300 and 400 Lever Bender Instruction Sheet
300 and 400 Lever Bender
EN
Instructions
Read these instructions and the warn-
ings and instructions for all equipment
being used before using to reduce the
risk of serious personal injury.
• Always use safety glasses to reduce the risk of eye injury.
• Do not use handle extensions (such as a piece of pipe).
Han dle extensions can slip or come off and increase the
risk of serious injury.
If you have any question concerning this RIDGID
– Contact your local RIDGID distributor.
– Visit RIDGID.com or to find your local RIDGID contact point.
– Contact Ridge Tool Technical Service Department at rtctechser -
vices@em erson.com, or in the U.S. and Canada call (800) 519-
3456.
Selection of appropriate materials and installation, joining
NOTICE
and forming methods is the responsibility of the system designer
and/or installer. Selection of improper materials and methods could
cause system failure.
Stainless steel and other corrosion resistant materials can be con-
taminated during installation, joining and forming. This contamination
could cause corrosion and premature failure. Careful evaluation of
materials and methods for the specific service conditions, including
chemical and temperature, should be completed before any installa-
tion is attempted.
Description
The RIDGID
®
300 and 400 Series Lever Benders are designed to
easily bend metal tubes to a maximum of 180°. The benders have
offset cushion grip handles and 90° start angle with specially
designed shoe to minimize bending efforts.
The 300 Series Plumbing benders are used to bend soft copper
tubes. The 400 Series Instrument benders can be used to bend cop-
per, steel and stainless steel tubes with a wall thickness up to 0.06"
(1,5 mm).
See RIDGID catalog for specifications for each bender.
Shoe Insert
Form
Latch
Vise Clamp Block
Figure 1 – 300 Series Plumbing Bender
Shoe Handle
Shoe
Insert
Form
Model Number Location
Latch
Vise Clamp Block
Figure 2 – 400 Series Plumbing Bender
Printed 3/21
RIDGID and the Emerson logo are registered trademarks of Emerson Electric Co. or its subsidiaries in the US and other countries.
EC45556
WARNING
®
product:
Shoe Handle
Model Number Location
Form Handle
Form Handle
©2021, Ridge Tool Company. All rights reserved
Any other trademarks belong to their respective holders.
Inspection/Maintenance
The bender should be inspected before each use for wear or dam-
age that could affect safe use. Clean as needed to aid inspection and
to prevent handles and controls from slipping from your grip during
use.
Make sure the bender is complete and properly assembled. If any
problems are found, do not use until the problems are corrected.
Lubricate all moving parts/joints as needed with a light lubricating oil,
and wipe any excess oil from the bender.
Operation
The benders can be used either hand held or mounted in a vise. See
Figures 1 & 2 for area to be securely gripped in vise.
Spring Back
All tubing will spring back slightly after a bend is made. Amount of
spring back depends on tube characteristics. You may need to slight-
ly overbend the tube to compensate for spring back.
General Operation
1. Rotate the form handle and latch out of the way.
2. Position tube in form groove
and secure with the latch. At
least
1
/
" (3 mm) of tube should
8
extend past the latch.
3. Rotate shoe insert into contact
with tube. Rotate the shoe
handle around the form until
the "0" line on the shoe insert
aligns with the desired degree
of bend on the form.
For 90° and 45° Bends:
Mark the tube at the desired distance (X) from the feature (end of
tube, bend, etc.). The center of the leg of the bend will be this dis-
tance from the feature for 90° bends. The center of the arc will be
this distance from the feature for 45° bends.
Align the tube in the form.
a. For 90° Bends:
If the feature is to the LEFT of the mark, align the mark with the
90° line on the form.
X
90° Line
on Form
Mark On
Tube
Before
Figure 4A – Aligning for 90° Bend (LEFT)
If the feature is to the RIGHT of the mark, align the mark with the
R line on the form.
X
R Line
Mark On
Tube
Before
Figure 4B – Aligning for 90° Bend (RIGHT)
Figure 3 – Positioning Tube in
Bender
X
After
After
890-011-232.10
REV.
A