Every maker's service job for the Spearhead Excel reach mower, 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.
Hydraulic return filter change (and oil if contaminated)
every 300 hours or every year
Gearbox oil change
every year
Lay-up: wash, grease and protect
every year
Service jobs and parts
Grease all points and the PTO shaft joints
Lubrication · every 8 hours
Spearhead says grease the flail head bearings and all points daily, and the PTO universal joints every 8 hours. Direct-drive motors are greased every 8 hours with 10 to 30 pumps through the rotor bearings (belt-drive motors: weekly, 1 to 2 pumps on the pulley shaft). Grease everything again after washing the machine.
Part
Qty
Notes
Part number
Multi-purpose grease
1
Multi-purpose grease. No molybdenum disulphide grease on nylon bushes
check your handbook
Step-by-step
Lower the head to the ground, switch off the PTO, stop the tractor and take the key out.
Grease every nipple on the arms, head, rotor bearings and roller, using the lubrication chart in your handbook.
Give the direct-drive motor spline 10 to 30 pumps via the rotor bearings (5 to 10 pumps on the 1.2 m head, as the 606 handbook says).
Take the PTO shaft apart now and then, clean the sliding surfaces and grease them. Dry shaft splines can wreck the gearbox.
Grease again after washing.
Tools: Grease gun, Rag
Flails, bolts and bushes
Flail head · every 8 hours
Spearhead says check the flails and tighten all retaining bolts daily. Flail bolts and nuts are 200 Nm. When flails are replaced, replace the bolts, nuts and bushes with new, keep the rotor balanced and never swap to a different type. Never run with a flail missing and never weld a flail. New bolts need re-tightening at 1 to 4 hours, then daily. Part numbers below are from the 2013 5 Series parts manual (DP head); check them against your parts book.
Part
Qty
Notes
Part number
'T' flail
1
DP head; check your head type
2770381
'C' flail
1
DP head; check your head type
2770425
Back-to-back flail
1
DP head; check your head type
2770454
Flail bush
1
DP head
7770699
Flail nylock nut
1
DP head
7770722
Step-by-step
Lower the head, switch off the PTO, stop the tractor, take the key out and wait for the rotor to stop.
Check every flail for wear, cracks and damage. Replace any damaged flail at once. Do not weld.
When replacing flails fit new bolts, nuts and bushes, and keep the same type so the rotor stays balanced.
Tighten the flail bolts and nuts to 200 Nm.
Check the rotor bearing bolts and hydraulic motor retaining bolts are tight.
Check there is no string, plastic or grass wrapped on the rotor shaft or roller bearings.
Tools: Torque wrench, Sockets and spanners, Eye protection and gloves
Rotor drive belts (belt-drive heads)
Flail head · every 8 hours
Spearhead says check belt tension after the first 10 to 15 working hours, as new belts slacken, and keep the belt tension right on belt-drive heads. Slacken the belts for storage.
Part
Qty
Notes
Part number
Rotor drive belt
1
Check your handbook or parts book for your head. The 5 Series parts manual lists a set of 3 belts for one head (1800191), so check it fits yours
check your handbook
Step-by-step
Lower the head, switch off the PTO, stop the tractor and take the key out.
Take off the belt guard and check the belt condition and tension.
Re-tension as the handbook shows and refit the guard.
Tools: Spanners, Belt tension gauge or a straight edge
Pins, bushes and hose check
Arms · every 8 hours
Spearhead's regular service chart has the condition of hoses (especially chafing), leaks from fittings and pipes, and pins and bushes on the 8 hour list. Hoses are checked daily.
Part
Qty
Notes
Part number
Bushes
1
Check your parts book
check your handbook
Step-by-step
With the machine stopped and pressure released, check every hose for chafing and every fitting and pipe for leaks.
Check arm pins and bushes for play and replace worn bushes.
Check the slew post and tank area for trimmings caught there, which can damage the main lift ram.
