Tar River SSP-250 User manual

Operator’s Manual
Poly Fertilizer Spreaders
SSP-250 - SSP-400
Publication: Oct 2017

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
INTRODUCTION......................................................................................................................................................... 4
SAFETY........................................................................................................................................................................ 4
SAFETY SIGNAL WORDS......................................................................................................................................... 5
GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES ........................................................................................................................... 5
SAFETY DECAL CARE.............................................................................................................................................. 6
BEFORE OPERATION................................................................................................................................................ 6
DURING OPERATION................................................................................................................................................ 7
HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT OPERATIONS........................................................................................................ 8
ASSEMBLY ................................................................................................................................................................. 8
OPERATION .............................................................................................................................................................. 10
ATTACHING TO THE TRACTOR........................................................................................................................... 10
SHORTENING A PTO DRIVELINE......................................................................................................................... 10
MAINTENANCE ....................................................................................................................................................... 11
SPREADING CHART...........................................................................................................................................12-13
PARTS BREAKDOWN ........................................................................................................................................14-16
LIMITED WARRANTY ............................................................................................................................................ 17

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INTRODUCTION
Thank you for purchasing your Belco Resources Equipment fertilizer spreader. Your fertilizer spreader is design
to be used on Cat. 1 tractors and at 540. It is important to properly maintain in keep in place all safety guards
and shields that came with your spreader.
SAFETY
Read and understand this manual and all safety signs before operating and maintaining. Review the safety in-
structions and precautions annually.
TAKE NOTE! THIS SAFETY ALERT SYMBOL FOUND THROUGHOUT THIS MANUAL IS USED
TO CALL YOUR ATTENTION TO INSTRUCTIONS INVOLVING YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND
THE SAFETY OF OTHERS. FAILURE TO FOLLOW THESE INSTRUCTIONS CAN RESULT IN
INJURY OR DEATH.
THIS SYMBOL MEANS
ATTENTION!
BECOME ALERT!
YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED!

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SAFETY SIGNAL WORDS
Safety of the operator is one of the main concerns in designing and developing a new piece of equipment.
Designers and manufacturers build in as many safety features as possible. However, every year many accidents
occur which could have been avoided by a few seconds of thought and a more careful approach to handling
equipment. You, the operator, can avoid many accidents by observing the following precautions in this section.
To avoid personal injury, study the following precautions and insist those working with you, or for you, follow
them.
Replace any CAUTION, WARNING, DANGER or instruction safety decal that is not readable or is missing.
Location of such decals is indicated in this booklet.
Do not attempt to operate this equipment under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
Review the safety instructions with all users annually.
This equipment is dangerous to children and persons unfamiliar with its operation. The operator should be a
responsible adult familiar with farm machinery and trained in this equipment’s operations. Do not allow
persons to operate or assemble this unit until they have read this manual and have developed a thorough
understanding of the safety precautions and of how it works.
To prevent injury or death, use a tractor equipped with a Roll Over Protective System (ROPS). Do not paint
over, remove or deface any safety signs or warning decals on your equipment. Observe all safety signs and
practice the instructions on them.
Never exceed the limits of a piece of machinery. If its ability to do a job, or to do so safely, is in question -
DON’T TRY IT.
Note the use of the signal words DANGER, WARNING and CAUTION with the safety messages.
The appropriate signal word for each has been selected using the following guidelines:
DANGER: Indicates an imminently hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in death or
serious injury. This signal word is to be limited to the most extreme situations typically for machine
components which, for functional purposes, cannot be guarded.
WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, 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.
CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, may result in minor or
moderate injury. It may also be used to alert against unsafe practices.
GENERAL SAFETY GUIDELINES

