Land Pride RC5020 Series User manual

Table of Contents
Cover photo may show optional equipment
not supplied with standard unit.
Read the Operator’s Manual entirely. When you
see this symbol, the subsequent instructions and
warnings are serious - follow without exception.
Your life and the lives of others depend on it!
!
© Copyright 2012 Printed
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM)
Rotary Cutters
318-474M
27521
Operator’s Manual
4/25/12

Table of Contents
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
©Copyright 2012 All rights Reserved
Land Pride provides this publication “as is” without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. While every precaution has been taken in the
preparationofthismanual,Land Prideassumes noresponsibilityforerrorsoromissions.Neitheris anyliabilityassumedfordamagesresultingfrom theuse
ofthe information containedherein. Land Pride reservesthe right toreviseand improveits productsas it sees fit.This publicationdescribesthestate of this
product at the time of its publication, and may not reflect the product in the future.
Land Pride is a registered trademark.
All other brands and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
Printed in the United States of America.
Important Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Safety at All Times . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Look For The Safety Alert Symbol . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
Safety Labels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Using This Manual . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Terminology . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Owner Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Serial Number . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Free Informational Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up . . . . . . . . . 11
Tractor Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Horsepower . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Drawbar Set-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
PTO Speed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Hydraulic Outlets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Before You Start . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Torque Requirements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Hitch Types . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Hitch Assembly . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Wing Axle Assembly to Center Axle . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Standard Clevis Hitch Hook-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Double Swivel Clevis Hitch Hook-up . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Bar-Tite Hitch Hook-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Driveline Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Check Driveline Collapsible Length . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Shorten Driveline Length . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Hydraulic Hook-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Purge Hydraulic System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Unhooking From the Cutter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Section 2: Adjustments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Leveling Center Deck & Wings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Cutting Height Adjustment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Section 3: Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . 21
Pre-Start Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Tractor & Cutter Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Blade Operation Inspection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Transport Locks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Transporting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Field Set-up . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Avoid Extreme Turning Angles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
General Operating Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Section 4: Options & Accessories . . . . . . . . 27
Safety Guard Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Hitch Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Tire Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Hydraulic Accessories . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Hydraulic Wing Control Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
3 Spool Control Valve Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Selector Control Valve Kit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Shredder And Baffle Options . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Section 5: Maintenance & Lubrication . . . . . 30
General Maintenance Information . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Tractor Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Cutter Blade Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Skid Shoe Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Center Skid Shoe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Wing Skid Shoe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32
Gearbox Mounting Bolts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Drivelines With Slip Clutches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Type A Clutches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Type B Clutches . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Tire Maintenance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Long Term Storage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Ordering Replacement Parts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .37
Lubrication Points . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Axle Hub Bearing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Adjustable Turnbuckle . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Hitch Frame . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .38
Gearbox . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Divider Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Conventional Driveline Profile Tubes . . . . . . . . .40
Conventional Driveline Joints & Shields . . . . . . .40
Constant Velocity Driveline Profile Tubes . . . . . .41
Constant Velocity Driveline
Joints & Shields . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Wing Driveline Profile Tubes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Wing Driveline Joints & Shields . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Intermediate Driveline Joints . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Double Swivel Clevis Hitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Bar-Tite Hitch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Section 7: Specifications & Capacities . . . . . 44
Section 8: Features and Benefits . . . . . . . . . 46
Section 6: Troubleshooting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Section 9: Torque & Tire Inflation Charts . . . 48
Section 10: Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Table of Contents

1
Important Safety Information
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
Important Safety Information
These are common practices that may or may not be applicable to the products described in
this manual.
Safety at All Times
Thoroughly read and understand
the instructions given in this
manual before operation. Refer to
the “Safety Label” section, read
all instructions noted on them.
Do not allow anyone to operate
this equipment who has not fully
read and comprehended this
manual and who has not been
properly trained in the safe
operation of the equipment.
▲Operator should be familiar with
all functions of the unit.
▲Operate implement from the
driver’s seat only.
▲Make sure all guards and shields
are in place and secured before
operating the implement.
▲Do not leave tractor or implement
unattended with engine running.
▲Dismounting from a moving
tractor could cause serious injury
or death.
▲Do not allow anyone to stand
between tractor and implement
while backing up to implement.
▲Keep hands, feet, and clothing
away from power-driven parts.
▲Wear snug fitting clothing to avoid
entanglement with moving parts.
▲Watch out for wires, trees, etc.,
when raising implement. Make
sure all persons are clear of
working area.
▲Turning tractor too tight may
cause implement to ride up on
wheels. This could result in injury
or equipment damage.
▲Do not carry passengers on
implement at any time.
Look For The Safety Alert Symbol
The SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL indicates there is a
potential hazard to personal safety involved and extra
safety precaution must be taken. When you see this
symbol, be alert and carefully read the message that
follows it. In addition to design and configuration of
equipment, hazard control and accident prevention
are dependent upon the awareness, concern,
prudence and proper training of personnel involved in
the operation, transport, maintenance and storage of
equipment.
!
Be Aware of
Signal Words
A Signal word designates a degree or
level of hazard seriousness. The
signal words are:
Indicates an imminently hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, will
result in death or serious injury. This
signal word is limited to the most
extreme situations, typically for
machine components that, for
functional purposes, cannot be
guarded.
!DANGER
Indicates a potentially hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, could
result in death or serious injury, and
includes hazards that are exposed
when guards are removed. It may also
be used to alert against unsafe
practices.
Indicates a potentially hazardous
situation which, if not avoided, may
result in minor or moderate injury. It
may also be used to alert against
unsafe practices.
!WARNING
!CAUTION
For Your Protection
▲Thoroughly read and understand
the “Safety Label” section, read all
instructions noted on them.
Shutdown and Storage
▲Lower machine to ground, put
tractor in park, turn off engine, and
remove the key.
▲Detach and store implements in a
area where children normally do
not play. Secure implement by
using blocks and supports.
OFF
REMOVE
Parts Manual QR Locator
The QR (Quick Reference) code on the front
cover and to the left will take you to the
Parts Manual for this equipment. Download
the appropriate App on your smart phone,
open the App, point your phone on the QR
code and take a picture.
Dealer QR Locator
The QR code on the left will
link you to available dealers
for Land Pride products.
Refer to Parts Manual
QR Locator on this page for
detailed instructions.

