BROWN 815 Owner's manual

Owner / Operator Manual Brown 815
Brush Cutter
Before operating your machine,
stop and read this owners manual.
Do not attempt to operate the unit
until you fully understand the
material covered in this manual.
Without the knowledge contained
in this manual, injury or death can
result.
WARNING
For use with models having serial numbers with “A” as
the FOURTH digit:
Example: 815A0001
Lift Restriction Chains must be attached from the skid loader to the brush cutter to keep the
cutter below the level of the operator BEFORE operating this machine. See Page 17 for further
information.
ATTENTION:
ALL WARRANTY WORK MUST BE APPROVED
BY BROWN MFG. CORP.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS
Serial Plate Location
WARNING

Copyright Information
Copyright ©2017 Brown Manufacturing Corporation, Ozark, Alabama. All photos and illustrations
are property of Brown Manufacturing Corporation. This publication may be freely reproduced,
either in whole or in part, provided that the content herein is not altered. We encourage you to make
copies of this manual and to distribute it to every operator of the machine. Additional copies are also
available from Brown Manufacturing Corporation at no charge.
Cover
Illustrated: Brown 826
Disclaimer
Due to engineering improvements and revision of product specications, the information contained
in this manual is subject to change without notice.

Contents
Owner Registration...................................................................5
Important Notice:......................................................................6
Equipment Safety......................................................................7
Attaching Cutter ......................................................................16
Cutting Height..........................................................................17
Starting Cutter Operations .....................................................18
Operating Instructions ............................................................21
Maintenance .............................................................................25
Blade Installation .....................................................................30
Blade Bar Removal Technique................................................31
Blade Bar Installation Procedure ..........................................32
Maintenance Log......................................................................34
Troubleshooting........................................................................36
Specications ............................................................................37
Replacement Parts ...................................................................38

Warranty Statement
LIMITED WARRANTY
BROWN MANUFACTURING CORP. hereby warrants that Brown’s products will be free from defects in
material and workmanship under normal use according to the provisions and limitations herein set forth. All
parts, specically EXCLUDING expendable ‘wear’ parts, that become unserviceable, due to defective material or
workmanship, within three months / 90 days from date of the original retail purchase, shall, at Brown’s option, be
repaired or replaced.
LIMITATIONS
The obligations of Brown for breach of warranty shall be limited to products manufactured by Brown; (1) that are
installed, operated, and maintained according to Brown’s instruction furnished and/or available to the purchaser
upon request; (2) that are installed according to all other applicable Federal, State, and local codes or regulations;
and (3) that the purchaser substantiates were defective in material and workmanship notwithstanding that they
were properly installed and correctly maintained as set forth and were not abused or misused. The obligation of
Brown shall be limited to replacing or repairing the detective product, at the option of Brown. Brown shall not
be responsible for any labor or cost of removal or repairing or reinstallation of its products and shall not be liable
for transportation costs to and from its plant in Ozark, Alabama. Use of parts for modication or repair of the
product or any component part thereof not authorized or manufactured by Brown specically for such product
shall void this warranty. This warranty shall not apply to any damage to or defect in the Brown’s products that is
directly or indirectly caused by; (1) FORCE MAJEURE, act of GOD, or other accident not related to an inherent
product defect; or (2) abuse, misuse, or neglect of the such product, including any damage caused by improper
assembly, installation, adjustment, or faulty instruction of the purchaser. OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY
SET FORTH HEREINABOVE, BROWN MAKES NO OTHER WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED,
WITH RESPECT TO ANY OF BROWN’S PRODUCTS, INCLUDED BUT NOT LIMITED TO ANY
MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE. IN NO EVENT SHALL BROWN
BE RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY INCIDENTAL OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OF ANY NATURE
SUFFERED BY PURCHASER OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY CAUSED IN WHOLE OR IN
PART BY ANY OF BROWN’S PRODUCTS. Any person or entity to whom this warranty extends and who
claims breach of warranty against Brown must bring suit thereon within one year from the date of occurrence of
such breach of warranty or be forever barred from any and all legal or other remedies for such breach of warranty.
Brown is not responsible for and hereby disclaims any undertaking, representation, or warranty made by any
dealer, distributor, or other person that is inconsistent with or in any way more expensive than the provisions of
this limited warranty. This warranty grants specic legal rights and shall be read in conformity with applicable
state law. In some jurisdictions, the applicable law mandates warranty provisions that provide greater rights than
those provided for herein. In such case, this limited warranty shall be read to include such mandates provisions;
and any provision herein that is prohibited or unenforceable in any such jurisdiction shall, as to such jurisdiction,
be ineffective to the extent of such prohibition or unenforceable without invalidating the remaining provisions and
without affecting the validity or enforceability of such provisions in any other jurisdiction.
STATEMENT OF POLICY
In accordance with our established policy of constant improvement, we reserve the right to amend these
specications at any time without notice.
WARRANTY BY MANUFACTURER
Dealer/distributor understands and agrees that the manufacturer extends only the following warranty to its
customers. In the event dealer/distributor extends any additional warranty such as enlarging the scope or period
of warranty or undertaking a warranty of tness for any particular purpose or obligation not encompassed in
manufacturer’s warranty, dealer/distributor shall be solely responsible therefore and shall have no recourse against
manufacturer with respect thereto.
4
WARRANTY

