MACHINE OPERATION

MACHINE OPERATION

Never attempt to operate the machine or its equipment from any position other than seated in the operator's seat. In all circumstance, keep head, body, limbs, feet, hands and fingers within the operator's compartment to minimise the possibility of exposure to eventual external dangers.

Keep all equipment low or in a position ensuring maximum visibility and the control of the machine.

Never use the equipment as a platform to lift personnel nor to carry riders on the machine.

When pulling or towing through a cable or chain, do not start suddenly at full throttle; take-up slack carefully.

Use only designated anchoring points when pulling or towing. Take extreme care when hooking. Make sure that pins and locks are properly secured before pulling.

Keep exposed personnel clear of the equipment (or supplementary attachments) when raised, to avoid possible injuries.

NEVER COAST the machine down grades and slopes with the transmission in neutral or neutralised.

Explore the working area to identify potential risks such as: slopes, overhangs, pits, demolition rubble, fires, ravines, ditches, soft terrain, heavy traffic, crowded parking areas, closed ambients. In such conditions, proceed with extreme care.

Working on slopes is dangerous. Pay special attentions when working near overhangs.

Always designate a flagman when visibility of the working place, by the operator, is limited. The flagman must be capable of communicating directly with the operator and the latter must obey the signals.

Be aware of falling walls, falling objects and landslides. Always remember that these dangers could be concealed by brushes, undergrowth etc. When working in ditches or near high embankments, make sure that the walls are adequately supported, so as to prevent landslides.

Before working in the vicinity of gas lines or other utility lines always contact the nearest utility office before beginning work. You and the utility representative must jointly determine what specific precautions must be taken to insure safety.

Work in proximity of overhead or underground power lines involves serious body injuries and death hazards, thus special precautions must be taken according to national and local safety regulations. For the purposes of this Manual you are considered to be working in the proximity of power lines when the attachment or the load raised by machine, in any position, can reach to within the minimum distances specified by local and national safety regulations.

Slow down working speeds. Reaction times could be too slow and distances could be erroneously evaluated.

WARNING

PRACTICAL OPERATION TIPS

It is good practice, when the operator first gets on the machine, to familiarise with its controls. The operator must perform all the operations the equipment is capable of doing, to develop sufficient "feeling" with the controls and their reaction. Remember that, when the control levers are in neutral position, the equipment is solid with the machine: this means that it will follow along any movement of the machine.

A

Dozing When working on grades, it is best to move downhill for better traction. Gradually lower the blade at the beginning of each pass and accelerate the engine fully. The dozing depth should be such as to allow a load within a short distance (5-6 m /15-18 ft); the full load should, then, just be pushed to the unloading area. When the ground is hard, getting a full load in a short distance becomes difficult. Under these conditions, instead of pushing a half empty blade towards the unloading area, it is better to return to the starting point and doze more. The load of the second pass is added to the first one and will result in more effective dozing, especially when the unloading distance is considerable. Working is often made more difficult when large rocks are present and are caught under the blade and pushed forward or lifting the front of the machine, making uneven cuts. This humped effect can be avoided by backing-up with the blade at a lower depth capable of dislodging the rock. If necessary, operate with the moldboard corner tilted. When dozing in hard terrain and the blade is unable to cut the material, it is advisable to increase the moldboard's draft. Under these conditions the angle is good for the initial cutting, but during continued dozing the moldboard will pick-up more resistance as the load will push the blade upward. Also, a high pitch reduces the rolling of the material on the blade, increasing the resistance. In hard and rough dozing, the operation might be easier if the blade is tilted; if the work to done is over a considerable area, first use the ripper to break-up the soil.

Pushing loads on turns B

Blade pitch A. Loose soil. B. Hard soil.

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Road and ditch cutting When cutting steep slopes (for roads or ditches) dozing should begin by cutting the depth of the ditch and tilting the blade to cut the sides with the desired angle. Care must be taken in monitoring that the profile of the slope is regular, as any correction would be most difficult or, in some cases, even impossible.

Pushing loads When pushing materials have the tendency to spill out the sides of the blade. This problem can be reduced by working repeatedly, when possible, following the same path on successive trips so that the spills forming windrows on both sides prevent a further loss of material from the blade. When pushing loads on a level terrain, keep the blade just touching the ground or at a depth deep enough to skim the surface. However, if the terrain is uneven it is appropriate to cut a little deeper to compensate the dirt which falls out the sides or in the hollows.

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Steering The D350 Power Steering solves the steering difficulties during the pushing phases of the materials, since it provides constant power to both track chains under all conditions, steering the machine in a natural manner. Consequently, the traction is increased and an easier manoeuvre by the operator and a smoother ground condition (not ruined by the locking of the track chains).

Pushing loads while steering

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Spreading When spreading materials, hold the blade slightly above the ground, so that it can slide under the cutting edge, creating an even layer. If the layer to be spread is of a considerable height, let the blade rest at a height just above the desired layer, since the compactation occurring later will lower the layer, especially when loose materials are involved. Grading After the ground has been dozed, the surface might be rough due to small windrows, ground lifted by the tracks or small piles left around turning points. These terrain irregularities must be smoothed over by operating the dozer in reverse and leaving the blade floating. Under these conditions, the blade operates as a harrow, topping off high spots and filling voids, without altering the level. Grading is often made difficult, and sometimes impossible, because of boulders or other debris, which have to be removed first.

