TOMAHAWK JXPC50H Jumping Jack Plate Compactor Instruction Manual

TOMAHAWK JXPC50H Jumping Jack Plate Compactor

Safety Information

This manual contains DANGER, WARNING, CAUTION, and NOTE callouts which must be followed to reduce the possibility of personal injury, damage to the equipment, or improper service. This is the safety alert symbol. It is used to alert you to potential personal injury hazards. Obey all safety messages that follow this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.

• DANGER indicates an imminently hazardous situation that, if not avoided, will result in death or serious injury.
• WARNING indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, could result in death or serious injury.
• CAUTION indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, may result in minor or moderate injury.
• CAUTION: Used without the safety alert symbol,  indicates a potentially hazardous situation that, if not avoided, may result in property damage.

Laws Pertaining to Spark Arresters

Notice:

State Health Safety Codes and Public Resources Codes specify that in certain locations spark arresters to be used on internal combustion engines that use hydrocarbon fuels. A spark arrester is a device designed to prevent the accidental discharge of sparks or flames from the engine exhaust. Spark arresters are qualified and rated by the United States Forest Service for this purpose. In order to comply with local laws regarding spark arresters, consult the engine distributor or the local Health and Safety, Administrator.

Operating Safety

Familiarity and proper training are required for the safe operation of equipment! Equipment operated improperly or by untrained personnel can be dangerous! Read the operating instructions contained in both this manual and the engine manual and familiarize yourself with the location and proper use of all controls. Inexperienced operators should receive instruction from someone familiar with the equipment before being allowed to operate the machine.

1. NEVER allow anyone to operate this equipment without proper training. People operating this equipment must be familiar with the risks and hazards associated with it.
2. NEVER touch the engine or muffler while the engine is on or immediately after it has been turned off. These areas get hot and may cause burns.
3. NEVER use accessories or attachments that are age to equipment and injury to the user may result.
4. NEVER operate the machine with the belt guard missing. Exposed drive belts and pulleys create potentially dangerous hazards that can cause serious injuries.
5. NEVER leave the machine running unattended.
6. ALWAYS be sure the operator is familiar with proper safety precautions and operation techniques before using the machine.
7. ALWAYS wear hearing protection when operating equipment.
8. ALWAYS wear protective clothing appropriate to the job site when operating equipment.
9. ALWAYS wear hearing protection when operating equipment.
10. ALWAYS close the fuel valve on engines equipped with one when the machine is not being operated.
11. ALWAYS store equipment properly when it is not being used. Equipment should be stored in a clean, dry location out of the reach of children.
12. ALWAYS operate machine with all safety devices and guards in place and in working order. DO NOT modify or remove safety devices. DO NOT operate machine if any safety devices or guards are missing or inoperative.
13. ALWAYS read, understand, and follow procedures in Operator’s Manual before attempting to operate equipment.

Operator Safety while using Internal Combustion Engines
Internal combustion engines present special hazards during operation and fueling!DANGER Read and follow warning instructions in engine owner’s manual and safety guidelines below. Failure to follow warnings and DANGER safety guidelines could result in severe injury or death.

• DO NOT run machine indoors or in an enclosed area such as a deep trench unless adequate ventilation, through such items as exhaust fans or hoses is provided. Exhaust gas from the engine contains poisonous carbon monoxide gas; exposure to carbon monoxide can cause loss of consciousness and may lead to death.
• DO NOT smoke while operating machine.
• DO NOT smoke when refueling engine.
• DO NOT refuel hot or running engine.
• DO NOT refuel engine near open flame.
• DO NOT spill fuel when refueling engine.
• DO NOT run engine near open flames.
• ALWAYS refill fuel tank in a well-ventilated area.
• ALWAYS replace fuel tank cap after refueling.
• ALWAYS check fuel lines and fuel tank for leaks and cracks before starting engine.
• DO NOT run machine if fuel leaks are present or fuel lines are loose.

Service Safety

Poorly maintained equipment can become a safety hazard! In order for the equipment to operate safely and properly over a long period of time, periodic maintenance and occasional repairs are necessary.

• DO NOT attempt to clean or service machine while it is running. Rotating parts can cause severe injury.
• DO NOT crank a flooded engine with the spark plug removed on gasoline-powered engines. Fuel trapped in the cylinder will squirt out the spark plug opening.
• DO NOT test for spark on gasoline-powered engines, if engine is flooded or the smell of gasoline is present. A stray spark could ignite fumes.
• DO NOT use gasoline or other types of fuels or flammable solvents to clean parts, especially in enclosed areas. Fumes from fuels and solvents can become explosive.
• ALWAYS keep area around muffler free of debris such as leaves, paper, cartons, etc. A hot muffler could ignite them, starting a fire.
• ALWAYS replace worn or damaged components with spare parts designed and recomm
• ALWAYS disconnect spark plug-on machines equipped with gasoline engines, before servicing, to avoid accidental start-up.
• ALWAYS keep machine clean and labels legible. Replace all missing and
  hard-to-read labels. Labels provide important operating instructions and warn of dangers and hazards.

