Ryobi RY1201 User manual

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THANK YOU FOR BUYING A RYOBI CORDLESS DRILL-DRIVER.
Your new cordless drill-driver has been engineered and manufactured to Ryobi’s high standard for dependability, ease of
operation, and operator safety. Properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance.
CAUTION: Carefully read through this entire operator’s manual before using your new cordless drill-driver.
Pay close attention to the Rules for Safe Operation, Warnings, and Cautions. If you use your cordless drill-driver properly
and only for what it is intended, you will enjoy years of safe, reliable service.
Thank you again for buying Ryobi tools.
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
CORDLESS DRILL-DRIVER
MODEL NOS. RY721/RY961/RY1201
SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Page 2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
■Table Of Contents/Typical Applications......................................................................................... 2
■Rules For Safe Operation .......................................................................................................... 3-5
A. Precautions On Using Your Cordless Tool .............................................................................. 4
B. Important Safety Instructions For Charger/Charging Assembly ........................................... 4-5
C. Precautions Regarding The Use Of Charger/ChargingAssembly And Battery....................... 5
■Specifications................................................................................................................................ 6
■Important Information For Recharging Hot Batteries .................................................................... 6
■Disposal Of The Exhausted Battery.............................................................................................. 6
A. Battery Pack Preparation For Recycling ................................................................................. 6
■Operation ................................................................................................................................. 7-12
■Maintenance ............................................................................................................................... 13
■Service Information..................................................................................................................... 14
DRILLING LEVEL DRILLING
CAUTION: Carefully read through this entire manual before using your new drill-driver.
TYPICAL APPLICATIONS
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Page 3
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION
The purpose of safety symbols is to attract your attention to possible dangers. The safety symbols, and the
explanations with them, deserve your careful attention and understanding. The safety warnings do not by
themselves eliminate any danger. The instructions or warnings they give are not substitutes for proper accident
prevention measures.
SYMBOL MEANING
SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL:
Indicates danger, warning, or caution. May be used in conjunction with other symbols or pictographs.
DANGER: Failure to obey a safety warning will result in serious injury to yourself or to others. Always
follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock, and personal injury.
WARNING: Failure to obey a safety warning can result in serious injury to yourself or to others. Always
follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal injury.
CAUTION: Failure to obey a safety warning may result in property damage or personal injury to yourself
or to others. Always follow the safety precautions to reduce the risk of fire, electric shock and personal
injury.
NOTE: Advises you of information or instructions vital to the operation or maintenance of the equipment.
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS
■KEEP THE WORK AREA CLEAN. Cluttered work
areas and work benches invite injuries.
■CONSIDER WORK AREA ENVIRONMENT. Keep
work area well lit. Do not use tool in presence of
flammable liquids or gases.
■GUARD AGAINST ELECTRICAL SHOCK BY
PREVENTING BODY CONTACT WITH
GROUNDED SURFACES. For example: Pipes,
radiators, ranges, refrigerator enclosures.
■KEEP CHILDREN AND VISITORS AWAY. All
visitors should wear safety glasses and be kept a
safe distance from work area. Do not let visitors
contact tool or extension cord.
■STOREIDLETOOLS.Whennotinusetoolsshould
be stored in a dry and high or locked-up place - out
of the reach of children.
■DON'T FORCE TOOL. It will do the job better and
safer at the rate for which it was designed.
■USE RIGHT TOOL. Don't force small tool or
attachment to do the job of a heavy duty tool. Don't
use tool for purpose not intended - for example - A
circular saw should never be used for cutting tree
limbs or logs.
■WEAR PROPER APPAREL. Do not wear loose
clothing or jewelry that can get caught in tool's
moving parts and cause personal injury. Rubber
gloves and nonskid footwear are recommended
KNOW YOUR CORDLESS TOOL
Safe operation of this cordless tool requires that you read
and understand this Operator's Manual and all labels affixed
to the tool. Learn its applications and limitations as well as
the potential hazards related to a cordless tool. Keep this
manual readily available for future reference.
IMPORTANT
Servicing of a tool requires extreme care and knowledge of
the system and should be performed only by a qualified
service technician. For service we suggest you return the
tool to your nearest Ryobi Authorized Service Center for
repair.Whenservicing, useonly identicalRyobi replacement
parts.
