Ryobi Drill D551H User Guide

OPERATOR’S MANUAL  
1/2 in. HAMMER DRILL  
VARIABLE SPEED  
DOUBLE INSULATED  
D551H  
Your hammer drill has been engineered and manufactured to Ryobi’s high standard for dependability, ease of operation,  
and operator safety. When properly cared for, it will give you years of rugged, trouble-free performance.  
WARNING: To reduce the risk of injury, the user must read and understand the operator’s manual before using  
this product.  
Thank you for buying a Ryobi product.  
SAVE THIS MANUAL FOR FUTURE REFERENCE  
 
GENERAL SAFETY RULES  
n
Avoid accidental starting. Be sure switch is off  
before plugging in. Carrying tools with your finger on  
the switch or plugging in tools that have the switch on  
invites accidents.  
WARNING:  
Read and understand all instructions. Failure to follow  
all instructions listed below, may result in electric shock,  
fire and/or serious personal injury.  
nRemove adjusting keys or wrenches before turning  
the tool on. A wrench or a key that is left attached to a  
rotating part of the tool may result in personal injury.  
nDo not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance  
at all times. Proper footing and balance enables better  
control of the tool in unexpected situations.  
nUse safety equipment. Always wear eye protection.  
Dust mask, nonskid safety shoes, hard hat, or hearing  
protection must be used for appropriate conditions.  
nDo not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Contain long  
hair. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long hair can be drawn  
into air vents.  
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS  
WORK AREA  
nKeep your work area clean and well lit. Cluttered  
benches and dark areas invite accidents.  
nDo not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres,  
such as in the presence of flammable liquids, gases,  
or dust. Power tools create sparks which may ignite the  
dust or fumes.  
nKeep bystanders, children, and visitors away while  
operating a power tool. Distractions can cause you to  
lose control.  
nDo not use on a ladder or unstable support. Stable  
footing on a solid surface enables better control of the  
tool in unexpected situations.  
ELECTRICAL SAFETY  
TOOL USE AND CARE  
nDouble insulated tools are equipped with a polarized  
plug (one blade is wider than the other). This plug will  
fit in a polarized outlet only one way. If the plug does  
not fit fully in the outlet, reverse the plug. If it still  
does not fit, contact a qualified electrician to install a  
polarized outlet. Do not change the plug in any way.  
nUse clamps or other practical way to secure and  
support the workpiece to a stable platform. Holding  
the work by hand or against your body is unstable and  
may lead to loss of control.  
nDo not force tool. Use the correct tool for your appli-  
cation. The correct tool will do the job better and safer  
at the rate for which it is designed.  
nDo not use tool if switch does not turn it on or off.  
Any tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is  
dangerous and must be repaired.  
nDisconnect the plug from power source before making  
any adjustments, changing accessories, or storing the  
tool. Such preventive safety measures reduce the risk of  
starting the tool accidentally.  
nStore idle tools out of the reach of children and other  
untrained persons. Tools are dangerous in the hands of  
untrained users.  
nMaintain tools with care. Keep cutting tools sharp  
and clean. Properly maintained tools with sharp cutting  
edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.  
Double insulation  
eliminates the need for the three-  
wire grounded power cord and grounded power supply  
system.  
nAvoid body contact with grounded surfaces such as  
pipes, radiators, ranges, and refrigerators. There is an  
increased risk of electric shock if your body is grounded.  
nDon’t expose power tools to rain or wet conditions.  
Water entering a power tool will increase the risk of elec-  
tric shock.  
nDo not abuse the cord. Never use the cord to carry the  
tools or pull the plug from an outlet. Keep cord away  
from heat, oil, sharp edges, or moving parts. Replace  
damaged cords immediately. Damaged cords increase  
the risk of electric shock.  
n
When operating a power tool outside, use an outdoor  
extension cord marked “W-A” or “W”. These cords  
are rated for outdoor use and reduce the risk of electric  
shock.  
nCheck for misalignment or binding of moving parts,  
breakage of parts, and any other condition that may  
affect the tool’s operation. If damaged, have the tool  
serviced before using. Many accidents are caused by  
poorly maintained tools.  
nUse only accessories that are recommended by the  
manufacturer for your model. Accessories that may be  
suitable for one tool, may become hazardous when used  
on another tool.  
n Keep the tool and its handle dry, clean and free from  
oil and grease. Always use a clean cloth when clean-  
ing. Never use brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum-based  
products, or any strong solvents to clean your tool.  
Following this rule will reduce the risk of loss of control  
and deterioration of the enclosure plastic.  
PERSONAL SAFETY  
nStay alert, watch what you are doing and use common  
sense when operating a power tool. Do not use tool  
while tired or under the influence of drugs, alcohol,  
or medication. A moment of inattention while operating  
power tools may result in serious personal injury.  
nDress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry.  
Contain long hair. Keep your hair, clothing, and gloves  
away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long  
hair can be caught in moving parts.  
3
 