Owner Registration
Important: To place the
manufacturer’s warranty into
effect, this card must be mailed
within thirty (30) days after
receiving equipment.
Return to:
Brown Manufacturing Corp.
6001 E. Hwy 27
Ozark, AL 36360
Name: ____________________
Address: ___________________
City: ____________ State: ____
Model:
Serial No.: _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
Date Purchased: ___/___/_____
Dealer: ____________________
Owner Registration
5
WARRANTY NOTES
•All parts returned to Brown Manufacturing Corp. for warranty inspection must be received
freight prepaid.
•If a warranty claim is approved, replacement or repaired parts will be returned to the
customer freight prepaid.
•If a dealer makes any type of approved warranty repair, only parts and labor will be
credited by Brown Manufacturing Corp. No service call or transportation charges are
warrantable.
•No returned parts will be inspected for warranty claims if not received with a Return
Authorization Number. Without a RA#, Brown Manufacturing Corp. cannot and will not
be responsible for any returned goods.
•Use of any replacement parts other than original Brown replacement parts will void
all warranties.
WARNING: The use of aftermarket replacement parts will change the operational
conditions of the machine, shorten the life of other components, lead to failure of the
machine, and create safety hazards to all persons near the machine. Brown equipment is
designed to use OEM replacement parts meeting the exact specications of the machine
and crafted from high-quality materials. Aftermarket replacement parts are neither
engineered to meet the machine’s exact specications nor manufactured to the same high
standards as original Brown replacement parts.
For Your Records
Model: _________________
Serial No.: _________________
Date Purchased: ___/___/_____
Dealer: ____________________
Date Registered: ___/___/_____
Registration

Please use envelope.
6
Important Notice:
OWNER’S MANUAL STORAGE CONTAINER
* Brown Manufacturing provides an Owner’s Manual holder on all equipment.
*This holder is mounted in a convenient location and provides the owner with
the proper safety and operation information.
*Two (2) copies are provided with each unit.
*One copy is for the owner for review and maintenance of the equipment.
*Second copy is to stay with the unit at all times. This provides the operator
the information needed for safe and proper operation of the unit.
*If the Owner’s Manual becomes lost or damaged, contact Brown
Manufacturing Corp. or your local Brown dealer for free replacement. The
manual is also available for digital download from our website.
www.brownmfgcorp.com

Equipment Safety
7
WARNING
Before operating your machine, stop
and read this owners manual. Do not
attempt to operate the unit until you
fully understand the material covered
in this manual. Without the knowledge
contained in this manual, injury or
death can result.
Each operator of the equipment should review this manual every six (6) months.
You are encouraged to duplicate this manual and to distribute it to each operator of
the equipment for their training and reference. Additional copies are available from Brown
Manufacturing Corporation at no charge.
Warning: Read this manual before operation.
Operators of the equipment must read and understand this manual. Failure to read this
manual and follow these safety and operating instructions could result in serious bodily
injury or even death.
POTENTIAL DANGER AREAS OF ALL BRUSH CUTTERS
1. EXPOSED ROTATING BLADES
2. MATERIAL DISCHARGE
3. PRESSURIZED HYDRAULICS
4. PINCH POINT
5. HOT SURFACES

