IMG_0261Smartcart Operators Manuals (includes setup and controller info)

Smartcart Controller Manual

Setting up the cart and other info.

A good Chaff Cart is an excellent investment for weed control and for farms with livestock, access to a valuable feed resource which is otherwise largely wasted.

Careful setup is important for simple and successful cart use, so particular attention should be given to the transition of material from the harvester onto the lower belt. Poor wind guarding and “leaks” affect performance, so time spent assessing how to achieve the best result is not wasted and owner preference as to percentage of material collected always influences setup detail. There is now a lot of owner experience available to new users and Tecfarm can assist with contacts and other advise.

Header hydraulics vary between makes and sometimes between models from the same manufacturer, though flow and pressure is often similar. In our experience there is always a way to obtain good oil supply to the cart. (Oil flow requirement is approximately 40 litres/minute). Some makes require virtually no modification while others require a conversion kit available from Tecfarm. Tecfarm can advise regarding requirements for particular header model.

Material discharge onto the conveyor is an area which is individual to each owners’ requirement regarding the volume of straw captured with the chaff and  there are several schools of thought regarding agronomy and management of the heaps. Tecfarm’s observation would be that a majority of carts are set up to capture all chaff with a small amount of straw sufficient to help with speedy removal where piles are burnt. A smaller but significant number capture all residue to gain the best possible weed control. The practice of spreading and seeding through with no burning is worth considering. Easy to achieve if material is not too damp (eg. green canola stalks) when dumping, by programming the controller to a low door open setting. Saves a lot of work, helps the environment and experience shows there is often very little weed germination in the heap area. May be worth experimenting?

Several Smartcart owners are baling some of or all their heaps to use on farm or sell,  as there is a growing realisation of the value of the residue as a resource.

The flexible rubber side guards on the lower conveyor are important and have proven reliable in operation. Provision of a chute at setup is required for transition from the header to the belt, also sometimes a way of redirecting some material away. The optional  conveyor cover is worth considering to help easily adjust the relative volumes.

A call to Tecfarm for advise is always welcome.

 Operational mass and transport dimensions

CT30:

Tare mass 2300kg (approx). Width 3490mm. Height 4250mm. 10900mm. wheeltrack 3000mm

Truck transport width 3450mm. Height 3.9m above truck tray. No escort required.

Smartcart 30:

Tare Mass: 3200kg. Width: 4600mm. Height: 4150mm. Length: 10900mm. Wheeltrack: 4000mm

Truck transport width: 3450mm with wheels and axles removed. Height 3.8m above truck tray. No escort required.

Smartcart 40:

Tare Mass: 3450kg. Width: 5350mm. Height: 4150mm. Length: 10900mm. Wheeltrack: 4750mm

Truck transport width: 4200mm with wheels and axles removed. Height 3.8m above truck tray. Escort required.

Smartcart 50:

Tare mass: 3700kg. Width: 6100mm. Height: 4150mm: Length: 10900mm. Wheeltrack: 5500mm

Truck transport width: 4950mm with wheels and axles removed. Height 3.8m above truck tray. Front and rear escort required.

Please note: Appropriate permits must be obtained from relevant authorities and presented at the point of loading before any oversize machines will be released for transport. To avoid inconvenience, always check legal requirement for truck transport or for road towing.

Smartcart design allows excellent road towing ability at reasonable speeds. Towing vehicle legal minimum mass must be observed.