GENERAL SAFETY RULES  
nWhen servicing a tool, use only identical replacement  
SERVICE  
parts. Follow instructions in the Maintenance section  
of this manual. Use of unauthorized parts or failure to  
follow Maintenance Instructions may create a risk of  
shock or injury.  
nTool service must be performed only by qualified  
repair personnel. Service or maintenance performed by  
unqualified personnel may result in a risk of injury.  
SPECIFIC SAFETY RULES  
nHold tool by insulated gripping surfaces when  
performing an operation where the cutting tool may  
contact hidden wiring or its own cord. Contact with a  
“live” wire will make exposed metal parts of the cutting  
tool “live” and shock the operator.  
be carefully checked to determine that it will operate  
properly and perform its intended function. Check for  
alignment of moving parts, binding of moving parts,  
breakage of parts, mounting, and any other conditions  
that may affect its operation. A guard or other part that  
is damaged should be properly repaired or replaced  
by an authorized service center. Following this rule will  
reduce the risk of shock, fire, or serious injury.  
nKnow your power tool. Read operator’s manual care-  
fully. Learn its applications and limitations, as well  
as the specific potential hazards related to this tool.  
Following this rule will reduce the risk of electric shock, nMake sure your extension cord is in good condition.  
fire, or serious injury.  
When using an extension cord, be sure to use one  
heavy enough to carry the current your product will  
draw. A wire gauge size (A.W.G.) of at least 14 is  
recommended for an extension cord 50 feet or less  
in length. A cord exceeding 100 feet is not recom-  
mended. If in doubt, use the next heavier gauge. The  
smaller the gauge number, the heavier the cord. An  
undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage resulting  
in loss of power and overheating.  
nAlways wear safety glasses. Everyday eyeglasses  
have only impact-resistant lenses; they are NOT  
safety glasses. Following this rule will reduce the risk  
of serious personal injury.  
nProtect your lungs. Wear a face or dust mask if the  
operation is dusty. Following this rule will reduce the  
risk of serious personal injury.  
nProtect your hearing. Wear hearing protection during  
extended periods of operation. Following this rule will  
reduce the risk of serious personal injury.  
nInspect for and remove all nails from lumber before  
using this tool. Following this rule will reduce the risk of  
serious personal injury.  
nInspect tool cords periodically and, if damaged, have  
repaired at your nearest Authorized Service Center.  
Constantly stay aware of cord location. Following this  
rule will reduce the risk of electric shock or fire.  
nSave these instructions. Refer to them frequently and  
use them to instruct others who may use this tool. If you  
loan someone this tool, loan them these instructions  
also.  
nCheck damaged parts. Before further use of the  
tool, a guard or other part that is damaged should  
WARNING:  
Some dust created by power sanding, 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 exposure to  
these chemicals: work in a well ventilated area, and work with approved safety equipment, such as those dust masks  
that are specially designed to filter out microscopic particles.  
4
 
