Rental Center Guide
Operating Steps and Safety Practices
Vermeer RTX250 Trencher
Visit Vermeer at
www.vermeer.com
to locate your local Vermeer dealer.
03
/
2014 Your machine may have product improvements and features not yet contained in this guide. Part Number 105400CS3 Edition 1_00
Vermeer Corporation reserves the right to make changes at any time without notice or obligation.
© 2014 Vermeer Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
1210 Vermeer Rd. East, Pella, IA 50219 USA
Your
rental associate
or technician
will explain
each of the following
operating steps and safety practices before you use
this
trencher.
WARNING:
Do not use or attempt to operate the machine until you understand proper operation and
safety of the machine. Read the operator’s manual. Read safety signs attached to the machine. If
you are unsure of content or meaning of the safety messages or information regarding machine
operation, ask your rental associate or technician for more details.
INTENDED USE:
Vermeer RTX250 is a pedestrian-operated self-propelled rubber track mounted trencher with optional backfill
blade or horizontal boring attachment to perform various functions such as trenching, backfilling the trench and horizontal boring.
OPERATING STEPS
1.
Trencher Start:
a.
Check all machine fluid levels and condition of air cleaner before starting machine.
b.
Place “
Propel
” and
“Digging Chain Drive
” levers in NEUTRAL position.
c.
Move “Throttle” lever to ¼ speed.
Do not
squeeze the
“Operator Presence Lever”
while starting.
d.
T
urn “
Key Switch”
clockwise to start engine. Release switch when engine starts then reduce
“Throttle
” to idle.
2.
Trencher Transport:
a.
Before transporting machine on a trailer, read trailer manual for safety precautions and loading information. Ensure gross weight of
machine with attachments is within the gross weight limits of the trailer and the towing vehicle. Approximate weight of RTX250 trencher
is 1800 lb (816.5 kg).
b.
Clean machine to keep any debris off highway. If equipped with optional
“Porta-Bore”
attachment, raise and lock it in transport position.
c.
Fully raise trencher boom. Use steering and propel controls
to position machine in-line with trailer ramps and set
“Throttle”
to half
speed. From level ground, drive machine squarely onto trailer and stop at tie-down position.
Reduce speed to idle, shut off engine and
remove key.
d.
Secure machine to trailer using
standard tie-down procedures with one front and two rear tie-down points.
e.
Reverse procedure for unloading machine from trailer. Ensure trailer is on level ground. Avoid unloading if ramps are slick .
3. Trencher Setup:
a. Contact the local One-Call system in your area to request location of all underground utilities near work area.
b.
Operating the machine will require you to wear protective equipment. Always wear a hard hat, safety shoes, hearing protectors and eye
protection. If working near traffic, wear reflective clothing.
c.
Examine work area for any obstructions, conditions, or situations which may impair machine operation or create a safety hazard for the
operator or other persons. Look for evidence or notices of underground placements, manhole covers, drop boxes and recent trenching
activity. All utilities in these areas should be marked and avoided.
d. Either the trench cleaner assembly or restraint bar
must be in place on the trencher boom while digging. These are intended to help
protect against accidental personal contact with the digging chain.
e.
Disengage “
Digging Chain Drive
” when driving between trenches. Never ride on machine.
4.
Opening a Trench:
a. Squeeze
red “
Operator Presence Lever
”
on left handlebar, use steering and propel controls to line up machine at beginning of trench.
b. If equipped with trench cleaner, shut off machine and raise and secure trench cleaner.
c. Follow Starting Procedure and squeeze red
“
Operator Presence Lever.
”
Move
“
Throttle
”
to full speed.
d. With
“Digging Chain Drive”
engaged in FORWARD, lower trencher boom slowly to the desired digging depth.
NOTICE:
Lowering boom
too quickly will result in excessive boom and machine bounce. A small amount of rearward ground travel during the plunge cut may help
in reducing boom and machine bounce. Trencher will
STOP
anytime the
“Operator Presence Lever”
is released.
e. If using trench cleaner, stop digging chain after plunge cut, raise trencher boom until chain is out of ground and shut off machine.
Release trench cleaner, restart machine, engage digging chain in FORWARD and lower trencher boom to desired digging depth.
f.
Adjust rearward ground travel speed for the best productivity when the required trench depth has been reached.
g. Use handlebar steering controls to maintain trenching direction.
5. Restarting Stalled Machine:
a. If digging chain snags material and stalls engine, place
“Propel”
and
“Digging Chain Drive”
levers in NEUTRAL and restart engine.
Slightly raise trencher boom and momentarily REVERSE digging chain to free obstruction.
b. Engage
“Digging Chain Drive”
in FORWARD, lower trencher boom to desired digging depth and resume trenching.
6. Shutdown Procedure:
a.
Place
“Propel
” and
“Digging Chain Drive”
levers in NEUTRAL and raise trencher boom.
b. Reduce engine speed to idle, turn off engine and remove key.
c. If parked on a slope, turn machine to face across the slope or install parking
“
PIN
” in left side track sprocket to prevent machine from
rolling downhill.
Operator’s manual and rental center guide are available in other languages. Contact [email protected]. Se dispone del manual del
operador y de la guía de centros de alquiler en otros idiomas. Póngase en contacto con [email protected].
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