Frontier PLOTMASTER Series User manual

MULCH FINISHERS
OPERATOR'S MANUAL
MF1204
MF1206
MF1208
PM50062254 (10/08/08)

PLOTMASTER™
MulchFinisher
Aproductof
PlotmasterSystems,LTD
&
FrontierEquipment
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Introduction
Tothedealer:
Assemblyandproperinstallationofthisproductistheresponsibilityofthefrontierdealer.Read
manualinstructionsandsafetyrules.Makesureallitemsondealer’spre‐deliveryanddelivery
checklistsintheowner’s/operator’smanualarecompletebeforereleasingequipmenttothe
owner.
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Totheowner:
ReadthismanualbeforeoperatingyourFrontierequipment.Theinformationpresentedwill
prepareyoutodoabetterandsaferjob.Keepthismanualhandyforreadyreference.Requireall
operatorstoreadthismanualcarefullyandbecomeacquaintedwithalltheadjustmentand
operatingproceduresbeforeattemptingtooperate.Replacementmanualscanbeobtainedfrom
yoursellingdealer.
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Theequipmentyouhavepurchasedhasbeencarefullyengineeredandmanufacturedtoprovide
dependableandsatisfactoryuse.Likeallmechanicalproducts,itwillrequirecleaningand
upkeep.Lubricatetheunitasspecified.Observeallsafetyinformationinthismanualandsafety
decalsontheequipment.
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Forservice,yourauthorizedFrontierdealerhastrainedmechanics,genuineFrontierservice
parts,andthenecessarytoolsandequipmenttohandleallyourneeds.
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UseonlygenuineFrontierserviceparts.Substitutepartswillvoidthewarrantyandmaynot
meetstandardsrequiredforsafeandsatisfactoryoperation.Recordthemodelnumberandserial
numberofyourequipmentinthespacesprovided:
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Model:____________________________________
Dateofpurchase:_________________
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SerialNumber:
(seeSafetyDecalsectionforlocation)____________________________
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Providethisinformationtoyourdealertoobtaincorrectrepairparts.
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Throughoutthismanual,thetermIMPORTANTisusedtoindicatethatfailuretoobservecan
causedamagetoequipment.ThetermsCAUTION,WARNINGandDANGERareusedin
conjunctionwiththeSafety‐AlertSymbol,(atrianglewithanexclamationmark),toindicatethe
degreeofhazardforitemsofpersonalsafety.
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SpecialMessages
Yourmanualcontainsspecialmessagestobringattentiontopotentialsafetyconcerns,machine
damageaswellashelpfuloperatingandservicinginformation.Pleasereadalltheinformation
carefullytoavoidinjuryandmachinedamage.
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CAUTION:Avoidinjury!Thissymbolandtexthighlightpotentialhazardsor
deathtotheoperatororbystandersthatmayoccurifthehazardsorprocedures
areignored.
IMPORTANT:Avoiddamage!Thistextisusedtotelltheoperatorofactionsor
conditionsthatmightresultindamagetothemachine.
Themachinesafetydecalsshowninthissectionareplacedinimportantareas
onyourmachinetodrawattentiontopotentialsafetyhazards.
Onyourmachinesafetylabels,thewordsDANGER,WARNING,and
CAUTIONareusedwiththissafety‐alertsymbol.DANGERidentifiesthemost
serioushazards.
Theoperatorʹsmanualalsoexplainsanypotentialsafetyhazardswhenever
necessaryinspecialsafetymessagesthatareidentifiedwiththeword,
CAUTION,andthesafety‐alertsymbol.
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TABLEOFCONTENTS
INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………………….2
GENERALINFORMATION...........................................................................................5
SAFETY&INSTRUCTIONALDECALS………………..……………………………6
SAFETYRULES………………………………………………………………………...7‐9
DETAILSABOUTYOURMULCHFINISHER….......................................................10
DEALERINSTRUCTIONS…………………………………………………………...11‐12
INSTALLATION&REMOVAL……………………………………………………..13‐16
OPERATINGTHEMULCHFINISHER…………………………………………….17‐25
WHENTOUSE&CHECKINGTRACTORSPEED……………………………17‐18
OPERATING–TILLAGECOMPONENTS……………………………………..19‐21
OPERATINGTHEDISKGANGS…………………………………………………22
SERVICE&TROUBLESHOOTING...……………………………………………23‐25
STORAGE………………………………………………………………………………26‐27
SPECIFICATIONS………………………………………………………………………28
ATTACHMENTS………….....………………………………………………………..29‐31
BOLTTORQUECHARTS………………….…………………………………………32‐33
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GeneralInformation
ThepurposeofthismanualistoassistyouinoperatingandmaintainingyourPlotmaster™
MulchFinisher.Readitcarefully.Itfurnishesinformationandinstructionsthatwillhelp
youachieveyearsofdependableperformance.
