Flexible shaft 6mm x 15m with connection for RIDGID K102

This flexible shaft is an alternative version for the RIDGID K9-102 drain cleaning machine. It comprises the shaft itself, a protective sleeve and the connector already crimped in place – so no crimping tool is needed.

Please note: the shaft has been tested for the RIDGID K9-102 and fits the machines delivered up to 2025. We do not know whether RIDGID has changed the machine since. If you have a newer unit, get in touch before ordering – we will check it for you.

Properties and use

The shaft is 15m long and 6mm in diameter. It is the thinnest shaft in our range and at the same time rigid enough not to coil up inside the pipe under higher torque, which makes cleaning and clearing blockages easier.

It is particularly suited to tight bends, to passing through a toilet bowl and to pipework with several junctions close together. For soft blockages and light descaling of 50mm pipes it is the right choice. We recommend using it in pipes up to a maximum diameter of 75mm.

The 6mm shaft does not generate enough torque for heavy-duty chains – thicker root intrusion or solid blockages in 100mm pipes are beyond it. Use this shaft with lightweight chains.

Spare connector

Shortly after the drive the shaft passes through a sharp bend. Heat and stress are higher there, which is where a failure typically occurs. With a spare connector you cut off the damaged section with an angle grinder and crimp on a new one – which saves downtime.

You will need a crimping tool for that. These are inexpensive and available from most hardware stores or online. The shaft end does not need to be welded or soldered before crimping.

Technical data

• Length: 15m
• Shaft diameter: 6mm (1/4")
• Connection: alternative K9-102 connector, already crimped on
• Recommended pipe range: up to 75mm
• Chains: lightweight chains

Lubrication before first use

Transport regulations do not allow us to ship products that might be considered flammable, so the shafts are delivered without lubricant inside the sleeve.

Lubricate the shaft before first use and check the lubrication every few weeks afterwards. This keeps the shaft performing well over longer distances. Use machine oil, paraffin oil or compressor oil.

After your purchase we will send you videos showing how to lubricate and use the shaft.

How the shaft is built

Our shafts are made from spring-grade steel wire wound in several layers around a single mandrel, each layer applied at an opposing pitch angle. This construction lets the shaft transmit equal torque in both directions of rotation. Properties such as flexibility, torsional stiffness and power transmission follow from the choice and balance of wire type, number of wires, diameter and annealing temperature.

Shaft lengths are stated as minimum lengths. We supply them slightly longer so that you can attach tools of different sizes to the shaft.

Shaft shrinkage

During manufacture the shafts are wound straight, then rolled onto large-diameter spools and later cut into pieces. The ends may therefore shrink slightly during first use, usually more noticeably on the machine side. This is normal: the shaft is being subjected to the stresses of multiple bends and torque for the first time. Once the inner strands have settled, the shrinkage stops. It usually affects around 75mm at each end.

Cut off the shrunken section with an angle grinder and reconnect your tool and the machine. Do not weld the ends. Spring-grade steel is tempered at a specific temperature and cooled at a specific rate so that it keeps its spring properties; welding changes that state.

Important notice

This is not an original RIDGID shaft, and we do not sell brand-name spare parts. The shaft is offered as an alternative version for your existing machine.

When working with the flexible shaft, observe the safety information for your machine. This product is intended for use by trained professionals in drain and sewer cleaning. If you would like an introduction, get in touch with us.