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472H Potato Harvester Owner Operator’s Manual
3.20 OPERATING HINTS
3.20.1 PREPARING SOIL AND CROP
Many people plan their farming operations long before har-
vest time. The long range planning can well include mea-
sures that will increase harvesting efficiency, as well as
yields. Here are some reminders and suggestions.
1.
If soil is exceptionally rocky, consider clearing the ground
before planting to reduce the chance of damage to the
harvesting equipment later.
2.
When planting and cultivating, avoid soil compaction as
much as possible. Proper tillage will reduce clods and
speed up decomposition of organic material. Irrigation
also helps to reduce clods before harvesting.
3.
Weeds and trash reduce harvesting efficiency and can
cause mechanical difficulties. Removal through mechani-
cal or chemical means is recommended.
3.20.2 LOADING THE TRUCK
When starting a new load of potatoes, the inner boom sec-
tion can be lowered so that it just clears the side of the bulk
box with the sideboard lowered. The outer section can then
be lowered to just above the floor of the bulk box to deliver
the potatoes gently into the box. As the box is filled, the
outer section is raised accordingly, keeping the discharge
end just above the load. Be careful the end of the boom
does not dig into the potatoes. To complete the load, the
inner section is raised so the sideboard can be raised. The
truck can be maneuvered by directions from the tractor op-
erator to complete an even, full load of potatoes with mini-
mum bruising and damage.
If the truck box should hit the boom, the operator can quickly
touch the hydraulic control lever and raise the boom out of
the way.
A good suggestion is to have a prearranged plan that the
driver sounds the horn if he accidentally stalls the truck
engine, to signal the tractor to stop immediately.
3.20.3 ADVERSE CONDITIONS
Lockwood has special belted chains available designed for
harvesting potatoes in varying and extreme conditions. In
many cases, changing to one of these special belted chains
will enable the machine to keep harvesting when others have
stopped.
Primary belted chain is available in pitches of 32 to 60 mm
for harvesting in various soil conditions such as wet or ex-
tremely heavy soil.
At the end of each row, raise the boom quickly for clear-
ing the box as the truck pulls away from the harvester to
turn.
NOTE