WARNING:
Do not attempt to operate this tool until you have read
thoroughly and understand completely all instructions,
safety rules, etc. contained in this manual. Failure to
comply can result in accidents involving fire, electric
shock, or serious personal injury. Save this operator's
manual and review it frequently for continuing safe
operation, and instructing others who may use this tool.
WARNING:
Whenusing power tools,basic safetyprecautions should
alwaysbefollowed toreducetherisk offire,electric shock,
and personal injury, including the following precautions.

Page 4
PRECAUTIONS ON USING YOUR
CORDLESS TOOL
ThisproductcontainsNickel-Cadmiumbatterieswhich
must be disposed of properly.
■Be aware that this tool is always in an operating
condition, because it does not have to be plugged
into an electrical outlet.
■First, charge the battery.
■Be sure the battery is snapped in place.
■When not in use, lock the switch.
■When operating at a high place, be aware of things
below you.
■Before drilling into walls, ceilings, or floors, make
sure that there are no concealed power cables
inside.
WARNING:
Drilling into electrical wiring in walls can cause
drill bit and chuck to become electrically live.
Do not touch the chuck or metal housing when
drilling into a wall; grasp only the insulated
handle(s) provided on the tool.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR
CHARGER/CHARGING ASSEMBLY
■SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS. This manual
containsimportantsafetyandoperatinginstructions
forchargingthebatterywiththefollowingcomponents:
MODEL BATTERY CHARGER CHARGINGASSEMBLY
RY721 1400668 4400100 N/A
RY961 1400669 N/A 981351-001
RY1201 1400652 N/A 981351-002
■Before using battery charger/charging assembly,
read all instructions and cautionary markings on (1)
battery charger, (2) battery, (3) charging assembly,
and (4) products using battery.
WARNING:
To reduce risk of injury, charge only nickel-
cadmiumtyperechargeablebatteries.Othertypes
of batteries may burst causing personal injury
and damage.
■Do not expose charger/charging assembly to rain or
snow.
■Use of an attachment not recommended or sold by
thebatterycharger/chargingassemblymanufacturer
may result in a risk of fire, electric shock, or injury to
persons.
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION (Continued)
whenworkingoutdoors.Wearprotectivehaircovering
tocontainlonghairandkeepitfrombeingdrawninto
nearby air vents.
■ALWAYS WEAR SAFETY GLASSES. Everyday
eyeglasses have only impact-resistant lenses; they
are NOT safety glasses.
■PROTECT YOUR LUNGS. Wear a face mask or
dust mask if operation is dusty.
■PROTECT YOUR HEARING. Wear hearing
protection during extended periods of operation.
■SECUREWORK.Useclampsoravisetoholdwork.
It's safer than using your hand and it frees both
hands to operate tool.
■DON'T OVERREACH. Keep proper footing and
balance at all times. Do not use on a ladder or
unstable support.
■MAINTAIN TOOLS WITH CARE. Keep tools sharp
atalltimes,andcleanforbestandsafestperformance.
Follow instructions for lubricating and changing
accessories.
■REMOVE ADJUSTING KEYS AND WRENCHES.
Formhabitofcheckingtoseethatkeysandadjusting
wrenchesareremovedfromtoolbeforeturningiton.
■AVOIDUNINTENTIONALSTARTING.Donotcarry
thetoolwithyourfingerontheswitch.Besureswitch
is off when installing battery pack.
■STAY ALERT. Watch what you are doing and use
common sense. Do not operate tool when you are
tired. Do not rush.
■CHECK DAMAGED PARTS. Before further use of
thetool,aguardorotherpartthatisdamagedshould
becarefullychecked todeterminethatitwill operate
properlyandperformitsintendedfunction.Checkfor
alignment of moving parts, binding of moving parts,
breakageofparts,mounting,andanyotherconditions
that may affect its operation. A guard or other part
that is damaged should be properly repaired or
replaced by an authorized service center unless
indicated elsewhere in this instruction manual.
■DONOT USETOOL IFSWITCH DOESNOT TURN
IT ON AND OFF. Have defective switches replaced
by a Ryobi Authorized Service Center.
■DRUGS,ALCOHOL,MEDICATION.Donotoperate
tool while under the influence of drugs, alcohol, or
any medication.
■INSPECT FOR and remove all nails from lumber
before drilling.
■DO NOT CHARGE BATTERY TOOL IN A DAMP
OR WET LOCATION.

Page 5
RULES FOR SAFE OPERATION (Continued)
■To reduce risk of damage to electric plug and cord,
pull by the plug rather than the cord when
disconnecting charger/charging assembly.
