GENERAL MAINTENANCE TIPS
TO KEEP YOUR GORLITZ ELECTRIC SEWER CLEANING MACHINES IN GOOD, CLEAN AND SAFE OPERATING
CONDITION, PERIODICALLY CHECK THE FOLLOWING PARTS:
• LUBRICATE ALL SLIDING, ROTATING AND MOVING PARTS.
• PAY SPECIAL ATTENTION TO WEARS ON DRIVE ARMS.
• CHECK ALIGNMENT OF PULLEYS AND BELT.
• INSPECT, REFASTEN OR REPLACE ALL SET SCREWS ON DRIVE ARM, PULLEYS, DRIVE PLATE,
SHAFT COLLARS AND PILLOW BLOCKS IF NEEDED.
• INSPECT ELECTRICAL OUTLET WIRING AND SWITCH BOX FOR VISIBLE WEAR AND TEAR.
• CHECK TIRE PROFILE.
WHY DO CABLES JUMP OUT OF REELS OR DRUMS?
• CABLE WAS RETURNED INTO DRUM OR REEL BY HAND WHILE DRUM OR REEL WAS NOT ROTATING:
ALWAYS KEEP MACHINE RUNNING FEEDING CABLE BACK INTO DRUM OR REEL. CABLE MUST BE
PACKED TIGHT.
• SHARP KINKS IN CABLE:
CUT OUT ALL KINKS WITH A GOOD BOLT CUTTER AND INSTALL SPLICE OR
CABLE CONNECTOR.
• CABLE GOT HUNG UP OR USING TOO MUCH PRESSURE TO OPEN BLOCKAGE:
BACK PRESSURE MAY
ALLOW CABLE TO FLY OUT OF DRUM OR REEL. USE CAUTION AND FEEL YOUR WAY AS YOU FEED
CABLE INTO DRAIN PIPE.
• CABLE HAS SOFT SPOTS:
CUT OUT ALL WEAK SECTIONS AND INSTALL SPLICE OR CABLE CONNECTOR.
• CABLE EXCEEDED LIFESPAN:
REPLACE WITH A NEW CABLE.
MOST COMMON CAUSES FOR DAMAGED OR BROKEN CABLES
• ALLOWING CABLES TO GET HUNG UP IN AN OBSTRUCTION:
THIS IS THE MOST COMMON REASON FOR
CABLE BREAKAGE. THE OPERATOR ALLOWED THE CUTTING TOOL OR CABLE END TO GET HUNG UP IN
ROOTS, TOWELS, PAPER, ETC. OR IN A BROKEN, SEPARATED OR CRUSHED SEWER LINE. REMEMBER,
KEEP THE CABLE ROTATING AT ALL TIMES.
• CABLE STARTS SWINGING WHEN DOING OVERHEAD JOBS:
WHILE DOING OVERHEAD JOBS, GUIDE
CABLE BY MEANS OF TUBES OR PIPES (PVC, ETC.) AND/OR USE SECOND OPERATOR.
• APPLYING TOO MUCH PRESSURE:
FEEL YOUR WAY THROUGH THE PIPE AND TRY NOT TO DO THE JOB
IN A HURRY.
• LETTING CABLE GET AWAY FROM YOU:
ALWAYS GUIDE YOUR CABLE WITH BOTH HANDS. KEEP
DISTANCE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE BETWEEN CLEAN-OUT AND MACHINE.
• FORCING CABLE AROUND TIGHT TURNS OR THROUGH A TRAP:
IF CABLE IS SLOWED OR STOPPED
BECAUSE OF TIGHT TURNS, TRAPS OR BLOCKAGES, BUT YOU CONTINUE TO FEED CABLE INTO SEWER
LINE, IT MAY BECOME WAVY. BE EXTREMELY CAREFUL WHEN USING SMALLER SIZE CABLES ON LONG
RUNS OR TOO LARGE OF A DIAMETER SEWER LINE.
• USING CABLES WITH SHARP KINKS OR SOFT SPOTS:
CUT OUT ALL SHARP KINKS, STRETCHED,
LIMBER OR WEAK SECTIONS, INSTALL SPLICE.
• CABLE EXCEEDED LIFESPAN:
REPLACE WITH A NEW CABLE.
CABLE EXPOSED TO A CHEMICAL DRAIN CLEANER MAY BECOME CRYSTALLIZED AND VERY
BRITTLE. IT MAY ALSO BREAK INTO VERY SHORT SECTIONS. INSPECT CABLE FOR GRAY,
WHITE OR BLUE COLOR AND/OR CHEMICAL ETCHINGS.
Gorlitz Operating & Maintenance Manual 12