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• Keep safety signs clean and legible at all times.
• Replace safety signs that are missing or have become illegible.
• Replaced parts that displayed a safety sign should also display the current sign.
• Safety signs are available from your Distributor or Dealer Parts Department or the factory.
How to Install Safety Signs:
• Be sure that the installation area is clean and dry.
• Decide on the exact position before you remove the backing paper.
• Remove the smallest portion of the split backing paper.
• Align the decal over the specified area and carefully press the small portion with the exposed sticky backing
in place.
• Slowly peel back the remaining paper and carefully smooth the remaining portion of the decal in place.
• Small air pockets can be pierced with a pin and smoothed out using the piece of decal backing paper.
• Carefully study and understand this manual.
• Do not wear loose-fitting clothing, which may catch in moving parts.
• Always wear protective clothing and substantial shoes.
• Assure that all tires are inflated evenly.
• Give the unit a visual inspection for any loose bolts, worn parts or cracked welds, and make necessary repairs.
Follow the maintenance safety instructions included in this manual.
• Be sure that there are no tools lying on or in the equipment.
• Do not use the unit until you are sure that the area is clear, especially children and animals.
• Don’t hurry the learning process or take the unit for granted. Ease into it and become familiar with your new
equipment.
• Practice operation of your equipment and its attachments. Completely familiarize yourself and other opera-
tors with its operation before using.
• Use a tractor equipped with a Roll Over Protective System (ROPS) and fasten your seat belt prior to starting
the engine.
• The manufacturer does not recommend usage of tractor with ROPS removed.
SAFETY DECAL CARE
BEFORE OPERATION

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• The manufacturer does not recommend usage of tractor with ROPS removed.
• Move tractor wheels to the widest recommended settings to increase stability.
• Securely attach to towing unit. Use a high strength, appropriately sized hitch pin with a mechanical retainer
and attach safety chain.
• Do not allow anyone to stand between the tongue or hitch and the towing vehicle when backing up to the
equipment.
• Children should not be allowed on the product.
• Clear the area of small children and bystanders before moving the feeder.
• If using a towing unit, securely attach feeder by using a hardened 3/4” pin, a metal retainer, and safety
chains if required. Shift towing unit to a lower gear before going down steep downgrades, thus using the
engine as a retarding force. Keep towing vehicle in gear at all times. Slow down for corners and rough ter-
rain.
• Make sure you are in compliance with all local and state regulations regarding transporting equipment on
public roads and highways. Lights and slow moving signs must be clean and visible by overtaking or on-
coming traffic when feeder is transported.
• Beware of bystanders, particularly children! Always look around to make sure that it is safe to start the
engine of the towing vehicle or move the unit. This is particularly important with higher noise levels and
quiet cabs, as you may not hear people shouting.
• NO PASSENGERS ALLOWED - Do not carry passengers anywhere on, or in, the tractor or equipment,
except as required for operation.
• Keep hands and clothing clear of moving parts.
• Do not clean, lubricate or adjust your equipment while it is moving.
• When halting operation, even periodically, set the tractor or towing vehicle brakes, disengage the PTO, shut
off the engine and remove the ignition key.
• Be especially observant of the operating area and terrain - watch for holes, rocks or other hidden hazards.
Always inspect the area prior to operation.
• DO NOT operate near the edge of drop-offs or banks.
• DO NOT operate on steep slopes as overturn may result.
• Operate up and down (not across) intermediate slopes. Avoid sudden starts and stops.
DURING OPERATION

