Ashland CS18-HD - Manual (Page 7)

CS18HD
Operator Instruction
OPERATORS AND MAINTENANCE INSTRUCTIONS
APRON OPENING GUIDELINES:
You will need to determine the ideal opening for your soil condition. It is important to have
the apron opened prior to loading To receive the highest production possible, it is important to
know the general characteristics of the material that you will be loading. In heavier soils like
clay or gumbo, the soil will slab up and and remain together after being cut by the blades. In
lighter soils, like sand or dry loose top soil, the matieral will pile up or push after being cut by
the blade. Use the suggestions listed below:
Topsoil with heavy vegetation (12” to 24” opening):
When cutting undisturbed soils, you will need to open the apron high enough to allow debris to
easily enter the scraper bowl. If the apron is opened too high, the rolling up sod will fall out
past the apron and hinder the incoming material. If the apron is not adjusted quick enough,
the material will bunch or push ahead of the machine. If this happens, you should close the
apron and pull out the cut quickly. If you wait too long, you may develop too large a pile to
clear the scraper while rising out of the cut. This can cause the power unit to lose traction and
possibly cause you to get stuck.
Clay or loamy material (6” to 12” opening):
To cut clay or loam soils, lower the apron to approximately 6” to 12” between the blades and
the bottom of the apron. When you first lower the bowl, you’ll see the material being cut by
the blades and entering the bowl. As you continue to move forward, small clumps will fall past
the apron and develop a small pile ahead of the apron. By limiting this apron opening, the
small pile will “blade off” any loose material ahead of the machine. Adjustments should be
made if large objects such as rocks or deep gouges are within the cut.
Sand or loose top soil (15” to 30” opening):
Loading sand or loose top soil is the most difficult type of soil to load. In combination with the
larger apron opening, you’ll want to operate at a faster ground speed. By traveling faster and
lowering the blade deeper than normal, it forces the material into the scraper bowl.
We encourage you to experiment with different apron openings to determine the best
condition for your jobsite.
The Apron is designed to capture material inside of the scraper bowl and should not be used as
a large blade. Obstructions like large rocks or dense piles may cause the apron to bend inward
after prolonged exposure to these conditions.
Ashland Industries Toll Free: 877-634-4622 Fax: 715-682-9717
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