Equipment Safety
8
Recognize safety information
This is the safety alert symbol. When you see this symbol on your equipment or in this
manual, be alert to the potential for personal injury or injury to others.
Understand signal words
DANGER indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, will result in death or serious injury
WARNING indicates a hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could
result in serious injury or death.
CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not
avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
NOTICE indicates information considered important but not directly
hazard related. (e.g. security, hygiene, equipment or property damage).
Follow safety instructions
• Read owner/operator manual.
• Replace missing or damaged safety decals.
• Safety decals and this manual must be considered a permanent part of your equipment.
• Should ownership of the equipment be transferred, this manual must also be transferred.
• Unauthorized modications to the equipment are not recommended. This could impair the
function, safety, and life of the machine.
• For any part of this manual that you do not understand, contact your dealer or Brown
Manufacturing Corporation at [phone].
• All implements with moving parts are potentially dangerous. Due to this fact, there is no
substitute for a safe, knowledgeable operator. It is important that all persons operating this
equipment read, understand, and follow the instructions provided in this manual.
CAUTION
DANGER
NOTICE
DO NOT OPERATE THIS UNIT IF YOU ARE UNDER THE INFLUENCE
OF ALCOHOL, ILLEGAL DRUGS, OR ANY PRESCRIPTION OR OVER
THE COUNTER MEDICATIONS THAT COULD CAUSE DROWSINESS,
DIZZINESS, DISORIENTATION AND/OR IMPAIR YOUR ABILITY IN ANY
WAY TO SAFELY OPERATE THE UNIT.
DO NOT OPERATE THIS UNIT IF YOU SUFFER FROM ANY PHYSICAL CONDITION
OR DISABILITY THAT WOULD IMPAIR YOUR ABILITY TO OPERATE IT SAFELY.
WARNING

Equipment Safety
Safety Decals
The following safety decals should be attached to the equipment at all times. Should any decals
become damaged or lost, it is the responsibility of the owner to replace it. Additional decals may be
obtained from the dealer or Brown Manufacturing Corporation at no charge.
9

Equipment Safety
10
Safety Decals (continued)
F
Maintain safety
distance of at least
300 feet. Failure to do
so may cause serious
injury or death.
DANGER
300’
Danger
Maintain safe distance.
The cutter creates a serious discharge hazard.
Always maintain a safety distance of at least 300
ft.
Never operate cutter with bystanders present!

Equipment Safety
11
Safety Decals (All Models)
Safety decals must be positioned as illustrated below. Use this diagram to correctly identify missing,
damaged, or illegible decals for replacement.
Ref.
No. Part No. Qty. Description
ASD-001A 2 Safety Decal: Thrown object hazard
BSDL-020 1 Safety Decal: Lexan Combo
CSD-005A 2 Safety Decal: Danger Rotating blades
D SD-020 2 Safety Decal: Tighten Fasteners
E 237-0002 2 Safety Decal: High Pressure Fluid Hazard
F 237-0020 2 Safety Decal: STAY BACK 300 FEET (Page 10)
G 237-SDW2 1 DANGER: DO NOT OPERATE WITHOUT
SHATTERPROOF CAB DOOR
A
B
C
C
D E
G

Equipment Safety
12
CAUTION
Keep machine
clean of debris.
Flammable debris
on machine poses
re hazard.
Danger!
Protect bystanders, clear
work area of debris.
Do not operate the cutter near people. Debris can
be thrown hundreds of feet. Clear work area of
foreign objects such as wire, glass, and other debris.
Debris thrown by the cutter can cause serious injury
or death.
WARNING
Wait for all rotation
to stop before
dismounting
Skid Loader.
Do not operate
cutter near
bystanders. Clear
work area of debris
before operating.
DANGER
Warning
Parking and dismounting.
The rotating parts of this cutter continue to rotate
even after power has been disengaged. The operator
should remain seated until rotation has stopped. He
should then set the brake, turn off the engine, and
remove the key. See skid loader manual for proper
parking procedure.
Caution
Avoid res.
Keep the machine clean of debris, trash, and any other
ammable material..
Warning
Fasten Seat belt!
Before Starting Skid Loader.
Always Wear Your Seat Belt.