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• Adopt safe driving practices:
 Keep the brake pedals latched together at all times. NEVER USE INDEPENDENT BRAKING WITH
MACHINE IN TOW AS LOSS OF CONTROL AND/OR UPSET OF UNIT CAN RESULT.
 Always drive at a safe speed relative to local conditions and ensure that your speed is low enough for an emer-
gency stop to be safe and secure. Keep speed to a minimum.
 Reduce speed prior to turns to avoid the risk of overturning.
 Avoid sudden uphill turns on steep slopes.
 Always keep the tractor or towing vehicle in gear to provide engine braking when going downhill. Do not coast.
 Do not drink and drive!
• Comply with state and local laws governing highway safety and movement of farm machinery on public roads.
• Use approved accessory lighting flags and necessary warning devices to protect operators of other vehicles on
the highway during daylight and nighttime transport. Various safety lights and devices are available from your
dealer.
• The use of flashing amber lights is acceptable in most localities. However, some localities prohibit their use.
Local laws should be checked for all highway lighting and marking requirements.
• When driving the tractor and equipment on the road or highway under 40 kph (20 mph) at night or during the
day, use flashing amber warning lights and a slow moving vehicle (SMV) identification emblem.
• Plan your route to avoid heavy traffic.
• Be a safe and courteous driver. Always yield to oncoming traffic in all situations, including narrow bridges, in-
tersections, etc.
• Be observant of bridge loading ratings. Do not cross bridges rated lower than the gross weight as which you are
operating.
• Watch for obstructions overhead and to the side while transporting.
• Always operate equipment in a position to provide maximum visibility at all times. Make allowances for in-
creased length and weight of the equipment when making turns, stopping the unit, etc.
• Pick the levelest possible route when transporting across fields. Avoid the edges of ditches or gullies and steep
hillsides.
• Be extra careful when working on inclines.
• Maneuver the tractor or towing vehicle at safe speeds.
• Avoid overhead wires or other obstacles. Contact with overhead lines could cause serious injury or death.
• Avoid loose fill, rocks and holes; they can be dangerous for equipment operation or movement.
• Allow for unit length when making turns.
• Operate the towing vehicle from the operator’s seat only.
• Never stand alongside of unit with engine running or attempt to start engine and/or operate machine while stand-
ing alongside of unit.
• Never leave running equipment attachments unattended.
• As a precaution, always recheck the hardware on equipment following every 100 hours of operation. Correct all
problems. Follow the maintenance safety procedures.
HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT OPERATIONS

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Hopper
1. Secure the spreader hopper support pan to the bottom of the hopper with the 4 carriage head
bolts and nuts.
2. With the hopper opening facing up, insert the Retainer Bushing through the center hole of the hop-
per. The bushing rim should be on the inside of the hopper against the metal bowl.
3. Turn the hopper upside down.
4. Slip the 2-hole (Top Shutter Plate Flow Control) Galvanized disc over the bushing and against the
hopper bottom.
5. Do the same with the 3-hole (Bottom shutter Plate Directional Control) Galvanized disc. Im-
portant: See photo to be sure the discs are flipped the proper way.
6. Put the 4 3/8” washer over the Retainer bushing.
Secure everything in place with the spanner nut or snap ring.
IMPORTANT: Make sure both holes can be exposed after the discs are assembled. If not assem-
bled correctly, the openings will not line up when the gates are supposed to be open.
Assembly

