Summers 4-Rank Superweeder - Manual (Page 6)

SECTION 1 - SAFETY
SAFETY DURING TRANSPORT
1. ONLY TOW at a safe speed. Use caution when making corners or meeting traffic.
2. USE a safety chain between tractor drawbar and implement hitch when transporting on public
roads.
3. ALWAYS use transport locks when transporting on public roads.
4. COMPLY with local lighting, marking and maximum width regulations when transporting on
highways.
5. FREQUENTLY CHECK for traffic from rear, especially during turns.
IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON 22 FT. HITCH MACHINES
WITH NEGATIVE HITCH WEIGHT
1-2
WARNING
Because of the large wing size of certain Summers ma-
chines, namely the Superharrow PLUS, Superharrow
2650, Harrow Packer and 4-Rank Superweeder, the hitch
on these machines often becomes “light” in transport
position. This means there is no downward weight on
the hitch and as a result, the hitch will rise if unhitched.
In these cases, special precautions must be taken as
discussed below.
NEVER unhitch a machine that has been opened up
into field position and has not been completely lowered
to the ground. If the machine has been completely low-
ered to the ground and parked in a level area, it may be
unhitched with ordinary care. NEVER unhitch a machine
in transport position from a tractor, pickup, truck or other
towing unit unless the following precautions are taken.
1. Determine if the hitch has a positive or negative
weight. Insure that there is no side pressure on the
hitch pin before determining positive or negative tongue
weight. If the Superharrow PLUS, Superharrow 2650,
Harrow Packer or 4-Rank Superweeder’s hitch piece or
clevis is resting on the towing unit’s hitch and cannot be
lifted off, positive tongue weight exists. The machine can
be unhitched by lowering the hitch jack, stabilizing with
one wing tube jack and following steps 2 and 4. If positive
tongue weight does not exist, follow steps 2 through 4.
2. Park machine on a level area and block the hitch
tires and wing transport tires so machine cannot roll
forward or backward. This is very important even if the
machine is parked on level ground, strong winds can
move unblocked machines.
3. Lower wing tube jacks until enough weight is trans-
ferred to hitch to keep it from rising. Check this by ob-
serving machine hitch. With hitch pin installed but not
binding, check that the machine hitch no longer has a
tendency to rise.
4. Disconnect all hydraulic lines and wiring. Again check
that the hitch pin is free. There should be no side force
on the pin and it should turn freely. If free, stand off to
the left side of hitch and remove hitch pin. Carefully
drive ahead.
IMPORTANT: Positioning transport wheel assemblies
on wing tubes of machine is very critical in determining
hitch weight. Moving transport wheel assemblies forward
will increase hitch weight and moving them rearward will
decrease hitch weight.