Theseinstructionshavebeencompiledfromfieldexperienceandengineeringdata.Some
informationmaybegeneralinnature,duetounknownandvaryingoperatingconditions.
However,throughexperienceandtheseinstructions,youshouldbeabletodevelop
proceduressuitabletoyourparticularsituation.
Theillustrationsanddatausedinthismanualwerecurrentatthetimeofpublishing.
However,duetopossibleinlineproductionchanges,yourmachinemayvaryslightlyin
detail.Wereservetherighttoredesignandchangethemachineasmaybenecessary
withoutnotification.
Throughoutthismanual,referencesaremadetorightandleftdirection.Theseare
determinedbystandingbehindthetractorfacingthedirectionofforwardtravel.
SAFETY&INSTRUCTIONALDECALS
ATTENTION!Failuretofollowtheseinstructionscouldresultinseriousinjury
ordeath.
Replacedecalsimmediatelyifdamagedorworn.
Qty 1 – Serial Number Decal
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DetailsaboutyourMulchFinisher
a. ThisMulchFinisherconsistsofasturdymainframewithvariouscomponentsand
attachmentsthatmaybeaddedorremoved.
b. TheMF1204comeswitheitherasingle‐pointorCatI3‐pointhitch,whiletheMF1206
andMF1208comewitha3‐pointhitchonly.TheMF1204drawbarisdesignedfora2
inchballhitch.TheMF1206andMF1208aredesignedtofitCatIorIIhitches.All3‐
pointmodelsareiMatch(QuickHitch)compatible.
c. Thesingle‐pointhitchisdesignedtohookupwithmanytypesofpullingmachines
andvehicles.ExamplesareanATV(500CCorbetter),utilityvehicles(Gators),and
smalltractors.
d. Thepull‐typemachineisequippedwithanelectricjackandattachedwheelassembly.
Thisistogivegroundclearanceduringtransportingofunitandallowsyoutoadjust
thedepthofthecutbyusingthewheelsasadepthgauge.Iftheelectricjackshould
fail,a3/16”allenwrenchwillremovethecoveranda1/4”allenwrenchwillturn
motorshaft.
CAUTION:Avoidinjury!DoNOTpullthisunitonapublicroador
highway.Thewheelsonthismachinearenotintendedforroaduse.
NEVERUn‐hookUnitfromTractorwhenPlowAttachmentsareRemoved!
Thismayresultininjury.
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DEALERINSTRUCTIONS
Pre‐assembly
Alltractorunitscomecompletelyassembledtothedealer,withtheexceptionoftherear
drag/roller,whichmustbeattachedtotherearofthemachinewiththeprovidedpins.Cutthe
bandingandremovetheunitfromthepallet.Thenremoveanypackingmaterialandensure
thattheadditionalpointsareavailable.Ifyouhaveapull‐typehitchmodel,removemachine
fromcrateandinstallthesinglepointhitchandmountingbracketwithsuppliedhardware.
Theninstallthedrag/rollertotherearofthemachine.
DealerChecklist
Inspecttheequipmentthoroughlytobecertainitissetupproperlybeforedeliveringittothe
customer.Thefollowingchecklistisareminderofpointstoinspect.
Checkoffeachitemifitisfoundsatisfactoryorafterproperadjustmentismade.
____Checkthatallsafetydecalsareinstalledandingoodcondition.Replaceifdamaged.
____Checkallboltstobesuretheyaretight.
____Checkthatallcotterpinsandsafetypinsareproperlyinstalled.
____Thediscgangshavebeenpreassembledandmountedtothemainframeatthefactory.It
isimportantforthedealertovisuallycheckandmakesureallpartsareintactpriortodelivery
tocustomer.
____Showcustomerthesafe,properprocedurestobeusedwhenmounting,dismounting,and
storingequipment.