Equipment Safety
13
Rotating blades.
Keep hands and
feet from under cutter
deck.
WARNING
Check equipment
before operation.
Tighten all nuts
and bolts.
WARNING
Prepare for
emergencies.
Keep re extinguisher
and rst
aid kit available.
Fire
DANGER
Warning
Prepare for emergencies.
Keep re extinguisher and rst aid kit available.
Inspect re extinguisher and check for charge
daily. Check rst aid kit for expired contents
and keep stocked.
Warning
Check equipment before
operating.
Tighten all nuts and bolts before operating.
Make certain that equipment is lowered to
ground before attempting to make adjustments
or perform maintenance. Replace or repair any
safety device, bolts, etc., if damaged or worn.
Danger
Stay clear of rotating blades.
The cutter is designed to cut woody material up
to 6” in diameter. Keep hands and feet from
under cutter deck!

WARNING
Wear protective
clothing.
Equipment Safety
14
WARNING
Slow travel speed when
operating on slopes or
rough terrain.
WARNING
Use only with
skid loaders equipped
with a certied
rollover protective
structure.
Tighten blade bolts as
prescribed in owners
manual. Ejection of
blade will cause serious
injury or death.
DANGER
Warning
Wear protective clothing.
Wear close-tting clothing and other protective
devices appropriate for the job.
Warning
Roll-over protection.
Operate cutter only on skid loader equipped with a
certied rollover protective structure (ROPS).
Warning
Slopes and rough terrain.
When operating on slopes or rough terrain,
decrease travel speed. Do not operate in an area
where the skid loader could roll over. Be sure to
fasten safety belt when operating skid loader!
Danger
Tighten blade bolts.
Blade bolts will stretch with use and must be
tightened. Follow maintenance instructions in
this manual (see Page 25). If the cutter is
operated with loose blade bolts, blades and
blade carrier will be damaged. Operation
with damaged blades and blade carrier
will lead to blade ejection and will cause
serious injury or death.

WARNING
15
Riders can be
injured or killed.
Keep riders
off machine.
DANGER
Exercise caution
while working under
cutter deck. Failure
to heed warnings may
lead to serious injury
or death.
Equipment Safety
Danger
Keep riders off machine.
Riders can be seriously injured or killed by
entanglement or by falling.
Warning
Hazardous service conditions.
While working under the cutter deck, be aware
of safety hazards. Follow safety precautions
specied in this manual (see Page 26). Failure
to exercise caution may lead to serious injury or
death.
Warning
High Pressure Fluid Hazard.
Hydraulic Brush Cutters have hydraulic motors
and hoses, use all safety precautions when working
around hydraulic components.

Attaching Cutter
16
Before hitching cutter to your skid loader, make sure all safety devices are installed on both
the cutter and the skid loader.
Please follow all safety instructions and procedures.
Attach equipment to skid loader.
Be sure the skid loader is equipped with a certied roll-over protection
structure (ROPS), and an enclosed operator-protective cage to prevent hazards such
as thrown, falling, or stationary objects from entering the protective cage.
Be extremely careful when positioning skid loader to hitch to the equipment.
Caution Never allow anyone between the skid loader and the equipment during
the attachment process.
Be certain that the cutter bearing housing has been lubricated properly and check oil
level in bearing housing prior to connecting hydraulic hoses to skid loader.
Warning Improperly attached hydraulic lines will disconnect and may cause
personal injury or property damage.
STOP

Front 1 inch above front
17
Cutting Height
Using Lift Restriction Chains -
A lift restriction chain is a length of chain that attach from the skid loader frame to the attachment
point on the cutter unit. The chain is intended to limit cutter height, insuring that the cutter remains
below the operator’s level, to keep debris from being discharged toward the operator.
A bracket attached to front of the skid loader’s frame holds the center of the choke chain taut in slots
milled to the width of a chain link. Choke chain length is adjustable by choosing which chain link
is inserted into the retention slots of the bracket on top of the cutter; ne-tuning of the chain lengths
may be performed by twisting the chains before securing the chains into their retention slots.
Lift Restriction Chains
Lift Restriction Chain
Attachment Points
Warning Be certain that skid loader engine is stopped, key is removed, and all
rotation of the cutter has ceased before making adjustments to choke chains.
Caution Avoid very low cutting heights. Striking the ground with blades can
cause a damaging shock that can damage both the cutter and the skid loader.
Set the cutter to the desired height; the cutter is designed to operate with a cutting
height range between 2” and 12”. Note that, on level ground, the front of the cutter
should be 1” below the rear.