Moving large rocks and boulders It could become necessary to move boulders with the dozer, during all kinds of works. There are several procedures. In fact a fully loaded blade may be used or the boulder can be pushed directly by the blade by the forward or reverse action of the machine. The choice of procedures used depends upon several factors: the dimensions and shape of the boulder, space available, type of work being performed. With tractor in forward and fully loaded blade the boulder can be moved by glancing it off the load; in this manner the rock will roll-off to the nearest side of the machine. Repeating this type of manoeuvre will eventually edge the boulder from the working area. The same result can be obtained by manoeuvring in reverse. In such a case, turn the machine so that the side of the blade contacts the boulder, then disengage the steering clutch on the machine's opposite side and lock that side's brake. The dozer will steer, pivoting on the track being braked, while the blade pushes the rock backward and sideways.

Moving boulders with full blade

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Moving boulders with full blade

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Piling To pile materials, two well accepted methods are recommended: Form a pile of material on the first pass, then, with successive passes, accumulate material in front of the established pile. After forming an initial pile on the first pass push material on successive passes to the top of the established pile and make it fall over the opposite side. Sometimes, instead of piling it, the material is pushed to fill a ditch. In this case, since the filling material tends to let the machine sink it is appropriate to build a small step before reaching the edge of the ditch, raising slightly the blade. This step improves safety since, proceeding with subsequent passes, the front of the tracks shall allow, in steps, to protrude over the original edge.

A Piling

B Pile levelling If the pile is not too bulky or hard, it can be levelled by dozing the blade into it, than it can be spread or re-piled somewhere else. If the pile is too large or too hard to be spread with a single pass, or it must be spread in different directions, the first pass may be made grading one side to ground level, repeating the cuts, as required from different angles, on the remaining pile. If the dozing leaves high walls which could fall on the machine, turn the blade from time to time toward the wall and with it raised, push the mound down. If the dozer is unable to cut a pile because of its steep sides, a ramp can be built by pushing into one side with the blade raised and then backblading with a down pressure. The levelling of a pile can also be made by dozing a centre slot and continually cut away the top. This method is always recommended when the pile is excessively high and it is the only possible when there no access to the side of the pile. The centre slot with must be quite greater than the width of the blade, thus allowing a protective border to be built preventing the dozer from getting trapped, once the digging reaches a certain depth or boulders and earth or the walls collapse on the machine. Also, a narrow cut does not allow the machine to properly manoeuvre and dispose of rocks or roots encountered while dozing.

Cutting a pile with side cuts

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CUTTING A PILE WITH CENTRE SLOT CENTRE SLOT DOZING OF PILE

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Going over obstacles Any obstacle (logs, roots, ridges etc.) must be removed, if possible, or avoided. If this is impossible, crossing must be done very slowly and at an angle so that one track will reach the top and starts to descend on the other side, while the track is still climbing. This method of operation slows down the dropping and decreases the shock against the ground, which could cause damages to the machine and the operator. If the obstacle is made of soft material it is good practice to sharply turn the machine while crossing, so that the track edges will help cut the material down. When the dozer is operating in heavy work, the tracks often spin, forming small pile of earth near their rear end. Under these circumstances, when reversing direction, it is good practice to move sideways as much as required, to avoid the tracks hitting these windrows. A ditch may be crossed without danger only if its width is not greater than 1/3 the track length and if the track movement will not collapse the banks. To prevent the latter from occurring, move the machine over wooden planks, even if not very strong. Hill work Dozing on side slopes requires special care. Even when the dozer appears to have sufficient margin of safety, the sudden running over an unseen obstacle by the upper track or the lower track moving into a hollow, the machine could tip over. Chances of this occurring are lessened when the machine is dozing as it is moving along using the load as an additional stabiliser. Also, the machine is stabilised by the low windrow. Dozing on frozen slopes is hazardous as the grousers act as skates causing the machine to slide uncontrolled downhill. There is a danger of tipping over rocky slopes as well, especially shale with beds parallel to the surface and on soft fills where the lower track sinks deeper than the upper one. If the machine starts to slowly roll over, sometimes it is possible to prevent the trouble by quickly turning downhill, lowering the blade at the same time. Slopes too steep to be safely worked sideways, sometimes, may, be dozed by operating the machine along it diagonally.

On the other hand, the machine overcomes safely steep slopes downhill. Steering is apt to be tricky on steep slopes, whether up or down, because when one steering clutch is released, the track on that side slips and turns faster and the machine pulls to this side under gravity and might place itself transversally of the grade with the consequent danger of tipping over. Digging and pushing should be done downhill to obtain a better pushing effort. This is particularly advantageous when the ground is very tough, even if the soil must be pushed up the hill. When digging is limited to a given area on the slope and material must then be pushed downhill, it is a good technique to drop to or three loads at the end of the cut, then pushing most of the pile down in a single pass.

