Farm Star US-63 - Manual (Page 7)

A S S E M B LY & M O U N T I N G (continued)
linchpins (not furnished). Attach the center link (not fur-
nished) to the center link bracket on the seeder, using a
center link pin (not furnished) and secure it with a suit-
able linchpin. Adjust the center link so that the seeder fan
is parallel to the ground.
Slip the adapter (on the tractor end of flexible shaft) on
the tractor PTO stub shaft and tighten setscrew. Tie
flexible shaft to seeder frame to keep it from flopping.
US-63
(Assemble as directed in US-33, including the follow-
ing.) Position the hopper extension sides as show in
figure “B”. As you position each side, insert the corner
angle rod in each pocket as shown in figure “C”. After
these are all placed, then insert all the bolts and tighten
them securely. Take out all of the cap plugs in the seeder
hopper.
NOTE: If there is a possibility of using the seeder as a 3
bushel, then these cap plugs should be kept for future
use.) Position the extension hopper in the seeder hopper
and bolt it in place.
O P E R ATION (continued) 2. Check rate chart for suggested setting for material
type to be spread.
3. Width of spread depends upon the tractor PTO speed
and the weight of the material. The heavier the mate-
rial, the wider the spread. The table shows width of
spread at 540 rpm, so the width will vary according to
the speed of your PTO.
For accurate spreading, calibrate your tractor to
operate at the desired speed. A calibrated speedome-
ter is the best and most accurate. If your tractor does
not have a speedometer or its accuracy is question-
able, then you may calibrate in the following manner:
Set out two markers 88 feed apart. Select proper gear
and adjust throttle speed to give the following travel
time as shown between the markers.
NOTE: You cannot adjust the throttle very much, as
you need to maintain 540 rpm PTO speed. (A plus or
minus 20 rpm could be tolerated.)
1 MPH will travel 88 feet in 60 seconds
4 MPH will travel 88 feet in 15 seconds
6 MPH will travel 88 feet in 11.2 seconds
8 MPH will travel 88 feet in 7.5 seconds
After selecting gear and throttle setting to give
desired speed, mark the throttle position in some
convenient manner. Check PTO speed to make sure it
is near 540 rpm.
4. You are now ready to make a trial turn to assure accu-
rate results. Close the hopper and put in a pre-deter-
mined amount of the material to be spread. Spread
this and check the results. Make final adjustments to
obtain desired results.
S P R E A D I N G I N S T R U C T I O N S
1. The opening in the hopper bottom is regulated by the
control lever. The size of the opening is determined by
the calibrated scale. Place the control lever at the
desired setting and adjust the stop bolt.
M A I N T E N A N C E
1. The hopper should be washed after use, especially
after use with corrosive material such as fertilizer or
ice melting compounds. When dry, oil thoroughly –
move speed gate several times to allow oil to cover
plate completely.
2. Flexible shafts will give long service with proper care.
Shafts should never be kinked and if they flop should
be tied down. A larger shear pin should not be used.
To do so voids your warranty. To remove flexshaft from
seeder, the outer case has a RH thread and the inner
core a LH thread. Hold fan firmly and turn PTO
adapter clockwise to unscrew inner core. When core
feels free, turn outer case counter-clockwise until case
I N S T R U C T I O N S (continued) I N S T R U C T I O N S (continued)
Read manual before operating.
C A U T I O N !
S A F E T Y P R E PA R AT I O N
• Know your controls and how to stop tractor, engine,
and PTO quickly in an emergency. READ THIS
MANUAL AND THE ONE PROVIDED WITH YOUR
TRACTOR.
• To avoid accident or injury, do not allow anyone to
operate this equipment without proper instructions.
P R E PA R AT I O N
There is a grease zerk on the shaft housing just below
the spreader fan. Use a good quality grease and give this
lubrication point a few shots of grease before using the
seeder/spreader.
NOTE: Use of Stabilizer Bars
Install stabilizer bars, adjustable sway chains, or
sway blocks on your tractor lift arms to keep the
spreader from swinging side to side.
O P E R AT I O N
1. Raise the seeder/spreader up so the spreader fan is
30-34 inches above the ground. This will give you the
best spreading performance. It is also best if the
seeder/spreader is tilted slightly forward so that the
spreader fan throws slightly upward. (Use the top link
to make this adjustment.)
2. Check the register of the control lever with the seed
gate (material gate). With the seed gate closed, the
control lever indicator should so indicate. If it does not,
you can adjust the adjustment button on the control
rod.
3. DO NOT FILL HOPPER (especially with fertilizer) and
transport over long distances, as it may result in pack-
ing, causing poor or erratic discharge.
4. FOR BEST RESULTS use pelletized fertilizer, as it
has little tendency to lump and cause little or no dust.
5. Be sure to sift or break up lumps found in some types
of granular fertilizer before filling hopper.
6. Do not use on windy days, especially when spreading
fine grass seed.
7. Be extremely careful if you are spreading herbicides,
as there is the possibility of wind drift or overthrow into
area that serious crop/shrub damage could occur.
Follow precautions on package.
8. The spreader will not work with rock salt. It will
spread granular calcium chloride if dry and free-
flowing.
9. When broadcasting fertilizer, always start vehicle in
motion before opening feed gate. (Do not allow
vehicle to sit stationary with feed gate open.) If ferti-
lizer is accidentally deposited too heavily in a small
area, soak down thoroughly with garden hose or sprin-
kler to prevent burning.
Any person who operates this equipment must be
instructed in and be capable of the safe operation of
the tractor, implement and all controls.
• Do not allow children to operate this machine.
• Always wear relatively tight and belted clothing to
avoid entanglement in moving parts. Wear sturdy,
rough-soled work shoes and protective equipment for
eyes, hands, and hearing. Never operate tractor in
bare feet, sandals, or sneakers.
• Operate only in daylight or good artificial light.
• Ensure implement is properly mounted, adjusted and
in good operating condition.
• Ensure that all safety shielding and safety signs are
properly installed and in good condition.
C A U T I O N !
KEEP ALL PERSONS AWAY FROM THE ROTATING
SPREADERS FAN AND THE PTO SHAFT! NEVER
OPERATE WHEN ANYONE IS WITHIN 50 FEET OF
SEEDER/SPREADER.
A heavy load can cause instability in driving a trac-
tor. Make sure the front of the tractor is properly
counter-balanced with weights. Always drive slowly
– especially around turns. An unstable tractor could
steer badly and possibly tip over, causing injury or
death.
W A R N I N G !
Do not attempt to use your fingers to clear a jam.
Accidental closing of the feed gate could shear a
finger off, or leaving the PTO engaged could rotate
the agitator, which could pinch or amputate a finger.
Be sure that the tractor engine is shut off and the
PTO clutch is disengaged before doing any adjust-
ment or repair.
NOTE: Do not start and stop PTO with hopper full.
Agitator should be kept running (whenever there is
material in hopper) to avoid “shock starts” on shaft.
NOTE: Use stabilizer bars, adjustable sway chains,
or sway blocks on your tractor lift arms to keep the
spreader from swinging side to side.
C A U T I O N !
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