Land Pride RCSM3510, RCS3510, RCS3596, RCSM3596 manual General Operating Instructions

Land Pride Table of Contents

Section 3: Operating Instructions

General 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 Side Shift Cutter.

It’s now time to do a running operational safety check. If at any time 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. With the tractor’s park brake engaged, the tractor PTO disengaged, and the cutter resting on the ground, start the tractor and back the tractor throttle off until the engine is at low idle.

With the tractor’s rear hydraulic lift control lever, raise the cutter to transport position making sure that the driveline is not in a bind and does not come in contact with the cutter frame. Lower the cutter to the ground and, with the tractor still at low idle, 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. Return the engine to low idle, disengage the PTO, and position the adjustable stops on the tractor’s hydraulic lift lever so the cutter can be consistently returned to the same cutting and transport height.

You should now be ready to move to the cutting site to begin mowing. You should have inspected and only be cutting in an area you are familiar with which is free of debris and unseen objects. Never assume an area is clear. 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 540 or 1000 rpm PTO speed to produce a clean cut. Make 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 will create the need to slow down.

In certain conditions tractor tires will roll grasses down, resulting in an uneven cutting height when the grass fails to rebound before being cut. When this happens you may need to reverse the cutting direction and double cut to achieve the desired finish. 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, lower the cutter to the ground, engage the PTO, raise the engine rpm to the appropriate PTO speed, and begin mowing. As you travel forward, use your auxiliary hydraulic control lever to shift your cutter from side to side so you can develop a feeling for side shift response time. Avoid making side shifts when not in forward motion as this is hard on the cutter and tractor.

When you can’t make a wide turn and you need to reverse direction, you will need to lift the cutter into transport position to make a tight turn. 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 Side Shift 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. If your tractor does not have a “live PTO” and you are trying to stop, the tractor can be pushed forward by the momentum of the cutter’s rotating blades.

6/26/06 RCS3596, RCSM3596, RCS3510 & RCSM3510 Series Rotary Cutters 312-708M 17