McConnel Topper 8 linkage-mounted offset pasture topper service schedule

Toppers and flails · About 2001 (EC declaration dated 24 January 2001)

Every maker's service job for the McConnel Topper 8 linkage-mounted offset pasture topper, counted in hours, with the oils, filters and parts each one needs. Add your implement to Farmyard Workshop and it works out what's due from your hours and dates, and keeps the service history.

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Service intervals

Job	When
Grease PTO shaft (crosses every 8 hours)	every 8 hours
Gearbox oil change	every 600 hours or every year
Storage	every year
Grease arm and head pivots (weekly)	when needed
Check blades, blade bolts and timing	when needed

Service jobs and parts

Grease PTO shaft (crosses every 8 hours)

PTO shaft · every 8 hours

McConnel's PTO chart: grease the cross journals (A) every 8 hours and the guard bearings and tubes (B) every 16 hours with lithium grease. Check the guards and anti-rotation chains regularly.

Part	Qty	Notes	Part number
Lithium grease	1		check your handbook

Step-by-step

Disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and wait for the blades to stop.
Grease each cross journal (A). Every second time, also grease the guard bearings and sliding tubes (B).
Check the guards for damage and that the anti-rotation chains and their anchors are sound. Replace damaged guards before use.

Tools: Grease gun

Gearbox oil change

Gearbox · every 600 hours or every year

McConnel says change the gearbox oil every year or every 600 hours, whichever comes first, and top up with EP90. The level is right when it is level with the filler plug hole.

Part	Qty	Notes	Part number
Gear oil EP90	1	SAE 90 EP gear oil (EP90). Capacity: check your handbook. Aztec Oils match: TRANSMATEC EP-4 90	check your handbook

Step-by-step

Lower the head to the ground, disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and wait for the blades to stop.
If the head must be raised, support it independently on stands. Never rely on the tractor linkage when working under it.
Drain the old oil, refit the drain plug and fill with EP90 until it is level with the filler plug hole.
Refit the plug and check for leaks.

Tools: Drain tray, Spanners, Funnel, Blocks or stands

Storage

Storage · every year

McConnel's storage note: grease all points and any areas where paint has worn away, and coat exposed ram rods with grease if it will stand for a long time.

Part	Qty	Notes	Part number
Grease	1		check your handbook

Step-by-step

On a firm level site, lower the head, disconnect the PTO shaft, remove the latch cord from the cab and disconnect the linkage.
Grease all grease points and bare metal.
Coat exposed ram rods with grease; wipe it off before the ram is next moved.
Check all hoses for chafing and wrap damaged outer casing with waterproof tape.

Tools: Grease gun

Grease arm and head pivots (weekly)

Lubrication · when needed

McConnel's lubrication chart marks the arm, slew and head pivot nipples for greasing weekly.

Part	Qty	Notes	Part number
Grease	1		check your handbook

Step-by-step

Lower the head to the ground, disengage the PTO, stop the engine, take the key out and wait for the blades to stop.
Grease every nipple shown on the chart: main arm pivot, slew ram ends and head mounting.
Do this weekly while the topper is in use.

Tools: Grease gun

Check blades, blade bolts and timing

Blades · when needed

McConnel says check daily that all bolts are tight and blades are present, replace blades in sets or pairs, torque blade bolts to 650 Nm, and keep the blade hubs timed at 90° ± 10° so the blades do not clash.

Part	Qty	Notes	Part number
Blades	1	In sets or pairs; number: check your handbook	check your handbook

Step-by-step

Disengage the PTO, stop the tractor engine, take the key out and wait until the blades have stopped turning.
Support the head on blocks if you need to get under it. Never go under a head held only by the linkage.
Check each blade is present and undamaged. Replace a lost or damaged blade together with the one opposite.
Torque the blade bolts to 650 Nm.
To set timing: disconnect the outer PTO shaft from the inner gearbox, set the hubs at 90°, reconnect. Turning the shaft 2 splines moves the hub about 4°; one full turn of the shaft moves it 12°.

Tools: Torque wrench (to 650 Nm), Blocks or stands, Chalk

Oils, fluids and capacities

System	Oil or spec	Capacity
Gearbox	EP90 gear oil	To the filler plug aperture; capacity: check your handbook
PTO shaft	General purpose lithium grease

Specifications


Linkage	Category II
PTO	Tractor must have live PTO; shaft overlap at least 150 mm (6 in), working angle under 20°
Blade bolt torque	650 Nm
Blade timing	Hubs at 90° ± 10°
Hydraulic hose nuts (M14)	Soft seal 24 Nm; with bonded seals 34 Nm
Breakaway	Hydraulic, at the main arm pivot, up to 30°

Known problems

Do not drag the head round obstacles

After a breakaway, stop and steer clear. McConnel warns never to keep driving with the head in the breakback position.

Wire round the blades

Remove wire by unwinding or cutting with the engine off and the key out.

Repair guides

Gearbox leaking oil or noisy: level, breather and seal replacement (Moderate, 1 hour to check; 3–5 hours to change an output seal): Oil running down a gearbox or from the vent plug, oil level dropping between checks, gearbox suddenly noisy, oil on the blade carrier or deck.
Topper 8 blades: replacement in sets and blade timing (blades clashing) (Moderate, 1–2 hours): Blades clashing or chipped tips, vibration, missing or bent blade, wire wrapped round the hubs, uneven cut.
Topper 8 head won't reset after breakaway, or hose leaks (Moderate, 1–2 hours): Head stays swung back after hitting a post, head breaks back on light work, slew slow or creeping, oil weeping at hose ends, chafed hose braid.

The full step-by-step guides are in Farmyard Workshop once you add your implement.

Sources

McConnel Topper 8 operator manual (archived)

Open Farmyard Workshop