Operator's Manual

operation.Operatingthemachineonanyslope
requiresextracaution.
•Evaluatethesiteconditionstodetermineifthe
slopeissafeformachineoperation,including
surveyingthesite.Alwaysusecommonsense
andgoodjudgmentwhenperformingthissurvey.
•Reviewtheslopeinstructionslistedbelowfor
operatingthemachineonslopesandreviewthe
conditionstodeterminewhetheryoucanoperate
themachineintheconditionsonthatdayandat
thatsite.Changesintheterraincanresultina
changeinslopeoperationforthemachine.
•Avoidstarting,stopping,orturningthemachineon
slopes.Avoidmakingsuddenchangesinspeedor
direction.Maketurnsslowlyandgradually.
•Donotoperateamachineunderanyconditions
wheretraction,steering,orstabilityisinquestion.
•Removeormarkobstructionssuchasditches,
holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,orotherhiddenhazards.
Tallgrasscanhideobstructions.Uneventerrain
couldoverturnthemachine.
•Beawarethatoperatingthemachineonwet
grass,acrossslopes,ordownhillmaycausethe
machinetolosetraction.Lossoftractiontothe
drivewheelsmayresultinslidingandalossof
brakingandsteering.
•Useextremecautionwhenoperatingthemachine
neardropoffs,ditches,embankments,water
hazards,orotherhazards.Themachinecould
suddenlyrolloverifawheelgoesovertheedge
ortheedgecavesin.Establishasafetyarea
betweenthemachineandanyhazard.
OperatingtheMachine
Note:Whenusingneedletineheads,makesureto
readtheinstructionsincludedwiththekitforunique
operatingprocedures.
1.Lowerthemachineonthe3pointlinkagesothat
thetinesarenearlytothegroundatthelowest
partoftheirstroke.
2.Atalowenginerpm,engagethepowertakeoff
(PTO)clutchtostartthemachine.
Important:Neveroperatethemachine
withoutthetineheadsinstalled.
3.Selectagearthatgivesaforwardspeedof
approximately1to4km/h(0.6to2.5mph)at
theratedPTOspeedof540rpm(refertothe
tractionunitoperator'smanual).
4.Astheclutchisreleasedandthetractionunit
movesforward,lowerthemachinefullyinto
theturfandincreaseenginespeedtogivea
maximumof540rpmatthePTO.
Important:Neveroperatethetractionunit
PTOfasterthan540rpmoryoumaydamage
tothemachine.
Note:Makesurethattherollerisontheground.
5.Notetheholepattern.Ifyourequiregreater
holespacing,increaseforwardthespeedof
thetractionunitbyshiftingupagearorwith
ahydrostaticdrivetractionunit,actuatethe
hydrostatleverorpedaltogivefasterspeed.
Forcloserholespacing,decreasetractionunit
forwardspeed.Changingenginespeedin
aparticulargeardoesnotchangethehole
pattern.
Important:Lookbackwardfrequently
toensurethatthemachineisoperating
properlyandalignmentismaintainedwith
previouspasses.
6.Usethefronttractionunitwheelasaguideto
maintainequallateralholespacingwiththe
previouspass.
7.Attheendoftheaerationpass,raisethe
machineanddisengagethePTO.
8.Ifyoubackintoatightarea(likeateebox),
disengagethePTOandraisethemachinetothe
highestposition.Usecautionnottocatchthe
turfguardsontheturf.
9.Alwayscleartheareaofalldamagedmachine
parts,suchasbrokentines,etc.,toprevent
anythingfrombeingpickedupandthrownby
mowersorotherturfmaintenanceequipment.
10.Replacebrokentines;inspectandrepair
damagedtinesthatareserviceable.Repairany
othermachinedamagebeforeoperation.
24