Section 2: Operating Procedures
12/7/18
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Operating Checklist
Hazard control and accident prevention are dependent
upon the awareness, concern, prudence, and proper
training involved in the operation, transport, storage, and
maintenance of the Bale Spear. Therefore, it is absolutely
essential that no one operates the unit unless they are
age 16 or older and have read, fully understood, and are
totally familiar with the Operator’s Manual. Make sure the
operator has paid particular attention to:
Perform the following inspections before using your Bale
Spears.
Operating Safety
DANGER
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
•
Only operate equipment from the driver’s seat.
•
Keep bystanders, pets, and livestock away from your work
area. Never allow anyone to go near or under the
attachment or its load. The attachment and/or load can fall.
•
Keep attachment, loader arms, and/or load away from
overhead electrical power lines. Place an orange warning
sign under overhead lines indicating type of danger above.
•
Do not drive up to anyone or an animal in front of a fixed
object such as a wall or bench. Never assume that the power
•
Use a “spotter” when it is hard to see in the direction you
are traveling and when placing a load that obstructs your
vision. A person or animal could be nearby in a blind spot.
•
Spear straight into bale until bale is fully against the spear
frame. Never lift bale without bale being fully against the
spear frame.
•
Before lifting the bale, rotate spear points up 5 to 10 degrees
above horizontal to keep the bale against the hitch frame.
Keep spears tilted slightly up throughout the lift range to keep
the bale from sliding forward and falling.
•
Use the correct spear and spike configuration for the job at
hand. Lift only bales the Bale Spear is designed to lift and
never lift more bales than what the Bale Spear is designed
to lift.
Operating Checklist
Check
Page
Read and follow all safety rules carefully.
Refer to “Important Safety Information” and
Safety Alert Symbols throughout this manual.
1
Read and follow hook-up instructions.
Refer to “Section 1: Assembly & Set-up”.
Read and follow all operating procedures.
Refer to “Section 2: Operating Procedures”.
Read and follow all maintenance instructions.
Refer to “Section 3: Maintenance & Lubrication”.
Check Bale Spear initially and periodically for
loose spears, hitch plate, bolts, and pins. Refer
to “Torque Values Chart for Common Bolt
Sizes”.
•
Travel with Bale Spear points at a safe height and angle
that will not impale a person or livestock.
•
Stack bales on even ground. Bales can topple when stacked
on uneven ground.
•
When stationary, always put spear point on the ground to
protect people and livestock from walking/running into a
spear or spike.
•
Do not use attachment as a personnel lifting device. A
person can fall off, be crushed by overhead objects, or
electrocuted.
•
Always secure equipment with solid, non-concrete supports
before working under it. Never go under equipment
supported by concrete blocks or hydraulics. Concrete can
break, hydraulic lines can burst, and/or hydraulic controls
can be actuated even when power to hydraulics is off.
WARNING
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
•
Use a tractor of adequate size. A tractor that is too small
can tip over when loader arms are raised due to high center
•
Never carry riders on the attachment or power machine.
Riders can obstruct the operator’s view, interfere with
control of the equipment, be pinched by moving
components, become entangled in rotating components, be
struck by objects, be thrown or fall from the equipment, etc.
•
Always lower spear to ground level before dismounting
from tractor/skid steer. Follow manufacturer’s
recommendations when dismounting and parking the
machine.
•
Hydraulic fluid under high pressure can penetrate the skin
and/or eyes causing a serious injury. Wear protective gloves
and safety glasses or goggles when working with hydraulic
systems. Use a piece of cardboard or wood rather than
hands when searching for leaks. A doctor familiar with this
type of injury must treat the injury within a few hours or
gangrene may result. DO NOT DELAY.
•
Allow only persons to operate this attachment who have
fully read and comprehended this manual, who are properly
trained to operate the attachment safely, and who are age 16
or older. Serious injury or death can result from the failure
to read, understand, and follow instructions provided in this
•
Always store attachment in a secure position so that it will
•
Park Bale Spear with spears pointing down or with spears
against a building or other suitable stable object.
•
Always know the weight of the bale being picked up.
Maximum lift capacity should never exceed rated lift
capacity of the spears (See specifications for rated
capacity). Also, lift capacity should never exceed 83% of the
tractor or skid steer rated lift capacity for an attached front
loader. Always use the smaller number of the two lift
capacities to determine maximum lift capacity.
•
Check Bale Spear frequently to make sure it is properly
attached and locking pins are properly seated.
Section 2: Operating Procedures
