SECTION III
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
3-1 GENERAL SAFETY
Only qualified people familiar with this operator’s
manual and tractor operator’s manual should oper-
ate this machine. Operator should wear hard hat,
safety glasses and safety shoes. The operator
should read, understand and practice all safety mes-
sages shown on the caution, warning and danger
decals affixed to the cutter to avoid serious injury or
death. It is recommended that tractor be equipped
with Rollover Protective System (ROPS) and a seat
belt be used. Before beginning operation, clear work
area of any objects that may be picked up and
thrown. Check for ditches, stumps, holes or other
obstacles that could upset tractor or damage cutter.
Always lower cutter to ground and allow blades to
come to a complete stop, set parking brake and turn
off tractor engine before leaving tractor operator’s
seat.
3-2 CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT
The cutter should be operated at the highest position
that will give desired cutting results. This will help
prevent blades from striking the ground, reducing
blade wear and undue strain on the machine. Adjust
as follows:
A. Raise cutter off ground using tractor 3-point lift.
SECURELY BLOCK CUTTER IN POSITION.
WARNING
THE CUTTER CAN FALL FROM HYDRAULIC
SYSTEM FAILURE. TO AVOID SERIOUS
INJURY OR DEATH, SECURELY SUPPORT
CUTTER BEFORE WORKING UNDERNEATH.
B.Remove pin securing caster stem to caster arm.
(Figure 3-1). Remove caster stem from caster arm.
C. Place amount of spacers on caster stem to
give desired cutting height. With no spacers on the
bottom, a 1” or slightly lower cutting height is given.
D. Reinstall caster stem into caster arm. Place
remaining spacers on caster stem above caster arm
and install pin to retain.
E. Repeat operation for all caster wheels. Make
certain all wheels are adjusted to the same height.
3-3 OPERATION
A. Perform BEFORE EACH USE maintenance list
in paragraph 4-1.
B. Start tractor. Lower cutter until it is supported
by caster wheels. Position tractor lower lift arms so
cutter lower links are parallel to ground.
Figure 3-1
DANGER
STAND CLEAR OF ROTATING CUTTER
BLADES UNTIL ALL MOTION HAS
STOPPED. TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL FALL
AND POSSIBLE INJURY FROM CUTTER,
IT IS RECOMMENDED THAT TRACTOR
BE EQUIPPED WITH ROLLOVER PRO-
TECTIVE SYSTEM AND THAT A SEAT
BELT BE USED FOR ALL OPERATIONS.
C. With tractor at idle speed, engage PTO drive.
Advance throttle to 540 PTO rpm.
D. Place tractor in low gear and begin cutting.
Tractor forward speed should be controlled by gear
selection, not engine speed. For maximum cutting
efficiency, forward speed should allow cutter to
maintain a constant maximum blade speed.
If tractor engine or cutter stalls, do not slip tractor
clutch to allow engine to retain speed as this will
exert undue strain on the implement drivetrain.
When stalling occurs, disengage PTO drive, move to
a cut area, set tractor throttle to idle, then re-engage
PTO drive.
Always cut up and down the face of slopes, never
across.
Check belt tension after first 8 hours. Adjust per-
paragraph 4-3 if needed.
3-4 TRANSPORTING
Turn off PTO drive and fully raise tractor 3-point lift
before transporting. When implement is transported
on road or highway, day or night, use tractor flashing
warning lights unless prohibited by law. A slow mov-
ing vehicle (SMV) sign must be visible from the rear
by approaching vehicles.
DANGER
STAY CLEAR OF ROTATING DRIVELINE. DO
NOT OPERATE WITHOUT DRIVELINE SHIELDS
IN PLACE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. FAILURE
TO HEED THESE WARNINGS MAY RESULT IN
PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.
Spacers
Caster
Wheel
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