Tools: Spanners, Grease gun, Cardboard for leak checking
Hydraulic return filter change (and oil if contaminated)
Hydraulics · every 300 hours or every year
Spearhead says replace the return line filter element after the first 50 hours and then every 300 hours. The oil is changed only if it shows signs of contamination, and then the tank and suction strainer are cleaned and a new element fitted. A blocked element lets oil bypass unfiltered and damages pumps and motors. The element number is from the 2013 parts manual; check it against your parts book.
Part
Qty
Notes
Part number
Return line filter element
1
From the 5 Series parts manual tank page; check it against your parts book
2770416
Suction strainer
1
From the 5 Series parts manual tank page; only needed if the tank is cleaned
3900066A
Hydraulic oil
1
ISO 46 hydraulic oil (Texaco Rando HD 46 or equivalent), about 200 L if changing the lot. Aztec Oils match: HYDRATEC HM 46
check your handbook
Mini filter (proportional controls)
1
Change every 300 hours on electric/hydraulic proportional controls. Number not found; check your handbook
check your handbook
Step-by-step
Lower the head, switch off the PTO, stop the tractor and take the key out.
Clean around the filter head and tank lid.
Change the return line element at 50 hours on a new machine, then every 300 hours. Change it at once if a hydraulic part has failed or been replaced.
On proportional controls change the mini filter as well.
If the pump cavitates or the controls feel spongy, drain the tank, clean it and the suction strainer, dry them and refill with clean oil.
Spearhead says the gearbox takes 380 cc of EP90, replaced after the first 50 hours and then once a year. Check the level every 8 hours. Do not over-tighten the filler and drain plugs, which can crack the casing.
Part
Qty
Notes
Part number
Gear oil
1
EP90 gear oil, 380 cc
check your handbook
Step-by-step
Lower the head, switch off the PTO, stop the tractor and take the key out.
Drain the old oil and refit the drain plug without over-tightening.
Refill with 380 cc of EP90 to the level hole, then refit the filler plug.
On a new machine make the first change at 50 hours.
Tools: Small drain tray, Spanners, Funnel
Lay-up: wash, grease and protect
Storage · every year
Spearhead says wash the machine, grease every point until fresh grease shows, slacken the rotor drive belts, store under cover on firm level ground, wrap the control levers in plastic sheeting, and smear grease on the ram rods.
Part
Qty
Notes
Part number
Multi-purpose grease
1
Multi-purpose grease
check your handbook
Step-by-step
Wash the machine thoroughly, keeping the high-pressure jet away from the paintwork.
Grease all points until fresh grease shows.
Slacken the rotor drive belts where fitted.
Wrap the control levers in plastic sheeting and tape it on to keep them dry.
Smear grease on the chrome ram rods and other places that rust.
Tools: Pressure washer (keep the jet away from paint), Grease gun, Plastic sheeting and tape
Oils, fluids and capacities
System
Oil or spec
Capacity
Hydraulic reservoir
ISO 46 hydraulic oil (Texaco Rando HD 46 or equivalent; Rando HDZ 46 and Elf Hydrelf XV 46 are also listed)
About 200 L. Fill to the centre of the sight gauge and do not overfill
Gearbox
EP90 gear oil
380 cc (0.38 L)
Grease points and PTO shaft
Multi-purpose grease. Do not use grease containing molybdenum disulphide on nylon bushes and wear pads
Specifications
Flail retaining bolt and nut
200 Nm
Hydraulic filtration
Suction strainer fixed in the tank; low-pressure full-flow return line filter
New bolts
Re-tighten at 1 to 4 hours, then daily
Belt-drive heads
Check belt tension after the first 10 to 15 working hours
Known problems
Dry PTO splines
Spearhead warns that failing to clean and re-grease the input shaft splines will seriously damage the gearbox.
Filter bypass
A blocked return element bypasses unfiltered, so change it on hours and not by feel.
Parts list with genuine part numbers
Spearhead Excel 5 Series parts manual 8999029 Ed. 11.2 and Excel 474 / Twiga 4000 parts book (2nd edition, Nov 2008)