Oliver Stoner, Operating Instructions Manual

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3. Dirty air filters. The air filters on the side of the machine are designed to screen dirt out of the air before it
enters the machine. If they become plugged, the fans cannot pull enough air through them to provide a prop-
er separation. They can be cleaned by removing them from the machine and gently tapping them on the floor.
A more effective cleaning may be obtained by removing the filters and using compressed air to blow the dirt
out.
4. Inadequate foundations. Although Oliver Stoners are counterbalanced, they must be attached to a secure
foundation. A six inch concrete slab is best but is not absolutely essential. Many processors run Oliver
Stoners on wooden floors with no problems. If you can feel any vibration in the floor while the machine is run-
ning, you probably have too weak a foundation. Weak foundations lower the quality of separation, because
the foundation absorbs some of the oscillating action intended for separation.
5. Operating at too much capacity. Often merely lowering the operating capacity slightly will greatly improve
the separation. Capacity is usually dependent on the standards to be met and the quality of the material
being fed onto the stoner. Quality and capacity are inversely related, that is, increasing capacity usually low-
ers quality and decreasing capacity usually improves quality.
6. Loose clamps. Loose clamps are not a common problem but they occur more often than people realize.
Loose clamps usually occur when an operator makes an adjustment and fails to tighten the clamps sufficient-
ly. The result of loose clamps is false vibrations. False vibrations absorb much of the oscillatory action of the
deck and produce results similar to weak foundations.
7. Using the wrong deck cover. Deck covers are the portion of the machine that actually makes the separa-
tion. Without friction between the deck cover and the material to be separated, no separation will result.
Therefore, a cover must be selected that will perform well with a specific product. Using the wrong cover will
result in poor separation, very low capacity and will sometimes cause sufficient damage to the deck that it
must be rebuilt. Generally, the cover should have a rough surface texture and the openings should be as
large as possible without allowing material to fall through. We make four types of standard decks: cloth for
small grasses and materials smaller than 1/16"; 30 mesh wire for seeds the size of alfalfa (between 1/16" and
1/8" in size); 16 mesh for materials between 1/8" and 1/4" (cereal grains); and 10 mesh wire for materials
larger than 1/4" (beans, for example). We can also supply a variety of special decks to meet your particular
needs.
8. Belts slipping. This is a common occurrence with new machinery. New belts have a tendency to stretch
slightly and should be checked frequently during the first couple weeks of operation. To check a belt, turn the
machine off. Then apply pressure to the back of the belt midway between the two pulleys. The belt should
deflect approximately 1/2 inch.
9. Attempting to separate commodities unsuitable for separation. This is a very rare problem, as normally a
stoner will make some improvement in any seed lot. However, a stoner is a specialized machine designed to
separate particles of varying density and similar sizes. If material does not fall into that classification, then it
probably cannot be separated on a stoner.
10. Wrong adjustment. This is most commonly a problem with new, inexperienced operators. The solution to
this problem is usually more experience. Do not be afraid to make adjustments on the machine. Make an
adjustment. Wait a couple of minutes to determine the effect. Then decide if it is good or bad. If the effect is
good, then try something else for further improvement. If the effect is bad, return to the original setting.
Allow a couple of minutes and then try another adjustment. Finally, remember to make all adjustments in
small increments. It is better to approach the final setting through several small steps than to make one
adjustment that may be too large.
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