■Makesurecordislocatedsothatitwillnotbestepped
on, tripped over, or otherwise subjected to damage
or stress.
■An extension cord should not be used unless
absolutely necessary. Use of improper extension
cord could result in a risk of fire and electric shock.
If extension cord must be used, make sure:
a. Thatpinsonplugofextensioncordarethesame
number, size and shape as those of plug on
charger/charging assembly.
b. That extension cord is properly wired and in
good electrical condition; and
c. That wire size is large enough for AC ampere
ratingofcharger/chargingassemblyasspecified
below:
Cord Length (Feet) 25 ft. 50 ft. 100 ft.
Cord Size (AWG) 16 16 16
Note: AWG = American Wire Gage
■Do not operate charger/charging assembly with
damaged cord or plug. Replace immediately.
■Do not operate charger/charging assembly if it has
received a sharp blow, been dropped, or otherwise
damaged in any way; take it to a Ryobi Authorized
Service Center.
■Do not disassemble charger/charging assembly;
takeittoaRyobi AuthorizedServiceCenterwhen
service or repair is required. Incorrect reassembly
may result in a risk of electric shock or fire.
■To reduce risk of electric shock, unplug charger/
charging assembly from outlet before attempting
any maintenance or cleaning. Turning off controls
will not reduce this risk.
PRECAUTIONS REGARDING THE USE OF
CHARGER/CHARGING ASSEMBLY AND
BATTERY
■Do not charge battery when temperature is below
50°F (10°C) or above 95°F (35°C).
■Never attempt to connect two charger/charging
assemblies together.
■The charger/charging assembly is designed to
operateonstandardhouseholdelectricalpower.Do
not attempt to use it on any other voltage.
■Consecutive charging may cause overheating. If
you need to recharge batteries consecutively, wait
for about 15 minutes to allow charger/charging
assembly to cool.
■Do not insert foreign matter into the hole for the
battery in charger assembly.
■Do not charge by means of an engine generator or
DC power source.
■Do not disassemble the battery.
■Do not store the tool and battery in locations where
the temperature may reach or exceed 104°F (40°
C), such as outside sheds or metal buildings in
summer.
■Do not incinerate the battery, even if it is severely
damaged or completely worn out. The battery may
explode in fire.
■Battery leakage may occur under conditions of
extreme usage or temperature. If liquid comes in
contactwithskin, wash quickly withsoapandwater,
thenwithlemonjuiceorvinegar.Ifliquidgetsin your
eyes, wash with water for at least 10 minutes and
seek medical attention immediately.
■Do not short-circuit the battery.
WARNING:
Somedustcreatedbypowersanding,sawing,grinding,
drilling, and other construction activities contains
chemicals known to cause cancer, birth defects or
other reproductive harm. Some examples of these
chemicals are:
• lead from lead-based paints,
• crystalline silica from bricks and cement and other
masonry products, and
• arsenic and chromium from chemically-treated
lumber.
Your risk from these exposures varies, depending on
how often you do this type of work. To reduce your
exposuretothesechemicals:workinawellventilated
area,andworkwithapprovedsafetyequipment,such
as those dust masks that are specially designed to
filter out microscopic particles.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
Lookforthissymboltopointoutimportantsafetyprecautions.
It means attention!!! Your safety is involved.

Page 6
SPECIFICATIONS:
RY721 RY961 RY1201
Chuck 3/8 in. Keyless 3/8 in. Keyless 3/8 in. Keyless
Motor DC Motor 7.2V DC Motor 9.6V DC Motor 12.0V
Switch Two-Speed Variable Speed Variable Speed
No Load Speed 330/500 RPM 0 - 550 RPM 0 - 550 RPM
Clutch 24 Positions 24 Positions 24 Positions
Charger Input 120V, 60 Hz, AC Only 120V, 60 Hz, AC Only 120V, 60 Hz, AC Only
Charge Rate 3-6 Hours 3-6 Hours 3-6 Hours
IMPORTANT INFORMATION FOR RECHARGING HOT BATTERIES
When using your drill-driver continuously, the batteries in
your battery pack become hot. You should let a hot battery
pack cool down for approximately 30 minutes before at-
tempting to recharge.
Note: This situation occurs when continuous use of your
drill-driver causes the batteries to become hot. It does not
occur under normal circumstances. Refer to "Charging
Your Drill-Driver" for normal recharging of batteries. If the
charger/charging assembly does not charge your battery
pack under normal circumstances, return both the battery
packand charger/charging assemblyto your nearestRyobi
Authorized Service Center for electrical check.