SYMBOLS  
Some of the following symbols may be used on this tool. Please study them and learn their meaning. Proper interpreta-  
tion of these symbols will allow you to operate the tool better and safer.  
SYMBOL  
NAME  
DESIGNATION/EXPLANATION  
V
Volts  
Voltage  
Current  
A
Hz  
W
Amperes  
Hertz  
Frequency (cycles per second)  
Watt  
Power  
min  
Minutes  
Time  
Alternating Current  
Type of current  
Direct Current  
Type or a characteristic of current  
Rotational speed, at no load  
n
No Load Speed  
o
Class II Construction  
Per Minute  
Double-insulated construction  
Revolutions, strokes, surface speed, orbits etc., per minute  
.../min  
Do not expose to rain or use in damp locations.  
Wet Conditions Alert  
To reduce the risk of injury, user must read and understand  
operator’s manual before using this product.  
Read The Operator’s Manual  
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side shields,  
or a full face shield when operating this product.  
Eye Protection  
Safety Alert  
Precautions that involve your safety.  
Failure to keep your hands away from the blade will result in  
serious personal injury.  
No Hands Symbol  
Failure to keep your hands away from the blade will result in  
serious personal injury.  
No Hands Symbol  
No Hands Symbol  
Failure to keep your hands away from the blade will result in  
serious personal injury.  
Failure to keep your hands away from the blade will result in  
serious personal injury.  
No Hands Symbol  
Hot Surface  
To reduce the risk of injury or damage, avoid contact with  
any hot surface.  
5
 
SYMBOLS  
The following signal words and meanings are intended to explain the levels of risk associated with this product.  
SYMBOL  
SIGNAL  
MEANING  
DANGER:  
Indicates an imminently hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, will  
result in death or serious injury.  
WARNING:  
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, could  
result in death or serious injury.  
CAUTION:  
CAUTION:  
Indicates a potentially hazardous situation, which, if not avoided, may  
result in minor or moderate injury.  
(Without Safety Alert Symbol) Indicates a situation that may result in  
property damage.  
SERVICE  
WARNING:  
Servicing requires extreme care and knowledge and should  
be performed only by a qualified service technician. For  
service we suggest you return the product to your nearest  
AUTHORIZED SERVICE CENTER for repair. When servic-  
ing, use only identical replacement parts.  
To avoid serious personal injury, do not attempt to use  
this product until you read thoroughly and understand  
completely the operator’s manual. Save this operator’s  
manual and review frequently for continuing safe opera-  
tion and instructing others who may use this product.  
WARNING:  
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, or a full face shield when needed. We recommend Wide Vision Safety  
Mask for use over eyeglasses or standard safety glasses with side shields. Always use eye protection  
which is marked to comply with ANSI Z87.1.  
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS  
6
 
ELECTRICAL  
DOUBLE INSULATION  
EXTENSION CORDS  
Double insulation is a concept in safety in electric power  
tools, which eliminates the need for the usual three-  
wire grounded power cord. All exposed metal parts are  
isolated from the internal metal motor components with  
protecting insulation. Double insulated tools do not need  
to be grounded.  
When using a power tool at a considerable distance from  
a power source, be sure to use an extension cord that has  
the capacity to handle the current the tool will draw. An  
undersized cord will cause a drop in line voltage, resulting in  
overheating and loss of power. Use the chart to determine  
the minimum wire size required in an extension cord. Only  
round jacketed cords listed by Underwriter’s Laboratories  
(UL) should be used.  
WARNING:  
When working outdoors with a tool, use an extension cord  
that is designed for outside use. This type of cord is desig-  
nated with “WA” on the cord’s jacket.  
The double insulated system is intended to protect  
the user from shock resulting from a break in the tool’s  
internal insulation. Observe all normal safety precautions  
to avoid electrical shock.  
Before using any extension cord, inspect it for loose or  
exposed wires and cut or worn insulation.  
NOTE: Servicing of a tool with double insulation requires  
extreme care and knowledge of the system and should be  
performedonlybyaqualifiedservicetechnician. Forservice,  
we suggest you return the tool to your nearest authorized  
service center for repair. Always use original factory replace-  
ment parts when servicing.  
**Ampere rating (on tool data plate)  
0-2.0  
2.1-3.4 3.5-5.0 5.1-7.0 7.1-12.0 12.1-16.0  
Cord Length  
Wire Size (A.W.G.)  
25´  
50´  
16  
16  
16  
16  
16  
16  
16  
16  
14  
16  
14  
12  
14  
14  
10  
14  
12  
100´  
ELECTRICAL CONNECTION  
**Used on 12 gauge - 20 amp circuit.  
NOTE: AWG = American Wire Gauge  
This tool has a precision-built electric motor. It should be  
connected to a power supply that is 120 volts, 60 Hz, AC  
only (normal household current). Do not operate this tool  
on direct current (DC). A substantial voltage drop will cause  
a loss of power and the motor will overheat. If your tool does  
not operate when plugged into an outlet, double-check the  
power supply.  
WARNING:  
Keep the extension cord clear of the working area.  
Position the cord so that it will not get caught on lumber,  
tools or other obstructions while you are working with a  
power tool. Failure to do so can result in serious personal  
injury.  
WARNING:  
Check extension cords before each use. If damaged  
replace immediately. Never use tool with a damaged cord  
since touching the damaged area could cause electrical  
shock resulting in serious injury.  
7
 
