Transporting
IMPORTANT: ALWAYS disengage PTO before raising the Powered Rake to transport position.
1.When raising the Powered Rake to the transport position, be sure that the driveline does not contact tractor or Powered Rake.
2.Be sure to reduce tractor ground speed when turning; and leave enough clearance so the Powered Rake does not contact obstacles such as buildings, trees or fences.
3.Select a safe ground travel speed when transporting from one area to another. When traveling on roadways, transport in such a way that faster moving vehicles may pass you safely.
4.When traveling over rough or hilly terrain, shift tractor to a lower gear.
!CAUTION
When traveling on public roads, whether at night or during the day, use accessory lights and devices for adequate warning to operators of other vehicles. Comply with all federal, state, and local laws.
Operating Checklist
1.Check chain tension. Refer to “Drive Chain Adjustment” on page 11.
2.Check oil level in gearbox and chain case. Refer to “Lubrication” on page 14 of this manual.
3.Check that all plugs have been replaced properly in the gearbox and chain case.
4.Be sure all bolts and nuts are tight.
5.Be certain all guards and shields are in place and secure.
6.Grease driveline shaft and all other grease fittings. Refer to “Lubrication” on page 14.
7.Check air pressure in gauge wheel tires. It should be 45 psi.
Operating Instructions
Once you have familiarized yourself with the Operator’s Manual, completed the Operator’s checklist, properly attach the Powered Rake to your tractor, and made initial depth setting, leveling, and roller angle adjustments, you are almost ready to begin using your Land Pride Powered Rake.
Hopefully you have chosen a work site that is dry and will allow you to make at least a straight 50ft. long pass to determine final adjustments. Powered Rakes do not perform well in wet sticky soil conditions and are not designed to make sharp turns or back up when in contact with the ground.
It’s now time for a running operational safety check. With the tractor’s park brake engaged, the tractor PTO
disengaged, and the Powered Rake resting on the ground, start the tractor and back off to approximately one-quarter throttle. Using the rear draft link hydraulic control, lift the Powered Rake about half way off the ground. Now engage the rear PTO and, if everything is running smoothly, keep increasing the tractor throttle until you have reached full tractor PTO operating speed. If at any time the PTO driveline or Powered Rake is not operating properly shut off all power and make necessary adjustments. Never engage the tractor PTO at full rpm or with the Powered Rake in the fully raised position or driveline and unit damage could occur.
With the running operational safety check complete, it’s time to do some serious soil renovation at your chosen work site. With the Powered Rake raised half way off the ground and the tractor PTO disengaged, release the park brake and travel to your starting point. Choose a tractor gear selection or range that will allow you to travel between 3 - 5 mph. With the tractor engine at idle, engage the rear tractor PTO and increase engine speed until the PTO is at full 540 rpm output. Begin forward travel while gently lowering the running Powered Rake to the ground. Observe changes in the finish as you travel forward and make slight changes to ground speed. Generally, a slower speed results in a finer finish, while a higher speed results in a coarser finish. Excessive ground speed may result in dirt or material passing over the top of the material control deflector or too much material being windrowed off to the side. While 15 degrees left or right is the normal operating angle, you may want to make subtle hydraulic adjustments to the roller to determine the varying effect on the surface finish. If you notice too many rocks or excessive debris passing under the roller, you will probably have to make
adepth control adjustment. A one-inch cultivation depth is normally considered ideal for a surface finish.
Setting the working depth and leveling the rake is controlled by the caster gauge wheels and not the tractor. The Powered Rake is equipped with C-spacers on the gauge wheel spindles. This enables depth and leveling adjustments without gauge wheel removal. Simply add spacers to decrease working depth or remove spacers to increase working depth. In order to compensate for the additional weight of the chain case on the left side of the rake, you will probably need to add spacers to the left side gauge wheel lowering it approximately one inch for proper side-to-side and level running operation. See Figure 3-1 page 11.
After you have traveled 50 feet, stop the tractor, disengage the PTO, set the park brake, turn off the tractor, and remove the key. Now climb down and inspect the finish and determine what, if any, adjustments need to be made. Check for any foreign objects that may be wrapped around the roller or lodged between the studs. Remember that the right finish is achieved through a combination of proper soil moisture conditions, operating depth, ground speed, material gate opening, and roller angle. Your Powered Raking capabilities will improve rapidly with experience.
