Drain Cleaner: Cable Won't Feed

A gear is a rotating machine part that has cut teeth, which meshes with another toothed part to transmit torque. If one, or more, of the gears is broken, or has damaged teeth, it will impact operation of the cable being fed and working properly. When there is a problem with the gears, you will usually hear noises such as a grinding sound. Start off by pulling the cable out of the drum. Remove all screws on the outside of the drum and separate the two halves of the drum. Take out the crown nut, washer and the rear drum. Remove the screws on the gear case. You may have to gently tap the gear case off. Install the new case and reinstall the rear drum, crown nut (with washer) then attach the front portion of the drum. Reconnect the cable by pulling up on the power grip shield, inserting the cable in the drum. Use an up-and-down motion until the cable begins to bend and starts to install in the drum. Install the entire cable with the grip shield in the “up” position.

A spindle is a rotating axis of the machine. A broken, or worn, spindle can cause the cable not to feed. To replace the chuck spindle, start by removing the cable from the drum by simply pulling it out. Remove all screws on the outside of the drum and separate the two halves of the drum. Remove the chuck spindle from the front of the drum by taking out the retaining rings and replace with a new one. Reinstall the front drum to the rear drum. Reconnect the cable by pulling up on the power grip shield, inserting the cable in the drum. Use an up-and-down motion until the cable begins to bend and starts to install in the drum. Install the entire cable with the grip shield in the “up” position.

To replace the spindle assembly, remove the cable by pulling it out. Remove the retaining ring on the chuck spindle and pull the grip shield off. Take out the spindle and install the new one. Reinstall the hand guard and the chuck spindle assembly. Reconnect the cable by pulling up on the power grip shield, inserting the cable in the drum. Use an up-and-down motion until the cable begins to bend and starts to install in the drum. Install the entire cable with the grip shield in the “up” position.

If the cable becomes worn over time, or is broken, it will not be able to feed. To replace a worn, or broken, cable, remove the old cable by simply pulling it out of the drum. To install a new cable, pull up on the power grip shield, insert the new cable into the drum and use an up-and-down motion until the cable starts to bend and install into the drum. Install the entire cable with the grip shield in the “up” position.

The jaws grip on the cable, holding it in place when locked down. To replace the jaws, remove the front half of the drum from the rear half. Keep the grip shield in a “down” position and take the collar off the shaft, then remove the grip shield. With the jaws now exposed, remove and replace easily by taking out the screws securing the jaws in place. Always replace them together, even if only one is broken, as it is a routine maintenance. Ensure they are fastened tight. Clean and apply new grease – use marine grease for best results. Once completed, reinstall the grip shield and the collar. Make sure the collar is properly aligned. Reassemble the two halves of the drum back together.