Operation - Farm Aid 680 Owner's Manual

OPERATION:

➢ Your truck engine powers the mixer. It gets the power from the side of your
transmission through a PTO (Power Take Off). This power take off drives a load
sensing hydraulic pump. Hydraulic force turns the mixing Reel, turns the
conveyor, raises/lowers the feed door and the conveyor. The system is designed
to have the truck engine running at 1,000 rpm when in use.
➢ To turn the PTO on turn the switch shown in figure 1 to the "on" position. It may
not engage the PTO if the engine is off or running too fast. The PTO is also
controlled by the truck's TCM (Transmission Control Module). The TCM will turn
off the PTO if the engine speed is too high to prevent damaging the pump. The
TCM in this truck has been reprogrammed to turn off the pump at 1,670 engine
RPM. It will reengage the PTO when the engine speed is below 1500 rpm.
➢ Only when the PTO switch is on and the TCM allows the PTO to run will the red
light next to the PTO switch illuminate indicating there is hydraulic force
generated by the pump. This is also the only time there is electrical power in the
mixer control box. Only then will the switches illuminate indicating if either
hydraulic motor is running. See figure 2 for the control box illustration.
➢ The reel switch turns on the mixing reel. The system has a "soft start" to slowly
start the reel. If the operator or the TCM turns off the PTO the reel will stop. Once
the PTO is turned on again it will go through a soft start cycle. A green light will
illuminate in the switch for the reel if it is on. The knob above the on/off switch
controls the speed of the reel.
➢ The elevator switch starts the elevator chain. The system has a "soft start" to
slowly start the chain. If the operator or the TCM turns off the PTO the chain will
stop. Once the PTO is turned on again it will go through a "soft start" cycle. A
blue light will illuminate in the switch if it is on. The knob above the on/off switch
controls the speed of the chain.
➢ The bottom elevator switch controls the height of the elevator. Tap the switch to
the right or left to raise or lower it.
➢ The feed door switch controls the feed door height of the elevator. Tap the switch
to the right or left to open or close it.
➢ To feed we recommend that you start the truck, turn on the PTO, set the engine
speed at 1,000 RPM, turn on the reel and set the speed-try 50%. Once at the
feeding bunks, lower the elevator, turn on the elevator, set the speed, try 50%,
and open the feeding door. Let the truck roll along filling the bunks. Modulate
your vehicle speed and therefore the amount of feed in the bunks by using the
truck brake.
figure 1
14
figure 2