Retra REALEZY 320 Series Installation guide

1300 242 504
sales@retragroup.com.au
www.retragroup.com.au
THE PROVEN PERFORMERS
Owner’s Operation and Maintenance Manual
320, 450, 530 and 700
Series Hose Reels

Introduction
Congratulations on your purchase of a Real Ezy Hose Reel. These reels represent the highest
grade of crasmanship, durability and lightweight construction that have made Real Ezy Hose
Reels the rst choice amongst Australian re departments for over 45 years and a leader for
mining & civil applications across the country.
This manual explains operation, inspection, basic maintenance, and repair. If you have any
questions about this manual or your Real Ezy Hose Reel, please contact Retra Fluid Handling
Systems.
NOTE: Retra Fluid Handling Systems is always improving its range and developing its products
continually improving on our reels’ design and quality. Therefore, while this manual contains
the most current product information at the time of printing, there may be minor discrepancies
between your reel and this manual.

Table of Contents
Installation
Warranty...........................................................................................
Pre-use inspection...........................................................................
Mounting the reel...........................................................................
Connection of the inlet and main hose..........................................
General operation...........................................................................
Maintenance
Lubrication.......................................................................................
Fastener and xing inspection.......................................................
Checking for leaks...........................................................................
Cleaning............................................................................................
Storage..............................................................................................
Repair
Rebuilding or replacing swivel......................................................
Replacing bearing blocks................................................................
Replacing electric motor..................................................................
Replacing pinion..............................................................................
Adjusting or setting friction brake.................................................
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently asked questions...........................................................
01
02
04
04
06
07
07
07
07
08
08
10
12
15
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Installation
Warranty
Real Ezy Hose Reels manufactured by Retra Group Pty Ltd are warranted to be free of defects in material
and workmanship for 10 years from the date of invoice or delivery (whichever is earlier).
Retra Group Pty Ltd’s warranty does not cover damage caused by accident, misuse, use in applications
other than that for which the Reel was designed, unauthorised modication, faulty installation, or fair
wear and tear.
Retra Group Pty Ltd’s Real Ezy Hose Reels must be installed and maintained in accordance with the
instruction manual supplied with each reel, otherwise, the warranty may not be applicable.
Electric motors will be of merchantable quality and free from any defects in material and workmanship
(fair wear and tear excluded) for a limited period of 12 months from the date of delivery.
The warranty for swivel O-rings is limited to 12 months.
Hoses and nozzles are not covered by our warranty as these are warranted by the respective hose and
nozzle manufacturers.
To get replacement or repair parts under the warranty, email sales@retragroup.com.au and include
any relevant information regarding the fault. Include images of the fault if possible and specify the serial
number and model number of the reel. This information is found stamped into a plaque on the front
right-hand side A-frame leg.
Please note shipping and handling fees may be applicable in some instances, these are assessed on a
case-by-case basis.

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Pre-use inspection
Before installation and use of your reel, ensure you:
1. Check the reel for any damage it may have sustained during shipping.
2. Conrm all parts are supplied as per your order.
3. Lubricate all moving parts to ensure reliable performance.
4. The swivel and bearings are greased when the reel is manufactured, but we recommend that you
re-lubricate them.
Mounting the reel
Reels can be mounted in three dierent orientations. These include:
1. Truck-bed-mounted on a horizontal surface.

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2. Wall-mounted on a vertical surface.
3. Roof-mounted upside down on a horizontal surface.

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Depending on your application, modications to the hose guide arms may need to be made as the reel
will perform best when the guide allows the hose to pull straight o the spool at the angle you are
situated, rather than making heavy contact with the hose guide. We can make changes to the arms whilst
manufacturing the reel to suit your specic requirement.
Mounting
1. Make certain the mounting surface is at and ridged to prevent the frame from twisting and causing
the reel to bind during use.
2. Be sure the mounting surface is strong enough to support the reel and the weight of the hose & uid.
3. The reel is secured to the mounting surface by four bolt holes on the A-frame legs. Measure the
centres and drill mounting holes accordingly. We advise slightly slotting the mounting holes to allow
for fractional width variations during the machining process. This allows for space to position the reel
to spool freely.
4. The minimum fastener required is M10 with nyloc nuts. Keep in mind to use a large at washer to
give added support to the bolt head and nut. Always assess the working load and environment of your
installation, making changes to the size and strength fastener where you feel necessary to guarantee
safety.
5. Tighten the reel down and check that the drum rotates evenly without binding.
Connection of the inlet and main hose
Inlet hose
1. A exible hose connection must be used between the swivel and the source of supply to prevent
possible misalignment and binding.
2. Solid/non-exible connections will immediately void the warranty.
3. The hose reel inlet/swivel are BSP ttings. Use the appropriate hose and ttings to connect the
supply outlet to the inlet connection of the reel. Use thread sealant where applicable and permitted.

