BROWN 684 Owner's manual

Owner / Operator Manual
684 Model
Heavy Duty 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
www.brownmfgcorp.com
For use with beginning Serial Number:
S705B-1000 ALL WARRANTY WORK MUST BE APPROVED
BY BROWN MFG. CORP.
BEFORE WORK BEGINS

Copyright Infomation
Copyright ©2003 Brown Manufacturing Corporation, Ozark, Alabama. All photos and illustrations
are property of Brown Manufacting Corporation. “Texaco” and “Mobil” are trademarks of their
respective companies. 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 or on our website at www.brownmfgcorp.com.
Cover Illustrated: Model 684 brush cutter.
Disclaimer
Due to engineering improvements and revision of product specications, the information contained
in this manual is subject to change without notice.

Contents
Warranty Statement----------------------- 4
Owner Registration------------------------ 5
Equipment Safety-------------------------- 7
Assembly------------------------------------ 16
Operation------------------------------------ 18
Maintenance-------------------------------- 22
Troubleshooting-------------------------- 28
Specications‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑‑29
Clutch Adjustment----------------------- 30
Replacement Parts----------------------- 31
Maintenance Log------------------------- 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 TOANY 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

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: 684
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.
•All Warranty Work must be approved by Brown Mfg. Corp. BEFORE work begins.
•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.
•Drive shaft / slip clutch warranties: Many factors can cause a slip clutch to fail. Most failures are not
caused by the quality of workmanship or of materials used in the component. Therefore, all warranty
claims on drive shafts / slip clutches are sent to the manufacturer of the component. All warranties
approved by the component manufacturer will be handled and settled by that manufacturer.
•Use of any replacement parts other than original Brown replacement parts will void all
warranties.
WARNING: The use of after-market 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 original manufacturer
replacement parts meeting the exact specications of the machine and crafted from high-quality materials.
After-market 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: 684
Serial No.: _________________
Date Purchased: ___/___/_____
Dealer: ___________________
Date Registered: ___/___/_____

Please use envelope.
6
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
OWNER’S MANUAL STORAGE CONTAINER
* Brown Manufacturing provides an Owner’s Manual storage container 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 to have at ofce for review when not operating the
equipment.
*Second copy is to stay with the unit at all times. This will provide the operator
the information needed for safe and proper operation of the unit.
*If the Owner’s Manual becomes lost or damaged, contact Brown Mfg. or local
dealer for replacement.

Equipment Safety
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.
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.

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
WARNING
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 CONDITON
OR DISABILITY THAT WOULD IMPAIR YOUR ABILITY TO OPERATE IT SAFELY.

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.
Part No.: SD-010.
9
ADVERTENCIA
ADVERTISSEMENT
WARNING
Antes de probar la unidad por primera vez
deben remitirse a las instrucciones contenidas
en el manual.
S’assurer de bien comrendre toutes les
consignes du manuel de propriétarie avant
d’utiliser la unité.
Read and understand
owner’s manual before
operating unit.
Part No.: SD-001A.
THROWN OBJECT HAZARD
To prevent serious injury or death
from thrown objects:
•Stay clear when blade is turning.
•Operate only with all guards
installed and in good condition.
•Stop operation if bystanders
come within several hundred feet.
DANGER
SD-007A, Standard models*.
WARNING
To prevent serious injury or death:
•Operate only at 540 RPM PTO.
•Keep guards and shields in
place.
*All Brown 684 Model rotary
cutters are equipped for 540 RPM
PTOs as standard. Equipping for
1000 RPM PTOs is an option,
however; in such a case, use safety
decal SD-008A.

Equipment Safety
10
Tighten blade bolts
as prescribed in
owner/operator’s
manual.
Part NO.: SD-002.
Part No.: SD-SW2.
CAUTION
To Avoid Injury or Machine Damage:
•When servicing machine use
proper tools and equipment.
•Refer to operations manual for
instructions.
DANGER
ROTATING BLADES
To prevent serious injury or death
from rotating blades:
•Stay clear when blades are
turning or engine is running.
•Do not place hands or feet under
deck when the engine is running.
Part No.: SD-005A.
DANGER
ROTATING DRIVELINE -
CONTACT CAN CAUSE DEATH
KEEP AWAY!
DO NOT OPERATE WITHOUT -
•All driveline guards, tractor and equipment
shields in place.
•Drivelines securely attached at both ends.
•Driveline guards that turn freely on driveline.
Part No.: SD-006A.
WARNING
To prevent serious injury or death:
•Read and understand Operator’s Manual
before using.
•Do not permit riders on the tractor or cutter.
Never carry child on the tractor seat.
•Operate with guards installed and in good condition.
•Operate only with tractor equipped with ROPS
and seatbelts.
•Keep away from moving parts.
•Stop engine, set brake and wait for all moving parts
to stop before dismounting.
•Be sure lights and reectors required by law are
clean and in good working order before transporting.
•Do not allow children to operate cutter.
•Travel with SMV and lights that follow local codes.
•Clear debris from mowing area.
•Do not operate in the raised position.
•Support securely before working beneath unit.
•Review safety instructions annually.
Part No.: SD-009A.
Safety Decals (continued)
DANGER
SHIELD MISSING
DO NOT OPERATE
Part No.: DC-3-5-018.
DANGER

