroke.

Car Nozzle - Dry pickup nozzle for car
interiors and most upholstery cleaning.

Extension Wands - These wands can be
connected together and provides
additional length for more reach.

Hose - Provides transfer of vacuum or
blowing capability to work site. Provides
the means of attaching extension wands
and nozzles.

Vacuuming Dry Materials

1. The filter must always be in correct
position at all times to avoid leaks and
possible damage to vac.

2. Your using your vac to pick up very fine
dust, it will be necessary for you to
empty the drum and clean the filter at
more frequent intervals to maintain
peak vac performance.

NOTE: A

dry filter is necessary to pick up
dry material. If you use your vac to pick
up material when the filter is wet, the filter
will clog quickly and be very difficult to
clean.

3. If your filter is wet but you need to use

the vac to pick up dry material, you can
quickly dry the filter by running the vac
without hose attached for about
10 minutes. The clean air rushing
through the vac will help dry the filter.

=

OFF

=

ON

Familiarize yourself with the accessories
included with the vac. Each accessory may
be used in various ways for vacuuming
and blowing debris. Here is a list of the
accessories and their uses.

After you plug the power cord into the
outlet, turn the unit on by pushing the
switch from position "O" to position "l". The
symbols used on the switch actuator are
international "On & Off" symbols. "O" is the
symbol for "OFF" and "l" is the symbol for
"ON".

WARNING: To reduce the risk of
fire or electric shock, do not run vac
unattended.

!

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!

!

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WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury from accidental starting,
unplug power cord before emptying
the drum.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of

b

ack injury or falls, do not lift a vac
heavy with liquid or debris. Scoop
or drain enough contents out to
make the vac light enough to lift
comfortably.

Emptying the Drum

Vacuuming Liquids

1. When picking up small amounts of
liquid the filter may be left in place.

2. When picking up large amounts of
liquid we recommend that the filter be
removed. If the filter is not removed, it
will become saturated and misting may
appear in the exhaust.

3. When the liquid in the drum reaches a
predetermined level, the float
mechanism will rise automatically to cut
off air-flow. You will know that the float
has risen because vac airflow ceases
and the motor noise will become higher
in pitch, due to increased motor speed.
When this happens, turn off the vac,
unplug the power cord, and empty the
drum.

4. After using the vac to pick up liquids, the
filter must be dried to avoid possible
mildew and damage to the filter.

IMPORTANT: To reduce the risk of
damage to the vac, do not run motor with
float in raised position.

Cord Maintenance

When vacuuming is complete, unplug the
cord and wrap it around the motor cover.

Moving the Wet/Dry Vac

Should it become necessary to pick the
vac up to move it, the handles on the
sides of the dust drum are used to lift. To
maneuver the vac, the pull handle above
the inlet should be used.

Blowing Feature

Your Wet/Dry Vac features “Full Blowing”.
It can blow sawdust and other debris.
Follow the steps below to use your vac
as a blower.

WARNING: Always wear safety
eyewear complying with ANSI Z87.1
(or in Canada, CSA Z94.3) before
using as a blower.

CAUTION: Wear a dust mask if
blowing creates dust which might
be inhaled.

CAUTION: To reduce the risk of
hearing damage wear ear protectors
when using the vac/blower for
extended hours or when using it in
a noisy area.

1. The vac comes equipped with a drain
for easy emptying of liquids. Simply
unscrew the drain cap and lift the
opposite side slightly to empty the
drum.

2. Another option is to remove the lid. Pull
the flexible latches outward on each
side of the lid to release from the drum.

3. While holding the latches out, lift the
top assembly up and away from the
drum.

4. Lay top assembly upside down on a
clean area while emptying drum or
changing filter.

5. Dump the drum contents into the
proper waste disposal container.

WARNING: To reduce the risk of
injury to bystanders, keep them
clear of blowing debris.

!

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