Drain Cleaner: Grinding or Squealing Sound
Is your drain cleaner making a grinding or squealing sound? It probably sounds worse than what the problem actually is. Check out our list of parts that are most commonly the cause of this issue. Once you have the part narrowed down, read our corresponding repair instructions on how to fix your tool yourself. Check your owner's manual for specific instructions relating to your model.
Bearings
Bearings allow a shaft to rotate inside a stationary housing. They can work at high speeds and carry heavy loads. When bearings wear, they can produce a grinding, growling, humming, or sometimes a squealing sound.
To check the bearings inside your drain cleaner, start by removing the cable from the drum as well as the screws along the perimeter of the drum. Remove the front half of the drum from the rear half. Remove the crown nut, washer, and the rear drum. Take out the screws on the gear case and proceed to remove it. For this step, you may have to gently tap the gear case off, or use a puller.
Separate the two halves of the handle, and then locate the brush caps. Remove the brush caps, along with the brushes. Pull out the armature out of the unit and place it in a vice. Use a bearing...
To check the bearings inside your drain cleaner, start by removing the cable from the drum as well as the screws along the perimeter of the drum. Remove the front half of the drum from the rear half. Remove the crown nut, washer, and the rear drum. Take out the screws on the gear case and proceed to remove it. For this step, you may have to gently tap the gear case off, or use a puller.
Separate the two halves of the handle, and then locate the brush caps. Remove the brush caps, along with the brushes. Pull out the armature out of the unit and place it in a vice. Use a bearing...
Bearings allow a shaft to rotate inside a stationary housing. They can work at high speeds and carry heavy loads. When bearings wear, they can produce a grinding, growling, humming, or sometimes a squealing sound.
To check the bearings inside your drain cleaner, start by removing the cable from the drum as well as the screws along the perimeter of the drum. Remove the front half of the drum from the rear half. Remove the crown nut, washer, and the rear drum. Take out the screws on the gear case and proceed to remove it. For this step, you may have to gently tap the gear case off, or use a puller.
Separate the two halves of the handle, and then locate the brush caps. Remove the brush caps, along with the brushes. Pull out the armature out of the unit and place it in a vice. Use a bearing puller to remove the bearing. Install the new bearing with a socket big enough to go on the outside of the race, located on the bearing. Gently tap in place with a hammer.
At this stage, you can start to reassemble the unit. Reinstall the armature back inside the housing, along with the brush holders and brushes. Put the handle back together and reinstall the gear case. Reinstall the rear drum, the crown nut (with washer), then reattach 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.
To replace bearings in the gear case, follow the above procedure. Once you have removed the gear case, open it up. You can now remove the two needle bearings inside the gear case and replace them with new ones.
To check the bearings inside your drain cleaner, start by removing the cable from the drum as well as the screws along the perimeter of the drum. Remove the front half of the drum from the rear half. Remove the crown nut, washer, and the rear drum. Take out the screws on the gear case and proceed to remove it. For this step, you may have to gently tap the gear case off, or use a puller.
Separate the two halves of the handle, and then locate the brush caps. Remove the brush caps, along with the brushes. Pull out the armature out of the unit and place it in a vice. Use a bearing puller to remove the bearing. Install the new bearing with a socket big enough to go on the outside of the race, located on the bearing. Gently tap in place with a hammer.
At this stage, you can start to reassemble the unit. Reinstall the armature back inside the housing, along with the brush holders and brushes. Put the handle back together and reinstall the gear case. Reinstall the rear drum, the crown nut (with washer), then reattach 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.
To replace bearings in the gear case, follow the above procedure. Once you have removed the gear case, open it up. You can now remove the two needle bearings inside the gear case and replace them with new ones.
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Gears
If one, or more, of the gears has chipped, broken or missing teeth, it will cause a grinding sound as the gears are trying to mesh with each other. Remove the cable from the auger by simply pulling it out. Remove all screws on the outside of the drum and separate the front drum from the rear one. Remove the crown nut, washer and rear drum. Take off the screws on the gear case. You may have to gently tap the gear case off. Install the new case and begin to reassemble your unit. Reinstall the rear drum, the crown nut (with washer), then reattach 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...
If one, or more, of the gears has chipped, broken or missing teeth, it will cause a grinding sound as the gears are trying to mesh with each other. Remove the cable from the auger by simply pulling it out. Remove all screws on the outside of the drum and separate the front drum from the rear one. Remove the crown nut, washer and rear drum. Take off the screws on the gear case. You may have to gently tap the gear case off. Install the new case and begin to reassemble your unit. Reinstall the rear drum, the crown nut (with washer), then reattach 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.
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Drums
The drum houses the cable. A worn, or damaged, drum causes a grinding or squealing sound. To replace the drum, remove the cable from the auger by simply pulling it out. Remove all screws on the outside of the drum and separate the front drum from the rear one. Remove the crown nut, washer, and rear drum. Remove the chuck spindle from the old drum by removing the retaining ring. Next, remove the hand shield and spindle and transfer them over to the new front drum. Install the check spindle in the front portion of the new drum, then reinstall the retaining ring to hold it in place. Install the new rear drum, the crown nut (with washer), then reinstall the retaining ring to hold it in place. 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 drum houses the cable. A worn, or damaged, drum causes a grinding or squealing sound. To replace the drum, remove the cable from the auger by simply pulling it out. Remove all screws on the outside of the drum and separate the front drum from the rear one. Remove the crown nut, washer, and rear drum. Remove the chuck spindle from the old drum by removing the retaining ring. Next, remove the hand shield and spindle and transfer them over to the new front drum. Install the check spindle in the front portion of the new drum, then reinstall the retaining ring to hold it in place. Install the new rear drum, the crown nut (with washer), then reinstall the retaining ring to hold it in place. 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.
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