Operator's Manual

UnderstandingthePrinciples
ofOperation
The3-pointhitchlinkageofthetractorliftstheaeratorfor
transportandlowersitforoperation.
Thepowertake-off(PTO)powerfromthetractoris
transmittedviashafts,agearbox,anddrivebeltstoanumber
ofcrankshaftswhichdrivethetineholdingarmsintotheturf
surface.
AsthetractortravelsforwardwiththePTOengagedand
themachinelowered,aseriesofholesarecreatedintheturf
surface.
Thepenetrationdepthofthetinesisdeterminedbythe
heightofthedepthcontrol.
Thedistancebetweentheholescreatedisdeterminedby
thegearratio(orhydrostatictractionpedalposition)ofthe
tractorandthenumberoftinesineachtinehead.Simply
changingenginerpmdoesnotchangeholespacing.
PracticingtheOperating
Procedures
Important:WhenconnectingthePTO,ensurethatthe
aeratorisnotliftedhigherthanisnecessary.Liftingthe
machinetoohighwillcausethePTOshaftknucklesto
break(Figure25).ThePTOcanoperateuptoanangle
of25°,butcanneverexceeda35°anglewhentheaerator
isatitshighestposition,orsevereshaftdamagemay
occur.
g194609
Figure25
1.Breakagewilloccurhere.
Beforeusingtheaerator,ndaclearareaandpractice
operatingthetractorwiththeaeratorattached.Operatethe
tractoratrecommendedgearsettingsandPTOdrivespeeds
andbecomethoroughlyfamiliarwiththeaerator/tractor
handling.Practicestoppingandstarting,raisingandlowering
theaerator,disengagingthePTOdriveandaligningthe
machinewithpreviouspasses.Apracticesessionassures
condenceintheperformanceoftheaeratorandhelps
ensureuseofproperoperatingtechniqueswhereverthe
machineisoperated.
Iftherearesprinklerheads,electricalorcommunicationlines,
orotherobstructionsintheareatobeaerated,markthese
itemstoensuretheyarenotdamagedduringoperation.
CAUTION
Toavoidpersonalinjury,neverleavethetractorseat
withoutrstdisengagingthePTOdrive,engaging
theparkingbrakeandshuttingofftheengine.
Neverperformaeratorrepairswithoutrstlowering
theaeratorontothestoragestandorappropriate
blockingorjacks.Ensurethatallsafetydevicesare
securedinproperplacebeforeresumingoperation.
PreparingtoAerate
Inspecttheareaofoperationforhazardsthatcoulddamage
themachineandremovethem,ifpossible,orplanhowto
avoidthem.Carryreplacementtinesandtoolsincasetines
aredamagedduetocontactwithforeignmaterials.
OperatingtheMachine
Note:Whenusingneedletineheads,makesuretoread
theinstructionsincludedwiththekitforuniqueoperating
procedures.
1.Lowertheaeratoronthe3pointlinkagesothatthe
tinesarenearlytothegroundatthelowestpartoftheir
stroke.
2.Atalowtractorenginerpm,engagethepowertakeoff
(PTO)clutchtostarttheaeratorworking.
Important:Neveroperatetheaeratorwithoutthe
tineheadsinstalled.
3.Selectagearthatgivesaforwardspeedofapproximately
1to4km/h(0.6to2.5mph)attheratedPTOspeed
of540rpm(refertothetractoroperator'smanual).
4.Astheclutchisreleasedandthetractormovesforward,
lowerthemachinefullyintotheturfandincrease
enginespeedtogiveamaximumof540rpmatthe
PTO.
Important:NeveroperatethetractorPTOin
excessof540rpmordamagetotheaeratorcould
occur.
Note:Makesurethattherollerisontheground.
5.Notetheholepattern.Ifyourequiregreaterhole
spacing,increaseforwardthespeedofthetractorby
shiftingupagearorwithahydrostaticdrivetractor,
actuatethehydrostatleverorpedaltogivefasterspeed.
Forcloserholespacing,decreasetractorforwardspeed.
Changingenginespeed,inaparticulargear,will
notchangetheholepattern.
Important:Lookbackwardfrequentlytoensure
thatthemachineisoperatingproperlyand
alignmentismaintainedwithpreviouspasses.
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