MechMaxx NAM Flail Mower Operator's Manual

Introduction

Welcome to the MechMaxx family of tractor implements. This NAM Flail Mower has been designed with care and built using quality materials by skilled workers. Proper assembly, maintenance, and safe operating practices will ensure years of reliable use.

This implement is designed for Category 1 three-point hitch or Quick-Hitch System mounting. It is ideal for ripping, leveling, finish grading, and backfilling applications in areas such as feedlots, outdoor arenas, building sites, and for maintenance operations on farm and ranch lanes or roadways.

This Operator's Manual is designed to familiarize users with safety, assembly, operation, adjustments, troubleshooting, and maintenance. It is important to read and follow all recommendations for safe and efficient operation.

Specifications

The following table details the specifications for the MechMaxx NAM Flail Mower models:

Safety Information

Always prioritize safety. Read and understand all instructions and safety decals before operating the equipment.

Signal Words

• DANGER: Indicates an imminently hazardous situation which, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
• WARNING: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
• CAUTION: Indicates a potentially hazardous situation which, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.

Important Safety Precautions

• Ensure only trained personnel operate the equipment.
• Operate the implement only from the tractor's driver's seat.
• Verify all guards and shields are in place and secured before operation.
• Never leave the tractor or implement unattended with the engine running.
• Dismounting from a moving tractor can cause serious injury or death.
• Do not stand between the tractor and implement during hitching.
• Keep hands, feet, and clothing away from all moving parts. Wear snug-fitting clothing.
• Be aware of surroundings, including wires, trees, and other obstacles, especially when raising the implement. Ensure all persons are clear of the working area.
• Turning the tractor too tightly may cause the implement to ride up on wheels, leading to injury or damage.
• Slow moving tractors and implements can be a hazard on public roads. Use appropriate lights and devices for warning other vehicles, complying with all Federal, State, and local laws.
• WARNING: Never allow children to operate the mower. Do not permit riders on the tractor or mower.
• WARNING: Always operate with ROPS (Roll-Over Protective Structure) and seatbelts equipped on the tractor.
• WARNING: Stop the engine, set the brake, and wait for all moving parts to stop before dismounting.
• DANGER: Rotating driveline contact can cause death. Keep away. Ensure all driveline guards are in place and turn freely.
• DANGER: Rotating knives hazard. Do not go under the frame when the rotor is turning or the engine is running. Keep others away. Disconnect and lockout power source before adjusting or servicing.
• WARNING: Flying objects hazard. Keep clear.
• DANGER: High Pressure Fluid Hazard. Escaping fluid can penetrate skin. Release pressure before working on hydraulic systems. Use wood or cardboard to check for leaks, not body parts. Seek immediate medical attention if skin penetration occurs.
• CAUTION: Operate only with 540 RPM PTO.
• DANGER: Stay back 150 feet at all times.

Assembly and Set-up

Tractor Requirements:

• The mower is designed for a Category 1 three-point hitch.
• Tractor horsepower rating should not exceed 80 PTO horsepower.

Assembly: Refer to the Parts Diagram for component identification.

Tractor Hook-Up:

1. Ensure the tractor drawbar will not interfere. Move or remove the drawbar if necessary. Check for clearance when the unit is raised for the first time.
2. Align the tractor's lower link arms with the mower's hitch clevises. Insert lower hitch pins into the ball swivels and attach linch pins.
3. Attach the tractor's top link to the mower's upper floating hitch with the supplied pin. Secure with a lock pin.
4. Adjust the tractor top link to position the upper hitch pin vertically above or slightly behind the lower hitch pins to allow mower flotation. The mower should operate with the back 15 degrees lower than the front. The hitch can also be adjusted side-to-side using the adjustment handle.

Driveline Installation:

1. Slide the driveline end with the extended safety cone over the gearbox splined shaft and secure with the attaching device.
2. Slide the driveline over the tractor's splined PTO shaft and secure with the driveline's locking device.
3. Move the driveline back and forth to ensure it is secure on both the tractor PTO shaft and the mower gearbox.
4. Attach the chain from the driveline shield to one of the upper hitch braces to prevent the shield from rotating.
5. If the driveline requires shortening:
   1. Hold the half-shafts together in the shortest working position and mark them.
   2. Shorten inner and outer guard tubes equally.
   3. Shorten inner and outer sliding profiles by the same length as the guard tubes.
   4. Ensure proper overlap is a minimum of one-half the length of each tube, with both tubes being of equal length.
   5. Round off all sharp edges and remove burrs. Grease the sliding profiles.

