Product Manual

Page 13 of 22
1. Read and understand the Owner’s Manual.
2. Be instructed in safe and proper use.
Know your controls and how to stop the tractor, the engine, and the digger quickly in an emergency.
To understand how to do this, read this manual and your tractor’s manual.
Train all new personnel and review instructions frequently with existing workers. Be certain only a
properly trained and physically able person will operate the machinery. A person who has not read
and understood all operating and safety instructions is not qualified to operate the machine.
An untrained operator exposes himself and bystanders to possible serious injury or death. If the
elderly are assisting with farm work, their physical limitations need to be recognized and
accommodated.
Preparation
Never operate the tractor and digger until you have read and completely understood this manual, the
tractor Owner’s Manual, and each of the safety messages found on the safety signs on the tractor and
digger.
Personal protection equipment including hard hat, safety goggles, safety shoes, and gloves are
recommended during assembly, installation, operation, adjustment, maintenance, repairing, removal,
or movement of the implement. Do not allow long hair, loose fitting clothing, or jewelry to be around
equipment.
Prolonged exposure to loud noise may cause permanent hearing loss! Tractors with or without
diggers attached can often be noisy enough to cause permanent, partial hearing loss. We recommend
that you wear hearing protection on a full time basis if the noise in the operator’s position exceeds 65
dB. Noise over 65 dB on a long-term basis can cause severe hearing loss. Long term noise over 65
dB adjacent to the operator, may cause permanent, and total hearing loss.
Note: Hearing loss from loud noise (tractors, chain saws, radios, and other such sources close to the
ear) is cumulative over a lifetime, without hope of natural recovery.
Operate the digger only with a tractor equipped with an approved Roll Over Protection System
(ROPS). Always wear your seat belt. Serious injury or even death could result from falling off the
tractor particularly during a turnover when the operator could be pinned under the ROPS or the
tractor.
Clear the digging area of stones, branches, or other debris that might be thrown or entangled in
the digger, causing injury or damage.
Operate only in daylight or good artificial light.
Ensure that the digger is properly mounted, adjusted, and in good operating condition.
Ensure that all safety shielding and safety signs are properly installed and in good condition.
Operating Instructions
Starting and Stopping
Check the tractor master shield over the PTO stub shaft. Make sure it is in good condition and
fastened securely to the tractor. Purchase a new shield if the old shield is damaged or missing.
All tractors that are not equipped with “live” PTO need to be equipped with an over-running PTO
clutch (available through most farm equipment stores).