Elite Ground Drive Spreaders Setup Guide **PLEASE READ AND UNDERSTAND BEFORE OPERATION** V 1.1.0 ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 1320 Third Street, Osceola IN 46561-855-211-0598 www.abiattachments.com
Thank You, On behalf of the ABI family we would like to thank you for your recent purchase of your Elite Spreader. Our Company s goal is to provide you, our customer; with innovative, quality tools as well as first rate customer service. These instructions are designed to help you, the customer; get your new Elite Spreader off the delivery pallet and into use. Once you have put your Elite Spreader to work, if you have any questions, please feel free to call and talk with our friendly and knowledgeable Customer Service Department. To contact our Customer Service Department call 855-211-0598, M- Th 8am-8pm EST and Friday 8am-5pm EST. To order parts for your Elite Spreader please contact our Customer Support Department by phone at: 855-211-0598 M-TH 8am 8pm and Friday 8am-5pm EST Additional Contact Information: Additional information on the Elite Spreader can be found on the ABI Support site at: www.abisupport.com To contact ABI s Customer Service Department after hours go to the Help Desk on the ABI Support page at: www.abisupport.com and send our Customer Service Department an email regarding any issue you may be experiencing with the Elite Spreader. To the Operator : The information presented in this manual will prepare you to operate the Elite Spreader in a safe and knowledgeable manner. Operating the Elite Spreader in a proper manner will provide a safer working environment and create a more efficient result. Read this manual fully and understand the entire manual prior to setup, operation, adjusting, performing maintenance, or storing the Elite Spreader. This manual contains information that will allow you the operator to get years of dependable performance from the Elite Spreader. This manual will provide you with information on safely operating and maintaining the Elite Spreader. Operating the Elite Spreader outside of the stated safety and operations guidelines may result in injury to operator and equipment, or void the warranty. The information provided in this manual was current at the time of printing. Variations may be present as Absolute Innovations, Inc. continues to improve and upgrade the Elite Spreader for future use. Absolute Innovations, Inc. reserves the right to implement engineering and design changes to the Elite Spreader as may be necessary without prior notification. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 2 of 11
Operational Safety Rules: Please exercise caution at all times when setting up, operating, or performing maintenance on the Elite Spreader. Remember, any piece of equipment like the Elite Spreader can cause injury/damage if operated improperly or if the user does not understand how to operate the equipment. Exercise caution at all times with using the Elite Spreader. Never permit any person to ride or board the ELITE SPREADER at any time. NEVER ALLOW RIDERS ON THE ELITE SPREADER! Use care and maintain minimum ground speed when operating the ELITE SPREADER on a hillside, or when operating close to ditches, fences, or water sources. Never place any body part under the while the ELITE SPREADER is in operation. Never allow anyone near the ELITE SPREADER while in operation. Operate the ELITE SPREADER in the daylight or under good artificial light. Operator should always be able to clearly see where they are going. Be alert for hidden hazards. Always operate the ELITE SPREADER with caution over work environments that may have buried obstacles. Stay well and clear of all moving parts. Keep all limbs clear of attachments when making adjustments with all hydraulically operated attachments. Use caution when operating the ELITE SPREADER in icy, wet, or snowy condition. Do not use the ELITE SPREADER on highways or public thoroughfares. The ELITE SPREADER is designed for off road use only. Always follow Tractor Manufacturer s rules for safe Operation of Tractor, and for proper procedures for attaching and disconnecting attachments. Contact your local dealership for an Owner s Manual for any questions related to the safe operation of the Tractor. Use caution when operating the ELITE SPREADER. Using the ELITE SPREADER outside of stated safety and operations guidelines may result in injury to operator or others, property damage, or a void in warranty. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 3 of 11
Information on your Elite Ground Drive Spreader: Revolutionary Design: The Elite Spreader does much more than just spread manure. It processes the manure and shreds all clumps and shavings. It then spreads this nutrient rich fertilizer on the ground evenly. The ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader evenly distributes and maximizes the nutritional value of the manure without smothering or burning a pasture. It also exposes more of the manure to sunlight which reduces parasite eggs and allows the manure to decompose far more quickly than a traditional "box" style spreader. This quick decomposition encourages a healthy pasture and greatly reduces the amount of time between spreading and horses grazing again on the pasture. Ground Drive System: The ground drive system adds two additional tires to power the spreader. The operator uses a ratcheting turn knuckle to engage the tires with the ground. This causes the rotation of the shredder drum and agitator bar to begin processing and spreading the material. This simple design has virtually no maintenance and is easier to use than traditional ground drive systems. No calibration is required! Shredder Drum: The shredder drum is powered by the ground engagement wheels (on 3G) to shred all manure clumps. This shredded material decomposes very fast, helps reduce parasite eggs/fly larva, and eliminates the need to harrow after spreading. The blades are welded to the drum in a unique pattern to produce a continuous even spread. This ensures vegetation will not be smothered or burned by too much material. Agitator Bar: The agitator bar utilizes specially designed blades that feed manure to the shredder drum and ensures consistent material flow. This feature is what enables the ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader to process both dry and moist materials. Release Panel: The release panel is spring loaded and allows materials that are too hard to shred such as rocks, wood, frozen chucks, and other objects to pass through the spreader without damaging anything. This panel may also be released to allow the spreader to be emptied in the rare event the operator decides not to spread the load. Processing Bin w/replaceable Panels: The processing bin is available in 3' and 6' sizes. The front and back panels are sloped to aid in the flow of material. The back panel is lower for easier loading. The extra height of the front panel allows for additional material to be heaped. Each panel is replaceable in the event it becomes damaged or wears over time. The bin panels are heavy duty 12 gauge solid steel with a durable powder coated treatment. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 4 of 11
