RetractAway 40 and RetractAway 50
Installation Instructions
Your Austral RetractAway clothesline is designed to last a long time. It is important to follow these instructions so you will enjoy the benefits of a properly installed clothesline. Incorrect installation or operation could damage your line and/or void your guarantee. If at any time your clothesline fails to function correctly or if spare parts are required then call your state distributor listed on the warranty.
Site Selection and Mounting Option Figure 1 and 2
Select a suitable site and mounting option for your RetractAway. The maximum span between mounting surfaces for the RetractAway 40 is 8m and 10m for the RetractAway 50. Minimum extension for RetractAway 40 or 50 is 2m. Minimum recommended clearance either side of the clothesline is 0.5m for ease of use and to allow clothes to blow in the breeze.
Cord Height Figure 2
For a RetractAway, recommended Cord height is 100-200mm above the user's head height. Consider 100mm for normal/easier accessibility (particularly if shoulder mobility is of concern). Consider 200mm for longer spans as the Cords take more weight and have more sag.
Retracting type clotheslines experience greater Cord sag due to their larger spans. Compared to unloaded cords, a 9m span with a 50kg load will sag approximately 500mm and a 6m span approximately 350mm.
Mount RetractAway to Wall Figure 2a and 3
Position RetractAway on wall so that mounting slots on either side are approximately 200mm above the users head height. Ensure RetractAway is level. Mark wall through both slots. Drill a 10mm hole on each mark to suit the fasteners. Fix RetractAway to wall ensuring supplied washers are between the heads of the fasteners and the slots.
Mount Catch to Wall Figure 2a
Place the receiving Catch against the wall opposite the RetractAway, ensure the Catch is centred to the RetractAway. Position the top of the Catch 200mm above the users head height. Ensure the Catch is level. Mark the wall through both holes. Using the marks, drill two 10mm holes to suit fasteners. Fix receiving Catch to wall using the fasteners.
Mount Catch to Post Figure 2b
Fix receiving Catch to Post with 8x65mm bolts supplied with Post. Fit black plastic End Cap to top of Post
Mount RetractAway to Post Figure 3 and 2b
Remove one of the black end caps from the Mounting Bar to retrieve the supplied nuts and bolts. Use the long bolts to fix the Mounting Bar to the Post. Feed the short bolts through the washers supplied with the RetractAway. Use the short bolts to fix the RetractAway to the Mounting Bar ensuring washers are between the bolt heads and the slots on the RetractAway
Install Post and Ground Socket Figure 4a
Dig a hole 200mm in diameter and 560mm deep. Fill hole with gravel (approx. 100mm) until top lip of Socket sits just above ground level. Remove Socket from hole. The Socket has five pairs of indentations to mark height settings, use the Cord Height chart (Fig 4a) to select a suitable height. Fit the supplied Pin into the corresponding pair of holes on the Socket (use a hammer or similar to tap the Pin through the indentations). Put Socket back in hole. Insert Post into Socket. Add a further 50mm of drainage gravel into the hole around the sides of the Socket.
Install Post Into Soil Figure 4b / 4c
Use the Cord Height chart (Fig 4b) to select a suitable height and corresponding Post Embedment. Dig a hole 200mm in diameter and deep enough to allow for the Post Embedment plus a further 50mm, depth should be at least 450mm. If Post Embedment is less than 400mm, concrete under Post will be greater than 50mm. If Post Embedment is less than 300mm then Y12 rebar (reinforcing steel) is required (Fig 4c),
drill holes through base of Post to fit the rebar . If area has poor drainage, ie soil type is clay or Post is installed at bottom of a slope etc, consider adding drainage gravel.
Install Plated Post (Bolt-Down Post)
Place Post over marked position. Ensure Post's rectangular base plate is facing the right way. The base plate has 4 holes (to adapt to various scenarios) but only 2 fixings, diagonal to each other, should be used (refer fastener TDS for more info).
Use base plate as a template to mark where 2 drill holes will be. Move Post out of the way, Drill two 10mm holes. Place Post back in position. To plumb and stabilise Post, place a level on the side of the Post, then place packers under base plate as required (plumb the Post front to back and side to side). Insert and tighten fixings.
Post Install Continued - Mix and Pour Concrete
- Mix concrete in the ratio of 4 gravel, 2 sand and 1 cement or use premixed concrete bags. To hold the Post/Socket in place, the concrete must be mixed fairly dry but should still be wet enough that it sticks to itself when stirred, it should not crumble.
