Rice Lake Mobile Group Animal Scale - MAS-M - Operators Manual - Manual (Page 36)

32 MAS-M Operator’s Manual
5.3 Scale Maintenance Procedures
5.3.1 How to Use The Electric Brakes Properly
The scale brakes are designed to work in synchronization with the tow vehicle brakes.
Never use the tow vehicle or scale brakes alone to stop the combined load.
The brake controller must be set up according to the manufacturer's recommendations
to ensure proper synchronization between the tow vehicle and the scale. Additionally,
you may have to make small adjustments occasionally to accommodate changing
loads and driving conditions.
Proper synchronization of tow vehicle to scale braking can only be accomplished by
road testing. Brake lockup, grabbing, or harshness is quite often due to the lack of
synchronization between the tow vehicle and the scale being towed, too high of a
threshold voltage (over 2 volts), or under adjusted brakes.
The following should only be performed in a safe environment
such as an unpopulated road free of traffic or under controlled
conditions.
Before any synchronization adjustments are made, the scale brakes should be
burnished-in by applying the brakes 20-30 times with approximately a 20 m.p.h.
decrease in speed, e.g. 40 m.p.h. to 20 m.p.h. Allow ample time for brakes to cool
between application. This allows the brake shoes and magnets to slightly "wear-in" to
the drum surfaces.
5.3.2 Synchronizing The Scale Brakes
To ensure safe brake performance and synchronization, read the brake controller
manufacturer's instructions completely before attempting any synchronization
procedure.
Make several hard stops from 20 M.P.H. on a dry paved road free of sand and gravel.
If the scale brakes lock and slide, decrease the gain setting on the controller. If they do
not slide, slightly increase the gain setting. Adjust the controller just to the point of
impending brake lockup and wheel skid.
Not all scale brakes are capable of wheel lockup. Loading conditions,
brake type, wheel and tire size can all affect whether a brake can lock. It
is not generally considered desirable to lock up the brakes and slide the
tires. This can cause unwanted flat spotting of the tires and could also
result in a loss of control.
If the controller is applying the scale brakes before the tow vehicle brakes, then the
controller adjustments should be made so the scale brakes come on in synchronization
with the tow vehicle brakes. For proper braking performance it is recommended that
the controller be adjusted to allow the scale brakes to come on just slightly ahead of
the tow vehicle brakes. When proper synchronization is achieved there will be no
sensation of the scale “jerking” or “pushing” the tow vehicle during braking.
5.3.3 Brake Adjustment
Brakes should be adjusted (1) after the first 200 miles (first month) of operation when
the brake shoes and drums have “seated,” (2) at 3,000 mile intervals (or yearly), (3) or
as use and performance requires. The brakes should be adjusted in the following
manner:
1. Jack or block the axle arm to allow free rotation of the wheel.
2. Remove the adjusting hole cover from the adjusting slot on the bottom of the
brake backing plate.
WARNING
Note