RIDGID 26998 Model K-400 Drain Cleaning 120-Volt Drum Machine Kit with C-45IW 1/2" x 75' Cable, White, Black, Red

I have the older clay-tile main-line, and tree roots get in at the seams. I used to have to either pay a company to come clean the main-line or rent a machine and do it myself 1-2 times a year (spring and fall). I decided to spend the money on this so I could just do it myself, and eventually save some $$$. So far, so good. Pros: Good size (smaller than the pro ones). Works well Plenty of cable length Cons: The cable being 1/2" is a little more flimsy than a 3/4" cable is more common on the pro ones. I had it kink up on me once and was barely able to get it stopped before I destroyed the cable. In the end, I learned how to be more careful with it and it hasn't been a problem since. The wheels aren't great - They only touch the ground when tipped way back. I am considering replacing them with some larger wheels. The drum is a little too close to the ground - On uneven ground or in deep grass, it can get bind up and the drum won't turn. Readjusting the placement of the device has always resolved this, but a little more thought into the fact that you aren't usually using this on a tile floor would have been nice. UPDATE: I've had this for awhile now, and used it several times. Here are a few things I've run into over that time period. 1 - Air leaks from the hose from the connection at the machine. The foot pedal is a pneumatic switch, and I was having trouble with the air leaking out of the pedal and then the machine wouldn't work. What I found was the hose clamp that connects the pedal to the machine wasn't working right anymore. It is a crimped connector, but no amount of re-crimping fixed it. I bought a standard screw-type hose clamp and it's been fine since. A whole lot of irritation, but in the end, it was a 10-cent fix. 2 - Loose belt - This might be because I use it outside, and the drum would sometimes run on the ground. But, the belt needs to either be replaced, or I need to figure out how to adjust the tensioner pulley. The drum is currently slipping a bunch, which means it isn't cleaning out the roots like it should be. What I've found is if I put more pressure on the tensioner pulley, the whole system works much better. I haven't had a chance to look into if I can adjust that or not, but once I get it figured out, I'll post another update.

Machine arrived with broken bushings on both ends of the drum. This appears to be a common complaint- a hard drop is enough to break them considering the weight and relatively poor attention to packaging. I immediately overnighted parts from the ridgid store and had the machine up and running a coupla days later. The good news is the thing works really well. I unclogged a 4" drain pipe and pulled out a massive wad of roots. The cable does a good job of grabbing smaller roots and spinning them tightly around itself. This machine will do the same to rubber gloves, so only wear leather. I ordered the autofeed separately, which was worth it but certainly not necessary. The autofeed works by intersecting round bearing like surfaces at an angle onto the spinning cable. For practical purposes, it acts like a female thread the cable wants to climb as it "screws" its way down the pipe. SO, it is a very simple device thats pretty expensive, but I would say definitely worth it. Easy to install too. In summation, drain snakes are usually a pain and require fiddling/maintenance. The quality isn't exemplary. However, the parts are easy to get and the machine easy to work on. It does what it is supposed to, and I am happy with its performance. So 5 stars.

No auto feed as shown with “kit”

Sturdy tool. Used it several times already. Bought different attachments for it with the money I saved from not calling a plumber. Never used one before but saw some videos that helped me. It's easy-to-use once you get the hang of it. Different attachments do different things don't expect to buy this with the equipment it comes with and think your good. Sometimes you have to add to the tool to get the job done. It's not too heavy and it rolls to where you need it. I keep all the different blades it came with and that I bought separately in a heavy duty pouch that I clip on to the handle. It cuts easily through roots with the right blade. It takes a little patience and time but it works great.

Pretty simple straight forward unit. Had enough power to chew through roots in the sewer line. Simple to attach cutters and have plenty of attachments now (bought the 2" and 3" cutters)

Sent a machine with a 3/8 cable

Came in broken and returned