How to Use a Greenlee 555 Bender – Setup, Operation, and Parts Guide
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Getting Started with the Greenlee 555 Bender
1. What the Greenlee 555 Bender Does
The Greenlee 555C Electric Bender is an all-in-one machine for bending ½-in. to 2-in. EMT, IMC, rigid, PVC-coated rigid conduit, and Schedule 40 pipe. It uses interchangeable single-shoe groups, an integrated protractor, and a powered main shaft to deliver repeatable bends fast.
2. Safety & Power Basics
- Plug into a 120 V, 20 A GFCI-protected circuit and never modify the twist-lock plug.
- Wear eye protection and keep hands clear of the shoe, rollers, and conduit.
- Always disconnect power before changing shoes or roller supports.
- Use only three-wire 12 AWG extension cords under 100 ft.
3. Pick the Right Shoe & Roller Support
| Conduit type | Shoe/Roller group | Size range |
|---|---|---|
| EMT | 23803 | ½–2 in. |
| IMC | 01323 / 26330 | ½–2 in. |
| Rigid | 28008 / 28007 | ½–2 in. |
| Swap shoes by sliding them onto the main shaft and lining up the four drive studs, then hinge the correct roller unit onto the frame and pin it. | ||
4. Controls You’ll Use Every Bend
- BEND / UNLOAD rocker on the pendant.
- Loading pedal (only for 1½- & 2-in. EMT or IMC) pulls the large roller support tight before bending.
- Circuit-breaker switch doubles as ON/OFF.
5. First Bend: 90° Stub in Three Minutes
- Measure & mark the required stub. Subtract the chart “DEDUCT” (on the bender decal or manual) and mark again.
- Load conduit so the second mark touches the shoe hook’s nose.
- If you’re bending 1½- or 2-in. EMT/IMC, step on the loading pedal.
- Press BEND and release about 5° early for spring-back; tap BEND to finish.
- Press UNLOAD to back the shoe to 0°, twist the conduit free, and remove it.
6. Basic Offsets & Kicks
Use the built-in offset table multipliers (e.g., 30° multiplier = 2.0).
Mark the first bend at distance X (see decal), then mark the second bend at offset × multiplier from the first mark; rotate conduit 180° between bends.
Simple offsets handle most “around-the-obstacle” jobs without math headaches.
7. Quick Troubleshooting
| Symptom | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Rollers won’t clear shoe | 1½-/2-in. rollers not fully retracted | Depress pedal fully, nudge rollers CCW until they drop home. |
| Flat or wrinkled conduit | Squeeze set too low/high | Loosen set-screws, turn both adjust bolts ½-turn CCW (less) or CW (more) and re-tighten. |
| Wrong start angle | Arrow mis-aligned | Jog shoe until conduit seats, loosen arrow screw, set to 0°, retighten. |
8. Parts, Charts, and Manuals at GE&S
Need a Greenlee 555 bender control board, parts diagram, or a Greenlee 555 bender chart for your exact shoe set? Gequip.com stocks OEM and quality new and used components, including pendant assemblies, motor brushes, and replacement Greenlee 555 bender parts. We also list used Greenlee 555 benders for sale after our techs rebuild and test them.
9. Grab the PDF
Download the full Greenlee 555 bender manual PDF and printable bend charts straight from our product page—handy when your decal is unreadable.
10. Bend With Confidence
With the right shoe, marks, and a light touch on the BEND switch, the Greenlee 555 bender turns raw conduit into clean stubs, offsets, and kicks in minutes. Check out our Greenlee 555 bender troubleshooting tips above, bookmark the Greenlee 555 bender parts list
