Arrowquip Q-CATCH 86 Series User manual

Q-CATCH 86 SERIES
SQUEEZE CRUSH
PRODUCT MANUAL
1800 814 107
[email protected]
arrowquip.com.au

CONTENTS
General Description of the Q-Catch 86 Series Squeeze Crush 1
Safety Precautions 1
Risk Assessment 3
Q-Catch 86 Series Head Bail Assembly 4
Operating the Head Bail 5
Operating the Split Gate Vet Cage 6
Recommended Maintenance 7
Warranty 8
Troubleshooting Guide 8
Q-Catch 86 Series Options 9

PLEASE FOLLOW ALL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS PROVIDED IN
THIS MANUAL BEFORE OPERATION. ARROWQUIP DOES NOT
ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANY ACCIDENTS OR INJURY
WHEN THIS SAFETY MANUAL HAS NOT BEEN READ IN FULL
AND KEPT WITH THE PRODUCT AT ALL TIMES. OPERATORS OF
THIS PRODUCT TAKE AND ACCEPT RESPONSIBILTY FOR ANY
HARM OR INJURY TO THE ANIMAL OR OPERATOR WHEN IT
PERTAINS TO HOW THE EQUIPMENT IS USED AND MAINTAINED.
Please keep this manual for frequent reference and to pass on to
new users or owners.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE Q-CATCH 86
SERIES SQUEEZE CRUSH
Arrowquip’s Q-Catch 86 Series squeeze crush is world-renowned as the best in
the market. The Q-Catch 86 Series has been created with safety, efciency, and
ease of use at the forefront of the development process. This cattle crush has
been specially designed to keep you, your cattle, and your farm safe. The smooth
action, innite locking head bail and squeeze are the cornerstone of Q-Catch
design – delivering efcient operation every time.
When our engineers began to create the 86 Series, they stuck to the “quick, quiet,
quality” philosophy and sought out innovative ways to make the crush even easier
to operate, stronger, and to eliminate potential problems through effective design.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
PLEASE FOLLOW ALL SAFETY PRECAUTIONS OUTLINED
HEREIN. ANY HARM TO THE ANIMAL OR INJURY TO THE
OPERATOR WHICH OCCURS DUE TO HOW THE PRODUCT
IS OPERATED, OR RESULTING FROM A LACK OF SAFETY
PRECAUTIONS ARE THE SOLE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE
OPERATOR.
1

All farm machinery and equipment is potentially dangerous. Careless use of any
Arrowquip livestock equipment may cause injury or damage to persons, cattle, or
property. Arrowquip has taken precautions in the design and manufacturing of this
product to ensure that it is safe and user-friendly. Therefore, the user must assume
all responsibility and risk associated with the possession and use of the cattle
squeeze crush.
WARNING: READ BELOW BEFORE OPERATION.
Ensure the operator understands the contents of this manual before using the
cattle squeeze crush.
1. Do not wear loose-tted clothing.
2. Ensure the cattle squeeze crush is on a rm, level, dry surface that is free of
rocks and other trip hazards. A level concrete pad ush with the ground with
the crush bolted to the concrete is strongly recommended.
3. Do not enter the vet cage until the animal is secured in the head bail and the
rump bar has been placed so that the cow cannot back up.
4. Do not stand in front of the head bail while operator is moving the cattle
through the squeeze crush.
5. DO NOT ALLOW CHILDREN UNDER THE AGE OF 18 NEAR AN
OPERATING MACHINE.
6. Follow safe cattle handling procedures in other areas of the yard so that cattle
are more docile in the cattle crush.
7. Do not make any modications to Arrowquip equipment. Non-factory
modications to our equipment can reduce the safety for the operator and
livestock.
2

RISK ASSESSMENT
Conduct a risk assessment on procedures for which the cattle squeeze crush is
used and establish a safe work procedure.
1. Ensure all users of the equipment have been inducted and comply with safe
working procedures.
2. Please ensure that there are NO large or hazardous objects inside the crush
that may cause injury to the animal or operator, or may cause the equipment
to malfunction.
3. Make sure that your crush has been cleared of ALL livestock after use.
4. Some chemicals and medicines can damage powder coat. Take all
precautions and wash after use.
3