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Main hose
4. First lay the hose out along the oor in a straight line, removing any twists or kinks.
5. Remove the clip cover from the drum rods and feed the end of the hose through the gap and then
the semi-circle hose guide. A heavy-duty cable tie or similar is oen used to secure the hose to the
hose guide on the inside of the reel.
6. Reels as standard are supplied with a hose tail outlet on the reel. Slide a heavy-duty hose clamp
over your hose then push the hose end over the hose tail. Secure the hose by tightening the hose
clamp.

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7. Fit your nozzle or valve to the other end of the hose.
8. Pressurise the reel & hose and vent the line of any air if need be. Pressurising the hose will stop it
from collapsing as you load it onto the reel, this will be essential for most 32 mm, 38 mm and 50 mm ID
hoses. It will also give you the chance to address any leaks while the hose is still laid out.
9. Install the clip cover to the drum rods and begin rewinding the reel whilst guiding the hose back and
forth evenly.
General operation
Take a few minutes to familiarise yourself with the functionality of the hose reel by performing a trial run.
Loosen the friction brake by about half a turn to disengage it from the axle and pull or power several
meters of hose o the reel, then rewind the hose using the rewind handle or electric motor. Depending on
your company requirements you may wish to develop a procedure for operation and use to safely train
others on how to operate this equipment.

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Maintenance
The frequency of maintenance is dependent on the application and environment you are using your hose
reel.
For example, a re truck has its reel fully checked and serviced about 2-3 times a year when the appliance
undergoes a service at the manufacturer’s workshop. Then depending on the frequency of use, re crews
will grease the reel when they grease other components on the truck. Water trucks used on mining and
civil projects are exposed to the elements daily, so their maintenance frequency tends to be higher. Simi-
larly to hose reels used for re & emergency, they are oen just greased when components of the truck or
trailer are lubricated.
It is recommended that a service program and procedure is developed by your company so potential
faults or failures can be addressed before they become a problem and render the equipment out of
action, or cause injury to the operator.
If you require service information outside what is listed below, please feel free to contact Retra Fluid Han-
dling Systems.
Lubrication
Lubricants are required where there is metal-to-metal contact. Periodically apply grease to the swivel,
bearings & brake assembly and wipe away the old excess grease to prevent the build-up of dust and sand
around these areas. We also recommend that you occasionally apply a small amount of lubricant to the
roller guide corner blocks to ensure they spin freely. For electric-driven reels, the chain will require lubri-
cation every so oen to help clean dirt out of the links and protect from rust.
Fastener and xing inspection
You must check to make sure the fasteners and xings are tight and not working loose over time. Be
mindful of the fact that a lot of the threads are aluminium and can be over-tightened.
Checking for leaks
Some maintenance checks are very simple and only require visual or audible inspection. Liquid leaks are
easily found, and you will generally be able to hear the hiss of an air leak. However, a simple soapy water
test will help reveal any air leaks by brushing soapy water around each joint and if bubbles appear then
you know there is a leak.
Cleaning
Real Ezy Hose Reels are designed to require very low maintenance, and oen the reel is only cleaned
when the machine it is mounted to is cleaned. Cleaning will maintain performance and extend the life of
parts. Soapy water and a dustpan brush do a great job at removing any build-up of dust or mud on the
hose reel.
It is advised against the use of a pressure washer due to moisture and the entry of water causing a failure.
Do not directly blast the bearings and brake assembly or motor. The electric motors are weatherproof but
are not rated for pressure cleaning. Pressure cleaning or directly blasting the motor with water will void
the warranty.