FEATURES  
PRODUCT SPECIFICATIONS  
Chuck Capacity..............................................................................................................................................5/64 in. - 1/2 in.  
Hammer Speed ...................................................................................................................................Low (0 - 16,000 BPM*)  
High (0 - 48,000 BPM*)  
No Load Speed .......................................................................................................................................Low (0 - 1,000/min.)  
High (0 - 3,000/min.)  
Input ....................................................................................................................................120 V, 60 Hz, AC only, 5.5 Amps  
Net Weight................................................................................................................................................................. 5.75 lbs.  
*Blows Per Minute  
MODE  
DEPTH  
SELECTOR  
GAUGE ROD  
LOCK-ON  
BUTTON  
SWITCH  
TRIGGER  
AUXILIARY  
HANDLE  
ASSEMBLY  
CHUCK  
Fig. 1  
8
 
FEATURES  
KNOW YOUR HAMMER DRILL  
LOCK-ON BUTTON  
The hammer drill contains a lock-on feature that allows you  
to lock the drill on when you operate it continuously for  
extended periods of time.  
See Figure 1.  
Before attempting to use this product, familiarize yourself  
with all operating features and safety rules.  
AUXILIARY HANDLE ASSEMBLY  
MODE SELECTOR  
An auxiliary handle assembly is installed onthe hammer drill.  
For ease of operation, you may use the handle with either  
your left hand or your right hand.  
You can change the drill mode depending on the type of  
material in which you are drilling.  
REVERSIBLE  
This hammer drill allows you to reverse the drill rotation. You  
can control the direction of the chuck with a lever located  
above the switch trigger.  
CHUCK KEY  
A chuck key is provided for use when installing or removing  
bits. It is also used when removing the chuck.  
DEPTH GAUGE ROD  
SWITCH TRIGGER  
A depth gauge rod is installed on the hammer drill to assist  
you in controlling the depth of drilled holes.  
The hammer drill has a conveniently located switch  
trigger.  
ERGONOMIC DESIGN  
VARIABLE SPEED  
This hammer drill is designed for comfort and ease of  
grasp when operating in different positions and at different  
angles.  
This tool has a variable speed switch that delivers higher  
speed with increased trigger pressure. Speed is controlled  
by the amount of switch trigger depression.  
GRIPZONEOVERMOLD TECHNOLOGY  
The hammer drill features Gripzone™ overmold technology  
for improved comfort with a positive grip.  
9
 
ASSEMBLY  
UNPACKING  
This product has been shipped completely assembled.  
WARNING:  
If any parts are missing do not operate this tool until the  
missing parts are replaced. Failure to heed this warning  
could result in possible serious personal injury.  
n Carefully remove the tool and any accessories from the  
box. Make sure that all items listed in the packing list are  
included.  
n Inspect the tool carefully to make sure no breakage or  
damage occurred during shipping.  
WARNING:  
n Do not discard the packing material until you have care-  
Do not attempt to modify this tool or create accesso-  
ries not recommended for use with this tool. Any such  
alteration or modification is misuse and could result in a  
hazardous condition leading to possible serious personal  
injury.  
fully inspected and satisfactorily operated the tool.  
n If any parts are damaged or missing, please call  
1-800-525-2579 for assistance.  
PACKING LIST  
Hammer Drill  
WARNING:  
Carrying Case  
Do not connect to power supply until assembly is  
complete. Failure to comply could result in accidental  
starting and possible serious personal injury.  
Operator’s Manual  
Warranty Registration Card  
OPERATION  
APPLICATIONS  
WARNING:  
You may use this tool for the purposes listed below:  
nHammer drilling in concrete, brick, or other masonry  
nDrilling in wood  
Do not allow familiarity with tools to make you care-  
less. Remember that a careless fraction of a second is  
sufficient to inflict serious injury.  
nDrilling in ceramics, plastics, fiberglass, and laminates  
nDrilling in both soft and hard metals  
WARNING:  
nUsing driving accessories such as driving screws with  
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side  
shields when operating power tools. Failure to do so  
could result in objects being thrown into your eyes  
resulting in possible serious injury.  
screwdriver bits  
nMixing paint  
WARNING:  
Do not use any attachments or accessories not  
recommended by the manufacturer of this tool. The use  
of attachments or accessories not recommended can  
result in serious personal injury.  
10  
 