Technical Data

Engine Data

Operation

Recommended Fuel
The engine requires regular grade unleaded gasoline, 87 octanes or higher. Use only fresh, clean gasoline. Gasoline containing water or dirt will damage fuel system. Consult engine owner’s manual for complete fuel specifications.
Before Starting Read and understand safety and operating instructions at beginning of this manual.

Check:

• Oil level in engine
• Fuel level
• Condition of the air cleaner
• Tightness of external fasteners
• Condition of fuel lines

TO Start Open the fuel valve by moving the lever to the right (a1).

• Note: If the engine is cold, move the choke lever to a close position (b1). If the engine is hot, set choke to open position (b2). Turn the engine switch to “ON” (e1).
• Open throttle by moving it slightly to the left (d1).
• Pull starter rope (c).
  • Note: If the oil level in the engine is low, the engine will not start. If this happens, add oil to the engine. Some engines are equipped with an oil alert light that will come on while pulling the starter rope.
• Open choke as the engine warms (b2).
• Open throttle fully to operate.

To Stop

• Reduce engine RPM to idle by moving the throttle completely to right (d2).
• Turn engine switch to “OFF”.
• Close fuel valve by moving the lever to the left (a2).

Application

This plate is designed for compacting loose, granular soils, gravel, and paving stones. It is intended to be used in confined areas and areas next to structures such as walls, curbs, and foundations. Plates equipped with water tanks can be used for compacting asphalt.

Operation

Run engine at full throttle and allow plate to pull itself along at its normal speed. When operating on an incline it may be necessary to assist plate by pushing it forward slightly. Depending on the material being compacted, three or four passes are recommended to achieve the best compaction. While a certain amount of moisture in the soil is necessary, excessive moisture may cause soil particles to stick together and prevent good compaction. If soil is extremely wet, allow it to dry somewhat before compacting. If soil is so dry as to create dust clouds while operating plate, some moisture should be added to the ground material to improve compaction. This will also reduce service to the air filter. When using the plate on paving stones, attach a pad to the bottom of the plate to prevent chipping or grinding the surface of the stones. A special polyurethane pad designed for this purpose is available as an optional accessory.

CAUTION: DO NOT operate plate on concrete or on extremely hard, dry, compacted surfaces. The plate will jump rather than vibrate and could damage both plate and engine.

Maintenance

Periodic Maintenance
The chart below lists basic engine maintenance. Refer to the engine manufacturer’s Operation Manual for additional information on engine maintenance.

| Daily before starting| After first 20 hours| Every 2 weeks or 50 hours| Every month or 100 hours| Every year or 300 hours
---|---|---|---|---|---
Check fuel level.| **| | | |
Check engine oil level.| **| | | |
Inspect fuel lines.| **| | | |
Inspect air filter. Replace as needed.| **| | | |
Check and tighten external hardware.| **| | | |
Check and adjust drive belt.| | **| **| |
Clean air cleaner elements.| | | **| |
Inspect shockmounts for damage.| | | **| |
Change engine oil.| | **| | **|
Clean engine cooling fins.| | | | **|
Clean sediment cup / fuel filter.| | | | **|
Check and clean spark plug.| | | | **|
Check and adjust valve clearance.| | | | | **
Change exciter oil.| | | | | **

Cleaning Plate

Clean the plate after use to remove dirt, stones, and mud caught under the engine console. If a plate is being used in a dusty area, check engine cylinder cooling fins for heavy dirt accumulation. Keep engine cylinder fins clean to prevent engine from overheating.

Drive Belt

On new machines or after installing a new belt, check belt tension after first 20 hours of operation. Check and adjust belt every 50 hours thereafter.
To change the belt:

• Remove the belt guard and remove the four hex nuts (a) holding pulley halves (b) together. Remove outer pulley half and remove belt.
• Install new belt on pulley and secure pulley halves together with hex nuts. Adjust tension on belt by adding or removing spacers (c) between pulley halves. The fewer spacers used between pulley halves, the tighter the belt will be.
• Three spacers with new belts should provide the correct tension. Belt deflection should be 6-10 mm (1/4-3/8″), checked halfway between the clutch pulley and the exciter pulley (d). Place unused spacers on outside of pulley.
• Replace belt guard.

