The provided document is an operator's manual for the Flexi-coil 6000 No-Till Air Drill, model RD-331V4. This agricultural implement is designed for no-till seeding operations, aiming to minimize soil disturbance while planting seeds. The manual covers safety, operation, maintenance, adjustments, and specifications, providing comprehensive guidance for users.
Function Description
The Flexi-coil 6000 No-Till Air Drill is a specialized piece of farm equipment used for planting seeds directly into unplowed or undisturbed soil, a practice known as no-till farming. This method helps conserve soil moisture, reduce erosion, and improve soil health. The air drill works by precisely placing seeds at a consistent depth and spacing, ensuring optimal germination and crop establishment. It is designed to be towed by a tractor, often in conjunction with an air cart that supplies seeds and fertilizer through an air delivery system.
Key functional aspects include:
- No-Till Capability: Designed to operate effectively in fields with significant crop residue, cutting through it to place seeds without extensive prior tillage.
- Depth Control: Features a depth control system that allows operators to set and maintain a consistent seeding depth across the entire width of the implement, crucial for uniform emergence. This system includes manual depth control safety locks and ratchet jacks for fine adjustments.
- Floating Hitch: Equipped with a floating hitch that allows the drill to follow ground contours independently of the towing vehicle, ensuring consistent seed placement even on uneven terrain. This hitch also includes a safety lock for transport.
- Folding Wings: The drill features hydraulic folding wings, enabling it to transition between a wide field operating position and a narrower transport position for road travel.
- Air Delivery System Integration: Designed to work with an air cart (sold separately) that uses air pressure to deliver seeds and fertilizer to the openers.
Important Technical Specifications
The manual provides detailed specifications for different configurations of the 6000 No-Till Air Drill, including various widths and opener spacings.
Machine Dimensions (Example for a 40 FT Air Drill with 7.5" Spacing):
- Width: Available in various widths, such as 9.1 m (30 ft) and 12.2 m (40 ft).
- Opener Spacing: Common spacings include 19 cm (7.5") and 25.4 cm (10").
- Implement Weight (Full with wheat @ 48 lb/ft³):
- 30 FT (7.5" Spacing): 13,800 lb (6260 kg)
- 40 FT (7.5" Spacing): 21,500 lb (9752 kg)
- 40 FT (10" Spacing): 19,500 lb (8845 kg)
- Transport Width:
- Maximum dimension with Barton Openers: 6.4 m (21 ft)
- Minimum dimension with Barton Openers locked in transport position: 6.0 m (19'10")
- Minimum dimension without Barton Openers: 5.0 m (16'6")
- Transport Height:
- Maximum dimension with Barton Openers: 5.3 m (17'6")
- Minimum dimension with Barton Openers locked in transport position: 5.0 m (16'4")
- Implement Depth:
- Maximum dimension with Barton Openers: 9.0 m (29'5")
- Minimum dimension with Barton Openers locked in transport position: 8.0 m (26')
Tire Pressure and Wheel Bolt Torque:
- Gauge Wheel Casters (9.6L-15 6 ply):
- Inflation Pressure: 220 kPa (32 psi)
- Wheel Bolt Torque: 108-130 N-m (80 to 96 lbf-ft)
- Center Section Wheel Standard (11-15FI range D):
- Inflation Pressure: 410 kPa (60 psi)
- Wheel Bolt Torque: 149 to 179 N-m (110 to 132 lbf-ft)
- Center Section Wheel Standard (11-15FI range F):
- Inflation Pressure: 620 kPa (90 psi)
- Wheel Bolt Torque: 149 to 179 N-m (110 to 132 lbf-ft)
- Wing Wheel Standard (11-15SL utility):
- Inflation Pressure: 250 kPa (36 psi)
- Wheel Bolt Torque: 149 to 179 N-m (110 to 132 lbf-ft)
Towing Vehicle Requirements:
- The weight of the towed equipment should ideally be less than or equal to the weight of the towing vehicle.
- Under no circumstances should the weight of the towed equipment be more than 1.5 times the weight of the towing vehicle.
- The towing vehicle must be able to control and brake the moving mass.
Usage Features
The manual emphasizes safe and efficient operation of the air drill.
Connecting:
- Requires a clevis hitch on the tractor.
- Securely fasten the drill to the tractor drawbar or air cart with an adequate draw pin and safety chain.
- Connect hydraulics, ensuring tips are wiped clean to prevent contamination.
- If equipped with a tow-behind air seeder, connect its cable harness and hydraulic hoses to the tractor.
Folding and Unfolding:
- Winging Up: Raise the implement to maximum height, engage depth control and floating hitch safety locks, then activate the wing lift circuit to full transport position. Crucially, never wing up with the frame down to prevent damage.
