Bush Hog ATH 720, FTH 600 III Operating Instructions, General Safety, Cutting Height Adjustment

SECTION

III

OPERATING

INSTRUCTIONS

3-1 GENERAL SAFETY

Figure 3-1

Only qualified people familiar with this operator’s

Pin

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-

Caster

sages shown on the caution, warning and danger

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

OF

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

DANGER

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

vent blades from striking the ground, reducing blade

STAND CLEAR OF ROTATING CUTTER

wear and undue strain on the machine. Cutting too

BLADES UNTIL ALL MOTION HAS STOPPED.

TO AVOID ACCIDENTAL FALL AND POSSIBLE

much material will leave excess clippings on the lawn

INJURY FROM CUTTER,IT IS RECOMMENDED

surface. The more frequently the lawn is mowed, the

THAT TRACTOR BE EQUIPPED WITH

better the effect will be. Adjust as follows:

ROLLOVER PROTECTIVE SYSTEM AND THAT

A SEAT BELT BE USED FOR ALL OPERA-

A. Raise cutter off ground using tractor 3-point

TIONS.

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

lift. SECURELY BLOCK CUTTER IN POSITION.

Advance throttle to 540 PTO rpm.

D. Place tractor in low gear and begin cutting.

WARNING

Tractor forward speed should be controlled by gear

THE CUTT

ER

CAN FALL FROM

selection, not engine speed. For maximum cutting

HYDRAULIC SYSTEM FAILURE. TO

efficiency, forward speed should allow cutter to

AVOID SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH,

maintain a constant maximum blade speed.

SECURELY SUPPORT CUTTER BEFORE

Cutting height should not put undue strain on tractor

WORKING UNDERNEATH

B. Remove pin securing caster wheel to bracket.

and implement drivetrain. If tractor engine or cutter

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

Always cut up and down the face of slopes, never

remaining spacers on caster wheel and install pin to

retain.

across.

E. Repeat operation for all caster wheels. Make

Check belt tension after first 8 hours. Adjust per-

certain all wheels are adjusted to the same height.

paragraph 4-3 if needed.

3-3 OPERATION

3-4 TRANSPORTING

A. Perform BEFORE EACH USE maintenance

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

list in paragraph 4-1.

before transporting. When implement is transported

B. Start tractor. Lower cutter until it is supported

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

by caster wheels. Position tractor lower lift arms as

warning lights unless prohibited by law. A slow mov-

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

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

to”float” during operation.

9

from the rear by approaching vehicles.