CAUTION: Tractors PTO shield and all mower guards must be in place at all times during operation!

Operating Instructions

Proper servicing and adjustments are crucial for the long life of the machine. Regular inspection helps avoid costly maintenance and repairs.

Before Mowing - Pre-Operation Inspection:

• Check the oil level in the gearbox.
• Ensure all gearbox plugs are replaced and tightened.
• Verify that all mower knives, bolts, and nuts are tight.
• Confirm all guards and shields are in place and secure.
• Grease the driveline shaft and all other grease fittings.
• Clear the mowing area of rocks, branches, and other foreign objects.

Starting and Mowing:

1. Lower the mower to the ground.
2. Set the tractor throttle to approximately 1/4 open.
3. Engage the PTO to start the blades rotating.
4. Operate with a tractor PTO speed of 540 rpm.
5. Begin mowing at a slow forward speed. Gradually increase speed until the desired rate is achieved, maintaining 540 PTO rpm.
6. Mower knives cut more effectively at a faster blade speed.
7. After mowing the first 50 feet, stop and check the mower's adjustment.
8. Do not make sharp turns or attempt to back up while the mower is on the ground.
9. Do not engage the PTO with the mower in the fully raised position. Do not engage the PTO at full throttle.

Transporting:

• Always disengage the PTO before raising the mower for transport.
• When raising the mower, ensure the driveline does not contact the tractor or mower. Adjust the tractor's 3-point hitch lift height accordingly.
• Reduce tractor ground speed when turning to avoid contact with obstacles.
• Select a safe ground travel speed when transporting. On roadways, allow faster vehicles to pass safely.
• When traveling over rough or hilly terrain, shift the tractor to a lower gear.
• CAUTION: When traveling on public roads, use accessory lights and devices for adequate warning to other vehicles, complying with all Federal, State, and local laws.

Mowing Instructions:

• Clear the mowing area of objects and debris that could be thrown by the blades.
• Mow when grass is dry. Wet grass can cause plugging and clumping.
• Mow frequently; shorter clippings deteriorate faster.
• For very tall grass, raise the cutting height, mow, then lower the height and mow again.

Adjustments

Leveling the Mower:

• Ensure the tractor and mower are on level ground.
• Leveling can be adjusted at the tractor's 3-point arms and center link.

Cutting Height Adjustment:

1. The cutting height is determined by the position of the rear roller.
2. Remove the bolts securing the roller on both sides.
3. Lift or lower both sides of the roller by equal measurements.
4. Replace and re-tighten the bolts.

3-Point Hitch Adjustments:

• The 3-point hitch system allows for front-to-back flotation on uneven terrain.
• Adjust the tractor's top center link to place the upper hitch pin vertically above or slightly behind the lower hitch pins. The mower should operate with the back 15 degrees lower than the front.
• The hitch can be adjusted side-to-side by turning the adjustment handle.

CAUTION: Engage parking brake, shut off tractor, remove key, and disengage PTO before making any height adjustments!

Belt Tension:

• Belt tension should be checked after the first 20 hours of use, and then every 40 hours of use.
• Tension is adjusted using the belt tension bolt. Turn the bolt until the desired tension is achieved. The gearbox extension should be running straight (parallel) with the flail mower when the belt has correct tension. Loosen bolts at the bottom of the gearbox and move the gearbox until the extension is straight.
• WARNING: Excessive belt tension can lead to premature failure of belts and drive components, and may create a safety hazard.

Maintenance and Lubrication

General Maintenance:

• For safety, always disengage PTO, lower the mower completely, shut off the tractor engine, and remove the ignition key before performing maintenance.
• After initial use (several hours), check all bolts for tightness and verify drive belt tension.
• Replace any worn, damaged, or illegible safety decals with new ones from the dealer.