- Winging Down: With depth control safety lock engaged, lower wings using hydraulics. Then, raise implement to maximum height and return safety locks to unlocked positions.
- Safety: Always ensure everyone is clear of the machine during folding/unfolding due to potential rapid wing movement from hydraulic or mechanical failure.
Field Operation:
- Operating Speed: Typically ranges from 6.4 km/hr to 9.7 km/hr (4 to 6 mph), depending on soil disturbance, ridging, and machine strain. Reduce speed on rough ground.
- Depth Adjustment: Performed by adjusting ratchet jacks on the front gauge wheels. The center gauge wheel is linked to a depth stop valve via a cable, which sets the operating height. Calibrate depth scales to match desired seed depth.
- Frame Weight: Adequate frame weight is essential for openers to penetrate the ground uniformly. Weights can be added or removed from the rear bar of the center and wing sections.
- Cornering: Lift ground-engaging openers out of the ground before cornering to avoid severe stress on the openers.
- Floating Hitch: Ensure wing lift cylinders are fully extended in field position to allow the machine to float and follow field contours.
Transporting:
- Safety: Always engage depth control and floating hitch safety locks. Use a safety chain between the tow vehicle and air drill hitch.
- Speed: Never exceed 32 km/hr (20 mph).
- Visibility: Ensure safety lighting, reflector decals, and the Slow Moving Vehicle (SMV) sign are clearly visible.
- Stability: Avoid steep side grades, sudden stops, braking during cornering, sharp turns, and cutting through ditches or ravines. Enter corners slowly.
- Air Cart Configuration: It is preferred to transport the drill separately without an air cart. If transporting with a tow-between air cart, the air cart should not be empty. If transporting with a tow-behind air cart, the air cart should be empty.
Disconnecting:
- Always park on level ground and block wheels before unhooking.
- Relieve hydraulic pressure before disconnecting lines.
- Use the hitch jack to remove weight from the tractor or air seeder.
- Disconnect hydraulic hoses, safety chain, and lighting cable harness.
- If equipped with a tow-behind air seeder, disconnect its cable harness and hydraulic hoses.
Maintenance Features
The manual outlines a structured maintenance schedule to ensure the longevity and reliable operation of the air drill.
Daily Maintenance (Every 10 Hours):
- Visually inspect wheel bolts for looseness; torque after the first 10 hours and frequently thereafter.
- Grease ball sockets on each end of the load leveler bar (2 per machine).
- Grease level bar pivot pin (2 per unit).
- Grease caster wheel walking beams (1, optionally 3 per machine).
Weekly Maintenance (Every 50 Hours):
- Perform all daily maintenance items.
- Grease front gauge wheel caster pivots (2 zerk locations per caster wheel, 3 gauge wheels per implement).
- Grease hitch pole pivots (1 zerk location per hitch pole, 2 hitch poles per implement).
- Grease front and rear wing hinges (1 zerk location per hinge pivot, 4 locations per implement).
- Check wheel bolts.
- Check tire pressures.
Semi-Annual Maintenance (Every 200 Hours):
- Perform all daily and weekly maintenance items.
- Grease gauge wheel pivot (1 zerk per gauge wheel, 3 gauge wheels per unit).
- Grease ratchet jacks (2 grease zerks per ratchet jack, 3 ratchet jacks per unit).
- Grease all wheel hubs and inspect for looseness.
- Grease transport lock pivots (1 grease zerk per transport lock, 2 transport locks per unit).
Before Seasonal Operation or Before Storage:
- Perform or check items listed under daily and weekly maintenance.
- Inspect the implement for readiness and structural cracks.
- For storage longer than one month, coat exposed hydraulic ram surfaces with thick oil.
- Check and tighten all loose bolts, including those on openers.
Changing Tires:
- Always block the raised section and ensure stability. Never rely solely on a jack or hydraulic device.
- Use a minimum 10-ton hydraulic jack and blocking on the jack stand mount.
- For center section inside tires, the walking axle must be separated from the wheel standard by removing U-bolts.
- Replace locknuts with new, identical types and torque to 217 N-m (160 lbf-ft).
Safety Precautions:
- Always disengage power, shut down the tractor, and ensure all moving parts have stopped before servicing.
- Stand clear of wings during folding/unfolding.
- Be cautious of escaping hydraulic fluid under pressure, as it can cause serious injury. Relieve pressure before disconnecting lines and use cardboard to check for leaks.
- Do not overinflate tires and use proper mounting procedures.
- Never attempt to remove the trip spring from the tension link assembly, as it is under extreme load.
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