OPERATION  
WARNING:  
CHUCK JAWS  
Always unplug the drill before inserting or removing bits  
or adjusting the auxiliary handle assembly or depth gauge  
rod. Failure to unplug the tool could result in accidental  
starting causing possible serious injury.  
INSERTING BITS  
See Figure 2.  
nUnplug the hammer drill.  
DRILL BIT  
nPosition the chuck jaws so that the opening is slightly  
larger than the drill bit you intend to use.  
NOTE: To open the chuck jaws, turn the chuck collar  
counterclockwise. To close the chuck jaws, turn the chuck  
collar clockwise.  
CHUCK COLLAR  
RIGHT  
nRaise the front of the drill to keep the drill bit from falling  
out of the chuck jaws.  
Fig. 2  
WARNING:  
Do not insert a drill bit into the chuck jaws and tighten  
as shown in Figure 3. This could cause the drill bit to be  
thrown from the drill, resulting in possible serious injury  
or damage to the chuck.  
nInsert the drill bit completely into the chuck.  
nTighten the chuck jaws securely on the drill bit using the  
chuck key provided. Do not use a wrench to tighten or  
loosen the chuck jaws.  
REMOVING BITS  
nUnplug the hammer drill.  
nLoosen the chuck jaws using the chuck key provided.  
nRemove the drill bit from the chuck jaws.  
WRONG  
Fig. 3  
ADJUSTING THE AUXILIARY HANDLE  
ASSEMBLY  
See Figure 4.  
nUnplug the hammer drill.  
nLoosen the handle assembly by turning the handle coun-  
terclockwise.  
nRemove the handle from the drill.  
nRotate the handle assembly and place it on the opposite  
side.  
nTighten the handle assembly securely by turning the  
handle clockwise.  
AUXILIARY  
HANDLE ASSEMBLY  
HANDLE  
Fig. 4  
11  
 
OPERATION  
ADJUSTING THE DEPTH GAUGE ROD  
See Figure 5.  
ADJUST DEPTH  
GAUGE ROD  
nUnplug the hammer drill.  
nLoosen the handle assembly by turning the handle coun-  
terclockwise.  
nAdjust the depth gauge rod so that the drill bit extends  
beyond the end of the rod to the required drilling depth.  
nTighten handle assembly by turning handle clockwise.  
TO  
TIGHTEN  
ADJUSTING THE DRILL MODE  
See Figure 6.  
Use carbide-tipped bits and select hammer mode when  
drilling in hard materials such as brick, tile, concrete, etc.  
Select drill mode when drilling in soft materials.  
nFor hammer mode: slide the mode selector to the left.  
nFor drill mode: slide the mode selector to the right.  
AUXILIARY  
HANDLE  
TO  
LOOSEN  
ADJUSTING THE SPEED  
See Figure 7.  
Fig. 5  
SLIDE RIGHT FOR  
DRILLING MODE  
MODE  
SELECTOR  
CAUTION:  
Never change gears while the tool is running. Failure to  
obey this caution could result in serious damage to the  
drill.  
The hammer drill has a two-speed knob that provides a high  
speed of approximately 3,000 RPM and a low speed of ap-  
proximately 1,000 RPM (stated speeds are with the trigger  
switch in the “Full-on” position).  
nFor high speed: Rotate the two-speed knob clockwise,  
aligning the indicator mark with the “2.”  
nFor low speed: Rotate the two-speed knob counterclock-  
wise, aligning the indicator mark with the “1.”  
If you have difficulty changing from one gear range to the  
other, turn the chuck by hand until the gears engage.  
SLIDE LEFT FOR  
HAMMER MODE  
Fig. 6  
COUNTERCLOCKWISE  
TO LOW SPEED  
CLOCKWISE TO  
HIGH SPEED  
Fig. 7  
12  
 
