Alamo 02986941C - page 116

MAINTENANCE

MACHETE 2 11/08 Maintenance Section 4-20

MAINTENANCE

The cutter shaft will run out of balance if:

1. Wire, rope, string, rags, etc., around the cutter shaft, are holding the knives in a folded back position.

Remove such foreign objects and be sure all knives are free to swing to the extended position.

2. Knives are missing or broken. Replace missing or brok en knives.

3. Knife hanger lugs are broken off shaft. This condition usually results from continued oper ation in con-

tact with large hard objects where the knife hanger lugs themselves are hitting the hard objects. Lugs

should be replaced using arc welding equipment so as not to direct too much heat in one area of the

shaft.

4. Cutter shaft ball bearings are worn enough to have radial "play" in them. Replace ball bearing and

other worn parts to eliminate "play".

5. Shaft is bent. The shaf ts are straight within a couple of thousand ths of an inch when they are made. It

is possible that they will become bent in use, such as if the shaf t is hooked on a stump while the tractor

is moving forward at a good speed.

6. Shafts are operated at improper speed. Rotating shafts have what is known as a natural period of

vibration. The same is true of the cutter shafts on the Flail Mower s.

The actual speed at which the harmonic will occur will vary with each mower and each installation. To avoid

this harmonic vibration when operating the mower, it may be necessary to adjust the engine speed of the

tractor up or down.

Some units have a harmonic which occurs below the nominal operating speed. On these units, it will be

noticed that there is always a little vibration at a particular RPM as the mower is being sped up to operating

speed. This occurs as the shaft passes through its normal harmonic vibration point. As long as the mower is

opened at the proper speed, then harmonic vibration will not be an issue.

Be certain to clamp or secure ly supp o rt th e Spindle Housing and sub-assem b lies to prevent

injuries to hands and feet due to inadvertent dropping or falling over.

Always wear safety glasses and gloves to prevent eye and hand injury when chiseling or

hammering on metal components. Hardened metal will chip un-expected.

An assembled spindle housing is quite heavy. Use a hoist or get help to handle them safely.

Lift carefully and properly using your legs to lift - NOT YOUR BACK.