Mec 300E User manual

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OWNERS MANUAL
FOR MEC MODEL 300E/400E CHANDELLE
CAUTION: ANY MEC CLAY TARGET MACHINE MUST BE IN THE
DISARMED STATE WITH THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED PRIOR TO
MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS, LOADING THE CLAY TARGETS OR
TRANSPORTATION OF MACHINE.
Step 1 –Securely set the machine on level ground, either on the optional T Cart
with hardware supplied or a pallet. If using a pallet, please make sure that it is
fastened with clamps to keep machine from tipping. IF NOT FASTENED
SECURELY, SERIOUS INJURY OR DAMAGE TO MACHINE CAN OCCOUR!!!
DO NOT CONNECT THE BATTERY. Ensure that the machine is in the
DISARMED/SAFE position.
Step 2 –In most cases, your machine has been supplied to you ready to fire. If
so, please proceed to Step 3. If your machine is supplied in a box without its
carousel (shown below) fitted, you will need to attach it to the machine. Simply
slide the carousel weldment onto the top plate shaft. If no grease is present,
please add a little bit to the shaft. You may have to spin/rotate the carousel for it
to slide on. Next, place the gray plastic collar over the shaft and onto the flange
bearing in the carousel. Now place the ¾” washer and nut onto the threads and
tighten. Do not over tighten. You want a little bit of resistance there, but not too
much. You shouldn’t be able to spin the carousel with one finger.

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Step 3 –Your machine has been set at the factory for White Flyer clays. Clay
sizes may vary between manufactures. You may need to check the height /
clearance of the knife-edges by placing a clay in the carousel. Rotate the
carousel so that the clay starts to pass underneath the inner and outer knife
separator blades. The clay must pass freely under the knife separator blades
without binding but with the minimum of clearance. Adjust if necessary with 7/16”
open ended wrench. The height on both the inner and outer knife edge will need
to be adjusted. Please note, the photos below show knife edges being set with a
Standard target instead of a Rabbit target, but the same principle applies.
Step 4 –Put some clay’s in the carousel, but do not fill just yet, as this will make
it easier to adjust the elevation and tilt of the machine. It should be pointed out
that if the machine is tilted forward, it will throw a low target along the ground.
Tilting all the way back will allow the machine to throw a vertical teal target.
Step 5 –Adjust the machines elevation by loosening the silver clamping nut on
the elevation slots on either side of the machine using a ¾” wrench. Adjust
machine elevation by loosening the. There is no need to loosen the ¾” Nylon
nuts as they are loose enough to allow the machine to be elevated. Tip machine
backwards to the desired angle and then retighten the hardware.
Step 6 –Adjust machine tilt by loosening the silver clamping nut at the front of
the square base plate upright slot using a ¾” wrench. There is no need to loosen
the ¾” Nylon nuts as they are loose enough to allow the machine tilt. The
machine can be tilted to one side to allow the target to curl. When viewed from
behind, the machine can be leaned further to the left for a dome down type target
when throwing standard clays only.

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Please note that on all MEC Chandelle machines a Rabbit Plate
will need to be fitted to the Throwing Plate to allow Rabbit
targets to be thrown.
FITTING THE RABBIT PLATE
Before attempting to work on the machine, please ensure that the machine is in
the DISARMED/SAFE position and that the battery is disconnected.
Step 1 –Remove the outer guard by un-doing the ¾” locknut on the front and the
three ½’ wingnuts on the rear of the machine as shown in the photo below.
Step 2 –The Rabbit Plate is attached to the back side of the Throwing Plate and
will need to be removed using a 7/16” wrench. There are four Allen bolts,
attaching the Rabbit Plate to the Throwing Plate.

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Step 3 –With the Rabbit Plate removed, it now needs to be attached to the front
side of the Throwing Plate as shown in the photo below. Simply hold the plate
straight to the throwing plate and push the front rail to the full open position.
Slide plate on and release the front. Replace the Allen bolts to securely attach
the rabbit plate to the throwing plate.
Step 4 –Refit the Outer Guard to the side of the machine.
RABBIT PLATE

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Step 5 –Once your tilt has been adjusted it is CRITICAL that the MEC Handle
is rotated out of the way of the throwing arm as shown in the photo below.
Step 6 –The Clay Deflector that is attached to the inside of the Outer Guard will
now need to be adjusted. This is done by un-winding the two lower 7/16” locknuts
on the side of the outer guard. By loosening these two locknuts the spring loaded
Clay Deflector is pushed closer to the clay. This is necessary as the thinner
Rabbit clays would fall out the bottom of the machine if the Clay Deflector was
left set for Standard clays.
DANGER - This is the view
from the front of the machine.
Note the position of the handle.
If the handle is pointing to the
right (opposite of what is
shown) there is a chance that the
throwing arm will contact the
black MEC handle.

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Step 7 - Un-wind the two locknuts enough so that when a Rabbit clay is loaded
the deflector supports it and holds the clay against the throwing plate as shown
below.
Step 8 –Fill the machine with targets and set the tilt and elevation before
reconnecting the battery.
Step 9 –Check that the ON/OFF/DISARM toggle switch on the grey control box
in the OFF position. Connect the terminals from the wire harness to the battery.
A fully charged, good quality, deep cycle marine battery is recommended. It is
imperative that the Red Wire goes to positive (+) and Black Wire goes to
negative (-) on the battery. Never hammer the terminals onto the post of the
battery and do not over tighten the terminals.
Step 10 –Visually check, from the rear of the machine, that the motion of the
Throwing Arm is not restricted or blocked in any way.
CAUTION: ALWAYS OPERATE THE MACHINE FROM BEHIND,
NEVER FROM THE FRONT OR THE SIDES OF THE MACHINE.
KEEP HANDS AND BODY PARTS AWAY FROM THE MACHINE
WHEN ARMING, RELEASING AND DISARMING.

