General Pipe Cleaners TheMetro User manual

TheMetro®
Operating Instructions
For 3” through 10” lines
(75mm—250mm)
Your Metro is designed to give you
years of trouble-free, profitable service.
However, no machine is better than its
operator.
Read, understand and follow all
safety warnings and instructions provid-
ed with the product. Failure to follow
the warnings and instructions may re-
sult in electric shock and/or serious
injury. Save all warnings and instruc-
tions for future reference.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!

WARNING! Read and understand all
instructions. Failure to follow all instructions
listed below may result in electric shock, fire
and/or serious personal injury. Replacement
manuals are available upon request at no
charge, or may be downloaded from our web-
site, www.drainbrain.com. Instructional videos
are available for download on our website, and
may be ordered. If you have any questions or
problems, please call General’s customer
service department at 412-771-6300.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS!
TheMetro®
Electric shock resulting in
death can occur if you plug
this machine into an improper-
ly wired outlet. If the ground
wire is electrified, you can be
electrocuted by just touching
the machine, even when the
power switch is off. A ground
fault circuit interrupter will not pro-
tect you in this situation. Use a
UL approved tester to determine
if the outlet is safe.
Do not operate power tools in
explosive atmospheres, such
as in the presence of flamma-
ble liquids, gases, or dust.
Power tools create sparks which
may ignite the dust or fumes.
Only wear leather gloves. Nev-
er use any other type of glove,
such as cloth, rubber, or coat-
ed gloves. Never grasp a rotat-
ing cable with a rag. These
items could become wrapped
around the cable and cause seri-
ous injury.
Always wear safety glasses
and rubber soled, non-slip
shoes. Use of this safety equip-
ment may prevent serious injury.
Never operate machine with
belt guard removed. Fingers
can get caught between belt and
pulley.
Do not overstress cables.
Overstressing cables may cause
twisting, kinking, or breaking of
the cable and may result in seri-
ous injury.
These instructions are intended to
familiarize all personnel with the safe
operation and maintenance
procedures for The Metro.
DANGER indicates a hazard with a high level of risk
which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
WARNING indicates a hazard with a medium level of risk
which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
CAUTION indicates a hazard with a low level of risk which,
if not avoided, will result in minor or moderate injury.
This is the safety alert symbol. It is
used to alert you to potential personal
injury hazards. Obey all safety mes-
sages that follow this symbol to avoid
possible injury or death.
SAFETY SYMBOLS
2

