Originally published January 2007

Cleaning the Spray Tube on the Dual Wheel Trimmer

A dirty spray tube can make trimming a misery, as plaster will stick to the wheel, clogging the abrasive and preventing a good cut.  This lack of proper water flow will also result in a plaster slurry that is low in water content, creating a paste that will clog the drain hose and stick to the inside components of your model trimmer (DOES YOUR TRIMMER VIBRATE?). The spray tube on your Wehmer trimmer is easy to remove and keep clean. Here are step-by-step instructions on how to keep this important part of your trimmer in good working order:

1. Unplug your trimmer from the electric supply source.

2. Turn off water supply line and disconnect at the pipe union (large nut in water supply/ spray tube assembly).

3. Remove trimming table, tools, and tool locking nuts from your machine.

4. Locate the spray tube assembly (lower left hand side of machine).  At the point of tube entry into the housing, there is a round flange. At the bottom of this flange is the spray tube locking screw (Allen Head Cap Screw).

5. Remove this locking screw with a 3/16” Allen wrench.

6. Apply a twisting motion to the spray tube at the 90° elbow to break free any plaster residue that may be binding the tube inside the housing.  Pull the spray tube out of the housing.  If tube cannot be removed freely, proceed to step 7.

7. Remove front housing by disengaging the seven (7) housing screws.

8. Remove all plaster in the spray tube cavity by scraping with a putty knife.  If spray tube is still in place, chip away any plaster which is preventing its removal.

If installing a new spray tube, insert assembly at this point and reassemble trimmer.

9. After the spray tube assembly is removed, clean the tube portion by lightly sanding with 100 grit sandpaper.  This will allow you to locate the position of all twelve (12) water spray holes (10 for the coarse wheel, 2 for the fine wheel).

Pay particular attention to the two holes for the fine wheel.  The first hole is 1/2” from the end of the tube and points straight up (parallel to the wheel).  The second hole is 2 1/4” from the end of the tube and points straight in (perpendicular to the wheel).

10. Remove the Allen Head set screw in the end of the tube with a 1/8” Allen wrench.

11. Clean out all twelve holes by hand with a #65 drill (.035”), flushing water through the tube while cleaning.

12. Use the long thin brush supplied with your trimmer to clean inside of the spray tube.  Continue flushing with water while brushing, as any particles left in the tube will immediately clog your spray holes upon re-assembly.

13. Replace the set screw in the end of the tube.  Do not overtighten - it can cause the tube to crack!

14. Reassemble spray tube to front housing, and put your machine back together again.

Before remounting the front housing, check the integrity of the housing gasket.  Also, scrape and clean the inside front housing surface which mates to the gasket, making sure that there is no plaster residue to cause leaks.

15. Reconnect the water supply and adjust flow regulator so that both wheels are sufficiently wet, and a backsplash / misting occurs on the coarse wheel side as far back as the front housing sill.