Gehl 503Z, Operator'S Manual, Page: 86 / 132

Printed in U.S.A. 3-40 918070/FP0811
Loading and Transporting
Use only transport machines that are in proper working
order and are approved for use on public roads.
When using ramps to load the machine:
• Do not exceed an incline of 17° (30%). See Figure
3-55.
• Clean dirt, mud, ice and snow from the ramps and
tracks.
• Use metal loading ramps with a slip-resistant sur-
face, and with beveled ends to prevent damage to
rubber tracks.
1. Attach ramps securely to the transport machine to
prevent them from slipping off during loading.
2. Load the machine on solid, even ground.
3. Apply the transport machine parking brake and
chock the wheels.
4. Determine the direction of the track movement
(dozer blade facing forward) before moving the
machine onto the ramps.
5. Raise the bucket and dozer blade on the excavator
high enough so they will not touch the ramps dur-
ing loading.
6. Slowly and carefully drive the machine onto the
transport vehicle. Do not change direction while
driving on the ramps. Instead, drive down off of the
ramps, and re-align the machine with the ramps.
7. After the machine is on the transport machine,
lower the dozer blade and the bucket onto the load-
ing surface and turn of the engine. See Figure 3-55.
8. Perform the Mandatory Safety Shutdown Proce-
dure on page 2-2.
9. Lock the cab. Do not allow anyone to stay in the
machine.
10. Place chocks under the machine tracks and secure
the machine to prevent slipping, overturning and
moving on the transport machine.
11. Use the tie down points (1) identified by decals for
securing to the transport machine. See Figure 3-55.
Securely tie the excavator to the transport vehicle at
the front, rear and the sides.
Figure 3-55 Loading and Transporting
WARNING
• Do not exceed the transport vehicle’s
gross weight rating and the gross axle
weight rating when loading and trans-
porting the machine.
• The transport vehicle must have suffi-
cient capacity for the size and weight of
the machine. See “503Z General Specifi-
cations” on page 1-9 and “603 General
Specifications” on page 1-10.
• Make sure the load does not fall short of
the minimum axle load of the steering
axle of the transport vehicle, otherwise
the transport vehicle’s steering could be
seriously affected.
• Adjust transport speed to the load, to
the road/traffic conditions and to the
handling of the transport vehicle. Con-
sider all possible transport conditions
such as: heavy braking, evasive maneu-
vers, and uneven or rough roadways.
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