Acadian Machine

Walk Behind Blueberry Harvester Manual

This pdf manual can be downloaded to your computer or printed out for offline use.

Acadian Machine

Operating the Harvester

The Engine

• The harvester comes equipped with a Honda GX 160 motor.

Starting The Engine

• Turn the fuel valve to the ON position• Move the choke to the CLOSED position• Move the throttle lever slightly to the right.• Turn engine switch to the ON position.• Pull the grip lightly until resistance is felt.

• Pull briskly.• As the engine warms up, gradual move the choke to the Open position.• Position the throttle lever to desired speed.

In an emergency turn the engine switch to the off position.

:Under normal circumstance use the following procedure:

1: Move the throttle lever fully to the right

2. Turn the engine switch to the OFF position.

3. Turn fuel valve to the OFF position

The Engine Cage

• The engine cage is an important safety feature.• All engines will get hot during use and this engine is no different.• Unlike most engine, however, this one is in use near dry vegetation.

The Engine Cage - continued

• The engine cage is designed to keep the debris from coming into contact with the hot engine.• The operator should make sure that debris does not accumulate onto the cage.

Transmission

• The harvester comes with a standard six speed transmission.• Reverse is to the left and up and higher speeds move to the right.• Never harvest berries in reverse.

Transmission continued

• Harvesting should be done in either the first or second gear.• The higher speeds are be used when moving the harvester and not harvesting.

Controllers

• Control 2 operates the transmission and moves the harvester.• Control 1 operates the picking head.• Never operate the picking head while in reverse.

Turning The Harvester.

• The bottom roller of the harvester is not designed to move from side to side.• Doing so will damage the bearings.

Turning The Harvester - continued

To keep from damagingyour harvester, it isimportant that you lift thepicking head while makinga turn.

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Maintenance

Replacing a broken tooth

The walk behind harvestercomes with a tool kit tohelp you replace a brokentooth.

Step One

Locate the tooth in thebar which needs to bereplaced. In this exampleit is the tooth with the redlines.

Step Two

Place the smaller end ofthe tooth punch over thetooth you wish to removeand tap it with a hammeruntil the tooth pops out.

Step Three

Flip the bar with themissing tooth to theupward position.

Step Four

• Place the blunt end of the tooth into the hole at the front of the bar and hammer it into place.• Insert the sharp end of the tooth into the hole at the bottom of the tooth driver.

Step Five

• Return the bar to its proper position.

Cleaning The Air Vent

Air Vents

• You may notice that less air is coming through the vents.• This may be a sign that you need to clean the vents.• You should have a piece of wire on hand to perform cleaning.

Air Vents - continued

• The vent access hatch is located on the engine side of the harvester.• It is held close by a piece of bungee cord.• Remove the cord to open the hatch.

Air Vents - continued

• Lift back on the lever to open up the hatch.• Inspect the opening and see if the tunnel has become clogged up with debris from the harvesting.

Air Vents - continued

• Slide the wire inside the tunnel to scoop out any debris.• When the cleaning is completed closed the access door and secure it with the bungee cord.

Drive Chain Maintenance

Lubricating The Head Belt

It is important that the head belt be lubricated after each day ofharvesting. It is recommended that you use Fluid Film for this task. It contains no solvents and is classified as non-toxic and non- hazardous.

– continued.

• The head guard does not need to be removed in order to lubricate the belt.• The picture to the left indicates where the lubrication should be applied to the head belt.

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• This is a two person job. One person needs to engage the harvester head so the head spins while the other sprays the belt.• Keep spraying until the belt has rotated completely several times

Safety Clutch

• Blueberry fields are filled with hazards like rocks or stumps.• The walk behind harvester has a build in safety clutch to help prevent damage.• It does not require maintenance unless it has been used.

• If the picking head strikes and object and is stopped, the safety clutch is engaged automatically.• When the safety clutch is engaged you will hear a loud ratcheting sound as the head stops moving.•

Safety clutch – continued.

• Once the safety clutch has been engage it needs to be greased. Any multi-purpose grease can be used.• The grease can be added through the grease nipple shown in the picture to the left.

Safety clutch – continued.

• This picture is a close up of the grease nipple once the chain guard has been removed.• Please note the guard DOES NOT need to be removed in order to grease the safety clutch.

Escalator Cleaning

Cleaning The Escalator

• There will be a build of dirt and debris on the escalator.• The harvester has been designed so that it can easily be cleaned with a garden hose or pressure washer. This is the only part a pressure washer can be used on.

Escalator cleaning - continued

• The walls on both sides of the harvester can be removed.• Grab the top of the wall and pull out. Once the top slides out, lift up on the wall to remove it.

Escalator cleaning - continued

• Once the walls are off, hose off the escalator.• Have someone lift the head off the ground and slowly advance the escalator so that it can be cleaned completely.

Escalator cleaning - continued

Important NoteDo not advance the entireescalator more than once.The walls keep theescalator aligned andwithout them they willshift if moved too far. Thiswill keep the walls fittingback into place.

Escalator cleaning - continued

To replace the walls lineup the groove with theshaft on the bottom andpush down in place.Next simply press the topof the wall in place to re-attach the wall.

Chain Assembly 1

Chain Assembly 2

Chain Assembly 3

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