Exciter Lubrication

The exciter assembly is a self-contained, sealed unit. The bearings are lubricated using automatic transmission fluid (see Technical Data for type). Change fluid once every year or 300 hours of operation. When changing fluid, replace O-ring (a).

To change fluid:

• Remove beltguard, belt, and hose from water tank.
• Remove four screws (b) securing console assembly to baseplate and lift console assembly from baseplate.
• Remove end cover (c) from bear-ing exciter assembly. Outer bearing race will remain with cover.
• Tip baseplate up and drain fluid from exciter assembly. Dispose of used fluid in an appropriate manner. Contact local recycling center.
• Add 150 ml (5 ounces) of automat-ic transmission fluid to exciter housing and fasten end cover to exciter. Do not overfill exciter or bearings may over-heat.
• Set up console assembly to base-plate and install belt, beltguard, and hose to water tank.

Spark Plug

Clean or replace spark plug as needed to ensure proper operation. Refer to the engine owner’s manual. The muffler becomes very hot during operation and remains hot for a while after stopping the engine. Do not touch the muffler while it is hot.
Note: Refer to the Technical Data for the recommended spark plug type and the electrode gap setting (page 6).

• Remove spark plug and inspect it.
• Replace plug if the insulator is cracked or chipped.
• Clean spark plug electrodes with a wire brush. 4.5.4 Set the electrode gap (a).
• Tighten spark plug securely.
• CAUTION: A loose spark plug can become very hot and may cause engine damage.

Engine Oil

• Drain oil while the engine is still warm.
• Remove the oil fill plug (a) and drain plug (b) to drain oil.
• Install drain plug.
• Fill the engine crankcase through the oil opening (b), to the upper mark on the dipstick (c). Do not thread in the dipstick to check the level. See Technical Data for oil quantity and type (page 6).
• When the crankcase is full, reinstall the dipstick.

Note: In the interests of environmental protection, place a plastic sheet and a container under the machine to collect any liquid which drains off. Dispose of this liquid in accordance with environmental protection legislation.

Air Cleaner

• NEVER use gasoline or other types of low flash point solvents for cleaning the air cleaner. A fire or explosion could result.
• NEVER run the engine without an air cleaner: Severe engine damage will occur.

The engine is equipped with a dual-element air cleaner. Under normal operating conditions, elements should be cleaned once every week. Under severe, dry and dusty conditions, the elements should be maintained daily. Replace an element when saturated with dirt that cannot be removed.

• Remove the air cleaner cover (a). Remove both elements and inspect them for holes or tears. Replace damaged elements.
• Wash the foam element (b) in a solution of mild detergent and warm water. Rinse it thoroughly in clean water. Allow the element to dry thoroughly.
• Tap the paper element (c) lightly to remove excess dirt or blow compressed air through the filter from the inside out. Replace the paper element if it appears heavily soiled.

Cleaning Sediment Cup

• Turn the fuel valve off.
• Remove sediment cup (a) and O-ring (b).
• Wash both thoroughly in a nonflammable solvent. Dry and reinstall them.
• Turn fuel valve on and check for leaks.

Carburetor Adjustment

• Start the engine and allow it to warm up to operating temperature.
• Set the pilot screw (a) 2 turns out. See Note.
• With the engine idling, turn the pilot screw (a) in or out to the setting that produces the highest rpm.
• After the pilot screw is adjusted, turn the throttle stop screw (b) to obtain the standard idle speed. See Technical Data.
  Note: On some engines, the pilot screw is fitted with a limiter cap (c) to prevent excessive enrichment of the air-fuel mixture in order to comply with emission regulations. The mixture is set at the factory and no adjustment should be necessary. Do not attempt to remove the limiter cap. The limiter cap cannot be removed without breaking the pilot screw.

Troubleshooting

-Plate d . )/ – ac#

!0” .+ dѵ

-Poor compaction.

| •           Engine throttle control is not completely open.

•           Throttle control is not adjusted correctly.

•           Ground is too wet, plate sticking. Allow soil to dry before compacting.

•           Drive belt is loose or worn, slipping on pulleys. Adjust or replace belt. Check that the engine mounting bolts are tight.

•           Exciter bearings binding. Check condition and level of oil in exciter. Add or change oil.

•           Air filter is clogged with dust, reducing engine performance. Clean or replace air filter.

•           Engine speed is too low. Check the engine speed with tachometer. Adjust or repair engine to run at correct the speed. Refer to engine manual.

-Engine running, no vibration.

| •           Engine throttle is not open.

•           Drive belt is loose or broken. Adjust or replace.

•           Clutch is damaged. Inspect and replace clutch.