A

B

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Notching a shelf on side slopes, travelling and unloading downhill.

Notching a shelf on side slopes, travelling across the slope, steering and unloading downhill.

Grading on side slopes If a slope must be notched (i.g. road cuts in hillsides) it will be necessary to first build a shelf. Set the blade in tilt position opposite to the slope so the dirt moved will slide downhill and help in building up the shelf. If the slope is too steep to work effectively with tilted blade, proceed in one of the following ways: Push the material downhill to form a shelf as in (A), so the dozer can start level cuttings, as in (B). Start cut transversally to the slope, then turn at the same time to unload downhill. This will provide a more level shelf, which can than be enlarged or graded off as required. Dig a strip transversally to the slope, then proceed with a series of parallel cuts, always operating the higher track in the previous strip. In each case the best possible advantage should be taken with the soil configuration. When natural aids are not available, the machine can be moved onto boards or other lifts to start the cut at the desired slope.

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Clearing In land clearing of brush and small trees, clearing can be accomplished in one pass, with the blade cutting slightly below the ground. This will allow the blade to shear the roots. It may be necessary to back up occasionally to clear the roots from the cutting edge. Roots under the edge cause the blade to ride up and waste machine power. When uprooting a tree, first place the blade fully raised against the trunk, then engage first gear forward and push with the engine fully accelerated. If the tree resists, shift the transmission to neutral then into first forward again; repeat a few times. If the tree does not fall quickly, make a few passes to cut some of the outlaying root structure. To improve the pushing, build-up an earth ramp opposite the direction the tree is to be felled, so that the blade can touch the tree in a higher position. Remember, when the tree begins to fall, to back-up rapidly, so that the uplifting roots will not catch under and tilt over the machine. OPERATING TIPS

Before beginning to doze, the moldboard should have proper tilt and pitch for the work to be done. While dozing, always use a speed adequate to obtain best results from the machine.

To get smooth cuts, (meaning regular surfaces) the operator should closely watch the ground pattern and when the machine noses down or up, he must react swiftly with the control lever to raise or lower the blade, as required.

Note - Keep the cutting edges in good conditions.

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Dozing a shelf on side slopes by successive cuts across the slope. RIPPER

The ripper is supplied as an optional. To raise or lower the ripper, move the control lever backward or forward, respectively. To stop the ripper in the desired position, release the control lever which will return to hold position in neutral. The ripper is equipped with shanks/teeth removable from the relevant frame, as required. Thus it is possible to work with all the teeth or, in particularly heavy conditions, with the central one only.

Engage FIRST gear for all ripping operations. Use more shanks rather than increasing travel speed.

To obtain the best results, the following considerations should be kept in mind:

Breakage. The soil can be broken in fine or coarse pieces, as required. It depends on work depth, number and shape of the shanks and pass spacing. Breakage must be established on the basis of the subsequent use of the ripped material. As an example, if the material must be spread and back bladed, a finer breakage is required than when it must be dozed away.

Work depth. It is good practice to work to maximum depth permitted by the available power and traction of the machine, taking into account the breakage desired. Note that: - With strongly cohesive materials, such as clay, tuff, marl, gypsum, sandstone, calcite and other compact soils, the greater the depth the coarser the breakage; - With stratified materials, such as limestone, schist, gneiss, travertine etc., the greater the depth the finer the breakage.

Number and shape of teeth. The number of teeth depends on the power required of the machine in relation to the desired breakage. Generally, the greater the number of teeth, the finer is the breakage. Exceptions are stratified materials where large slabs are lifted when working with more than one tooth. As regard tooth shape, the partially curved type can be considered a universal standard. Curved teeth facilitate the lifting and to some extent, also the turning over of the material.

Spacing between passes. It must be such as to complete the breakage of the previous pass, always in relation to the desired fineness. Generally, spacing must be less than work depth. In plastic soils, e.g. gypsum (in which the implement makes just a cut) or in hard soil (in which the working depth must be reduced) criss-cross passes may be required.

Speed and direction. It is good practice not to exceed 1.5 to 2 km/h (1 to 1.2 mph) to prevent harmful shocks to the implement and excessive wear. When working on soft material, it is preferable to increase the depth rather than the speed. In the case of stratified materials, work crosswise and against the vein; on the contrary, if the material is landslipping. work in the direction of the landslide.

Material heaping. Generally it is convenient to heap material crosswise to the ripping direction in order to keep the transport distance to a minimum and to smooth out any irregularity.

WARNING To make sharp turns, raise the ripper teeth off the ground, to prevent damages. Only wide turns or small directional corrections are permissible when the ripper is sunk-in. With surfaces with deep depressions, first make passes to level the ground, prior to ripping, to avoid breaking the shanks. WARNING

When not in use, always carry the ripper in full raise position during operation and lowered to the ground when parked.

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Notice - Do not reverse or steer while the teeth are into the ground. Torsional forces could breake the teeth.

Notice - The shank must always be positioned as indicated in the figure during transportation.

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