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Frame
1. Install the spin disc on the gearbox output shaft. Secure it in
place with the 8mm roll pin in the lower most hole, which is clos-
est to the gearbox housing.
2. Install the deflector shield on the inside of the frame. Bolt it to
the tabs welded in front of the lower hitch pins on the frame. Se-
cure it in place with the 10 x 25mm bolts, flat washers, and Hex
nuts.
3. Secure the Fixed Pivot to the deflector shield with an 8mm nut
and flat washer.
4. Loosely attach the left and right hopper support arms to the frame
using the M10 x 25mm bolts, lock washers and Hex nuts. The
notch end goes on the frame. Do not tighten.
5. Attaching the adjustment spreader lever. Slip the adjust-
ment lever through the scaled slot. Put the spring over the 10 x
70mm bolt. Insert the bolt through the spreader lever and put
the fiber spacer next to the lever. Put the bolt through the frame
and secure in place with the 10mm lock nut. Compress the
spring by tightening the bolt and nut until there is resistance in
moving the handle up and down.
6. Installing the Threaded Adjustment Block. Slip the wing
bolt through the indication gauge and then through the scaled
slot on the frame. Thread the wing bolt through the solid block
to secure it to the frame.
7. Flip the hopper right side up, and position it over the frame.
Slide center hole over the gearbox output shaft. Secure the
back of the hopper in place by slipping the large washer over a
10 x 35mm bolt and sliding it through hopper and then through
the frame near the top hitch. Secure it in place with a 10mm
flat washer, lock washer and hex nut. Insert the support bar and
bolt it in place with the 10 x 25mm bolts. The flat washers,
lock washers and hex nuts are tightened against the hopper sup-
ports.
8. Install the nylon dust washer over the gearbox output shaft and
slide it down until lit rests against the bottom of the hopper.
Install the agitator with the 8 x 50mm bolt and lock nut.
9. Attach the Tie Rod to the Top Shutter Plate and secure it with R
clips and 2 - 10mm flat washers.
10. Install the Directional lever to the Bottom Shutter Plate and
secure the end to directional disc with 2mm cotter pin and 8mm
flat washer and the R clip to the Fixed Pivot bolted to the de-
flector shield.
Tighten all hardware.

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Operation
Attaching to the tractor
1. With the Fertilizer Spreader on a level surface, back the Cat. 1 tractor so the tractor lift arms are even with the
fertilizer spreader lower hitch pins. Lower or raise the tractor hitch arms until the 7/8” bushing in the arm is
level with the hitch pins. Be sure nothing is between the tractor and the cutter before backing up.
2. Insert the lower link hitch hole of the tractor’s lift arm over the implement’s hitch pin.
3. Secure the lift arm in place by using a 7/16” lynch pin or other fastener.
4. Repeat with the other arm.
5. Connect the driveline to the tractor’s PTO output shaft. Secure it in place with the bolt supplied with the
driveline.
6. Connect the tractor top link to the upper pivot hitch of the fertilizer spreader.
7. Start the tractor and slowly raise the fertilizer spreader. Check for drawbar interference. Be sure that the PTO
driveline does not bottom out when lifting the fertilizer spreader to it’s maximum height. If it does appear that
it could bottom out, it is necessary to shorten the PTO driveline. (See Shortening a PTO Driveline section).
Ensure that in the working position there is an overlap of a minimum of 1/3 the length of each profile.
Shortening a PTO Driveline
1. With the implement attached to the tractor’s three point hitch, and the PTO driveline not installed, separate
the PTO driveline. Attach the implement end to the implement and the other end to the tractor PTO input
shaft.
2. Raise the implement by using the tractor’s hydraulic 3-point hitch to it’s maximum lift height.
3. Hold the half shafts next to each other and mark them so each end is approximately ½” from hitting the end of
the telescopic profiles.
4. Shorten the inner and out guard tubes equally.
5. Shorten the inner and outer profiles by the same length as the guard tubes. Using a rattail file, round off all
sharp edges and burrs. Grease the telescopic profile generously before reassembling.
Do not shorten too much, the proper overlap is a minimum of 1/3 the length of each profile.
Spreading Height
Before operating the spreader, make sure that the spreading disc is set to the horizontal position and it is about 30”
from ground level.
Spreading with revolving vanes.
Since fertilizers vary with respect to weights and density, in order to obtain a perfect spreading it may be necessary
to adjust the vanes in order to compensate for these differences. The vanes are usually set to the center position.
By moving the vanes forward, distribution is increased towards the left side of the tractor operator, moving them
backwards causes distribution to be increased towards the right.
Left– Center – Right Spreader pattern
A simple adjustment of the lower lever allows directioning of the spreader pattern towards the right , center or left
of the tractor
Removal and Storage
After finishing, remove the spreader from the tractor.
1. Put the PTO driveline in a safe location so it will not become damaged.
Wash out the spreader, removing all fertilizer or other material.
FOLLOWING OPERATION