TheMetro®
3
GENERAL POWER TOOL SAFETY WARNINGS*
*The text used in the general power tool safety warnings section of
this manual is as required from the applicable UL/CSA standard. This
section contains general safety practices for many different types of
power tools. Not every precaution applies to every tool. And some do
not apply to this tool.
Work Area Safety
1. Keep work area clean and well lit. Cluttered or dark areas invite
accidents.
2. Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such
as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases or dust. Power
tools create sparks which may ignite the dust or fumes.
 Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power
tool. Distractions can cause you to lose control.
Electrical Safety
1. Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug
in any way. Do not use any adapter plugs with earthed (grounded)
power tools. Unmodified plugs and matching outlets will reduce
risk of electric shock.
2. Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces, such
as pipes, radiators, ranges and refrigerators. There is an in-
creased risk of electric shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
3. Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water
entering a power tool will increase the risk of electric shock.
4. Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling or
unplugging the power tool. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp
edges or moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase the
risk of electric shock.
5. When operating a power tool outdoors, use an extension cord
suitable for outdoor use. Use of a cord suitable for outdoor use
reduces the risk of electric shock.
6. If operating a power tool in a damp location is unavoidable,
use a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protected supply.
Use of a GFCI reduces the risk of electric shock.
Personal Safety
1. Stay alert, watch what you are doing and use common sense
when operating a power tool. Do not use a power tool while you
are tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol or medication. A
moment of inattention while operating power tools may result in
serious personal injury.
2. Use personal protective equipment. Always wear eye protec-
tion. Protective equipment such as a dust mask, non-skid safety
shoes, hard hat or hearing protection used for appropriate condi-
tions will reduce personal injuries.
3. Prevent unintentional starting. Ensure the switch is in the off-
position before connecting to power source and/or BATTERY
pack, picking up or carrying the tool. Carrying power tools with
your finger on the switch or energizing power tools that have the
switch on invites accidents.
4. Remove any adjusting key or wrench before turning the pow-
er tool ON. A wrench or a key left attached to a rotating part of the
power tool may result in personal injury.
5. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all
times. This enables better control of the power tool in unexpected
situations.
6. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Keep
your hair and clothing away from moving parts. Loose clothes,
jewelry or long hair can be caught in moving parts.
7. If devices are provided for the connection of dust extraction
and collection facilities, ensure these are connected and
properly used. Use of dust collection can reduce dust-related
hazards.
8. Do not let familiarity gained from frequent use of tools allow
you to become complacent and ignore tool safety principles.
A careless action can cause severe injury within a fraction of a
second.
Power Tool Use and Care
1. Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power tool for
your application. The correct power tool will do the job better and
safer at the rate for which it was designed.
2. Do not use the power tool if the switch does not turn it ON
and OFF. Any power tool that cannot be controlled with the switch
is dangerous and must be repaired.
3. Disconnect the plug from the power source and/or remove
the BATTERY pack, if detachable, from the power tool before
making any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing
power tools. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of
starting the power tool accidentally.
4. Store idle power tools out of the reach of children and do not
allow persons unfamiliar with the power tool or these instruc-
tions to operate the power tool. Power tools are dangerous in
the hands of untrained users.
5. Maintain power tools and accessories. Check for misalign-
ment or binding of moving parts, breakage of parts and any
other condition that may affect the power tool's operation. If
damaged, have the power tool repaired before use. Many acci-
dents are caused by poorly maintained power tools.
6. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained cutting
tools with sharp cutting edges are less likely to bind and are easier
to control.
7. Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits etc. in accord-
ance with these instructions, taking into account the working
conditions and the work to be performed. Use of the power tool
for operations different from those intended could result in a haz-
ardous situation.
8. Keep handles and grasping surfaces dry, clean and free from
oil and grease. Slippery handles and grasping surfaces do not
allow for safe handling and control of the tool in unexpected situa-
tions.
WARNING
Read all safety warnings, instructions, illustrations and specifica-
tions provided with this power tool. Failure to follow all instructions
listed below may result in electric shock, fire, and/or serious injury.
SAVE ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.

