Great Plains NTA3007 Operator Manual - Manual (Page 128)

124 NTA907 or NTA3007 Table of Contents Index Great Plains Manufacturing, Inc.
166-371M Table of Contents Index 2012-07-02
Material Clean-Out
For normal unloading of residual materials at completion
of planting, see “Unloading Materials” on page 77.
The present section covers completely cleaning out
hopper and air system, when residues need to be
minimised.
1. Perform normal material unloading (page 77), then
fold the drill in preparation for a move to a site
suitable for wash-out. If cleaning out both hoppers,
plan to clean out the rear hopper first.
2. Reposition drill to a suitable site with rinse water and
hose available. This may be two different sites if
each hopper contained a different material.
If no otherwise suitable location is available, perform
a fertilizer or treated seed clean-out on an up-hill
portion of the field last treated.
3. Leave the tractor hitched, in Park with tractor parking
brake set. If tractor cannot be left hitched, block drill
tires. Leave the drill folded for transport in either
case, as the openers must be raised for cranking,
and access to the meters is easier when folded.
4. Lower ladder (page 54). Remove strainer (page 57).
Clean strainer. While strainer is removed, inspect
hopper for signs of problems that may prevent
normal clean-out, such as objects or congealed
masses too large to exit through meter (see
“Problem Clean-Out” on page 125).
5. Install the calibration crank. Open both calibration
and clean-out doors on the meter of the hopper to be
cleaned out.
6. Power wash the interior of the hopper while a second
person cranks the meters (page 69).
7. Re-install strainer. Close lid tight and secure handle.
8. After cleaning out the last hopper, close all doors.
Run air system for 10 minutes to blow moisture out
of meters and lines.
9. Open both front hopper meter doors. Run air for 5
minutes.
10. Leave front meter doors open. Open rear hopper
meter doors. Run air for 5 minutes.
11. Shut off air. Clean door seals and meter box faces.
12. Close meter doors. Move drill to parking or storage
site.
13. Follow normal Parking instructions (page 81) or
Storage instructions (page 82).
Review Regulations and Policies:
The steps at left apply when there are no specific clean-up
requirements provided by national, regional or local
regulation, nor by the seed and/or fertilizer supplier. Review
any legal requirements, instructions on the material
containers, and any Material Safety Data Sheets. Give priority
to regulations and supplier instructions. Modify the
instructions here as needed to comply.
Confined Space Hazard:
Do not enter hopper. Do not remove strainer (step 4) until
ready to clean strainer and wash-out hopper. Do not leave
strainer out after wash-out. Return the strainer to the hopper
and secure the hopper lid if the drill must be left unattended at
any time prior to step 7.