18
Starting Cutter Operations
Before engaging your hydraulics, lift the cutter clear of the ground and any obstructions to
ensure the blades are free to rotate. As you engage your hydraulics, your skid loader engine may
try to stall or lug down. If this happens, disengage and reengage your hydraulics. This will give the
blades time to begin turning. Allow the cutter to come to full speed before cutting.
After your Brush Cutter has reached operating speed you may notice a small amount of
vibration, this is normal.
!Notice: If there is enough vibration to shake the unit in a violent manner, the unit should be shut
down immediately. Refer to the troubleshooting guide of this manual or call the factory for help at
800.633.8909.
Your Brown Brush Cutter has been designed to cut anything that your properly rated skid
loader can drive over (grass, brush, small trees up to about 6 inches in diameter). Any trees larger
than this are too large for the Brush Cutter and should not be cut with this machine.
Warning! Trees can fall in any direction, it is the operator’s responsibility to be sure
the area is safe and clear.
Refer to the warranty section of this manual for the warranty statement on use of
the Brush Cutter.

19
Cutter Operation
The skid loader’s ground speed when cutting into large diameter material is very important. If you
cut a tree too fast, it will cause the trunk of the tree to kick straight back allowing the top of the tree
to fall back toward the skid loader. The proper ground speed for cutting into the material is based
on the size of the material. The slower the unit is driven into large diameter trees the more time the
blades have to do their job.
Caution! During the time the blades are making contact with any material, DO NOT move
the skid loader lift setting. The movement of the cutter deck will again increase the pressure on the
blades. This pressure can and will cause blades to bend or break.
Power for operating the cutter is supplied from the skid loader hydraulics. Refer to your skid
loader manual for instructions on engaging and disengaging auxiliary hydraulics.
Warning! Operate cutter only within the specied RPM range.
Operating speed
Proper ground speed for equipment will depend upon the height, density, and type of the
material to be cut. Consult the skid loader owner’s manual to determine the engine RPM to achieve
the required cutter RPM. Engine RPM should not drop more than 300 RPM when cutting, if this
happens slow down until the specied engine RPM is maintained. Dull blades will also require more
power and result in lower ground speeds, always be sure blades are sharp.
General Operation
Warning The cutter creates a very serious discharge
hazard. Maintain a safe distance from nearby persons and
property. Do not operate when bystanders are present.
Warning Avoid personal injury. Remove all rocks
and other debris from work area before cutting.
Observe the following guidelines when operating the cutter:
• Never lower the cutter onto material.
• Avoid tight turns near trees or stationary objects. The deck may be
damaged by side impact.
Remember: The safe operation of this equipment is the responsibility of the operator. The operator
should be familiar with both the skid loader and the equipment. The operator must read and
understand all applicable operator manuals and follow all safety practices.
Note: not to scale
300 feet

Cutter Operation
20
CAUTION - NEVER OPERATE THIS UNIT WITHOUT PROPER SAFETY DEVICES
IN PLACE - SERIOUS INJURY OR DEATH CAN OCCUR.
Caution! After the rst hour of operation, the Brush Cutter must be shut down for
maintenance and inspection. During this time ALL bolts must be checked for proper torque. If any
bolts are found to be loose, they must be tightened. This is also a good time to check for wire or
vines caught around to output shaft of the bearing housing. Check the blade and bolts and shaft for
debris before all start ups.
When the Brush Cutter is cutting large diameter trees it is very important to
keep the cutter deck level. If the cutter deck is not level, its ability to cut is
greatly reduced. There is a tremendous amount of pressure being applied to the
blades, when the blades are making contact with the tree on an elevated angle.
The blades must be level in relationship to the ground. If not level the pressure
can cause the blades to bend or break, possibly causing serious injury or death.
(SEE DRAWING BELOW)
Note: not to scale.
300 feet
Warning:
Discharge Hazard! A safe distance from persons and
property must be kept at all times during the operation of
your brush cutter, regardless of the model or design. This
distance is to protect persons and property from death, injury,
or damage.
It is the sole responsibility of the operator to insure a safe
operating area.