TheMetro®
4
4
SPECIFIC SAFETY INFORMATION
Service
1. Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair person
using only identical replacement parts. This will ensure that the
safety of the power tool is maintained.
WARNING
This section contains important safety information that is specif-
ic to this tool.
Read these precautions carefully before using this drain cleaning
machine to reduce the risk of electrical shock or other serious
injury.
SAVE ALL WARNINGS AND INSTRUCTIONS
FOR FUTURE REFERENCE.
Keep this manual with machine for use by operator.
Drain Cleaning Machine Safety
1. Before using the tool, test the ground fault circuit interrupter
(GFCI) provided with the supply cord to insure it is operating
correctly. A properly operating GFCI reduces the risk of electrical
shock.
2. Only use extension cords that are protected by a GFCI. The
GFCI on the machine power cord will not prevent electrical shock
from the extension cords.
3. Only grasp the rotating cable with gloves recommended by
the manufacturer. Latex or loose fitting gloves or rags can be-
come wrapped around the cable and may result in serious person-
al injury.
4. Do not allow the cutter to stop turning while the cable is turn-
ing. This can overstress the cable and may cause twisting, kinking
or breaking of the cable and may result in serious personal injury.
5. One person must control both the cable and the switch. If the
cutter stops rotating, the operator must be able to turn the tool off
to prevent the cable from twisting, kinking and breaking.
6. Use latex or rubber gloves inside the gloves recommended
by the manufacturer, goggles, face shields, protective cloth-
ing, and respirator when chemicals, bacteria or other toxic or
infectious substances are suspected to be in a drain line.
Drains may contain chemicals, bacteria and other substances that
may cause burns, be toxic or infectious or may result in other seri-
ous personal injury.
7. Practice good hygiene. Do not eat or smoke while handling or
operating the tool. After handling or operating drain cleaning
equipment, use hot, soapy water to wash hands and other
body parts exposed to drain contents. This will help reduce the
risk of health hazards due to exposure to toxic or infectious materi-
al.
8. Only use the drain cleaner for the recommended drain sizes.
Using the wrong size drain cleaner can lead to twisting, kinking or
breaking of the cable and may result in personal injury.
Specific Safety Information for The Metro
1. Only wear leather gloves. Never use any other type of glove,
such as cloth, rubber, or coated gloves. Never grasp a rotating
cable with a rag. These items could become wrapped around the
cable and cause injury.
2. Do not overstress cables. Keep a leather-gloved hand on the
cable for control when machine is running. Overstressing the ca-
bles because of an obstruction may cause twisting, kinking, or
breaking of the cable and may result in injury.
3. Never operate the machine with the belt guard removed. Fin-
gers can get caught between belt and pulley.
4. Never operate machine without Guide Tube in place. Can
result in significant hand injury.
5. Place the machine at a distance not greater than two feet
(.6m) from the drain opening. Greater distances can result in
cable twisting or kinking.
6. Do not operate the machine in reverse (REV). Operating ma-
chine in reverse can result in cable damage and is used only to
back cutting tool out of obstruction.
7. Keep hands away from rotating drum. Do not reach into drum
unless machine is unplugged. Hand may be cause in moving
parts resulting in serious injury.
8. Be careful when cleaning drains where cleaning chemicals
have been used. Avoid direct contact with skin and eyes. Drain
cleaning chemicals can cause serious burns as well as damage
the cable.
9. Do not operate machine while standing in water. Will increase
risk of electric shock.
10. Only use this tool in the application for which it was de-
signed. Follow the instructions on the proper use of the ma-
chine. Other uses or modifying the drain cleaner for other applica-
tions may increase risk of injury.
11. Before starting each job, check that the cable in the drum is
not broken or kinked by pulling the cable out and checking
for wear or breakage. Always replace worn (kinked or broken)
cables with genuine GENERAL replacement cables.
12. When servicing a tool, use only identical replacement parts.
Follow instructions in the Maintenance section of this manu-
al. Use of unauthorized parts or failure to follow Maintenance
instructions may create a risk of electric shock or injury.

TheMetro®
5
Cutter Application Chart (Table 2)
Cutter Cat. # Typical Applications
Cutters for 9/16” Cables (Open Drum Metro)
Arrow Head AH Starting tool, gets water flowing
1-1/2”
U-Cutter
1-1/2UC Starting tool, to remove loose
objects.
2” U-Cutter 2UC Starting tool, to remove loose
objects.
Small
Retrieving
Tool
RTR-1 To remove loose objects and
broken cables.
Note: There are no fixed rules for what cutter to use. If one tool
doesn’t take care of a stoppage, simply try another.
Cable Application Chart (Table 1)
Cable
Size
Pipe
Size
Typical
Applications
Max.
Capacity
9/16" 3" to 4" Laundry Tubs, Roof Vents,
Stacks (No roots)
100 ft.
FEATURES
NOTE: Do not operate machine if warning labels on the switch box
and power cord are missing or illegible.
Truck Loading
Wheel
Motor
Switch
V-Belt
Open Drum
Folding Handle
Belt Guard
Feed Pressure
Control Knob
Feed
Control
Lever
Guide
Tube
Cutter
Cutter
Holder
The handle folds for compact storage.
Condensed
Operating
Instructions
THE SECTION OF CORD BETWEEN THE WALL PLUG
AND THE GFCI IS NOT IN THE PROTECTED CIRCUIT.
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)
Your machine is equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter, which
protects you against shock if a short circuit should occur. Check that
receptacle is properly grounded. Test the GFCI before each use.
1. Plug into 120-volt receptacle.
2. Push test button. Indicator light will go out and power to machine
should cut off.
3. If light does not go out when test button is pushed, DO NOT USE
THE MACHINE until proper repairs can be made.
4. To restore power after test, push reset button. With the reset
button depressed, if the machine doesn't start, stops while run-
ning, or if the operator experiences a mild shock, DO NOT USE
THE MACHINE! Tag the machine out of service and take it to a
motor repair center or return it to the factory for repairs.