•           Engine speed is low. Check engine speed.

•           Too much oil in exciter. Adjust oil to the correct level.

-Plate jumps or compacts unevenly.| •           Ground surface is too hard.

•           Shockmounts loose or damaged.

Storage

If plate is being stored for more than 30 days:

• Remove loose stones and dirt from plate.
• Clean engine cylinder cooling fins.
• Clean or replace air filter.
• Change exciter oil.
• Change engine oil and follow procedures described in the engine manual for engine storage.

Lifting Machine
See Technical Data for the weight of the machine. To lift the machine manually:

• Stop the engine.
• Obtain help from a partner and plan the lift. 4.12.3 Grasp the machine by its cage and lifting slot. 4.12.4 Lift the machine.

To reduce risk of back injury while lifting, keep your feet flat on the ground and shoulder-width apart. Keep your head up and back straight.

To lift machine mechanically:

• CAUTION: Before attempting to lift, be sure that all lifting devices can safely handle the weight of the machine. See Technical Data (page 7) for the weight of the machine. Attach hook, harness, or cable to the machine as shown and lift as desired.
• CAUTION: DO NOT lift the vibroplate by its guide handle. The vibroplate can shift, causing it to fall.

Transporting the Machine

To avoid burns or fire hazards, let the engine cool before transporting the machine or storing indoors.

• Turn the fuel valve to the off position and keep the engine level to prevent fuel from spilling.
• Tie-down the machine on vehicle to prevent the machine from sliding or tipping over.

Compaction Tips

• Soil Drop Test: Soil preparedness refers to the “wetness” of the dirt or soil. Soil needs to be 50% dry and 50% wet, before starting compaction. A simple “hand test can determine this. Pick up a handful of soil with your hand and squeeze the dirt. Observe whether the soil is powdery or if it breaks apart when dropped. If the soil does break apart, it means that it is too dry. the soil keeps together in one piece when dropped, it is ready for compaction.
• Soil Testing: Testing The function of this step is to measure the density of aggregate material to ensure the increase of density when driving out air. At a low moisture content level, there are more soil particles assembling together. In order to determine if the soil is compacted properly, there are several methods.
• Soil Testing: Test strips are useful to determine the method of compaction and understand how many passes of your plate compactor are needed to achieve the optimum compaction.
  • Every layer of compacted soil meets a specific percentage on the proctor curve. Through soil testing, it is possible to identify optimum moisture. Soil testing measures the soil density compared to the degree of compaction specifications, as well as the effect of the moisture.
  • A common laboratory method called the Proctor Compaction Test can be used to determine the optimum moisture content for a given soil type. The goal of this method is to understand the soil’s maximum dry density.
  • The second method of soil testing is known as the California Test 216 and is used to find the relative compaction of untreated and treated soils. Four factors account for optimum compaction including lift thickness, pressure, and soil moisture content.
  • During the compaction process, the soil’s moisture adds density and lubricates soil particles, until there is a maximum dry unit weight without voids in the soil. The table below explains the different outcomes and properties of fill materials.

Compaction Terms

Cohesive soils: Clays and mixes have a particular particle size of less than .003″ or .002 and are typically classified as cohesive soils. This type of soil is primarily used for retaining pond beds and mound fills. These soils are dense due to the strongly bound molecular attraction. Cohesive soils and water will not mix easily, but only once the soils are moist will feel sticky .

Granular soils: These soils have particle sizes of .003 or greater, like sand. Water drains easily through the soil particles of granular soils. The larger the particles, the larger the equipment needed to achieve lower frequencies and higher compaction force. Plate compactors are typically the best option for compacting granular soils- however, depending on the vibration frequency and particle size, reversible plate compactors and double drum rollers may be more appropriate for this time of work.

Mixed soils: Sometimes soils can be a mixture of both types, cohesive and granular. Thus choosing the appropriate compaction equipment is more difficult. We recommend testing your equipment to match the best machine to the desired job.

Static force: Found in the deadweight of machines, static force applies pressure downward on soil surfaces. As a result, soil particles compress in the topsoil layer. 5.3.5 Vibratory force: This force is engine-driven, creating a downward force, in addition to the machine’s static weight. Vibrations compress the soil material closer together to increase density.

Types of compaction: There are four types of compaction that can be applied to soils or asphalt. Each one takes place using one of the two types of forces explained above (static or vibratory).

1. Vibration: Periodic motion of particles with rotating weight in opposite directions from a position of equilibrium.
2. Impact: An action of one object coming into contact with another.
3. Kneading Force is applied by alternating movement in adjacent positions.

Pressure: The process of continuous physical force against solid materials.

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