Section 4: Operating Instructions
Table of Contents
RCF3096, RCF3010, & RCFM3010 Rotary Cutters 326-566M
48
11/8/18
Transporting
WARNING
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
• When traveling on roadways, travel in such a way that
other vehicles may pass you safely. Use LED lights, clean
reflectors, and a slow moving vehicle sign that is visible
from the back to warn operators in other vehicles of your
presence. Always comply with all federal, state, and local
laws.
• Reduce ground speed when turning and leave enough
clearance to avoid making contact with obstacles such as
buildings, trees, fences, etc. Making contact can result in
equipment damage and cause serious injury or death.
• Select a safe ground speed when transporting. Never travel
at a speed which does not allow adequate control of steering
and stopping, and never exceed 20 mph (32.2 km/h) with
attached equipment. Rough terrain requires a slower speed.
• Always disengage power take-off and wait for driveline to
stop rotating before raising implement to transport position.
1. Make sure driveline does not contact tractor or cutter
when raising cutter to the transport position.
2. Reduce tractor ground speed when turning and leave
enough turning clearance so cutter does not contact
obstacles such as buildings, trees or fences.
3. Limit transport speed to 20 mph. Transport only with
a farm tractor of sufficient size and horsepower.
4. When traveling on roadways, transport in such a way
that faster moving vehicles may pass you safely.
5. Shift tractor to a lower gear when traveling over rough
or hilly terrain.
Blade Engagement & Disengagement
Cutter blades can lock-up against each other during
start-up and shut-down especially if the tractor’s power
take-off engagement is “INSTANT ON” and “INSTANT
OFF”. Following Blade Engagement and Blade
Disengagement instructions below will help eliminate
blade lock up.
Blade Engagement
1. Increase throttle speed just enough to get the blades
rotating without stalling tractor while slowly engaging
power take-off. Use tractor’s power take-off soft start
option if available.
2. Ensure that all power shafts are rotating and that the
cutter is not vibrating excessively after ramping up to
power take-off speed for at least 3 seconds. If
excessive vibration continues after 3 seconds at full
power take-off speed, disengage power take-off
immediately, shut down tractor, remove switch key,
and wait for blades to come to a complete stop.
3. Check blades for a lock-up situation. Block cutter
deck up before working under the unit. Unlock
blades, remove support blocks, and repeat “Blade
Engagement” instructions.
Blade Disengagement
1. Slowly decrease throttle speed until engine idle
speed is reached and then disengage power take-off.
2. Engage tractor park brake, shut tractor engine off
and remove switch key. Stay on tractor until blades
have come to a complete stop.
Field Operation
DANGER
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
Clear area to be cut of debris and other unforeseen removable
objects before cutting. Mark non-removable hazards such as
tree stumps, post stubs, protruding objects, rocks, drop-offs,
holes, etc. with a visible flag.
WARNING
!
To avoid serious injury or death:
Do not back pull-type cutter into solid objects. The joint where
the tongue is pinned to the deck will pivot upward causing
damage to the deck and driveline.
1. Thoroughly inspect area to be cut for debris and
unforeseen objects. Mark any potential hazards.
2. Follow “Blade Engagement” instructions on this
page to start cutter blades turning.
3. Optimum ground speed depends on density of
material, tractor horsepower, and terrain. Always
operate tractor at the cutter’s full-rated power take-off
speed in a gear range (2 to 5 mph) that allows the
cutter to make smooth cuts without lugging tractor
down.
4. Stop traveling and disengage power take-off after the
first 50 feet of cutting. Check cutter levelness and
cutting height to make certain it is adjusted properly.
IMPORTANT: Your cutter is equipped with free
swinging cutting blades to reduce shock loads when
striking obstacles. However, it is best to avoid striking
obstacles to extend cutter and blade life.
Maintain correct power take-off speed. Loss of power
take-off speed will allow blades to swing back
resulting in ragged, uneven cutting.
NOTE: Do not cut in wet conditions. Wet material
will build up on the deck underside creating poor
discharge, high wear, and additional horsepower
consumption.
Periodically disengage power take-off, turn off
tractor, remove key, and check for objects wrapped
around blade spindle. Block deck up before removing
objects.
Frequently inspect cutter for loose bolts and nuts.
Tighten all loose hardware as indicated in the
“Torque Values Chart” on page 70.
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