2
Important Safety Information
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
Table of Contents
Transport
Machinery Safely
▲Comply with state and local laws.
▲Maximum transport speed for
implement is 20 mph. DO NOT
EXCEED. Never travel at a speed
which does not allow adequate
control of steering and stopping.
Some rough terrain require a
slower speed.
▲Sudden braking can cause a
towed load to swerve and upset.
Reduce speed if towed load is not
equipped with brakes.
▲Use the following maximum
speed - tow load weight ratios as
a guideline:
20 mph when weight is less
than or equal to the weight of
tractor.
10 mph when weight is double
the weight of tractor.
▲IMPORTANT: Do not tow a load
that is more than double the
weight of tractor.
Use Safety
Lights and Devices
▲Slow moving tractors, self-
propelled equipment, and towed
implements can create a hazard
whendrivenon publicroads.They
are difficult to see, especially at
night.
▲Flashing warning lights and turn
signals are recommended
whenever driving on public roads.
Practice Safe
Maintenance
▲Understand procedure before
doing work. Use proper tools and
equipment, refer to Operator’s
Manual for additional information.
▲Work in a clean dry area.
▲Lower the implement to the
ground, put tractor in park, turn off
engine, and remove key before
performing maintenance.
▲Allow implement to cool
completely.
▲Do not grease or oil implement
while it is in operation.
▲Inspect all parts. Make sure parts
are in good condition & installed
properly.
▲Remove buildup of grease, oil or
debris.
▲Remove all tools and unused
parts from implement before
operation.
Use A Safety Chain
▲A safety chain will help control
drawn machinery should it
separate from the tractor
drawbar.
▲Use a chain with the strength
rating equal to or greater than
the gross weight of the towed
machinery.
▲Attach the chain to the tractor
drawbar support or other
specified anchor location. Allow
only enough slack in the chain
to permit turning.
▲Do not use safety chain for
towing.
These are common practices that may or may not be applicable to the products described in
this manual.

3
Important Safety Information
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
Prepare for Emergencies
▲Be prepared if a fire starts.
▲Keep a first aid kit and fire
extinguisher handy.
▲Keep emergency numbers for
doctor, ambulance, hospital and
fire department near phone.
911
Wear
Protective Equipment
▲Wear protective clothing and
equipment appropriate for the job.
Avoid loose fitting clothing.
▲Prolonged exposure to loud noise
can cause hearing impairment or
hearing loss. Wear suitable
hearing protection such as
earmuffs or earplugs.
▲Operating equipment safely
requires the full attention of the
operator. Avoid wearing radio
headphones while operating
machinery.
These are common practices that may or may not be applicable to the products described in
this manual.
Keep Riders
Off Machinery
▲Riders obstruct the operator’s
view. Riders could be struck by
foreign objects or thrown from the
machine.
▲Never allow children to operate
equipment.
Tire Safety
▲Tire changing can be dangerous
and should be preformed by
trained personnel using the
correct tools and equipment.
▲When inflating tires, use a clip-on
chuck and extension hose long
enough to allow you to stand to
one side and NOT in front of or
over the tire assembly. Use a
safety cage if available.
▲When removing and installing
wheels, use wheel handling
equipment adequate for the
weight involved.
Avoid High
Pressure Fluids Hazard
▲Escapingfluidunder pressure can
penetrate the skin causing
serious injury.
▲Avoid the hazard by relieving
pressure before disconnecting
hydraulic lines or performing work
on the system.
▲Make sure all hydraulic fluid
connections are tight and all
hydraulic hoses and lines are in
good condition before applying
pressure to the system.
▲Use a piece of paper or
cardboard, NOT BODY PARTS, to
check for suspected leaks.
▲Wear protective gloves and safety
glasses or goggles when working
with hydraulic systems.
▲If an accident occurs, see a
doctor immediately. Any fluid
injected into the skin must be
treated within a few hours or
gangrene may result.
Use Seat Belt and ROPS
▲Operate only tractors equipped
with Roll-Over Protective
Structure (ROPS) and seat belt.
▲Fasten seat belt snugly and
securely to help protect operator
from being thrown, crushed, or
severely injured if a rollover
occurs; and from falling off the
tractor and being ran over by the
tractor and/or cutter. Not using the
seat belt can result in serious
injury or death.
▲Wearing protective equipment
such as safety shoes, safety
glasses, hard hat, and ear plugs
is highly recommended.