Equipment Safety
11
Safety Decals (continued)
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. Description
A SD-009A Safety Decal: (General safety issues.)
B SD-002 Safety Decal: Tighten blade bolts.
C SD-SW2 Safety Decal: When servicing, use proper tools and equipment.
D SD-010 Safety Decal: Read and understand owners manual.
F SD-001A Safety Decal: Thrown object hazard. (2 req.)
G SD-005A Safety Decal: Rotating blades. (4 req.)
H SD-006A Safety Decal: Rotating driveline. (3 req.)
J SD-007A
SD-008A
Safety Decal: Operate only at 540 RPM.
Safety Decal: Operate only at 1000 RPM.
Not pictured SD-684 Complete safety decal set
F
A - D
G
H
J
F
G

Equipment Safety
12
WARNING
Transport with care.
Use slow-moving
vehicle emblem
andashinglight.
Follow local
trafcregulations.
Warning! Transport with
care.
Before transporting to a new location, make certain
that the slow-moving vehicle (SMV) emblem is
installed and is clearly visible. Use ashing lights
and follow local trafc regulations.
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! Parking and dismounting.
The rotating parts of this cutter continue to rotate
even after the PTO 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 tractor manual for
proper parking procedure.
Caution! Avoid res.
Keep the machine clean of debris, trash, and any
other ammable material.
WARNING
Wait for all rotation
to stop before
dismounting
tractor.
Do not operate
cutter near
bystanders. Clear
work area of debris
before operating.
DANGER
Warning!
Fasten Seatbelt!
Before Starting Tractor!
Always Wear Your Seatbelt.

Equipment Safety
13
Rotating blades.
Keep hands and
feet from under
cutter deck.
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 grass and brush up
to four inches in diameter. Keep hands and feet
from under cutter deck!
WARNING
Check equipment
before operation.
Tighten all nuts
and bolts.
WARNING
Prepare for
emergencies.
Keepreextin-
guisherandrst
aid kit available.
Fire
DANGER
Maintain safety dis-
tance of at least 300
ft. Failure to do so
may cause serious
injury or death.
Danger! Maintain safety
distance.
The cutter creates a serious discharge hazard.
Always maintain a safety distance of at least 300
ft.
Never operate cutter with bystanders present!
DANGER
Note: not to scale
300’

WARNING
Wear protective
clothing.
Warning! Wear protective
clothing.
Wear close-tting clothing and other protective
devices appropriate for the job.
Equipment Safety
14
Warning! Slopes and rough
terrain.
When operating on slopes or rough terrain,
decrease travel speed. Do not operate in an area
where the tractor could roll over. Be sure to fasten
safety belt when operating tractor!
Warning! Roll-over protection.
Do not operate the cutter on any tractor not
equipped with a certified roll-over protective
structure (ROPS).
WARNING
Slow travel speed
when operating on
slopes or rough
terrain.
WARNING
Use only with
tractors equipped
withacertied
roll-over protective
structure.
DANGER
Danger! Tighten blade bolts.
Blade bolts will stretch with use and must be
tightened. Follow maintenance instructions in this
manual (see page 21). 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.
Tighten blade bolts
as prescribed in
owners manual.
Ejection of blade
will cause serious
injury or death.

WARNING
15
Danger! Keep riders off
machine.
Riders can be seriously injured or killed by
entanglement or by falling.
Riders can be
injured or killed.
Keep riders
off machine.
DANGER
Danger! Stay clear of
rotating drivelines.
Entanglement in driveline can cause serious
injury or death. Keep driveline shields in place
at all times during operation. Driveline must turn
freely inside shields. Driveline shields must be
chained to prevent rotation.
Stay clear of
rotating drivelines.
Keep driveline
shields in place.
DANGER
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 20). Failure
to exercise caution may lead to serious injury or
death.
Exercise caution
while working under
cutter deck. Failure
to heed warnings
may lead to seious
injury or death.
Equipment Safety

Assembly
16
1. Install tailwheel stem into fork holder tube, placing collar over stem and inserting roll key through
collar and stem.
2. Raise A-frame from its shipping position to its operational position (almost perpendicular to the
cutter deck). Install A-frame braces to the mounting brackets at the top of the A-frame with the
provided bolts and tighten securely.
3. Bolt the rear end of the A-frame braces to the mounting brackets near the rear of the machine deck
and tighten securely.
4. Tighten all bolts securely.