TheMetro®
MAKE SURE THE MOTOR SWITCH IS IN THE
‘OFF’ POSITION!
6
OPERATION
Set-Up
1. Be sure the motor switch is in the OFF position.
2. Place machine within approximately two feet of drain opening.
Be sure the Metro Guide Tube (ME-GT) is in place. If you can’t
place the machine this close to the drain opening, run the cable
through the optional Guide Tube Extension (GTE) or a metal
guide tube to prevent cable whipping. On manual feed machines,
always keep a gloved hand on the cable.
3. Position the foot pedal for easy accessibility. The machine is
designed for one-person operation. Be sure you can quickly re-
move your foot from the pedal in an emergency.
4. Make sure the Power Cable Feed is set to match the cable size
you have selected. For use with a 9/16” cable, the feed should be
assembled with the raised side of the caps inward.
5. Select the proper cutting tool (See Cutter Application Chart—
Table 2). A good tool to start with is the Arrow Head or 1-1/2 U-
Cutter. After the line is opened, follow with larger blades, which
scrape the inside edges of the pipe, assuring a real cleaning job.
6. Insert the cutter into the female connector at the front of the ca-
ble and tighten the connecting screw and lock washer firmly in
place.
Raised Caps (shown in “outward” position)
Feed Pressure
Knob
Feed Control
Lever
1. To install the Guide Tube Holder on The Metro, follow the as-
sembly shown in the diagram below. Place the Guide Tube Hold-
er on the mounting knob, then thread it onto the bolt to secure
the Power Cable Feed. (See diagram below.)
2. To secure the end of the Guide Tube, place it between the frame
support tubes.
3. Bend the Guide Tube back into the Holder so that it catches a
coil near the end of the Guide Tube. (See photo below.)
THE CABLE AND SPRING ARE UNDER TENSION
WHEN ATTACHED TO THE HOLDER.
USE CAUTION WHEN RELEASING THE GUIDE
TUBE FROM THE HOLDER.
INSTALLING THE GUIDE TUBE HOLDER

TheMetro®
Hint: It's often helpful to have a small stream of water running in the
line to wash the cuttings away while the machine is in operation and
after.
7
10. Be careful not to let the cutter get caught in the stoppage as you
work through it. This can cause kinking and breaking of the ca-
ble. When you feel the cable starting to twist in your hands, stop
the machine and pull back. This will free the cutter from the ob-
struction. Then allow the cable to move forward slowly into the
stoppage.
11. After the line has been cleared, return the cable to the drum with
the motor turning forward. This is important to prevent the cable
from tangling in the drum or in the line.
12. When the cutting tool is near the drain opening, take your foot off
the pedal to stop drum rotation. Never retract the cutting tool
from drain while cable is rotating. The cable could whip and
cause serious injury.
7. If you're having trouble getting around tight bends, try putting the
machine in reverse while applying steady pressure. (If using
Power Cable Feed, putting motor in reverse will cause the feed
control lever to operate opposite of normal.)
Note: If your machine is equipped with a momentary contact
reverse switch, you must hold the switch in position when operat-
ing the machine in reverse.
Don't do this for more than a few seconds at a time as this
could cause tangling in the drum or kinking.
DO NOT USE TOO MUCH FORCE –
LET THE CUTTER DO THE WORK.
6. Don't leave too much slack in the cable since this will cause
whipping. If the cable starts to bend or build up too much twist,
release pressure on the foot pedal and rotate the drum in the
opposite direction to relieve the twist on the cable. Push any
excess cable back into the drum and then continue.
8. If you still can't get around the bend, you're probably using too
large a cable. Switch to a smaller cable (See Cable Application
Chart—Table 1), or use the optional flexible leader.
9. When cable reaches the stoppage, put feed into neutral. Then,
allow the cable to progress forward slowly, chewing into the stop-
page as it goes. This slow, forward movement will reduce stress
on the cable while doing a more thorough cleaning job. A back
and forth action often works best.
Operation
1. Before stepping on the foot pedal, pull cable from the drum and
slide it into the drain as far as it will go.
2. Tighten the knob at the top of the Power Cable Feed so that the
feed roller presses against the cable. Be sure not to over-tighten,
since this could cause excess cable wear.
3. The feed lever controls the feeding rate and direction of the ca-
ble. Move the lever down to feed cable out of drum. The further
the lever is moved downward, the faster the cable will feed out.
Move lever up to retract cable into drum. When the lever is in the
middle (neutral) position, cable will spin in place.
4. Move the motor switch to the FORWARD position.
5. With a leather-gloved hand on the Guide Tube or cable, depress
the air foot pedal to start machine. Feed the cable into the line
and against the obstruction with a firm, even pressure. Adjust the
feeding rate to the resistance met. Do not force the cable—let the
cutter do the work. The job won’t go any faster and you could
damage the cable.
Feed
Pressure
Knob
Raised Cap
Feed Control
Lever
Reverse
Neutral
Forward
DO NOT ALLOW TOO MUCH SLACK IN THE CABLE
BETWEEN MACHINE AND DRAIN OPENING SINCE
THIS CAN CAUSE CABLE WHIPPING.
DO NOT USE REVERSE TO PULL THE CABLE OUT
OF THE DRAIN. RUNNING MACHINE IN REVERSE
CAN CAUSE THE CABLE TO TANGLE IN THE DRUM.