____For3‐pointunits,addwheelweights,ballastinfronttires,and/orfronttractorweightto
enhancefrontendstability.Aminimum20%oftractorandequipmentgrossweightmustbeon
fronttractorwheels.Whenaddingweighttoattain20%oftractorandequipmentweighton
fronttractorwheels,youmustnotexceedtheROPSweightcertification.Weighthetractorand
equipment.Donotestimate!
____Showcustomerhowtomakeadjustments.
____PresentOperator’sManualandrequestthatcustomerandalloperatorsreaditbefore
operatingequipment.Pointoutthemanualsafetyrules,explaintheirmeaningsandemphasize
theincreasedsafetyhazardsthatexistwhensafetyrulesarenotfollowed.
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DealerChecklist(continued)
____POINTOUTTHESAFETYDECALS.Explaintheirmeaningandtheneedtokeepthem
inplaceandingoodcondition.Emphasizetheincreasedsafetyhazardswheninstructionsare
notfollowed.
____Explaintocustomerthepotentialcrushinghazardsofgoingunderneathraised
equipment.Instructcustomerthatserviceworkdoesnotrequiregoingunderneathunitand
nevertodoso.
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Installation&Removal
InstallingPull‐TypeMachineonUtilityVehicle
1.ParkATVorGator.(SeeSAFETYRULESsection.)
2.Placethemachinebehindthevehicle.
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MF1204DrawnHitch
3.Placesinglepointhitchontovehicle2”hitchball.Closecouplerandalignthehitchpinholes. 
NOTE:Foroptimumperformance,keepdrawbaraslevelaspossibleduringoperationand
transport(SeeOperatingsection).
4.Installhitchpinthroughholesincoupler.
5.Securespringlockingpinthroughholeinhitchpin.
6.Attachwiringclipstovehiclebattery.
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Installing3‐PointMachineonTractor
1.Parktractorsafely.(SeeSAFETYRULESsection.)
2.Placethemachinebehindthetractor.
iMatchHitch3‐PointHitch
3.EngagethreepointpinsontotractoriMatchhitchorQuick‐Coupler.Makesureproper
bushingsareinplace.Closelockinglatches(A).
4.IftractordoesnothaveaniMatchorQuick‐Coupler,Installlowerhitchpins(C)through
holesinlinkarmsandsecurewithspringlockingpins(B).Theninstalltophitchpin(C)in
tractorturnbuckleandsecurewithlockingclip(B).Makesureproperbushingsareinplace.
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RemovingPull‐TypeMachinefromUtilityVehicle
1.Parkunitsafely.(SeeSAFETYRULESsection.)
CAUTION:Avoidinjury!Donotattempttodisconnectmachinefrom
vehiclewithmaterialremainingintheunit.Machinecouldbecomeunstable
causinginjury.
2.Removeallmaterialfromseedbox.
MF1204DrawbarHitch
3.Removespringlockingpinfromhitchcoupler.
4.Removehitchpin.Opencoupler.
5.Movemachineoffvehiclehitchball.
6.Installhitchpinandspringlockingpinonhitchcouplerforstorage.
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Removing3‐PointMachinefromTractor
1.Parktractorsafely.(SeeSAFETYRULESsection.)
CAUTION:Avoidinjury!Donotattempttodisconnectmachinefrom
tractorwithmaterialremainingintheunit.Machinecouldbecomeunstable
causinginjury.
2.Removeallmaterialfromtinesanddisk.
iMatchHitch3‐PointHitch
3.Disconnectlockingmechanisms(A)oniMatchorQuickHitchandlowertractor3‐point
hitchtodisengage.
4.Ifattacheddirectlytotractor3‐pointhitch,removespringlockingpins(B)andhitchpins(C)
fromlinkarmsandlockingclip(B)andhitchpin(C)fromturnbuckle.
5.Installhitchpinsandlockingpinsandclipsonhitchforstorage.
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OperatingtheMulchFinisher
Safetyisaprimaryconcerninthedesignandmanufactureofourproducts.Unfortunately,
oureffortstoprovidesafeequipmentcanbewipedoutbyanoperator’ssinglecarelessact.
Inadditiontothedesignandconfigurationofequipment,hazardcontrolandaccident
preventionaredependentupontheawareness,concern,judgment,andpropertrainingof
personnelinvolvedintheoperation,transport,maintenanceandstorageofequipment.
