III Operating Instructions, General Safety

SECTION

III

OPERATING

INSTRUCTIONS

3-1 GENERAL SAFETY

Figure 3-1

Only qualified people familiar with this operator’s

manual and tractor operator’s manual should oper-

ate this machine. Operator should wear hard hat,

Spacers

safety glasses and safety shoes. The operator

should read, understand and practice all safety mes-

sages shown on the caution, warning and danger

Caster

decals affixed to the cutter to avoid serious injury or

Wheel

death. It is recommended that tractor be equipped

with Rollover Protective System (ROPS) and a seat

belt be used. Before beginning operation, clear work

area of any objects that may be picked up and

thrown. Check for ditches, stumps, holes or other

obstacles that could upset tractor or damage cutter.

DANGER

Always lower cutter to ground and allow blades to

come to a complete stop, set parking brake and turn

STAY CLEAR

DRIVELINE. DO

ROTATING

off tractor engine before leaving tractor operator’s

NOT OPERATE WITHOUT DRIVELINE SHIELDS

seat.

IN PLACE AND IN GOOD CONDITION. FAILURE

3-2 CUTTING HEIGHT ADJUSTMENT

TO HEED THESE WARNINGS MAY RESULT IN

PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH.

The cutter should be operated at the highest position

that will give desired cutting results. This will help pre-

DANGER

vent blades from striking the ground, reducing blade

STAND CLEA

OF ROTATING CUTTER

wear and undue strain on the machine. Cutting too

BLADES UNTIL ALL MOTION HAS STOPPED.

much material will leave excess clippings on the lawn

TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL FALL AND POSSIBLE

surface. The more frequently the lawn is mowed, the

INJURY FROM CUTTER,IT IS RECOMMENDED

better the effect will be. Adjust as follows:

THAT TRACTOR BE EQUIPPED WITH

ROLLOVER PROTECTIVE SYSTEM AND THAT

A. Raise cutter off ground using tractor 3-point

A SEAT BELT BE USED FOR ALL OPERA-

TIONS.

lift. SECURELY BLOCK CUTTER IN POSITION.

C. With tractor at idle speed, engage PTO drive.

Advance throttle to 540 PTO rpm.

WARNING

D. Place tractor in low gear and begin cutting.

Tractor forward speed should be controlled by gear

THE CUTT

CAN FALL FROM

selection, not engine speed. For maximum cutting

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE. TO

AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH,

efficiency, forward speed should allow cutter to

SECURELY SUPPORT CUTTER BEFORE

maintain a constant maximum blade speed.

WORKING UNDERNEATH

Cutting height should not put undue strain on tractor

and implement drivetrain. If tractor engine or cutter

B. Remove pin securing caster wheel to bracket.

stalls, do not slip tractor clutch to allow engine to

(Figure 3-1) Remove caster wheel from arm.

retain speed as this will exert undue strain on the

C. Place amount of spacers on caster wheel to

implement drivetrain. When stalling occurs, disen-

give desired cutting height. With no spacers on the

gage PTO drive, move to a cut area, set tractor

bottom, a 1” or slightly lower cutting height is given.

throttle to idle, then re-engage PTO drive.

D. Reinstall caster wheel into caster arm. Place

remaining spacers on caster wheel and install pin to

Always cut up and down the face of slopes, never

retain.

across.

E. Repeat operation for all caster wheels. Make

certain all wheels are adjusted to the same height.

Check belt tension after first 8 hours.

3-3 OPERATION

3-4 TRANSPORTING

A. Perform BEFORE EACH USE maintenance

Turn off PTO drive and fully raise tractor 3-point lift

before transporting. When implement is transported

list in paragraph 4-1.

on road or highway, day or night, use tractor flashing

B. Start tractor. Lower cutter until it is supported

warning lights unless prohibited by law. A slow mov-

by caster wheels. Position tractor lower lift arms as

ing vehicle (SMV) sign on the tractor must be visible

shown in Figure 2-6, page 9. This will allow cutter

from the rear by approaching vehicles.

to”float” during operation.