Land Pride RC5020, RCM5020 manual Table of Contents

Land Pride Table of Contents

Section 3: Operating Instructions

IMPORTANT: It is important to maintain correct PTO speed. Loss of PTO speed will allow blades to hinge back and result in ragged, uneven cutting.

Be sure to read entire manual before proceeding with these operating instructions.

Now that you have familiarized yourself with the Operator’s Manual, completed the Operator’s Checklist, properly attached your Cutter to your tractor, made the right leveling adjustments, and preset your cutting height, you’re almost ready to begin using your Land Pride 20 ft. Rotary Cutter.

It’s now time to do a running operational safety check. If at anytime during this safety check you detect a malfunction in either the cutter or tractor, shut the tractor off immediately, remove the key, and make necessary repairs or adjustments before continuing on. Make sure the tractor’s park brake is engaged, the tractor’s PTO is disengaged, and the cutter is resting on the ground with both wings down. Start the tractor and then back the tractor throttle off till the engine is at 200 PTO rpm. With the tractor’s rear hydraulic lift control lever, raise the cutter to transport position making sure that the PTO shaft is not in a bind and does not come in contact with the cutter frame. Lower the unit to cutting position and, with the tractor still at 200 PTO rpm, engage the PTO.

If everything is running smoothly at this point increase the engine rpm until the tractor’s engine reaches full PTO operating speed which will be either 540 or 1000 rpm. Slowly raise the cutter to transport height to make sure the driveline does not bind or chatter. Then return the engine to 200 PTO rpm, disengage the PTO, and position the adjustable stops on the cutter’s hydraulic lift cylinder so the cutter can be consistently returned to the same cutting and transport height.

IMPORTANT: Make a tight turn to determine if and at what angle the rear tractor tires may come in contact with the cutter tongue.

You should now be ready to move to the cutting site to begin mowing. You should have inspected and should only be cutting in an area you are familiar with which is free of debris and unseen objects. Never assume an area is clear and extremely tall grass should be cut twice to detect potential hazards. In the event you do strike an object, stop the tractor and cutter immediately to inspect the cutter and make any necessary repairs before resuming operation. It pays to inspect a new area and to develop a plan before you cut.

Normal mowing speed will be between 2-5 mph and you will need to maintain full tractor engine PTO speed to produce a clean cut so choose a tractor gear and range selection that will maintain this combination. Generally, the quality of cut will be better at lower ground speeds and cutting denser ground cover may create the need to slow down. You will want to avoid very low cutting heights especially on extremely uneven terrain. Always

cut downward on slopes and avoid crossing the face of steep slopes. Avoid sharp drops and cross diagonally through dips to prevent hanging up the tractor and cutter. Slow down in turns and avoid sharp turns if at all possible.

Remember to look back often.

Now you’re prepared and well briefed so lets begin cutting. Reduce the tractor’s engine rpm to 200 PTO rpm, make sure the wings of the cutter are on the ground and in cutting position, engage the PTO, raise the engine rpm to the appropriate PTO speed, and begin mowing. Choose a cutting pattern that allows for wide turns. Try increasing or decreasing ground speed to determine the effect on quality of cut. With a little practice you will be pleased with what you and your Land Pride 20’ Cutter can do.

When you are done mowing, need to take a break, or just need to make a few adjustments to the cutter, remember to always do the following; reduce the tractor’s engine rpm, disengage the PTO, stop on level ground, set the park brake, turn off the engine, and remove the key.

2/02/09 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 21