Theoperatorisresponsibleforthesafeoperationofthisequipment.Theoperatormustbe
properlytrained.Operatorsshouldbefamiliarwiththeequipment,thetractor,andallsafety
practicesbeforestartingoperation.Readthesafetyrulesandsafetydecalsonpages6‐9.
Ownershouldcheckandtightenallhardwareafterthefirsthourofoperation.Thebreakin
stageofyournewMulchFinishercancauseminimallooseningofdiscgangsandother
hardwareasthenewpaintwears.PleaseseeBoltTorqueChart(pages33‐34)forproper
torqueinformation.
WhentoUseMulchFinisher
Grassshouldbelessthan76mm(3in.)highforbesttillageresults.
CAUTION:Avoidinjury!Keephandsandfeetawayfromall
movingparts.Nevercarryriders.
IMPORTANT:Avoiddamage!Neverexceedtheweightcapacityoftheunit.
Neveroperatewithbrokenorwornoutparts.
OnPull‐Typemodel,engagewheelstotransportpositionwhencrossingconcreteorasphalt
surfaces.
Alwaysbackcarefullyinastraightlinetoavoidjackknifingthemachine.
PeriodicallyremovedebrisbuildupthatcanrestrictperformanceofordamagetheS‐tines.
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CheckingTractorGroundSpeed
1.Checkgroundspeedinanopenarea.
2.Measureatestareathatis30.5m(100ft)inlength.
3.OperatetractorataconsistentRPM.Operatetractoratalowspeedanddrivethetest
distance.Recordthetimeneededtotravelthatdistance.
4.Makethreepasses,recordingthetimeforeachpass.Theaveragetimeshouldbe14to23
secondstoachievetherecommendedoperatingspeedrange:
∙at4.8km/h(3mph),theaveragetimetravelingthetestdistanceshouldbe23seconds.
∙at8km/h(5mph),theaveragetimetravelingthetestdistanceshouldbe14seconds.
5.Adjustspeedaccordinglytoachievetherecommendedspeedrange.
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Operating–TillageComponents
WhentousetheTillageComponents
ThedisksandS‐tineswillactivelypenetratesoil,allowingmuchneededair,water,and
nutrientstoenterthesoil.Itwillalsorelievesoilcompactionandmanageweedpopulations.
ModeratesoilmoisturecontentisimportantforproperoperationoftheMulchFinisher.
Penetrationwillnotoccurinextremelydrysoil,andverywetconditionswillcausetheunit
toʺbogdown,ʺpossiblycausingproductdamage.
Thetillagecomponentsshouldnotbeusedwhenconditionsaretoowetortoodry.To
determinecondition,digasmallamountofyoursoil,about76mm(3in.)deep:
Ifsoilappearspowderyandbrittle,itistoodry.Waituntilalaterdate,afterarainfall.
Ifsoilappearsdamp,rollasmallamountintoaballinthepalmofyourhand,ifitformsa
ball,thenitistoowet.Ideally,thesoilshouldfallapartwhenrolledinthepalmofyourhand.
Waittillalaterdateforsoiltodry.Ifsoilistoowet,theS‐tineswillpenetratetoodeepand
yourtractorcouldlosetraction,causingmachinedamage.Ifsoilistoodry,theS‐tineswill
notpenetratethesoilproperly.
CheckingtheDisksandS‐TinesduringOperationonaTractor
OperationofthediskandS‐tineswillvarywithsoiltype,condition,andmoisturelevels.
Makesuresoilconditionsareappropriateforoperation.Donotaddweightstothemachine
totryandimprovepenetrationindryconditions.
TestoperationofthedisksandS‐tinesbydrivingthetractorforwardabout3m(10ft).
Observetheoperation.Checkforuniformsoilflow,levelnessoftheground,andproper
sizingofclods.
Adjustgroundspeedtoachievepropertillageresults.
Periodically,checktheS‐tinesforresiduebuild‐up.Removeanydebristhatmightrestrictor
causedamagetotheS‐tines.
Grassshouldbelessthan76mm(3in.)highforpropertillageactionduringfoodplot
planting.
Wheninuse,allS‐tinesontheMulchFinishershoulddeflectbackandʺflipʺthesoil
backward.IfdisksorS‐tinesseemtodrag,theunitistoolowandshouldberaised.Ifallthe
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