4
Important Safety Information
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
Table of Contents
23595
818-045C
Pinch Point
Warning
27523
818-130C
Caution! Use
540 rpm PTO
only
818-240C
Caution! Use
1000 rpm PTO
only
Safety Labels
Your cutter comes equipped with all safety labels in place. They
were designed to help you safely operate your implement. Read
and follow their directions.
1. Keep all safety labels clean and legible.
2. Refer to this section for proper label placement. Replace
all damaged or missing labels. Order new labels from your
nearest Land Pride dealer. To find your nearest dealer,
visit our dealer locator at landpride.com.
3. Some new equipment installed during repair requires
safety labels to be affixed to the replaced component as
specified by Land Pride. When ordering new components
make sure the correct safety labels are included in the
request.
4. Refer to this section for proper label placement.
To install new labels:
a. Clean the area the label is to be placed.
b. Spray soapy water on the surface where the label is to
be placed.
c. Peel backing from label. Press firmly onto the surface.
d. Squeeze out air bubbles with the edge of a credit card.

5
Important Safety Information
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
23595
27523
23594
23571
818-552C
Danger!Rotating Driveline
Entanglement Hazard
ROTATING DRIVELINE
KEEP AWAY!

6
Important Safety Information
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
Table of Contents
23571
23594
27523
23595
818-543C
Danger! Guard Missing -
DO NOT Operate
818-540C
Danger! Shield Missing -
DO NOT Operate

7
Important Safety Information
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
27523
27523
27523
27523
818-276C
Warning! Rotating Blade
Hazard
TRACTOR MUST HAVE SAFETY GUARDING
818-840C
Danger: Rollover Hazard
818-561C
Warning! Moving
Parts Hazard
Located on
Left Wing &
Right Wing
818-830C
Safety Combo
Located on
Left Wing &
Right Wing

8
Important Safety Information
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
Table of Contents
838-588C
Warning: Folding Cutter Speed Warning
838-094C
Warning: High Pressure
23594
23594
23594
23594
818-556C
Danger! Thrown
Object Hazard
Located on Left Wing
& Right Wing
818-564C
Danger!
Rotating Blade
Located on Left Wing
& Right Wing

9
Important Safety Information
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
23595
23595
818-229C
Amber Reflector
Located on Left Wing
& Right Wing
818-230C
Red Reflector
Located on Left Wing
& Right Wing

10
Introduction
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
Table of Contents
Introduction If customer service or repair parts are required contact a
LandPride dealer.A dealer hastrainedpersonnel,repair
parts and equipment needed to service the cutter.
The parts on your cutter have been specially designed
and should only be replaced with genuine Land Pride
parts. Therefore, contact your nearest Land Pride dealer
when ordering replacement parts for your cutter.
Serial Number
Model No. _____________Serial No. _______________
For quick reference and prompt service, record model
number and serial number in the spaces provided above
and again on warranty page 49. Always provide model
number and serial number when ordering parts and in all
correspondences with your Land Pride dealer. Refer to
Figure 1 for location of your serial number plate.
Serial Number Plate Location
Figure 1
Free Informational Video
Be sure to request your free copy of the 15’ Rotary
Cutter Informational Video (also applicable to
10’, 14’ & 20’ cutters) from your local Land Pride dealer.
Further Assistance
Your dealer wants you to be satisfied with your new
machine. If for any reason you do not understand any
part of this manual or are not satisfied with the service
received, the following actions are suggested:
1. Discuss the matter with your dealership service
manager making sure he is aware of any problems
you may have and that he has had the opportunity to
assist you.
2. If you are still not satisfied, seek out the owner or
general manager of the dealership, explain the
problem and request assistance.
3. For further assistance write to:
Land Pride Service Department
1525 East North Street
P.O. Box 5060
Salina, Ks. 67402-5060
E-mail address
lpser[email protected]
27524
Land Pride welcomes you to the growing family of new
product owners.
This implement has been designed with care and built by
skilledworkersusingquality materials.Proper assembly,
maintenance, and safe operating practices will help you
get years of satisfactory use from this machine.
Application
The heavy duty RC5020 and RCM5020 Series Rotary
Cutters are designed and built by Land Pride to provide
excellent cutting performance on gently sloping or
slightly contoured right of ways, roadsides, pastures, set-
aside-acres, or for residue in row crop fields.
The 20’ cutting width, 2" to 14" cutting height and ability
to cut weeds and brush up to 3" in diameter make them
well suited for these applications.
Bothmodels offerpull-typeself-levelingclevishitchesfor
attachment to 70-250 hp tractors. The RC5020 has a
Cat. 5 and 540 rpm driveline, while the RCM5020 has a
Cat. 5 and 1000 rpm driveline. They also offer various
safety guard selections making them an excellent choice
for state and municipal mowing applications.
See “Specifications & Capacities” on page 44 and
“Features & Benefits” on page 46 for additional
information and performance enhancing options.
Using This Manual
•This Operator’s Manual is designed to help familiarize
you with safety, assembly, operation, adjustments,
troubleshooting, and maintenance. Read this manual
and follow the recommendations to help ensure safe
and efficient operation.
•The information contained within this manual was
current at the time of printing. Some parts may change
slightly to assure you of the best performance.
•To order a new Operator’s or Parts Manual contact
your authorized dealer. Manuals can also be
downloaded, free-of-charge from our website at
www.landpride.com.
Terminology
“Right” or “Left” as used in this manual is determined by
facing forward in the direction the machine will operate
while in use unless otherwise stated.
Definitions
Owner Assistance
The Warranty Registration card should be filled out by
the dealer at the time of purchase. This information is
necessary to provide you with quality customer service.
IMPORTANT: A special point of information related
to the following topic. Land Pride’s intention is this
information must be read & noted before continuing.
NOTE: A special point of information that the
operator should be aware of before continuing.