TheMetro®
8
SPECIAL OPERATIONS
IF CABLE GETS CAUGHT IN LINE
The motor can be reversed to free the cable if it gets caught in line.
(Note: if using Power Cable Feed, putting motor in reverse will cause
the feed control lever to operate opposite of normal.)
1. Move motor switch to the reverse position.
2. Depress the foot pedal while retracting the cable.
3. After cable is loose, move switch back into forward position.
DO NOT RUN MOTOR IN REVERSE FOR MORE THAN
A FEW SECONDS AT A TIME. THIS COULD CAUSE
THE CABLE TO KINK OR TANGLE IN THE DRUM.
IF CABLE TANGLES IN DRUM
This is almost always caused by using too much pressure when feed-
ing the cable, or by feeding the cable while running the machine in
reverse. To untangle, rotate drum in opposite direction. This will usu-
ally get the cable to lie in the drum properly
If cable has become badly tangled, which will not happen when ma-
chine is used properly, it may be necessary to pull the entire cable out
of the drum and re-install it. (See “How to Install Cables In Drum”
section.)
HOW TO INSTALL CABLES IN DRUM
1. Connect the male end of cable to
the drum connecting cable al-
ready attached to drum.
2. Remove V-Belt
3. Be sure the cable goes into drum
as shown in the diagram or cable
will tangle in drum.
4. Replace V-Belt after cable is
installed.
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER SOURCE
BEFORE INSTALLING CABLES OR DRUMS!
NOTE: The cable must lay in the drum in the correct direction or it will
tangle in the drum.