- Place the Post / Socket (with Post in it) in the hole. Ensure the RetractAway and/or Catch is facing the right way. Pour concrete to within 20mm from the top of the hole (finished ground level). Check the Post is plumb/vertical (front to back and side to side) using a spirit level. Use a crowbar or similar to ram the concrete tight so it holds the Post/Socket in place. Top up the concrete level so it remains at 20mm below ground level, check vertical and ram tight again, repeat. Fill last 20mm of hole with soil, press soil down gently with the heel of your shoe. Check vertical one last time. Leave concrete to set, DO NOT USE FOR 48 HOURS.
Only untie and tension one Cord at a time (Fig 5a / 5b). Cord tension will be lost and product damage may occur if multiple lines are untied at the same time. If Posts have been installed ensure concrete is set and dry before tensioning the lines. Extend the Draw Arm to the Catch (Fig 2). Starting on the middle line, un-cleat the Cord then pull the loose end and keep drawing the Cord through until the cylindrical Drum, which can be seen inside the RetractAway, has only three full rotations of Cord left on it. Re-cleat the Cord, snip off the excess cord allowing an 80mm tail from the cleat (Fig 5b) and fit it back into the Cord Tidy. Flick the RetractAway's Tension Lock to the locked position (Fig 3). Turn the Tension Knob firmly in a clockwise direction, 1 - 4 clicks (Fig 3). Continue tensioning by selecting an outer line, un-cleat the Cord then pull the loose end and keep drawing the Cord through until firm. Re-cleat the cord, snip off the excess and fit the tail back into the Cord Tidy. Repeat for the other outside line then the remaining 2 lines.
Switch the Tension Lock to the unlocked position (Fig 3) before retracting the Cord back into the RetractAway, this ensures minimum wear on internal gears. If there is a lot of tension on the Cord, the Lock may be harder to move. To make it easier, take tension off the Lock by turning the Tension Knob clockwise a little with the right hand. Whilst doing this, switch the Lock to the unlocked position with your left hand. Then, unhook the Draw Arm from the Catch and slowly guide the Cord and Draw Arm back into the RetractAway.
Larger Post Footings: Where there is concern about the stability of the ground surrounding the concrete footing (sand, loose or shifting soil etc) or the RetractAway covers a long span, over 6m, a larger concrete footing should be considered. To do this increase the hole size to 250-300mm diameter by 500-700mm deep. Y12 Rebar (12mm reinforcing steel, refer Fig 4c) should be used where the footing depth exceeds the Post Embedment by more than 150mm.
Hammer Drilling: Hammer drill bits often travel when starting a hole. Start slow, with firm pressure and without the hammer to create a small indentation, then increase speed and switch to hammer. After the first hole, recheck marks for remaining holes.
Lean Posts Back: Tension and load causes Posts to flex inwards. To compensate you may wish to lean the Post/s back 2-3 degrees, approximately when the edge of the bubble in the level touches the line (Fig 6). Consider how the post will look when both loaded and unloaded. Install RetractAway
Upside Down: If space is tight and mounting the RetractAway the right way up prevents access to the Tension Knob and Tension Lock (located on the right end of the RetractAway) then the RetractAway can be mounted upside down. However, please note the RetractAway has not been designed for this and performance may be reduced. If rain collects inside the RetractAway drill a 2mm drain hole on the underside centre of the RetractAway's metal skin.
Operation and Maintenance
Hang Long Items Near the Ends: Cord is lowest to the ground near the middle, hang longer items near the ends.
Rain and Wind can Indirectly Damage Your Clothesline: Washing soaked by rain is significantly heavier than spun dry washing and the resulting load may exceed the RetractAway's load rating resulting in damage to the clothesline. This can be further compounded by high winds blowing and buffeting the washing load around. Remove washing if rain is likely.
Socket Cap: Place the Socket Cap over the Socket whenever the Post is removed. Remove the Cap from the Socket when mowing. The hook on the Socket Cap allows it to be hung from the Cord when the Cap is not in use.
Cord Tension: Occasionally re-tension individual Cords as required.
Check Fixings: Occasionally check all nuts and bolts for tightness.
Written By Austral Clothes Hoists Pty Ltd Austral RetractAway Instructions v7 May 2022