4
Q-CATCH 86 SERIES HEAD BAIL ASSEMBLY
Your crush will come with the head bail fully assembled and ready for use. However,
if you need to dissemble your head bail for any reason, the following guide will help
you to properly reassemble your crush.
ASSEMBLING THE Q-CATCH MECHANISM
Fit the mechanism parts as shown in the diagram below.
1. Q-CATCH DOOR
2. Q-CATCH TRACK SHAFT
3. LONG HAMMER
4. TOWER CONTROL ARM
5. TOWER SHAFT
6. SHORT HAMMER
7. Q-CATCH CONTROL HANDLE
8. GREASE NIPPLE
9. Q-CATCH ROLLER
10. Q-CATCH ROLLER BOLT

OPERATING THE HEAD BAIL
REMEMBER SAFETY WHEN OPERATING THE HEAD BAIL
1. Ensure all gates and the head bail are closed before the animal enters the
crush.
2. Open rear tail gate for the animal to enter the squeeze crush enclosure.
3. Close tail gate.
4. Open head bail slightly more than the neck size of the animal to tempt the
animal to stick its head through the head bail.
5. When neck of animal is in the correct position, quickly close the head bail
securely on the animal’s neck.
6. If required, side squeeze animal and engage head restraint to restrain
further movement.
7. If the animal applies excessive pulling pressure on head bail, it is
recommended to use the anti-backing bar behind cattle rump.
8. Conrm animal is securely held before carrying out any husbandry work.
5

OPERATING THE SPLIT GATE VET CAGE
6
SPLIT GATE VET CAGE (DELUXE VET MODEL ONLY)
1. TOP SPLIT GATE
2. BOTTOM SPLIT GATE
3. SPLIT DOOR DROP PIN
4. SPLIT GATE HANDLE
5. FOOT PEDAL
6. EXTENDER HANDLE
7. BOTTOM GATE EXTENSION
8. SLAM LATCH
9. VET CAGE DOOR
(OPPOSITE SIDE)
7
2
1
3
4
5
6
8
9

1. Ensure the animal is caught securely in the head bail, and rump bar is in
place, if necessary.
2. Lift split door drop pin and secure in upright position.
3. Lift split gate handle by hand or with foot pedal.
4. Push bottom split gate to the inside of the crush until you hear a click which
conrms the gate is locked in place.
5. Push extender handle until bottom gate extension is secured into the slot on
the opposite side of the crush.
6. If necessary, side squeeze animal.
7. Conrm animal is securely held before carrying out any husbandry work.
RECOMMENDED MAINTENANCE
Arrowquip squeeze crushes are made with precision parts and require little
maintenance as a result. However, regular maintenance is required to keep your
crush running smoothly and safely.
1. Keep grease nipple on main control handle greased.
2. Lubricate slam latches, lube bolts, door hinges regularly with WD-40.
Recommended every six months, minimum.
3. Clean bottom head bail door track to prevent dirt build-up.
4. Check mechanism pivot bolts for wear and lubricate or replace, as necessary.
5. Clean and lubricate main locking shaft doors regularly.
6. Inspect for signs of mechanical damage regularly, specically to gate latches
and striker plates, and ensure gates are locking securely.
7