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Step 11 –Standing at arm’s length behind the machine, press the
ARM/OFF/DISARM toggle switch to ARM. The machine will load a clay and
come to the armed position. The machine is now ready to fire and must be
treated with extreme caution.
Step 12 –To check for clay flight and direction, fire the trap using the
ON/OFF/DISARM toggle switch exactly as before, and press and release the
DISARM toggle. This will fire one clay and will not rearm itself. Note –holding
the disarm toggle will continually fire clay targets. Please use caution!
Step 13 –You can adjust the distance that the clay is thrown by extending the
spring. This is achieved by winding tension on or off the main spring using a ¾”
wrench or the optional ¾” extended socked which can be attached to an impact
drive. This should be done with the machine in the disarmed/safe condition for
small adjustments. After adjusting the main spring for the correct throwing
distance, the nuts on the spring stud must be tightened securely against each
other.
Step 14 –The pull cord or optional radio release can now be connected to the
machine. This is connected though the yellow ended cord.
Step 15 –The machine can now ready for use by pressing the
ARM/OFF/DISARM toggle switch, down to the “ARM” position.
Step 16 –With the machine pointed in a safe direction, press the fire button on
the pull cord or radio release. This will cause the machine to fire a clay and then
reset to the firing position. Pressing the fire button again will do the same as
above. Pressing and holding the fire button will continuously fire clays without
delay.
Step 17 –To disarm the machine, push the toggle switch to the DISARM
position, allowing the machine to throw the last clay before the toggle springs
back to the OFF position.
PLEASE NOTE –All of our machines that leave the warehouse set up as rabbit
machines are set with the Orange side facing upward. If you choose to flip the
clay and fire with the black side up, you will need to adjust the inner and outer
knife edges. See step 3. You may also have to adjust the clay deflector to hold
the clay properly. See steps 6 & 7.

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Your machine is now operating smoothly and ready for use. It is critical that you
never load or make adjustment to the machine unless it is disarmed and the
battery disconnected. While in storage, the machine must be left in the disarmed
state and the battery disconnected. Any spring tension does not need to be
released.

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FAULT FINDING MECHANICAL
CAUTION: ANY MEC MACHINE MUST BE IN THE DISARMED STATE WITH
THE BATTERY DISCONNECTED PRIOR TO MAKING ANY ADJUSTMENTS,
LOADING WITH CLAYS OR TRANSPORTING
1. The Machine breaks clays - Check loading cycle first:
(a) Check that clay in the carousel is intact, not chipped or cracked. If in doubt, remove
suspect clays and refill with ones known to be intact.
(b) With the machine switched “OFF”, rotate the carousel by hand, removing each clay as
it drops onto the throwing plate. Check for cracks and chips. If the clays arrive on the
plate intact, then move on to the throwing section below.
(c) If they arrive chipped or cracked then remove the carousel and check that the clay
slides under both inner and outer knife edges. There should also be some space between
the inside and outside knife edge, about 1/8”. Check that the knife-edges are not
excessively high. 2 clays should have split without chipping or damaging the top or
bottom clay. Using a 7/16” wrench adjust both knife-edges accordingly.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBz4NKNj9I4 knife settings
(f) When loading the clays be sure there are no tight spots in the carousel. Occasionally
machines can suffer slight damage to the carousel.
1/8” SPACE
BETWEEN CLAY
AND KNIFE BLADE

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Check throwing cycle next:
(a) Check that the bolt holding the arm to its clamp block is tight.
(b) Check arm for chunks missing from the black arm rubber or any other physical
damage to the arm. If damage has occurred the black arm rubber should be replaced.
(c) Check for damage to the throwing plate, in case it has been dented, bent or burred.
Ensure that no screw heads protrude and that there are no other obstructions to the clay’s
path.
(d) Check the height of the arm over the plate across its whole surface to ensure that the
clay fits under the black rubber throwing arm strip with about 1/16” clearance. Any more
than this clearance can cause the arm to break the clay by riding over it. Adjust by raising
or lowering the throwing plate with 4- ½” nuts on the plates adjustment bolts.
2. Machine throws clays but:
(a) The clay barely flies off throwing plate:
Check the height of the arm over the plate across its whole surface to ensure that
the clay fits under the black rubber throwing arm strip with about 1/16” clearance.
Any more than this clearance can cause the arm to break the clay by riding over it.
Adjust by raising or lowering the throwing plate with 4- ½” nuts on the plates
adjustment bolts.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qPnQpIMGT7E E-series arm settings
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDGtb62lXj4 XP series arm adjustments
The arm might be bent down or the throwing plate bent up, squeezing the clay
between them, the arm or plate should be replaced or straightened.
(b) The clay goes no distance (even though the main spring is wound up tight).
The arm is probably bent upwards causing clay to go under it at its tip. This will
also cause clays to break, the solution, is to straighten or replace the arm.
(c) The clays are inconsistent in direction.
This could be caused by buildup of debris on the throwing plate; dirt, leaves,
pieces of broken clay.
This is could also be caused by the front rail not moving freely. Light oil or a
mechanical adjust if not free.
(d) If the machine is a “Midi” or Mini”, the arm timing could have slipped.