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 pre-
vent blades from striking the ground, reducing blade
wear and undue strain on the machine. Cutting too
much material will leave excess clippings on the lawn
surface. The more frequently the lawn is mowed, the
better the effect will be. Adjust as follows:
A. Raise cutter off ground using tractor 3-point
lift. SECURELY BLOCK CUTTER IN POSITION.
B. Remove pin securing caster wheel to bracket.
(Figure 3-1) Remove caster wheel from arm.
C. Place amount of spacers on caster wheel to
give desired cutting height. With no spacers on the
bottom, a 1” or slightly lower cutting height is given.
D. Reinstall caster wheel into caster arm. Place
remaining spacers on caster wheel 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 as
shown in Figure 2-6, page 9. This will allow cutter
to”float” during operation.
WARNING
THE CUTTER CAN FALL FROM
HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE. TO
AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH,
SECURELY SUPPORT CUTTER BEFORE
WORKING UNDERNEATH
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.
Cutting height should not put undue strain on tractor
and implement drivetrain. 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, disen-
gage 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.
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 on the tractor must be visible
from the rear by approaching vehicles.
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 PROTECTIVE SYSTEM AND THAT
A SEAT BELT BE USED FOR ALL OPERA-
TIONS.
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.
DANGER
Spacers
Caster
Wheel
10
Figure 3-1
