Section 4: Operating Procedures
RCR1242, RCR1248, RCR1260 & RCR1272 Rotary Cutter 326-047M
2/7/20
22
Safety Information
DANGER
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
•
. Never place hands or feet under the deck or attempt to
make adjustments to the cutter with power take-off engaged.
Cutter blades rotating at high speeds cannot be seen and are
located close to the deck sides. Body extremities will be cut
•
Do not engage power take-off while hooking-up or
unhooking the driveline, or while someone is standing near
the driveline. A person’s body and/or clothing can become
•
Do not use a power take-off adapter. The adapter will
increase strain on the tractor’s power take-off shaft causing
possible damage to shaft and driveline. It will also defeat
the purpose of the tractor’s power take-off shield.
•
Rotary Cutters have the ability to discharge objects at high
speeds; therefore, the use of front and rear safety guards is
mandatory when cutting along roadways and in areas where
people may be present. Stop blade rotation if a bystander is
•
All guards and shields must be installed and in good
working condition while operating the implement.
•
Tractor power take-off shaft shield, driveline shields, and
gearbox shaft shields must be installed and in good working
condition to avoid driveline entanglement and projectiles
•
Always disconnect driveline from power take-off shaft
before servicing underside of cutter. The tractor can be
started with power take-off engaged.
•
Do not use cutter as a fan. Cutting blades are not properly
designed or guarded for this use.
WARNING
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
•
Allow only persons to operate this implement who have
fully read and comprehended this manual, who have been
properly trained in the safe operation of this implement, and
who are age 16 or older. Serious injury or death can result
from the inability to read, understand, and follow
instructions provided in this manual.
•
Do not operate and/or travel across inclines where tractor
and/or implement can rollover. Consult your tractor’s
manual for acceptable inclines the tractor is capable of
•
Never carry riders on the implement or power machine.
Riders can obstruct the operator’s view, interfere with
controls, be pinched by moving components, become
entangled in rotating components, struck by objects, thrown
about, fall off and be run over, etc.
•
A rotating driveline must not exceed an angle of 25 degrees
up or down, and never engage a driveline while at an angle
exceeding 25 degrees up or down. The driveline can break
•
Do not operate a broken or bent driveline. Such a driveline
will break apart while rotating at high speeds and can cause
serious injury or death. Always remove the implement from
use until the damaged driveline can be repaired or replaced.
•
Always follow “Tractor Shutdown Procedure” provided in
this manual before dismounting the tractor.
•
Always disengage power take-off before lifting cutter fully
up. Never operate cutter in the raised position. The cutter
can discharge objects at high speeds.
•
Do not use implement as a man lift or work platform. It is
not properly designed or guarded for this use.
•
Perform scheduled maintenance. Check for loose
hardware, missing parts, broken parts, structural cracks,
and excessive wear. Make repairs before putting the
•
Do not use implement to lift objects; to pull objects such as
fence posts, stumps, etc; or to push objects. The unit is not
designed or guarded for these uses.
•
Select a safe ground speed when transporting. Never travel
at a speed which does not allow adequate control of steering
and stopping, and never exceed 20 mph (32.2 km/h) with
attached equipment. Rough terrain requires a slower speed.
•
Buildup of debris around moving components and
gearboxes is a fire hazard. Keep rotating parts and
gearboxes free from debris to avoid serious injury and
•
Improper oil level can cause bearing failure and be a fire
hazard. Maintain proper gearbox oil level to avoid serious
•
Do not exceed rated cutting capacity of your cutter. See
specifications & capacities for specified cutting capacity.
Exceeding rated cutting capacity can damage drive
components, cutter blades, and deck components.
Tractor Shutdown Procedure
The following are basic tractor shutdown procedures.
Follow these procedures and any additional shutdown
procedures provided in your tractor Operator’s Manual
before leaving the operator’s seat.
1. Reduce engine speed and disengage power take-off
if engaged.
2. Park tractor and implement on level, solid ground.
3. Lower implement to ground or onto non-concrete
support blocks.
4. Put tractor in park or set park brake, turn off engine,
and remove switch key to prevent unauthorized
starting.
5. Relieve all hydraulic pressure to auxiliary hydraulic
lines.
6. Wait for all components to come to a complete stop
before leaving the operator’s seat.
7.
Use steps, grab-handles and anti-slip surfaces when
stepping on and off the tractor.