Knife Replacement:

• IMPORTANT: Ensure the replacement knife is the same length as the others on the mower to maintain rotor balance.
• Remove the bolt and nut.
• Remove the old knife.
• Install the new knife with the existing bolt.
• Secure with the nut.

V-Belt Installation:

• CAUTION: Belt drive system is under spring tension; use care to avoid bodily harm!
• Remove the belt guard fender and belt cover.
• Disengage belt tension by loosening the belt tension bolt until the belt can be removed.
• Remove the old belt from the pulleys.
• Install the new belt.
• Tighten the belt tension bolt.
• Reinstall the belt guard and belt guard fender.

Storage:

• At the end of the season or before long-term storage, clean off dirt and grease.
• Check knives for wear and replace if necessary.
• Inspect the mower for loose, damaged, or worn parts and adjust or replace as needed.
• Store the unit indoors if possible.
• Repaint scratched or worn areas to prevent rust.
• Replace any damaged or missing decals.

Lubrication:

Refer to the following lubrication points and intervals:

• Driveline Profiles: Use Multipurpose Grease. Lubricate every 20 hours.
• Cutter Rotor Bearing (Both Ends): Use Multipurpose Grease. Lubricate every 25 hours.
• Shaft Tube: Use SAE 85W-90 OIL or equivalent. Check oil level in the shaft tube by removing the plug (6). Oil should be level with the bottom of the plug hole. Add oil if necessary via the top fill plug (5) or side plug (6). Do not overfill. Ensure the mower is level when checking oil. Quantity is 0.35 Lt.
• Gearbox: Use SAE 85W-90 OIL or equivalent. Check oil level in the gearbox by removing the plug (2). Oil should be level with the bottom of the plug hole. Add oil if necessary via the top fill plug (1) or side plug (2). Do not overfill. Ensure the mower is level when checking oil. Quantity is 1.2 Lt.

Troubleshooting

Refer to the table below for common problems and their solutions:

CAUTION: Do not try to clean the rear discharge area when the mower is running. Bodily harm may occur!

Appendix: Torque Specifications

Always tighten bolts to the specified torques unless otherwise noted. Periodically check bolt tightness using these charts. Replace hardware with the same strength.

English Torque Specifications

Torque figures are valid for non-greased or non-oiled threads unless specified. Do not grease or oil bolts/screws unless specified. When using locking elements, increase torque by 5%.

Metric Torque Specifications

Torque figures indicated above are valid for non-greased or non-oiled threads and heads otherwise specified. Therefore, do not grease or oil bolts or cap screws unless otherwise specified in this manual. When using locking elements, increase torque values by 5%.

Warranty

MechMaxx warrants to the original purchaser that this product will be free from defects in material and workmanship for a specified period, beginning on the date of purchase, when used as intended and under normal service conditions.

• Overall Unit and Driveline: One year.
• Gearbox: One year on all components.
• Blades and Belts: Considered wear items.

This warranty is limited to the replacement of any defective part by the manufacturer. It does not cover common wear items. MechMaxx reserves the right to inspect any equipment or parts claimed to be defective.

The warranty does not apply to parts or products that have been misused, damaged by accident, neglected, improperly maintained, repaired or altered in a way that affects performance, or used for a purpose for which the product was not designed. Misuse includes failure to properly maintain oil levels, grease points, and driveline shafts.

Claims must be made directly, and all adjustments must be made through MechMaxx. MechMaxx reserves the right to make changes in materials or design without notice. This warranty does not render MechMaxx liable for consequential damages, loss of crops, labor, supplies, or rental machinery.

No other warranty, express or implied, is made with respect to this sale. Implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are hereby disclaimed.

Parts Information

Detailed parts diagrams and lists are provided to assist with identification and ordering of replacement components.

Parts Diagram: The diagram illustrates the exploded view of the mower assembly, with each part numbered for reference.

Parts List: The list provides a reference number, description, and quantity for each component of the mower assembly (e.g., Fixing plate, Hook, Belt cover, Gearbox assembly, etc.) and the gearbox assembly (e.g., Plug Cap, Gearbox assembly, Oil Seal, Bevel Gear, etc.).

For prompt service, always use the serial number and model number when ordering parts from your dealer. Ensure your serial and model numbers are included in any correspondence.