11
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
Tractor Requirements
Horsepower
Tractor horsepower should be within the range noted
below. Tractors outside the horsepower range must not
be used. If the tractor is too small, it can be pushed
around and/or flipped over by the weight of the cutter.
Too large a tractor can damage the cutter.
Horsepower Rating. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70-250 HP
Drawbar Set-up
Refer to Figure 1-1:
Maintainproperdistance,dimension “A”,betweencenter
of drawbar hitch pin hole and end of tractor PTO shaft.
Hitch Type. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Draw Bar
540 RPM & 1 3/8" @ 1000 RPM Rear PTO Speed:
“A” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14"- 16"
“B” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8" - 10"
“C” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18" to 22"
1 3/4" @ 1000 RPM Rear PTO Speed:
“A” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18" - 20"
“B” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10" - 12"
“C” . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18" to 22"
PTO to Drawbar Distance
Figure 1-1
PTO Speed
Rear PTO Speed:
Model RC5020. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 540 RPM
Model RCM5020 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1000 RPM
IMPORTANT: PTO damage may occur if distances
“A” and “B” are not properly maintained.
IMPORTANT: A PTO adaptor should not be used.
Using a PTO adaptor can damage the PTO.
22273
Hydraulic Outlets
The number of tractor hydraulic duplex outlets is
dependent upon how the Rotary Cutter is set-up.
•Two duplex outlets are required if the wings are raised
and lowered simultaneously. (Factory standard)
•Three duplex outlets are required if the wings are
raised and lowered independently. (Requires
Hydraulic Wing Control Kit on page 28 to raise wings
independently.)
•If the tractor does not have the necessary number of
duplex outlets, there are control valve kits available to
addoutlets.See“HydraulicAccessories” onpage28
for a complete description of the kits.
Before You Start
Read and understand the operator’s manual for your
cutter. An understanding of how it works will aid in the
assembly and setup of your cutter.
It is best to go through the Pre-Assembly Checklist
before assembling the cutter. Speed up your assembly
task and make the job safer by having all needed parts
and equipment readily at hand.
Torque Requirements
See “Torque Values Chart” on page 48 to determine
correct torque values when tightening hardware. See
Additional Torque Values at bottom of chart for
exceptions to common torque values.
Pre-Assembly Checklist
Check Referenc
Have a fork lift or loader with properly sized chains and safety
stands capable of lifting and supporting the equipment on hand.
Have a minimum of two people available during assembly.
Make sure all major components and loose
parts are shipped with the machine. Operator’s Manual
Double check to make sure all parts, fasteners
and pins are installed in the correct location.
Refer to the Parts Manual if unsure. By double
checking, you will lessen the chance of using a
bolt incorrectly that may be needed later.
NOTE: All assembled hardware from the factory
has been installed in the correct location.
Remember location of a part or fastener if
removed during assembly. Keep parts
separated.
Operator’s
Manual
330-323M
PartsManual
330-323P
Make sure working parts move freely, bolts are
tight & cotter pins are spread. Operator’s Manual
Make sure all grease fittings are in place and
lubricated. Page 38
Make sure all safety labels are correctly located
and legible. Replace if damaged. Page 4
Make sure all red and amber reflectors are
correctly located and visible when machine is in
transport position.
Page 9
Make sure all tires are inflated to the specified
psi air pressure and all wheel bolts and axle
nuts are tightened to the specified torque.
Page 48

12
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
Table of Contents
Hitch Types
Refer to Figure 1-2:
Thecutterisfactorysuppliedwithastandardclevishitch.
Other optional hitches are available. They are the double
swivel clevis hitch, Bar-Tite hitch, ball hitch and pintle
hitch. See your nearest Land Pride dealer should you
want to change your hitch set-up.
Standard Clevis Hitch
A clevis leveling rod attached to the underside of the
cleviskeepsthe clevisparallel with the tractor drawbarat
all cutting heights. Cutter rotation about the tractor
drawbar is limited to slots located in the clevis’upperand
lower plates and drawbar hole size.
Double Swivel Clevis Hitch (Optional)
Theswivel clevishitch allowsthecutter to pivotabout the
tractor drawbar freely in two directions. It is designed for
cutting hillsides, reducing twisting torque on the cutter
hitchandtractordrawbar.Hitchswivelisgreaseable.The
clevis must be shimmed with washers to prevent clevis/
drawbar wear.
Bar-Tite Hitch (Optional)
Thebar-titehitchfunctionsthesameasthedoubleswivel
clevis hitch except it is constructed of case hardened
steel and has a bushing in the tongue toextend hitch life.
Bushing and hitch swivel are greaseable.
Ball Hitch (Optional)
Cutter rotation about the tractor drawbar is limited to
swivel movement over the 2 5/16" tractor mounted ball.
Pintle Hitch (Optional)
A pintle leveling rod attached to the underside of the
pintle keeps the pintle parallel with the tractor drawbar at
all cutting heights. Cutter rotation about the tractor
drawbar is limited to movement about the pintle
connection.
Hitch Types
Figure 1-2
24730

