Section 2: Operating Procedures
12/7/18
14
•
Only use Bale Spear to lift and transport bales.
•
Do not use Bale Spear as a Fork Lift to lift palletized loads.
•
Do not use attachment to pull and/or pry fence posts,
stumps, roots, rocks, or other objects out of the ground. It is
not properly designed or guarded for this use.
•
Do not use attachment to lift the front or back of the power
machine off the ground. Doing so can damage the
attachment, power machine, and/or cause serious injury or
•
Always lower spear to ground level before dismounting
from tractor/skid steer. Follow manufacturer’s
recommendations when dismounting and parking the
machine.
•
Do not alter implement or replace parts on the implement
with other brands. Other brands may not fit properly or
meet OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer)
specifications. They can weaken the integrity and impair the
safety, function, performance, and life of the implement.
Replace parts only with genuine OEM parts.
Transport Safety
DANGER
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
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.
WARNING
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
•
Lightweight power machines may need weight added to the
rear to maintain steering control and prevent forward
tipping or side tipping caused by a heavy front load. Consult
your power machine Operator’s Manual to determine
proper weight requirements and maximum weight
•
When traveling empty, transport with spear points at a safe
height and angle that will not impale a person or livestock.
•
When transporting with a bale, transport with bale fully
against the spear frame and with spear points up 5-10
degrees from horizontal. Never transport with bale more
than a few inches away from the frame.
•
When stopped, always lower spear point to the ground so
that no person or livestock could walk/run into the spear
and become impaled. If spear will not rest on the ground,
point spear down to protect people and livestock.
•
Always keep bale centered horizontally on the spear(s).
This will optimize stability while transporting.
•
Always transport with bale raised to a height that does not
hinder the line of sight going forward. When possible, keep
the bale low to the ground to help maintain stability of the
tractor/skid steer.
•
Reduce ground speed when turning and leave enough
clearance to avoid making contact with obstacles such as
buildings, trees, fences, etc. Making contact can result in
equipment damage and cause serious injury or death.
•
Transporting loads across inclines, over ramps, on bumpy,
soft, or slippery surfaces reduces machine stability and lift
capacity. Transporting and lifting loads under these
conditions is extremely dangerous. Follow all transport
instructions in your power machine Operator’s Manual.
•
Always keep spear point(s) tilted up 5 - 10 degrees from
horizontal regardless of angle of incline.
•
Always transport over ramps and inclines with the heavy
end of the power machine on the “uphill” side. This may
require one to drive up and back down inclines.
•
When traveling on public roads, use LED lights, slow
moving vehicle sign, clean reflectors, and other adequate
devices to warn operators in other vehicles of your
presence. If implement blocks visibility of slow moving
vehicle sign, relocate sign so it is visible from the back at all
times. Always comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
•
When traveling on public roadways, travel in such a way
that faster moving vehicles may pass safely. Use accessory
lights, clean reflectors, and a slow moving vehicle sign that
is visible from the back to warn operators in other vehicles
of your presence. Always comply with all federal, state, and
Bale Spear Operation
DANGER
!
Do not scoop bales. Spears must be fully inserted into the bales
to secure the bales and keep them from falling.
DANGER
!
Lift only bales the Bale Spear is designed to lift and never lift
more bales than what the Bale Spear is designed to lift.
Picking up Bales
1.
Center on the bale while driving up to it. On slopes,
approach bale with tractor facing uphill.
2. Make a full stop in front of the bale.
3. While stopped, raise or lower spears to the correct
height and level spears horizontally.
4. Drive forward inserting spears into the bale following
the spear arrangement below that matches your
set-up:
IMPORTANT:
Make sure the lift height does not
exceed the loader lift capabilities.
IMPORTANT:
Make sure the bale weight does not
exceed the smaller of two lift capacities below:
•
Rated lift capacity of the Bale Spears.
•
83% of the tractor/skid steer rated lift capacity. This
accounts for increased loader stresses caused by
the added extension of the Bale Spear and
ensures that the front tires are rated properly.