TheMetro®
MAINTENANCE
To keep your machine operating smoothly, it is essential that all bear-
ings be lubricated. Oiling moving parts is particularly important where
machine comes in contact with sand, grit and other abrasive material.
CABLE MAINTENENCE
To get maximum service from your cables,
be sure that they are clean and well oiled.
This not only provides running lubrication
but greatly extends the life of the cables as
well. Some users periodically pour oil
directly into the drum. Then, as the drum
turns, the cables get complete lubrication.
Our SNAKE OIL is ideally suited for this
purpose, since it not only lubricates the
cables, it deodorizes them as well.
FEED MAINTENANCE
Keep feed free of excessive soil and grit. It is recommended that the
feed be flushed with fresh water followed by a light oiling of the mov-
ing parts. No disassembly is normally required. Failure to feed can
usually be traced to the following possibilities:
DIRT ACCUMULATION
Over time, dirt can harden enough to stop roller rotation. Flushing with
water followed by liberal oiling can usually restore function. If disas-
sembly is required, proceed as follows:
1. Remove the feed pressure knob, cover screws, top cover, spring,
ball bearing and ball bearing holder. Note the positioning of these
parts to ease re-assembly. Remove the swing pin from the carri-
er. The top roller assembly can now be removed.
2. Remove the end cap screws, end caps and thrust washers from
the bottom housing cylinders. Remove swing pins from carriers.
The bottom roller assemblies can now be removed.
3. Re-assembly is done in reverse order.
DAMAGED ROLLER
Excessive use may wear a roller to the point of failure. It is recom-
mended that all three rollers be replaced at the same time (Cat # PO-
703). The replacement roller is an assembly consisting of one Feed
Roller, two Feed Roller Bearings, and two Bearing Spacers.
Note: The Bearing Spacers must be installed between the Carrier
and each Feed Roller Bearing (as illustrated below) in order to
ensure proper operation and to obtain maximum Feed Roller life.
To Replace the Feed Roller Assembly:
1. Remove the Feed Roller Assembly by unscrewing and removing
the Feed Roller Axle.
2. For convenience, the components are assembled and wired
together at the factory. Before attempting to install the assembly,
hold the assembly together and remove the wire.
3. While still holding the Feed Roller Assembly together, insert it
into the slot opening of the Carrier.
9
TANGLED CABLE
If a cable loops over itself in the drum, it will not feed properly. Re-
move and reload the cable to restore function. If the cable kinks, it is
evidence of abuse and results from the use of too much pressure or
use of the wrong size cable for the line. Do not force the cable —let
the cutter do the work.
4. In order to help align the Spacers and Bearings, insert a pencil
point or similar object through the un-threaded end of the Axle
hole in the Carrier. After removing the pencil point, continue to
maintain the alignment of the components.
5. The Feed Roller Axle should then be inserted through the same
un-threaded Axle hole and should continue to be guided through
the Spacers and Bearings to the threaded Axle hole on the other
side of the Carrier.
6. Securely tighten the Axle to the Carrier with a 3/16” allen wrench.
DISCONNECT MACHINE FROM POWER SOURCE
BEFORE PERFORMING MAINTENANCE!

TheMetro®
TROUBLE SHOOTING GUIDE
Problem Probable Cause Solution
Cable kinks, tangles
or breaks.
Operator forcing the cable. Do not force cable! Let the cutter do the work.
Too much slack between machine and drain. Allow a distance of no more than two feet between machine and drain.
Cable used in wrong size drain line. A cable that is too large or too small in diameter for a line is more likely
to kink. (Consult Cable Application Chart –Table 1.)
Cable exposed to acid. Clean and oil cables routinely.
Drum stops while
pedal is depressed.
Hole in pedal or hose. Replace damaged component.
Hole in diaphragm switch. If no problem found with the pedal or hose, replace the diaphragm
switch.
Thermal overload activated. Allow motor to cool. Press reset button.
Drum turns in one
direction but not the
other.
Faulty reverse switch or faulty momentary
contact switch.
Replace switch. Note: Momentary contact switch must be held in
position to use reverse.
Ground Fault Inter-
rupter trips and will
not reset.
Damaged power cord or extension cord. Replace cords.
Excess moisture in area. Remove excess moisture from area.
Short circuit in motor. Take motor to authorized service center. (Call General for details.)
Faulty Ground Fault Interrupter. Replace Ground Fault Interrupter.
Failure to feed.
Cable tangled in drum. Do not run machine in reverse. Use proper cable size. (Consult Cable
Application Chart –Table 1.)
Feed rollers frozen. Clean and lubricate feed rollers regularly. Replace worn rollers.
Worn cable. When cable coils wear flat, cable should be replaced.
Motor turns but drum
does not.
Slip clutch is slipping because cable is being
forced.
Do not force cable. Do not allow too much slack between the cable
and the machine.
Slip clutch is worn. Replace slip clutch.
10

TheMetro®
11

TheMetro®
General Wire Spring Co.
1101 Thompson Avenue
McKees Rocks, PA 15136
412-771-6300 www.drainbrain.com
© General Wire Spring Co. 2022 C-MEOI-042022