13
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
Hitch Assembly
Refer to Figure 1-3:
1. Install clevis rod (#1) to the deck center lug using
3/4" x 1 1/2" clevis pin (#6), 3/4" flat washer (#4) and
5/32" x 1 1/4" cotter pin (#5).
2. Install left and right leveling rods (#2) to hitch frame
(#3) with 3/4" x 1 1/2" clevis pins (#6), 3/4" flat
washes (#4) and 5/32" x 1 1/4" cotter pins (#5). Final
adjustment should be made when the cutter is
attached to the tractor.
3. Install parking jack (#7) to hitch frame (#1) and
secure with attached pin (#8). Adjust parking jack to
preferred drawbar height.
Wing Axle Assembly to Center Axle
Refer to Figure 1-4:
!WARNING
Connect turnbuckle to wing axles before lowering wings.
Otherwise, personal injury and/or damage to the turnbuckle
can occur.
Wing axles are secured folded backing for shipping
purposes.
1. Remove ties securing left and right wing axles (#1)
and rotate axles to install turnbuckles (#4).
2. Remove locknuts (#3) and cap screws (#2).
3. Attach left and right turnbuckles (#4) to wing axles
with existing 1"-8 Gr8 cap screws (#2) and 1" lock
nuts (#3). Make sure grease zerks are facing up
when wings are folded down.
4. Tighten locknuts (#3) to the correct torque.
NOTE: Do not tighten hardware until wing axle
assembly is complete.
Hitch Assembly Illustration
Figure 1-3
Wing Axle - Turnbuckle Assembly
Figure 1-4
24847
15336
Turnbuckle (#3)
to be secured
between the two
flanges.

14
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
Table of Contents
Standard Clevis Hitch Hook-up
!DANGER
A Crushing Hazard exists when hooking-up equipment to a
tractor. Do not allow anyone to stand between tractor and
implement while backing-up to implement. Do not operate
hydraulic 3-Point lift controls while someone is directly
behind the tractor or near the implement.
Refer to Figure 1-5:
Tractor Hookup to Standard Clevis Hitch
Figure 1-5
1. Make certain the parking jack (#3) is properly
attached to the cutter hitch and secured with
attachment pin (#8).
2. Back tractor within close proximity of cutter
clevis (#11).
3. Raise or lower the parking jack (#3) to align clevis
(#11) with the tractor drawbar. Drawbar should fit
between lower and upper plates of clevis.
4. Back tractor up to cutter hitch until holes in the
drawbar and clevis (#11) are aligned.
5. Insert 1" flat washers (#9) equally above and below
tractor drawbar until both spaces between drawbar
and clevis plates are filled.
6. Insert 1" x 5" gr5 hex bolt (#1) through top of clevis
(#11), 1" washers (#9), drawbar, remaining 1"
washers (#9) and out through bottom of clevis (#11).
Secure hex bolt with nut (#2). Tighten nut snugly to
remove all play and then back nut one-quarter turn.
Tighten jamb nut (#10) against nut (#2).
IMPORTANT: Jack attachment pin must be fully
inserted and secured before working on or around a
cutter not hooked to the tractor drawbar.
NOTE: Items 1, 2, 9 and 10 shown in Figure 1-5 are
not furnished by Land Pride.
23590
7. Lower parking jack (#3) until hitch weight is
supported by drawbar.
8. Remove parking jack (#3) from hitch and attach it to
thelefthandwingdeckstoragebasewithattachment
pin (#8). Make sure the base is level with or lower
than the head especially after the wings are folded
up. See cover picture for correct positioning.
9. Attach hitch safety chain (#4) to the tractor. Adjust
chain length to remove all slack except what is
necessary to permit turning. Lock chain hook
securely to the safety chain.
10. See “Driveline Installation” on page 16 and
“Hydraulic Hook-up” on page 17.
Double Swivel Clevis Hitch Hook-up
Refer to Figure 1-6:
Attach Swivel Clevis to Tractor Drawbar
1. Remove hex flange lock nut (#7) and bolt (#3) form
double swivel clevis (#1).
2. Insert 1"-8 x 5 1/2" GR5 hex bolt (#4) through upper
plate of clevis hitch (#2), two flat washers (#8),
tractordrawbar(#9),two more flat washers (#8),and
lower plate of clevis hitch (#2).
3. Secure hex bolt (#4) with hex nut (#6). Draw hex nut
up snug. Do not tighten.
4. Screw hex jam nut (#5) up against hex nut (#6).
5. Hold hex nut (#6) and tighten jam nut (#5) to the
correct torque.
6. Keep hex flange lock nut (#7) and bolt (#3) for
hook-up to cutter.
Swivel Clevis Hitch Assembly to Tractor Tongue
Figure 1-6
IMPORTANT: Protect parking jack by storing it on
the left wing deck before moving the cutter. Make
sure the jack is stored with its base level or lower
than the head to prevent water and freeze damage.
33485

