17
Section 3: Operating Instructions
6/26/06
RCS3596, RCSM3596, RCS3510 & RCSM3510 Series Rotary Cutters 312-708M
Land Pride
Table of Contents
General Operating Instructions
Now that you have familiarized yourself with the
Operator’s Manual, completed the Operator’s Checklist,
properly attached your Cutter to your tractor, made the
right leveling adjustments, and preset your cutting
height, you’re almost ready to begin using your Land
Pride Side Shift Cutter.
It’s now time to do a running operational safety check. If
at any time during this safety check you detect a
malfunction in either the cutter or tractor, shut the tractor
off immediately, remove the key, and make necessary
repairs or adjustments before continuing on. With the
tractor’s park brake engaged, the tractor PTO
disengaged, and the cutter resting on the ground, start
the tractor and back the tractor throttle off until the engine
is at low idle.
With the tractor’s rear hydraulic lift control lever, raise the
cutter to transport position making sure that the driveline
is not in a bind and does not come in contact with the
cutter frame. Lower the cutter to the ground and, with the
tractor still at low idle, engage the PTO. If everything is
running smoothly at this point increase the engine rpm
until the tractor’s engine reaches full PTO operating
speed which will be either 540 or 1000 rpm.
Slowly raise the cutter to transport height to make sure
the driveline does not bind or chatter. Return the engine
to low idle, disengage the PTO, and position the
adjustable stops on the tractor’s hydraulic lift lever so the
cutter can be consistently returned to the same cutting
and transport height.
You should now be ready to move to the cutting site to
begin mowing. You should have inspected and only be
cutting in an area you are familiar with which is free of
debris and unseen objects. Never assume an area is
clear. Extremely tall grass should be cut twice to detect
potential hazards. In the event you do strike an object,
stop the tractor and cutter immediately to inspect the
cutter and make any necessary repairs before resuming
operation. It pays to inspect a new area and to develop a
plan before you cut.
Normal mowing speed will be between 2-5 mph and you
will need to maintain 540 or 1000 rpm PTO speed to
produce a clean cut. Make a tractor gear and range
selection that will maintain this combination. Generally,
the quality of cut will be better at lower ground speeds
and cutting denser ground cover will create the need to
slow down.
In certain conditions tractor tires will roll grasses down,
resulting in an uneven cutting height when the grass fails
to rebound before being cut. When this happens you may
need to reverse the cutting direction and double cut to
achieve the desired finish. You will want to avoid very low
cutting heights especially on extremely uneven terrain.
Always cut downward on slopes and avoid crossing the
face of steep slopes. Avoid sharp drops and cross
diagonally through dips to prevent hanging up the tractor
and cutter. Slow down in turns and avoid sharp turns if at
all possible. Remember to look back often.
Now you’re prepared and well briefed so lets begin
cutting. Reduce the tractor’s engine rpm, lower the cutter
to the ground, engage the PTO, raise the engine rpm to
the appropriate PTO speed, and begin mowing. As you
travel forward, use your auxiliary hydraulic control lever
to shift your cutter from side to side so you can develop
a feeling for side shift response time. Avoid making side
shifts when not in forward motion as this is hard on the
cutter and tractor.
When you can’t make a wide turn and you need to
reverse direction, you will need to lift the cutter into
transport position to make a tight turn. Try increasing or
decreasing ground speed to determine the effect on
quality of cut. With a little practice you will be pleased
with what you and your Land Pride Side Shift Cutter can
do.
When you are done mowing, need to take a break, or just
need to make a few adjustments to the cutter, remember
to always do the following: Reduce the tractor’s engine
rpm, disengage the PTO, stop on level ground, set the
park brake, turn off the engine, and remove the key. If
your tractor does not have a “live PTO” and you are trying
to stop, the tractor can be pushed forward by the
momentum of the cutter’s rotating blades.
