Mec 408 User manual

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OWNERS MANUAL
FOR MEC MODEL 408 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 is factory set to White Flyer clays. Sizes may vary by
manufacturer, so 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.

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Step 5 –Adjust the machines elevation by loosening the black handle on the
elevation slots on either side of the machine. Tip machine backwards to the
desired angle and then retighten the black handle firmly.
Step 6 –Adjust machine tilt by loosening the black lever at the front of the
square base plate upright slot. 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.

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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.
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.

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Step 4 –Refit the Outer Guard to the side of the machine.
Step 5 –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.
Step 6 - 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.

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Step 7 –Fill the machine with targets and set the tilt and elevation before
reconnecting the battery.
Step 8 –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 9 –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.
Step 10 –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.

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Step 11 –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 12 –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 13 –The pull cord or optional radio release can now be connected to the
machine. The manual or optional wireless release connects to the yellow-ended
wire plug.
Step 14 –The machine can now ready for use by pressing the
ARM/OFF/DISARM toggle switch, down to the “ARM” position.
Step 15 –With the machine pointed in a safe direction, press the fire button on
the pull cord or wireless 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.

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Step 16 –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.
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.

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3. Carousel does not rotate.
Check the following:
(a) The Carousel pusher arm is not jammed with broken clays or dirt.
(b) The pusher return spring is broken or missing.
(c) With the pusher arm withdrawn, the carousel should be free to rotate with a small
amount of friction. This is adjusted by tightening or loosening of the lock nut on top of
the carousels shaft.
(d) Carousel pusher timing is in-correct, i.e. when the gearbox crank and connecting rod
are in line at maximum extension, the Rear Pusher nylon for the carousel should be deep
into the cut out on the Top Plate (100 e, 200e, 300e. 306xp). If your machine is a 400e or
408xp then the rear pusher will be on the radius of the top plate. If this is not the case,
then the clamp on the rear pusher shaft should be adjusted accordingly. It must be
tightened before operation of the machine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N3Wdk88efTQ XP pusher shaft

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FAULT FINDING ELECTRICAL
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. Machine does not Arm
Check:
(a) Battery is charged and that connections are tight.
(b) Toggle switch is in the down ON position or on the Handheld that the “ARM”
indicator light is on.
(c) There are 3 components in place to protect your electrical box.
1. Re-settable breaker. Found on the side of the electrical box. (older models have non-
resettable breakers)
2. 60amp or 70amp relay. Found inside the electrical box. (automotive type)
3. Inline fuse. Found inside electrical box. (7.5amp automotive type 2 prong fuse)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JZZmYQtybAE replacing fuse

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(b) Check the above items.
(c) If your machine has a Gray Arm / Dis-arm box. Make sure the wires inside are in
good shape, free of corrosion and not pinched on the bottom of the box. Green to White
would by-pass the switch and arm the machine. This would indicate a faulty switch.
3. Machine runs in DISARM position, but not in the ARM position.
(a) Check for faulty relay.
4. Machine ARMS but will not fire on the Pull Cord button.
(a) Either the connections, cable or command push button are faulty. Disconnect the
110V Plug from the Pull Cord, using a lead wire, with 1” stripped of each end, insert into
the Positive and Negative sides of the outlet plug. Once contact is made, the machine
should fire.
If the trap does not fire, then there is a broken wire in the cable or a bad
connection in the three-pin plug or control box.
(b) If the trap does fire then reconnect the Pull Cord, remove the cover on the push button
box and short across the two spade connectors.
If the trap fires - then the push button is faulty.
If the trap does not fire - then there is a broken wire in the Pull Cord or a bad
connection in the three-pin plug.
5. Trap fires by itself.
(a) Disconnect the Pull Cord and switch the trap back on.
If the trap cocks normally - then the Pull Cord is damaged or shorted out.
Alternatively, the push button switch is stuck in or faulty.
(b) If the trap continues to fire –Check to make sure the Throwing arm is contacting the
roller limit switch arm. The arm should pass over the limit switch with only a small
amount of space.
(c) If the machine still fires by itself - check if the relay contacts have stuck together, and
if so replace. If the relay operates correctly, but the trap still fires by itself, then the roller
limit switch is faulty and should be replaced.
(d) If the machine still fires by itself –Throwing arm timing could have slipped. Call the
Technical Support Line for help.

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CUSTOMER SERVICE
We're here and ready to help you! Don't forget to take advantage of our trouble shooting
guide, website videos, and online owner's manuals, which are available 24/7. You may
contact factory customer service at:
MEC Outdoors
800 Horicon Street, Suite 1
Mayville, WI 53050 USA
1-800-797-4632
[e-mail]
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Mayville Engineering Company (MEC)
Website: www.mecinc.com
Thanks for choosing MEC! Every machine is hand set and tested prior to leaving
our shop to ensure quality. We take pride in our products, so you can have a
better experience in the field. Your patronage is very much appreciated!
For any questions regarding setup or use of any MEC Clay Target Machines,
please give us a call or you can visit us on our website for video footage showing
how setup and adjustments are made.
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