DISPOSAL OF THE EXHAUSTED BATTERY
To preserve natural resources, please
recycle or dispose of properly.
This product contains nickel-cadmium
battery. Must be disposed of properly.
Local, state, or federal laws may prohibit
disposal of Nickel-Cadmium batteries in
ordinary trash.
Consult your local waste authority for information regarding
available recycling and/or disposal options.
For more information on battery recycling call 1-800-
8BATTERY.
BATTERY PACK PREPARATION FOR
RECYCLING
WARNING:
Upon removal, cover the battery pack's terminals with
heavy duty adhesive tape. Do not attempt to destroy or
disassemble battery pack or remove any of its
components. Also, never touch both terminals with metal
objects and/or body parts, as short circuit may result.
Keep away from children. Failure to comply with these
warnings could result in fire and/or serious injury.
WARNING:
Do not attempt to disassemble the battery pack. Fire or
injury may result.
The operation of any power tool can result in foreign objects being thrown into your
eyes, which can result in severe eye damage. Before beginning power tool operation,
always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields and a full face shield
when needed. We recommend Wide Vision Safety Mask for use over eyeglasses or
standard safety glasses with side shields.
GLASSES
SAFETY
WEAR YOUR
FORESIGHT IS BETTER
THAN NO SIGHT
WARNING:
R
E
C
Y
C
L
E
1
.
8
0
0
.
8
2
2
.
8
8
3
7
RBRC
Ni Cd

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OPERATION
Fig. 1
Fig. 2
KNOW YOUR DRILL-DRIVER
See Figure 1.
Beforeattemptingtouseanytool,familiarizeyourselfwithall
operating features and safety requirements.
WARNING:
Do not allow familiarity with tools to make you careless.
Remember that a careless fraction of a second is
sufficient to inflict severe injury.
CHARGING YOUR DRILL-DRIVER
The battery pack for this tool has been shipped in a low
charge condition to prevent possible problems. Therefore,
you should charge it at least 6 hours prior to use.
Note: Batteries will not reach full charge the first time they
are charged. Allow several cycles (drilling followed by re-
charging) for them to fully charge.
TO CHARGE MODEL NO. RY721
■Charge battery pack only with the charger provided.
■Connect charger to battery pack by inserting charger
plug into input jack. See Figure 2 .
■Make sure power supply is normal house voltage,
120 volts, 60 Hz, AC only.
■Connect charger to power supply.
■The charge indicator light (LED) indicator, which is lo-
cated on rear of battery pack, will light up when charger
is properly connected to power supply. This red light
indicates your drill is charging and will remain on until
charger is disconnected from power supply.
TO CHARGE MODEL NOS. RY961/RY1201
■Charge battery pack with the charging assembly pro-
vided.
■Make sure power supply is normal house voltage,
120 volts, 60 Hz, AC only.
■Connect charging assembly to power supply.
■Place battery pack in charging assembly. Align raised rib
on battery pack with groove in charging assembly. See
Figure 3 .
■Press down on battery pack to be sure contacts on
battery pack engage properly with contacts in charging
assembly. When properly connected, red light will turn
on.
■After normal usage, 3 hours of charging time is required
to be fully charged. A minimum charge time of 6 hours is
required to recharge a completely discharged battery.
■The battery pack will become slightly warm to the touch
while charging. This is normal and does not indicate a
problem.
■DO NOT place charging assembly in an area of extreme
heat or cold. It will work best at normal room tempera-
ture. Fig. 3
KEYLESS
CHUCK
BIT
STORAGE
AREA
TORQUE
ADJUSTMENT
RING
SWITCH
TRIGGER
CHARGING
ASSEMBLY
TO CHARGE MODEL NO. RY721
BATTERY
CHARGER
BATTERY
PACK
TO CHARGE MODEL NOS. RY961/RY1201
DIRECTION OF
ROTATION
SELECTOR
LEVEL
BATTERY
PACK
BATTERY
PACK
CHARGER
PLUG
INPUT
JACK
CHARGE
INDICATOR
LIGHT (LED)
CHARGE
INDICATOR
LIGHT (LED)

Page 8
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OPERATION
Fig. 5
Fig. 4
WARNING:
If any parts are missing, do not operate tool until the
missing parts are replaced. Failure to do so could result
in possible serious personal injury.