15
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
Tractor Hookup to Swivel Clevis Hitch
Figure 1-7
Attach Swivel Clevis Hitch to Rotary Cutter
!DANGER
A Crushing Hazard exists when hooking-up equipment to a
tractor. Do not allow anyone to stand between tractor and
implement while backing-up to implement. Do not operate
hydraulic 3-Point lift controls while someone is directly
behind the tractor or near the implement.
Refer to Figure 1-7:
1. Make certain parking jack (#3) is properly attached
to cutter and secured with attachment pin (#8).
2. Back tractor within close proximity of cutter hitch.
3. Raise or lower parking jack (#3) to align swivel
clevis (#9) with bolt hole in clevis hitch (#10).
4. Backtractoruptoswivelclevis(#9)untilholeinclevis
hitch (#10) aligns with holes in swivel clevis (#9).
5. Insert 1"-8 x 6 1/2" GR5 hex bolt (#1) through swivel
clevis (#9) and clevis hitch (#10). Secure hex bolt
with hex flange lock nut (#2). Tighten lock nut snugly
to remove all play. Do Not torque 1" lock nut.
6. Lower parking jack (#3) until hitch weight is
supported by the drawbar.
7. Remove parking jack (#3) from hitch and attach it to
thelefthandwingdeckstoragebasewithattachment
pin (#8). Make sure the base is level with or lower
than the head especially after the wings are folded
up. See cover picture for correct positioning.
33919
IMPORTANT: Jack attachment pin must be fully
inserted and secured before working on or around a
cutter not hooked to the tractor drawbar.
IMPORTANT: Protect parking jack by storing it on
the left wing deck before moving the cutter. Make
sure the jack is stored with its base level or lower
than the head to prevent water and freeze damage.
8. Attach hitch safety chain (#4) to the tractor. Adjust
chain length to remove all slack except what is
necessary to permit turning. Securely lock chain
hook to the safety chain.
9. See “Driveline Installation” on page 16 and
“Hydraulic Hook-up” on page 17.
Bar-Tite Hitch Hook-up
Refer to Figure 1-8:
Attach Bar-Tite Hitch to Tractor Drawbar
1. Remove lock nut (#10) and hex bolt (#5) from hitch
swivel (#3).
2. Insert 1"-8 x 5" GR5 hex bolt (#6) through hitch
base (#4), hitch swivel (#3), hitch top plate (#1) and
tractor drawbar (#12) as shown.
3. Securebolt(#6) with 1"hextoplocknut(#8).Tighten
lock nut snugly to remove all play and then back nut
one-quarter turn. Do Not torque lock nut.
4. Insert two 3/4"-10 x 5 1/2" GR5 hex bolts (#7)
through, 3/4" flat washers (#11), hitch base (#4),
hitch top plate (#1) and formed hitch support (#2) as
shown. Secure with 3/4" hex flange lock nuts (#9).
5. Tighten lock nuts (#9) to the correct torque.
Bar-Tite Hitch Assembly to Tractor Tongue
Figure 1-8
33920

