4
OPERATION
BEFORE OPERATION
The following items should be checked on a daily basis before
operating the trowel.
•
Engine oil level
•
Gearbox oil level
•
Blade condition and pitch control operation
•
V-belt clutch operation
•
The following items SHALL be checked on a daily basis before
operating the trowel.
•
Safety Stop Switch operation. If the dead mans foot
pedal cut out switch is not fully functional to stop the
equipment in an emergency then the equipment SHALL be
tagged out DO NOT USE.
•
Check warning labels in place and understood
STARTING THE ENGINE
1. Move the engine Fuel Valve Lever to “ON” position.
2. Move the Throttle Control Lever to “MIN” position.
3. Move the Safety Stop Switch to “ON” position or hold dead
mans Penal down with foot.
4. Place the Choke Lever in the “CLOSED” position.[ Petrol Only}
5. Rotate the Ignition key to Start the Engine – Electric start
feature.
6. If the engine has started, return the Choke Lever to “OPEN”
position; If the engine has not started, repeat 1 to 5 steps
above.
7. Run the engine for a few minutes and make sure the machine
is in normal working condition.
8. Test the Safety Stop Switch or ‘dead mans pedal’. This test
should be conducted in a clear area. Remove left foot from
the ‘dead mans pedal’, with the engine at idle. The engine
should shut down. Move the switch to “ON” position or hold
‘dead mans pedal’, start the engine and let idle, swing the
trowel handle to the right and let go. The Safety Stop Switch
Lever where fitted should be swung to the “OFF” position to
shut down the engine.
9. DO NOT TAPE UP, TAMPER WITH OR DISABLE THESE
SAFETY DEVICES
10. To start trowelling, push the Foot Throttle Control Lever down
towards “MAX” position. Or press Right side pedal for throttle
control.
MACHINE OPERATION
Steering the machine on a slab is relatively simple but does require
some practice prior to actually working with the machine.
The illustration shows the necessary hand movements required to
move the trowel in the desired direction.
For straight line movements (forward and reverse) move the
handles in the same direction you wish to travel.
Move the handles in the opposite directions to produce rotation on
the machine axis.
Left handle forward, right handle backwards for clockwise
direction.
Left handle backwards, right handle forward for the counter
clockwise direction.
Sideways directionis achieved by moving the right handle either the
left or right direction.
To familiarize a new operator with the ride-on trowel the following
steps should be taken: With the operator seated on the machine
prior to starting the unit show them the function of the ignition
switch, deadman lever, throttle control, steering handles and blade
tilt levers. Prior to starting the unit, ensure the operator knows
the emergency stop procedure. To stop the unit the operator can
either release pressure from the deadman lever or release the
throttle control.
Once the operator is familiar with these controls they need to
practice steering the trowel. The best place for this is on a large
section of finished concrete which is at ground level.
With the blades in the flat position have the operator depress the
deadman lever and start the unit without depressing the throttle
control. With both hands on the steering handles the operator
should depress the throttle control to about half way and obtain
a feeling for the steering by making the machine hover in the one
spot.
Once the operator feels confident and is able to make small
steering inputs to maintain the position of the unit they may then
practice riding the machine in a straight line and making 180
degree turns. This is best done at full throttle as the machine is
easiest to control at full RPM.
The operator should continue to practice operating the unit until
they are familiar with the steering and operation of the unit. The
operator should not start working with the machine until they are
capable of being in complete control of the machine and their
actions while operating the machine.