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Do not apply any degreaser to the drive chain, sprockets, or bearings. Lubrication aer cleaning will help
displace moisture from moving parts and prevent rust. You must lubricate the bearings, swivel & brake
assembly aer washing, also dry the chain with a rag or paper towel and lubricate.
Storage
There are preventative measures to consider if you are going to be storing your hose reel for extended pe-
riods. Specically, cleaning the reel and lubricating it before storage. If stored in a place that is humid or
exposed to the sea breeze you may want to apply a light coating of oil to the metal surfaces. Specically
guide arms, roller kit backing plate, handle & axle, and chain & sprocket.
Repair
Rebuilding or replacing swivel
Rebuild
If your swivel is leaking, there is a chance that the Viton seal has failed. If this is the case, the machined
components are likely to be undamaged. To rebuild your swivel:
1. Depressurise the hose reel and drain the hose.
2. Remove the swivel from the hose reel with a pipe wrench.

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3. Have a clean container ready to catch the ball bearings.
4. Remove the locking screw with a at head screwdriver and the grease nipple with a 7 mm ring
spanner.
5. Remove all the ball bearings by facing the hole down and rotating the swivel back and forth. You will
not be able to slide the male and female components apart until all 42 of the balls are out.
6. Slide the male and female components apart and remove the seal.
7. Clean all surfaces and check for damage as any dents or scratches may cause the joint to leak again.
8. Smear some grease around the new seal and put it back in place.

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9. Press the two components together. Insert 21 ball bearings in each hole and retrain with the locking
screw and grease nipple.
10. Apply some grease to the swivel and rotate to ensure it operates smoothly.
11. Install using thread sealant where applicable and permitted.
12. Check for leaks.
Replace
1. Depressurise the hose reel and drain the hose.
2. Remove the swivel from the hose reel and inlet hose with a pipe wrench.
3. Clean the thread on the uid axle.
4. Install using thread sealant where applicable and permitted.
5. Check for leaks.
Replacing bearing blocks
Each reel has a bearing block on the le and right-hand side. It may be necessary to remove and clean
them if sand has ingressed or replace them if they have cracked (in an accident for example).
Fluid side
1. Depressurise the hose reel and drain the hose.
2. Remove the swivel with a pipe wrench.

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Handle side
1. Remove the handle and locking collar with a 3 mm Allen key.
2. Undo the bolts holding the bearing block to the A-frame with a 9/16 ring spanner or socket.
3. Slide the bearing block o the axle. Installation follows the same procedure.

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Replacing electric motor
Ensure the electricity supply to the reel is isolated and the hose depressurised.
1. Remove the hose roller guide from the guide arms with a 9/16 ring spanner or socket.
2. Remove the chain guard with a 3/16 Allen key and slide the guide up over the guide arm.

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3. Remove the chain by disassembling the connecting link.

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4. Remove the motor using a 9/16 ring spanner and socket.
5. Install the new motor using the same steps.

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Replacing pinion
Ensure the electricity supply to the reel is isolated, depressurise the hose reel and drain the hose.
Motor pinion
Always replace pinion and chain at the same time.
1. Remove the electric motor (as per above).
2. Remove the grub screw and pry the pinion o the motor sha using two levers or similar.

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3. Install the new pinion and rmly tighten the grub screw. If you feel it necessary, a small amount of
low-strength Loctite may be applied to the grub screw to ensure it does not work loose over time.
Adjusting or setting friction brake
The friction brake is used to lock the reel during transport and prevents the hose from over-spooling. It is
adjustable so the operator can set the amount of friction on the drum.
To operate the brake simply tighten until you can not move the drum and to loosen, unscrew by half to
one full turn. Do not unscrew the wing nut too far as it can cause the brake to malfunction.
If your friction brake is not working, it is most likely because the 5/16 threaded rod has come loose from
the lower brake lock. To rectify:
1. Remove the rewind handle and locking collar with a 3 mm Allen key.
2. Undo the two bolts holding the bearing block to A-frame using a 9/16 ring spanner or socket.

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3. Slide the bearing block o the axle and take the brake assembly out of the bearing block.
4. You will notice the lower brake lock is loose on the threaded rod, that should not be the case. The
top cap nut should also be xed with Loctite to the threaded rod.
5. Unscrew the lower lock and clean the threads. Apply Loctite and screw onto the threaded rod until
the rod until the rod is halfway or ush to the bottom of the lock.
This manual suits for next models
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