SWITCH
See Figure 4.
Your drill starts and stops by depressing and releasing the
switch trigger.
Model No. RY721 has a two-speed feature in the switch.
Depress the switch trigger halfway for driving screws at low
speed. Depress the switch trigger all the way for normal
drilling. Release the switch trigger to turn drill OFF.
Model Nos. RY961/RY1201 have a variable speed feature
in the switch. The switch delivers higher speed and torque
with increased trigger pressure. Speed is controlled by the
amount of switch trigger depression.
SWITCH LOCK
See Figure 4.
The switch trigger can be locked in the OFF position. This
feature helps reduce the possibility of accidental starting
whennotinuse.Tolocktheswitchtrigger,placethedirection
of rotation selector in the center position.
TO INSTALL BATTERY PACK
■Place the direction of rotation selector in center position.
See Figure 4.
■Place the battery pack in your drill. Align raised rib on
battery pack with groove in drill's battery port. See Fig-
ure 5.
■Make sure the latches on each side of your battery pack
snap in place and that battery pack is secured in drill
before beginning operation.
TO REMOVE BATTERY PACK
■Place the direction of rotation selector in center position.
See Figure 4.
■Locate latches on side of battery pack and depress both
sides to release battery pack from your drill.
See Figure 5.
■Remove battery pack from your drill.
CAUTION:
When placing battery pack in your drill, be sure raised
rib on battery pack aligns with groove in drill's battery
port and latches snap in place properly. Improper
assembly of battery pack can cause damage to internal
components.
DIRECTION OF
ROTATION
SELECTOR
SWITCH
TRIGGER
FORWARD
REVERSE
CENTER POSITION
(LOCK)
DEPRESS
LATCHES TO
RELEASE
BATTERY PACK
LATCHES
BATTERY
PACK
BATTERY
PORT

Page 9
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7
6
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OPERATION
Fig. 6
Fig. 7
Note: Rotate the chuck body in the direction of the arrow
marked GRIP to tighten the chuck jaws. DO NOT use a
wrench to tighten or loosen the chuck jaws.
WARNING:
Donot insertdrill bitinto chuckjaws andtighten asshown
in figure 8. This could cause drill bit to be thrown from
drill resulting in possible serious personal injury or
damage to the chuck.
Fig. 8
RIGHT
WRONG
RELEASE (UNLOCK)
GRIP
(TIGHTEN)
CHUCK BODY
CHUCK
COLLAR
CHUCK JAWS
DRILL BIT
CHUCK COLLAR
CHUCK BODY
REVERSIBLE
See Figure 4.
This tool is reversible. The direction of rotation is controlled
by a selector located above the switch trigger. With the drill
held in normal operating position, the direction of rotation
selector should be positioned to the left of the switch for
drilling.Thedrillingdirectionisreversedwhentheselectoris
to the right of the switch. When the selector is in center
position, the switch trigger is locked.
CAUTION:
To prevent gear damage, always allow chuck to come to
acomplete stop beforechanging the directionof rotation.
To stop, release switch trigger and allow the chuck to come
to a complete stop.
WARNING:
Batterytools arealwaysin operatingcondition.Therefore,
switch should always be locked when not in use or when
carrying at your side.
KEYLESS CHUCK
See Figure 6.
Akeylesschuckhasbeenprovidedwithyourdrilltoallowfor
easy installation and removal of bits. As the name implies,
you can hand tighten or release drill bits in the chuck jaws.
Graspandholdthecollarofthe chuckwithonehand.Rotate
the chuck body with your other hand. The arrows on the
chuck indicate which direction to rotate the chuck body in
order to GRIP (tighten) or RELEASE (unlock) the drill bit.
WARNING:
Do not hold the chuck body with one hand and use the
powerof the drillto tighten chuck jaws on drill bits. Chuck
body could slip in your hand or your hand could slip and
come in contact with rotating drill bit. This could cause
an accident resulting in serious personal injury.
INSTALLING BITS
■Place the direction of rotation selector in center position.
This will lock the switch trigger in the off position.
■Openorclosethechuckjawstoapointwheretheopening
is slightly larger than the bit size you intend to use. Also,
raise the front of your drill slightly to keep the bit from
falling out of the chuck jaws.
■Insertyourdrillbitintothechuckthefulllengthofthejaws.
See Figure 7.