WARRANTY
Your product must be registered to claim warranty, and to ensure thatArrowquip
has the required information to contact you in the event of a product or part recall.
If the owner of the equipment fails to register the product with Arrowquip, they are
considered to have voluntary voided the warranty.
NOTE: Any modication, in any fashion, to any Arrowquip equipment immediately
voids the product warranty. This includes the parts contained therein.
E.g. If a modication is made to the squeeze mechanism in a squeeze crush, and
the sternum bar is bent afterwards, warranty for the damaged part, the sternum
bar, contained in the modied equipment, the squeeze crush, is void. In addition,
any remaining warranty for the squeeze crush and other parts contained therein,
including, but not limited to, the head bail, locking system, Q-Catch system, and
rollers, is null and void.
REGISTER FOR WARRANTY NOW:
Online: arrowquip.com.au
Phone: [phone] | Email: [email protected]
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
If you have a problem with your Q-Catch 86 Series cattle crush, please consider
the following tips or call us at 1800 814 107.
1. Make sure the head bail and crush are situated on level ground or base.
2. If head bail has minimal use over extended periods, this may cause head bail
doors to become stiff to operate and/or difcult to release. This can be easily
xed by lubrication of the rollers and the Q-Catch track shaft with WD-40.
Lubricate Q-Catch track shaft by spraying directly with a few shots of WD-40.
You will need to do this while the head bail doors are closed, and again with
the head bail doors open to ensure that the entire shaft is properly lubricated.
Additionally, it is recommended that you spray lubricant directly onto each
8

of the four Q-Catch rollers on both head bail doors, and open and close the
head bail a few times to work the lubricant in.
3. Make sure head bail door tracks are free of debris.
4. Keep oors clean. Excess build-up of manure or dirt inside crush can cause
the squeeze and head bail to malfunction.
5. Check for wear of the Q-Catch track shaft. Severe wear may cause friction
lock to malfunction.
6. Ensure bolts on head bail are tightened correctly.
a. Too tight will cause the locking and releasing of head bail doors to
malfunction.
b. Too loose will cause premature wear on head bail parts.
c. On the head bail, there is a short hammer and a long hammer between the
handle pivot and doors. These two hammers have a slot in them - check
that there is free movement for the bolt to move the entire length of this slot,
and the lock nuts are correctly tightened.
d. The door hammers also contact the release pins on the lock plates when
the head bail handle is pulled back. Ensure there is an air gap between
levers and release pins when head bail handle is being pushed or in an idle
position.
7. Check nuts and bolts on all parts of the crush, and ensure that they are
tightened correctly.
Q-CATCH 86 SERIES OPTIONS
Q-CATCH HEAD HOLDER
A simple yet highly effective addition, the head holder is a sturdy mechanism that
clamps around the animal’s neck and holds the head immobile to allow the handler
up-close access to the animal safely.
Installation:
1. Rest head holder on the bottom 38mm spacer on working side of head bail.
2. Install 13mm x 89mm bolts through face of head holder and install large
washers on back of head bail doors, then tighten bolts.

Safety Precautions:
1. Ensure that the head holder remains open until required to hold the animal’s
head.
CRUSH TRAILER
Refer to Crush Trailer manual.
STERNUM BAR
The purpose of the sternum bar is to keep the cattle from going down in the crush.
The sternum bar can be easily installed and removed with a single bolt.
Installation:
1. Insert long sternum bar tube into rear bracket on oor of crush.
2. Insert short sternum bar support into long sternum bar tube receiver, and
insert bottom shoe plate into front bracket on the oor of crush.
3. Tighten all jam bolts.
Safety Precautions:
1. Please ensure that the Sternum Bar is installed correctly before running cattle
through the crush.
LUG POSTS
The Lug Posts allow you to connect your crush to a draft module, baulk gate, or
panels in your stockyard which may extend beyond the crush.
Installation:
1. Bolt bottom posts under the Head Bail Door
10

2. Remove bolts and nuts on name plate.
3. Secure top posts in the same slot as the name plate using longer bolts. 3”
Bolts recommended.
BAULK GATE
The Baulk Gate is an effective way to calm and slow down temperamental animals,
ensuring they are caught in the head bail correctly.
Installation:
1. Install Lug Posts. See above installation instructions.
2. Remove existing Double Lugs on Lug Posts.
3. Connect Baulk Gate to Lug Posts with bolts. The Baulk Gate can be
installed on either side.

4. Place the 45° Double Lug on the outer edge of the Lug Post, opposite the side
where the Baulk Gate is bolted.
Note: Installing the Baulk Gate will require two people.

1800 814 107 | [email protected] | arrowquip.com.au