OPERATION  
TURNING THE HAMMER DRILL ON/OFF  
See Figure 8.  
To turn the hammer drill on and off.  
nTo turn the drill on: depress the switch trigger.  
nTo turn the drill off: release the switch trigger.  
CHANGING THE ROTATION  
See Figure 9.  
The direction of the chuck is controlled by the lever located  
above the switch trigger.  
NOTE: The design of the switch will not permit changing  
the direction of rotation while the drill is running. Release  
the switch trigger and allow the drill to stop before chang-  
ing its direction.  
DEPRESS SWITCH TRIGGER TO  
TURN HAMMER DRILL ON  
Fig. 8  
nFor forward rotation: Move the lever to the left.  
nFor reverse rotation: Move the lever to the right.  
NOTE: The hammer drill will not run unless the lever is  
pushed fully to the left or right.  
FORWARD  
ROTATION  
CAUTION:  
The hammer drill is not designed for reverse hammer-  
ing. Failure to heed this caution may result in damage  
to the drill.  
REVERSE  
ROTATION  
LOCKING ON  
Fig. 9  
LOCK-ON  
See Figure 10.  
The lock-on feature allows you to lock the drill on when  
you operate it continuously for extended periods of time. If  
you have the “lock-on” feature engaged during use and the  
drill is disconnected from the power supply, disengage the  
“lock-on” feature immediately. Also, do not lock the trigger  
switch if you might need to suddenly stop the drill.  
BUTTON  
WARNING:  
Before connecting the hammer drill to a power supply,  
make sure it is not in the “locked-on” position. Failure to  
do so could result in accidental starting of the drill result-  
ing in possible serious injury.  
SWITCH  
TRIGGER  
Fig. 10  
To lock on:  
nDepress the switch trigger.  
nPush in the lock-on button.  
nRelease the switch trigger.  
nRelease the lock-on button.  
NOTE: To release the lock, depress the switch trigger.  
13  
 
OPERATION  
DRILLING  
See Figure 11.  
nDepress and release the switch trigger to make sure the  
drill is in the OFF position before connecting it to a power  
supply.  
nCheck the rotation lever for the correct setting. Refer to  
“CHANGING THE ROTATION” earlier in this manual.  
nSecure the material to be drilled in a vise or with clamps  
to keep it from turning as the drill bit rotates.  
nPlug the hammer drill into a power supply.  
nHold the drill firmly and place the bit at the point to be  
drilled.  
nDepress the switch trigger to start the drill.  
nMove the drill bit into the workpiece, applying only enough  
pressure to keep the bit cutting.  
NOTE: Do not force the drill or apply side pressure to  
elongate a hole. Let your drill and bit do the work.  
WARNING:  
Be prepared for binding at bit breakthrough. When these  
situations occur, the drill has a tendency to grab and  
kick in the opposite direction and could cause loss of  
control when breaking through material. If you are not  
prepared, this loss of control could result in possible  
serious injury.  
Fig. 11  
HELPFUL TIPS  
nWhen drilling metals, use a light oil on the drill to keep  
it from overheating. The oil will prolong the life of the bit  
and increase the drilling action.  
nWhen drilling hard, smooth surfaces, use a center punch  
to mark the desired hole location. This measure will pre-  
vent the drill bit from slipping off center as you start the  
hole. However, the variable speed feature allows you to  
start holes without center punching. To accomplish this,  
operate the drill at a low speed until you start the hole.  
nIf the bit jams in the workpiece or if the drill stalls, stop  
the tool immediately. Remove the bit from the workpiece  
and determine the reason for jamming.  
MAINTENANCE  
GENERAL MAINTENANCE  
WARNING:  
Avoid using solvents when cleaning plastic parts. Most  
plastics are susceptible to damage from various types of  
commercial solvents and may be damaged by their use. Use  
clean cloths to remove dirt, dust, oil, grease, etc.  
When servicing, use only identical Ryobi replacement  
parts. Use of any other parts may create a hazard or  
cause product damage.  
WARNING:  
WARNING:  
Do not at any time let brake fluids, gasoline, petroleum-  
based products, penetrating oils, etc., come in contact  
with plastic parts. Chemicals can damage, weaken or  
destroy plastic which may result in serious personal  
injury.  
Always wear safety goggles or safety glasses with side  
shields during power tool operation or when blowing  
dust. If operation is dusty, also wear a dust mask.  
14  
 