■Tighten the chuck jaws on the drill bit. To tighten, grasp
and hold the collar of the chuck with one hand, while
rotating the chuck body with your other hand.

Page 10
6
7
7
6
7
6
OPERATION
REMOVING BITS
See Figure 7.
■Place the direction of rotation selector in center position.
This will lock the switch trigger in the off position.
■Loosen the chuck jaws from drill bit .
■To loosen: grasp and hold the collar of the chuck with one
hand, while rotating chuck body with your other hand.
Note: Rotate chuck body in the direction of the arrow
marked RELEASE to loosen chuck jaws. DO NOT use a
wrench to tighten or loosen the chuck jaws.
■Remove drill bit from chuck jaws.
SCREWDRIVING
TORQUE ADJUSTMENT
(Driving power of your drill-driver)
When using your drill-driver for various driving applications,
it becomes necessary to increase or decrease the torque in
order to help prevent the possibility of damaging screw
heads, threads, workpiece, etc. In general, torque should
correspond to the intensity of the screw diameter. If the
torqueistoohighorthescrewstoosmall,thescrewsmaybe
damaged or broken.
Thetorqueisadjustedbyrotatingthetorqueadjustmentring.
See Figure 9. The torque is greater when the torque adjust-
ment ring is set on a higher setting. The torque is less when
the torque adjustment ring is set on a lower setting.
The proper setting depends on the type of material and the
size of screw you are using.
TO ADJUST TORQUE
■Identify the twenty four torque indicator settings located
on the front of your drill. See Figure 9.
■Rotate adjustment ring to the desired setting.
• 1 For driving small screws.
• 1 - 3 For driving screws into soft material.
• 3 - 5 For driving screws into soft and hard
materials.
• 5 - 6 For driving screws in hard wood.
• 6 - 7 For driving large screws.
• Drill For heavy drilling.
BIT STORAGE
See Figure 10.
When not in use, bits provided with your drill can be placed
in the storage area located on the top of your drill as shown
in figure 10.
LEVEL DRILLING
See Figure 11.
A convenient new feature provided with your drill is a level.
It is recessed in the motor housing on top of your drill. It can
be used to keep drill bit level during drilling operations.
Fig. 9
Fig. 10
TO DECREASE
TORQUE
TO INCREASE
TORQUE
TORQUE
ADJUSTMENT
RING
SCREWDRIVER BITS
BIT
STORAGE
AREA
LEVEL
Fig. 11

Page 11
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7
OPERATION
WARNING:
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side
shields when operating tool. Failure to do so could result
in objects being thrown into your eyes, resulting in
possible serious injury.
DRILLING
See Figure 12.
When drilling hard, smooth surfaces, use a center punch to
mark the desired hole location. This will prevent the drill bit
from slipping off center as the hole is started. However, the
lower speed feature allows starting holes without center
punchingifdesired.Toaccomplishthis, simply operateyour
drill at lower speed until the hole is started.
The material to be drilled should be secured in a vise or with
clamps to keep it from turning as the drill bit rotates.
Hold tool firmly and place the bit at the point to be drilled.
Depress the switch trigger to start tool.
Move the drill bit into the workpiece, applying only enough
pressure to keep the bit cutting. Do not force or apply side
pressure to elongate a hole.
WARNING:
Be prepared for binding or bit breakthrough. When these
situations occur, the drill has a tendency to grab and kick
oppositeto the directionof rotation, and could cause loss
of control when breaking through material. If you are not
prepared,this lossofcontrol canresult inpossible serious
injury.
When drilling metals, use a light oil on the drill bit to keep it
from overheating. The oil will prolong the life of the bit and
increase the drilling action.
If the bit jams in workpiece or if the drill stalls, release switch
trigger immediately. Remove the bit from the workpiece and
determine the reason for jamming.
Fig. 12

Page 12
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6
7
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OPERATION
Fig. 13
Fig. 14
Fig. 15
CHUCK REMOVAL
See Figures 13, 14, and 15.
Thechuckmustberemovedinordertousesomeaccessories.
To remove:
■Lock the switch trigger by placing the direction of rotation
selector in center position.
■Inserta 5/16 inch or largerallen wrench(hex key wrench)
into the chuck of your drill and tighten the chuck jaws
securely.
■Tap the allen wrench sharply with a mallet in a clockwise
direction. See Figure 13. This will loosen the screw in
the chuck for easy removal.