16
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M 4/25/12
Table of Contents
Tractor Hookup to Bar-Tite Hitch
Figure 1-9
Attach Tractor to Rotary Cutter
!DANGER
A Crushing Hazard exists when hooking-up equipment to a
tractor. Do not allow anyone to stand between tractor and
implement while backing-up to implement. Do not operate
hydraulic 3-Point lift controls while someone is directly
behind the tractor or near the implement.
Refer to Figure 1-9:
1. Make certain parking jack (#3) is properly attached
to cutter and secured with attachment pin (#8).
2. Back tractor within close proximity of cutter hitch.
3. Raise or lower parking jack (#3) to align hitch (#10)
with bolt hole in swivel clevis (#9).
4. Back tractor up to swivel clevis (#9) until hole in hitch
bushing (#10) aligns with holes in swivel clevis (#9).
5. Insert 1"-8 x 6 1/2" GR5 hex bolt (#1) through swivel
clevis (#9) and hitch swivel (#10). Secure hex bolt
with hex flange lock nut (#2). Tighten lock nut snugly
to remove all play. Do Not torque hex flange lock nut.
6. Lower parking jack (#3) until hitch weight is
supported by drawbar.
7. Remove parking jack (#3) from hitch and attach it to
thelefthandwingdeckstoragebasewithattachment
pin (#8). Make sure the base is level with or lower
than the head especially after the wings are folded
up. See cover picture for correct positioning.
22262
IMPORTANT: Jack attachment pin must be fully
inserted and secured before working on or around a
cutter not hooked to the tractor drawbar.
IMPORTANT: Protect parking jack by storing it on
the left wing deck before moving the cutter. Make
sure the jack is stored with its base level or lower
than the head to prevent water and freeze damage.
8. Attach hitch safety chain (#4) to the tractor. Adjust
chain length to remove all slack except what is
necessary to permit turning. Securely lock chain
hook to the safety chain.
9. See “Driveline Installation” on page 16 and
“Hydraulic Hook-up” on page 17.
Driveline Installation
!DANGER
Do not engage tractor PTO while hooking-up and unhooking
driveline or while someone is standing near the driveline. A
person’s body and/or clothing can become entangled in the
driveline resulting in serious injury or death.
!WARNING
Always disengage PTO, place tractor in park or set park
brake, shut tractor engine off, remove switch key, and wait for
blades to stop before dismounting from tractor.
!WARNING
Do not operate cutter above its rated PTO speed or machine
breakage may result.
!WARNING
Make certain all driveline yokes are securely fastened at both
ends. A loose yoke can work free allowing the driveline to
rotate uncontrollable causing machine damage and bodily
injury or death to anyone nearby.
The main driveline may be either constant velocity type
or conventional type. Pull-collar couplers and retaining
bolts are used to connect the driveline to the tractor and
implement gearbox, respectively.
1. Park tractor and cutter in a straight line on a level
surface. Place gear selector in park, shut tractor
engine off, set park brake and remove switch key.
2. Verify“Drawbar Set-up” dimensionsonpage11are
correct before installing driveline.
3. Attach pull-collar coupler to tractor PTO shaft and
boltedcouplertodividergearboxshaft.Skiptostep 6
if driveline fits between tractor and implement.
4. Thedrivelineshouldnowbe movedbackand forth to
insurebothendsaresecuredtothetractorandcutter
PTO shafts. Reattach any end that is loose.
IMPORTANT: Do not attempt to operate a 540 RPM
driveline at 1,000 RPM or a 1,000 RPM driveline at
540RPM. Manytractorsprovideboth 540 and1,000
RPM PTO modes. Check your tractor’s manual to
determine its capabilities.
IMPORTANT: The driveline must be lubricated
before putting it into service. Refer to Lubrication
Points on page 38.

17
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
Refer to Figure 1-9 on page 16:
5. Secure chains (#6) on driveline (#5) around hitch
clevis rod to restrict driveline outer shield from
rotating. Re-latch safety chain to driveline guard.
6. Attach safety chain located on the other end of
driveline (#5) to the cutter’s main frame to restrict
driveline inner shield from rotating. Re-latch safety
chain to driveline guard.
Check Driveline Collapsible Length
Refer to Figure 1-10:
1. Make sure driveline is installed properly before
checking driveline collapsible length (Refer to
“Driveline Installation” instructions on page 16).
2. Measure 16" (“B” dimension) back from universal
joint shield to end of outer driveline shield as shown
in Figure 1-10. If measurement is less than 16",
make sure tractor drawbar has been adjusted
correctly. Refer to “Drawbar Set-up” instructions on
page 11. If drawbar is adjusted correctly and “B”
dimensionisstilllessthan16",thenshortendriveline
using instructions provided below.
Shorten Driveline Length
Refer to Figure 1-10:
Be sure to first check driveline collapsible length as
instructed above.If required,shorten drivelineasfollows:
1. Un-hook driveline from tractor PTO shaft and pull
outer and inner drivelines apart.
2. Reattach outer driveline to tractor PTO shaft. Pull on
inner and outer drivelines to be sure universal joints
are properly secured.
3. Holdinner and outer drivelinesparallel to each other:
a. Measure 16" (“B” dimension) back from outer
drivelineuniversaljointshieldandmakeamarkat
this location on the inner driveline shield.
b. Measure 16"(“B” dimension) backfromtheinner
drivelineuniversaljointshieldandmakeamark at
this location on the outer driveline shield.
4. Remove driveline from tractor and splitter gearbox.
IMPORTANT: Two small chains are supplied with
each driveline. These chains must be attached to
the driveline shields and adjacent equipment to
keep inner and outer driveline shields from rotating.
IMPORTANT: Adrivelinethat is too long can bottom
out causing structural damage to tractor and cutter.
The driveline collapsible length will need to be
checked only if extreme turns must be made while
crossing ditches, terraces or similar areas.
IMPORTANT: The Rotary Cutter must be hitched to
the tractor on a level surface with tractor and cutter
in a straight line during installation of driveline.
5. Measure from end of inner shield to scribed mark
(“X”dimension).Cutoff inner shieldatthemark.Cut
same amount off the inner shaft (“X1” dimension).
6. Measure from end of outer shield to scribed mark
(“Y”dimension).Cutoffoutershieldatthemark.Cut
same amount off the outer shaft (“Y1” dimension).
7. Remove all burrs and cuttings.
8. Apply multi-purpose grease to the inside of the outer
shaft and reassemble driveline.
9. Attach driveline to splitter gearbox input shaft and
tractor PTO shaft. Refer to “Driveline Installation”
on page 16 for detailed instructions.
PTO Driveline Shortening
Figure 1-10
Hydraulic Hook-up
The required number of duplex outlets at the tractor is
dependent upon how the cutter is set-up.
The standard cutter is equipped with three hydraulic
cylinders with one in the center for lifting the cutter and
one on each wing for folding the wings simultaneously.
All three cylinders are set-up for single action
(one-way) operation.
Each duplex outlet on your tractor can perform only one
operation. One outlet is needed for lifting the cutter and
one for lifting the wings simultaneously. A third outlet is
required if the wings are lifted independently. This will
also require replumbing the wing hydraulic cylinders.
Your Land Pride dealer can help you determine the best
configuration that will match your needs and your tractor
capabilities.Optionalcontrolvalvekitsareavailable if the
tractor does not have the required number of duplex
outlets. For additional information, see “Hydraulic
Accessories” on page 28.
!DANGER
Hydraulic fluid under pressure can penetrate skin. Wear
protective gloves and safety glasses or goggles when working
with hydraulic systems. Use a piece of cardboard or wood
rather than hands when searching for hydraulic leaks. If
hydraulic fluid is injected into the skin, it must be treated by a
doctor within a few hours or gangrene may result.
22165

