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Section 3: Operating Procedures
RCR2596, RCR2510 and RCRM2510 Rotary Cutters 312-753M
5/09/08
Land Pride
Table of Contents
Crossing Steep Ditches & Banks
Refer to Figure 3-3:
!
WARNING!
Damage to the tractor’s PTO components and/or driveline
components can cause the driveline to come loose and cause
bodily injury to the operator and others.
Cutting over ditches and backing up hills can tilt the
cutter’s back side up excessively resulting in “Bottoming
Out” the driveline. Bottoming out is when the driveline
shaft has shorten to the point it is pressing against the
gearbox and tractor PTO shafts. Once a driveline has
bottomed out, it can not be shorten anymore without
causing serious damage to the tractor PTO components,
cutter gearbox and driveline.
Do not operate a pull-type cutter at an angle exceeding
25 degrees up or down or at any angle that will force the
driveline to bind and/or hit the tractor drawbar.
Crossing Steep Ditches and Banks
Figure 3-3
General Operating Instructions
Now that you have familiarized yourself with the
Operator’s Manual, completed the Operators Checklist,
properly attached your Cutter to your tractor, made the
right leveling adjustments, and preset your cutting
height, you’re almost ready to begin using your Land
Pride Rotary Cutter.
It’s now time to do a running operational safety check.
Shut the tractor off immediately and remove the key if at
any time during this safety check you detect a
malfunction in either the cutter or tractor. Make
necessary repairs or adjustments before continuing on.
If you have a three-point hitch model make sure the
tractor’s park brake is engaged, the tractor’s PTO is
disengaged, and the cutter is resting onthe ground. Start
IMPORTANT: Always cross steep ditches and
banks at a diagonal. Never cross straight across a
steep ditch or bank and never back into a steep
ditch or bank.
Ditch / Bank
Wrong
Right
Ditch / Bank
the tractor and then back the tractor throttle off until the
engine is at low idle. With the tractor’s rear hydraulic lift
control lever,raise the cutter to transport position making
sure that the PTO shaft is not in a bind and does not
come in contact with the cutter frame. Lower the cutter to
the ground and, with the tractor still at low idle, engage
the PTO. If everything is running smoothly at this point
increase the engine rpm until the tractor’s engine
reaches full PTO operating speed. The RCR2596 and
RCR2510 will be 540 rpm only while the RCRM2510 is
designed to operate at 1000 rpm PTO speed. Slowly
raise the cutter to transport height to make sure the
driveline does not bind or chatter. Then return the engine
to low idle, disengage the PTO, and position the
adjustable stops on the tractor’s hydraulic lift lever so the
cutter can be consistently returned to the same cutting
and transport height.
If you have a pull-type cutter, make sure the park brake is
on and the cutter is on the ground in mowing position.
Start the tractor and reduce engine speed to low idle.
Engage the PTO and increase engine rpm until you
reach full PTO speed. If everything is running smoothly
your running safety check is complete and you may shut
the tractor and cutter off.
You should now be ready to move to the cutting site to
begin mowing. You should have inspected and should
only be cutting in an area you are familiar with which is
free ofdebrisand unseen objects.Never assumean area
is clear and extremely tall grass should be cut twice to
detect potential hazards. In the event you do strike an
object stop the tractor and cutter immediately to inspect
the cutter and make any necessary repairs before
resuming operation. It pays to inspect a new area and to
develop a plan before you cut.
Normal mowing speed will be between 2-5 mph and you
will need to maintain 540 rpm PTO speed to produce a
clean cut, so make a tractor gear and range selection
that will maintain this combination. Generally the quality
of cut will be better at lower ground speeds and cutting
denser groundcoverwill create the need to slow down. In
certain conditions tractor tires will roll grasses down
resulting in an uneven cutting height when the grass fails
to rebound before being cut. Whenthis happens you may
need to reverse the cutting direction and double cut to
achieve the desired finish. You will want to avoid very low
cutting heights especially on extremely uneven terrain.
Always cut downward on slopes and avoid crossing the
face of steep slopes. Avoid sharp drops and cross
diagonally through dips to prevent hanging up the tractor
and cutter. Slow down in turns and avoid sharp turns if at
all possible. Remember to look back often.
Now you’re prepared and well briefed so lets begin
cutting. Reduce the tractor’s engine rpm, make sure the
cutter ison the ground andin cutting position,engage the
PTO, raise the enginerpm to theappropriatePTOspeed,
and begin mowing. Whenit is difficult to make a wide turn
and you need to reverse direction, the three point hitch
models can be lifted into transport position to make a