■Open chuck jaws and remove allen wrench. Remove the
chuck screw by turning it in a clockwise direction. See
Figure 14. Note: The screw has left hand threads.
■Insert allen wrench in chuck and tighten chuck jaws
securely. Tap sharply with a mallet in a counterclockwise
direction. This will loosen chuck on the spindle. It can
now be unscrewed by hand. See Figure 15.
TO RETIGHTEN A LOOSE CHUCK
The chuck may become loose on spindle and develop a
wobble. Also, the chuck screw may become loose causing
the chuck jaws to bind and prevent them from closing. To
tighten, follow these steps:
■Lock the switch trigger by placing the direction of rotation
selector in center position.
■Insert allen wrench into chuck and tighten chuck jaws
securely. Tap allen wrench sharply with a mallet in a
clockwisedirection.This willtighten chuckon thespindle.
■Open the chuck jaws and remove allen wrench.
■Tighten the chuck screw. Note: The chuck screw has left
hand threads.
MALLET KEYLESS CHUCK
CHUCK JAWS
ALLEN WRENCH

Page 13
MAINTENANCE
WARNING:
When servicing use only identical Ryobi replacement
parts.Useofanyotherpartsmaycreateahazardorcause
product damage.
Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts. Most
plastics are susceptible to damage from various types of
commercialsolvents andmay be damaged by their use. Use
a clean cloth to remove dirt, oil, grease, etc.
WARNING:
Do not at any time let brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum-
based products, penetrating oils, etc., come in contact
with plastic parts. They contain chemicals that can
damage, weaken, or destroy plastics.
DO NOT ABUSE POWER TOOLS. Abusive practices can
damage the tool, as well as the work piece.
WARNING:
Do not attempt to modify this tool or create accessories
not recommended for use with this tool. Any such
alteration or modification is misuse and could result in a
hazardouscondition leading topossible seriouspersonal
injury.
CAUTION:
Any repairs requiring disassembly should only be
performed by a Ryobi Authorized Service Center. For
the repair center nearest you, call 1-800-525-2579.
BATTERIES
Your drill is equipped with Nickel-Cadmium rechargeable
batteries. Length of service from each charging will depend
on the type of work you are doing.
The batteries in this tool have been designed to provide
maximum trouble-free life. However, like all batteries, they
will eventually wear out. Do not disassemble the battery
pack and attempt to replace the batteries. Handling of
these batteries, especially when wearing rings and jewelry,
could result in a serious burn.
To obtain the longest possible battery life, we suggest the
following:
■Store and charge your batteries in a cool area.
Temperaturesabovenormalroomtemperaturewillshorten
battery life.
■Never store batteries in a discharged condition. Wait for
battery to cool and charge immediately.
■All batteries gradually lose their charge. The higher the
temperature, the quicker they lose their charge. If you
store your tool for long periods of time without using it,
recharge the batteries every month or two. This practice
will prolong battery life.
CAUTION:
Your drill-driver contains special high temperature
batteries to help prevent battery damage when left on
charge for extended periods of time. However, once the
batteries become fully charged, we recommend that you
unplugthe charger/chargingassembly from powersupply
and remove it from battery pack.

OPERATOR'S MANUAL
CORDLESS DRILL-DRIVER
MODEL NOS. RY721/RY961/RY1201
RYOBI AMERICA CORP.
1424 Pearman Dairy Road Anderson, SC 29625
Post Office Box 1207 Anderson, SC 29622-1207
Phone [phone]
RYOBI CANADA INC.
Post Office Box 910
Cambridge, Ontario N1R 6K2
Phone [phone]
972000-570
9-00
RY721/RY961/RY1201
• SERVICE
Nowthatyouhavepurchasedyourtool,shouldaneedeverexistforrepairpartsorservice,
simply contact your nearest Ryobi Authorized Service Center. Be sure to provide all
pertinentfactswhenyoucallorvisit.Pleasereferto theServiceCenterinsertorcall1-800-
525-2579 in the United States or 1-800-265-6778 in Canada for your nearest Ryobi
Authorized Service Center. You can also check our web site at www.ryobi.com for a
complete list of Authorized Service Centers.
• MODEL NO. AND SERIAL NO.
The model number of this tool will be found on a plate attached to the motor housing.
Please record the model number and serial number in the space provided below.
• HOW TO ORDER REPAIR PARTS
WHEN ORDERING REPAIR PARTS,
ALWAYS GIVE THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION:
• MODEL NUMBER
• SERIAL NUMBER