18
Section 1: Assembly and Set-up
4/25/12 RC5020 (540 RPM) and RCM5020 (1000 RPM) Rotary Cutters 318-474M
Table of Contents
Refer to Figure 1-9 on page 16:
1. Routecylinderhoses(#7)through hose supportloop
and connect to tractor remote outlets. If the tractor
has a float option on one of the outlets, connect wing
lifthydraulichoseto that outletandsettractorcontrol
lever for the wing cylinder in float position.
2. Check driveline for adequate clearance under all
ranges of cutter height. With driveline shaft attached
to tractor, slowly raise and lower cutter to its upper
andlowerlimitswhileobservingclearancesbetween
hitch and driveline. Adjust tractor drawbar height
and/or length if driveline interferes. See Figure 1-1
on page 11 for correct drawbar dimensions.
3. Cycle hydraulic system by raising and lowering
center deck cylinder and wing fold cylinders. It may
be necessary to purge the hydraulic system of
trapped air if operation is sluggish.
Purge Hydraulic System
!DANGER
Never remove or install a folding wing cylinder with cylinder
rod retracted and wing folded up. The wing is unstable without
its folding cylinder and can suddenly fall. Also, air trapped in
a new or repaired cylinder will drop the wing suddenly when
lowering the wing. Either situation can render the cutter
inoperable and cause serious bodily injury or death.
!WARNING
Be sure center deck and wings are lowered to the ground and
all hydraulic pressure is relieved before disconnecting any
hydraulic lines or fittings between the Rotary Cutter and
tractor hydraulic system.
The wing deck lift cylinder may be purged as follows:
1. With wings lowered to the ground, shut tractor off
and move the wing hydraulic control lever back and
forth to relieve hydraulic pressure at the wing
cylinders.
2. Loosen hydraulic hose fittings slightly at each wing
cylinder to allow air and fluid to escape.
3. Restart tractor and slowly activate tractor control
lever to retract the wing cylinders and to purge
trapped air from the hydraulic system.
4. Once air is purged from the hydraulic system for the
wing cylinders, tighten the hose fittings at each wing
cylinder.
5. Repeat steps 1 to 4 above to purge center deck lift
cylinder. Make sure the cutter skid shoes are resting
on the ground or the lift cylinder is fully retracted
against the stroke control spacers and all hydraulic
pressure is relieved at the lift cylinder before
loosening the lift cylinder hose fitting.
Unhooking From the Cutter
1. See“Long Term Storage” onpage 36 ifparkiing the
cutter for long peroids and end of season.
2. Disengage PTO, park cutter on a level solid hard
surface. Place tractor gear selector in park, set park
brake,andwaitforbladestocometoacomplete stop
before dismounting from tractor.
Refer to Figure 3-1 & Figure 3-2 on page 22:
3. Raise wings up in the transport position and place
transport lock bars in the locked position. Make sure
transport bars are secured in place with lock
pins (#2) and hairpin cotters (#1).
Refer to Figure 2-2 on page 19:
4. Remove stroke control spacers from the center
hydraulic cylinder and lower cutter until front skids
are resting on the ground. Replace stroke control
spacers as needed to support wheels at this
position.
5. With tractor gear selector in park and park brake set,
shut tractor engine off, and remove switch key. Move
cylinder lift levers back and forth to release hydraulic
line pressure.
Refer to Figure 1-5 on page 14:
6. Remove parking jack (#3) from the left hand wing
deck and attach to the cutter hitch. Secure parking
jack in place with attached jack pin (#8).
7. Unhook hydraulic hoses (#7), driveline safety
chains (#6), driveline (#5) and hitch safety chain (#4)
from the tractor. Store hose ends in hose support
loop.
8. Unhook driveline from tractor PTO shaft.
9. Adjust parking jack up or down as needed to remove
hitch pin (#1).
10. Drive tractor away from the cutter and then lower
parking jack to rest cutter on its front skid shoes.
11. Replace connecting pin/bolt (#9) to the cutter as
follows:
a. If unhooking from the standard clevis or double
clevis hitch, replace connecting pin/bolt to cutter
hitch for storage.
b. If unhookingswivel clevisorbar-tite hitch, remove
hitch components from tractor tongue and
reattach to cutter hitch with connecting bolt for
storage.