MAINTENANCE  
Electrictoolsusedonfiberglassmaterial,wallboard,spackling  
MALLET  
compounds, or plaster are subject to accelerated wear and  
possible premature failure because the fiberglass chips and  
grindings are highly abrasive to bearings, brushes, commu-  
tators,etc.Consequently,wedonotrecommendedusingthis  
toolforextendedworkonthesetypesofmaterials. However,  
if you do work with any of these materials, it is extremely  
important to clean the tool using compressed air.  
CHUCK  
JAWS  
LUBRICATION  
All of the bearings in this tool are lubricated with a sufficient  
amount of high grade lubricant for the life of the unit under  
normal operating conditions. Therefore, no further lubrica-  
tion is required.  
CHUCK  
HEX KEY  
Fig. 12  
REMOVING THE CHUCK  
See Figures 12 - 14.  
nUnplug the hammer drill.  
SCREWDRIVER  
WARNING:  
Failure to unplug the tool could result in accidental start-  
ing causing possible serious injury.  
nOpen the chuck jaws by turning the chuck collar coun-  
terclockwise.  
nInsert a 5/16 in. or larger hex key into the chuck.  
nTighten the chuck jaws using the chuck key provided.  
Fig. 13  
nLoosen the chuck screw by tapping the hex key sharply  
with a mallet in a clockwise direction.  
MALLET  
nOpen the chuck jaws and remove the hex key.  
nRemove the chuck screw by turning it in a clockwise  
direction with a screwdriver.  
NOTE: The screw has left hand threads.  
nReinsert the hex key into the chuck.  
nTighten chuck jaws securely using chuck key provided.  
nLoosen the chuck by tapping the hex key sharply with a  
mallet in a counterclockwise direction.  
nUnscrew the chuck by hand.  
HEX KEY  
TIGHTENING A LOOSE CHUCK  
See Figures 12 - 13.  
CHUCK JAWS  
The chuck may become loose on the spindle and begin  
to shake when using the drill. Also, the chuck screw may  
become loose, causing the chuck jaws to bind and prevent  
them from closing. To tighten the chuck:  
CHUCK  
Fig. 14  
nTap the hex key sharply with a mallet in a clockwise  
nUnplug the hammer drill.  
direction to tighten the chuck on the spindle.  
nOpen the chuck jaws by turning the chuck collar coun-  
nOpen the chuck jaws and remove the hex key.  
terclockwise.  
nTighten the chuck screw by turning it in a counterclock-  
nInsert a 5/16 in. or larger hex key into the chuck.  
wise direction with a screwdriver.  
nTighten the chuck jaws using the chuck key provided.  
NOTE: The screw has left hand threads.  
15  
 
OPERATOR’S MANUAL  
1/2 in. HAMMER DRILL  
VARIABLE SPEED  
DOUBLE INSULATED  
D551H  
• SERVICE  
Now that you have purchased your tool, should a need ever exist for repair parts or  
service, simply contact your nearest Ryobi Authorized Service Center. Be sure to provide  
all pertinent facts when you call or visit. Please call 1-800-525-2579 for your nearest Ryobi  
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:  
D551H  
• MODEL NUMBER  
• SERIAL NUMBER  
RYOBI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.  
1428 Pearman Dairy Road, Anderson, SC 29625  
Post Office Box 1207, Anderson, SC 29622-1207  
Phone 1-800-525-2579  
983000-633  
1-05  
 

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