17
Assembly
5. Separate the male and female halves of the drive shaft. Apply heavy grease to the telescoping portion
of the male drive shaft; recouple the drive shaft.
6. Locate the slip clutch bell shield, clamp, and mounting plate attached to the machine. Remove the
mounting bolts, at washers, and lock washers from the gearbox face plate. Position the bell shield
mounting plate (at side up) over the input shaft and align it with the threaded holes in the gearbox
face plate. Secure with bolts, at washers, and lock washers previously removed.
Warning! The driveline shield and bell shield must be kept in good operating condition.
Failure to maintain safety shields can result in injury or death.
7. Remove both lock bolts from the clutch hub assembly. Slide the hub onto the input shaft of the
gearbox. Align the groove on the input shaft with the bolt holes in the hub. Reinstall the lock bolts
and tighten securely. Retorque lock bolts every hour for the rst eight hours of use. Failure to do
so will result in decreased life of the clutch hub and gearbox shaft splines.
8. Slide aluminum bell shield and bell shield clamp over drive shaft and attach bell shield to mounting
plate with the clamp. Adjust clamp as needed to assure proper attachment.
9. Check the drive shaft for proper length:
a. Hitch the cutter to the tractor.
b. Lift the cutter to the tractor’s maximum lift position.
c. Measure the distance from the PTO of the tractor to the input shaft of the cutter’s gearbox.
d. Push both halves of the drive shaft together fully. Measure the overall length.
e. If the length of the compressed drive shaft is greater than the length between the PTO and
input shaft, then the drive shaft must be shortened.
Please note that equal amounts must be removed from each section of the drive shaft.

Operation
18
Before hitching cutter to your tractor, make sure all safety devices are installed on both the
cutter and the tractor.
Please follow all safety instructions and procedures.
Attach equipment to tractor.
Be sure the tractor is equipped with the correct category hitchpins, top link, etc.
Be extremely careful when positioning tractor to hitch to the equipment.
Caution! Never allow anyone between the tractor and the equipment during the hitching
process.
Be certain that the cutter has been lubricated properly and check oil level in gear box prior to connecting
driveline to tractor. Also, do not tighten the top link such that the ex-link toggle is fully extended
toward the tractor. The ex-link should be in a relaxed position when on level ground.
Attach the driveline to the tractor. When attaching driveline to PTO shaft, be certain that the
quick-disconnect pin is properly seated.
Warning! A loose driveline could disconnect and cause personal injury or property damage.
Adjust cutting height.
Warning! Be certain that tractor engine is stopped, key is removed, and all rotation of the cutter
has ceased before making adjustments.
Caution! Avoid very low cutting heights. Striking the ground with blades causes a damaging shock
that can damage both the cutter and the tractor.
Using the tailwheel adjustment and the tractor’s lift arms, 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 (see illustration). Set the tractor’s lift stop at
the required position to maintain a uniform cut.
STOP
1” above front
Front

19
Operation
Starting cutter
Power for operating the cutter is supplied from the tractor PTO. Refer to your tractor manual for
instructions on engaging and disengaging the PTO.
Warning! Do not operate this cutter unless the tractor has a live, or independent, PTO. The
momentum created by the blade carrier can push the tractor forward unexpectedly.
Warning! Operate cutter only with the specied PTO RPM. Brown 684 Model cutters are designed
to operate at 540 RPM; however, a 1000 RPM design is an option.
Operating speed
Proper operating speed for equipment will depend upon the height, density, and type of the material to
be cut. Regardless of chosen ground speed, always operate the PTO at the recommended RPM
when cutting.
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 thecutter:
• 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 tractor and the equipment. He must read and understand all
applicable operator manuals and follow all safety practices.
Note: not to scale
300’

20
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND
IF YOU DO NOT UNDERSTAND ANY POINT STATED BELOW
YOU MUST CALL THE FACTORY FOR ASSISTANCE
1-800-633-8909
USE ONLY GENUINE BROWN REPLACEMENT PARTS.
USE OF AFTERMARKET PARTS OR COMPONENTS WILL VOID ANY WARRANTY
CONSIDERATION
BLADES This machine was designed to operate ONLY with sharp blades. Dull blades will
cause multiple types of problems that are NOT covered under warranty:
1. Slip clutch failure
2. Extreme wear on blade bolts
3. Blade bar fatigue and cracking or total failure
4. Blade fatigue and cracking or total failure
5. Deck fatigue and cracking
6. Increased amount of discharge or debris
7. Poor cut – increased amount of uncut material
8. Blades must be freely pivoting during operation
BLADE BOLTS Blade bolts MUST be kept tight and checked twice daily during operation.
Every hour for the rst 8 hours of use.
a. Brown’s blade bolts are designed for the extreme conditions and should not be
substituted for any reason
b. 6’ Brown blade bolts are RIGHT hand thread
c. Bolts and lock nuts are matched as pairs or sets – do not mix
d. See maintenance section, page 23 for proper torque specications
e. When replacing or repairing blades blue loc-tite should be applied to the
blade bolts.
BLADE BAR Proper maintenance of blade bar will insure long life.
a. Loose blade bolts will impact the bottom of the blade bar, causing the blades
to lock into a xed position.
b. Loose bolts will cause the elongation of bolt holes
c. Dull blades will cause the blade bar to crack and fail
d. Blade bar nut must be checked and kept tight at all time
e. Loose blade bar can cause output shaft failure, blades striking the bottom of
the deck, blade breakage and blade bar cracking
f. Bar MUST be inspected daily for cracking or fatigue
Continued-Next Page