OPERATION

Fertilising While Ridging:

Position the unit on the toolbar directly above the ridger assembly, using the same fastening bolts, setting the unit at the correct row spacing required, whether it be a one, two or three row machine.

Mount the toolbar on to the tractor three-point lift.

When the ridger is pulled into the soil to the required depth, the fertiliser bin should be level on top when viewed from the side. Adjust the tractor top link to achieve this. The toolbar must also be level when viewed from the rear.

Adjust the lower chute assembly in a vertical direction, using the bolts provided, so that the sweeping blade is not more than two millimetres from the curved plate in the lower chute assembly.

Top Dressing:

The fertiliser unit must be mounted on the toolbar in a position in the centre of the interrow, whether it be a one, tow or three row machine. The toolbar height from the ground must be set either on the tractor hydraulic position control or with depth wheels.

The height is important and the toolbar must be set so that the underside of the toolbar is 500 millimetres from the ground in the interrow.

The polythene hoses must be rotated to direct the fertiliser to the outside. This will give half the required rate application of each side.

Calibration:

Place the machine with the ridgers on level ground or on the workshop floor or if ridgers are not being used, set the tractor lift with the underside of the toolbar 500 millimetres from the ground and level. Prop up the rear of the wheel frame so that the wheel only just clears the ground when rotated. When the machine is first delivered, the length of the crank rod will be set but ensure that the sweeping blade traverses equally to the front and rear of the curved plate in the lower chute and adjust the length of the crank as required b screwing the block in or out and locking with nut. Now loosen the pivot pin with a 19 mm spanner. Rotate the screw to minimum stroke so that the sweep blade is stationary when the wheel is rotated.


NOTE:

The application rate of the fertiliser unit depends on the lengh of stroke of the adjustable crank at the wheel. The greater the length of the crank, the greater the movement of the sweep blade to discharge more feriliser.

Select the required application rate shown down the left hand column of Table 1. Opposite this amount, refer to the column which gives the row spacing you require. The figure shown in this column is the amount in grammes which should be discarged from both outlets over a distance of 20 metres.

Refer to Table 2 find how many turns of the screw will be required to give the amount taken from Table 1. Loosen the pin with a 19 mm spanner and rotate the screw from zero to the correct number of turns.

Now rotate the wheel 11 turns and catch the fertiliser discharged from both pipes in a light plastic bag and weigh with a simple domestic scale. This should coincide with the amount selected from Table 1.

The number of turns of the screw are approximate and will need to be checked and adjusted either one way or the other to obtain the correct reading, as the density of different fertilisers varies considerably. The weights shown are for a granular feriliser.

When the correct reading is obtained, the pivot pin must be tightened. Each machine on a toolbar must be set individually.

Avoid travelling to the field with fertiliser in the bin as spillage may occur on very rough roads.