Low Load Panel: (3G Only) At the top of the processing bin is a removable panel to allow easy side load access. This is ideal for loading the spreader while picking stalls. As the spreader fills simply replace the panel to allow maximum loading capacity. Transport Wheels: 3G - The 3' ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader has 2 transport/load bearing wheels and two shredder drum engagement wheels. All transport/load bearing tires have high quality replaceable bearings, hubs & spindles for long service life. Pin Hitch & Jack: The pin hitch and jack are designed to make connecting to a tow vehicle easy. It also enables easy and safe storage. Balanced Design: The ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader is well balanced so that it may be loaded when not connected to a tow vehicle. The spreader is stable and won't tip backward. Advantages: Shredded Output: Shredding the material offers a number of advantages. It also exposes more of the manure to sunlight which reduces parasite eggs/fly larva and allows the manure to decompose far more quickly than a traditional "box" style spreader. It enables the manure to decomposition quickly to encourage a healthy pasture and greatly reduces the amount of time between spreading and horses grazing again on the pasture. Controlled Spread: A controlled spread means the material goes where you intend and the material will never be flung back onto the operator, tow vehicle, or anything nearby. This enables the ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader to be used for a larger variety of applications where precision application of material is important. Improved Safety: Unlike the vast majority of spreaders on the market the ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreaders moving parts are mostly concealed. No rotating blades, augers or mesh drums to injure the operator or others around the spreader. Eco-Friendly Spreading: The combination of the shredded output, controlled spread, and variable flow control make the Elite Spreader one of the most eco-friendly spreaders on the market. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 5 of 11
Low Maintenance: All maintenance points are located outside of the processing bin and are easy to access. The operator will never and should never climb into the spreader or place hands inside the spreader for any reason. In fact, all routine maintenance may be performed with the spreader fully loaded. The chain tension may even be adjusted by a single bolt at the front of the spreader. If more in depth maintenance or repair is needed the spreader may be flipped on end for easy access to all moving parts. These advantages are not found on most traditional spreaders. Optional Feature Information: Fines Pan Catcher: The optional fines pan catcher mounts below the spreader and is designed to prohibit any small particles or bedding shavings from falling through the bottom of the spreader while loading or storing in the barn. This option helps to keep the isle ways clean. This is very useful if the operator is using bedding with wood shavings or other materials that have fine particles. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 6 of 11
Specifications: 3' Ground Drive # of Horses Up To 6 Capacity 37 cu. ft. / 30 US Bushels Heaped Overall Length 93 inches Overall Width 57 inches Overall Height 60 inches Top Opening 54" Front To Back / 33" Side To Side Loading Height Adjustable 36-41" Frame Construction A36 1/8 inch 2x3 Tube Steel Bin Construction 12 gauge steel Body Finish Powder Coated Chain # 50 Drive Ground Clearance Front Stabilizer Transport Wheel Assembly Shipping Weight Power Required Warranty Ground Driven by 2 air filled wheels geared directly to shredder drum and agitator 8 inches Wheels 20" x 5" Tires 4.80-12 4-ply with replaceable Hubs & Bearings 930 lbs. 22 hp Compact Tractor- 350 cc 4WD ATV 1 Year Limited ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 7 of 11
Usage: Engaging and Disengaging the Drive wheels - The ground drive system adds two additional tires to the spreader. The operator will use the ratcheting turn knuckle to engage and disengage the tires on the ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader. When adjusting the drive wheels you will need to hook the spreader to your tow vehicle. Next, to engage the drive wheels you will shorten the ratcheting turn knuckle. To disengage the drive wheels you will lengthen the ratcheting turn knuckle. The drive wheels must be up during transport or the ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader will engage and distribute material while transporting. Adjusting the flow - To adjust the flow of material that the ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader delivers you will need to adjust the tension on the back springs. To do this you will use a ½ wrench and tighten or loosen the two nuts on the end of each spring rod. Keep track of how many turns you make on each adjustment point. You want to make sure to adjust the springs on both sides the same, to ensure proper tension on both sides of the release panel. Doing this will apply or decrease pressure to the release panel on the bottom of the spreader. The tension on the release panel has been pre set at the factory, adjust only if needed. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 8 of 11
Using the Optional Fines Catcher The fines catcher should be raised when spreading manure and lowered when storing or loading the Elite Spreader. To lower the fines pan lift the fines pan off of the holder bar using the attached handle and lower till the release panel is covered. To raise the fines catcher lift the fines pan using the attached handle, and make sure the tabs are resting on the holder bar. Ensure the fines catcher is secure before transporting the ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader. Maintenance Oiling the drive chain and greasing the bearings - Use the grease zerts pointed out in the photo to grease the 3 bearings on the right hand side (from the back of the spreader).these should be greased after 8 hours of continuous use, as needed, or before periods of storage. Make sure to grease all available grease zerts. Make sure not to over grease the bearings as it may cause damage to the bearing. 2-3 pumps of grease with a manual grease gun should be sufficient for greasing the bearings. The chain should be oiled using SAE 30 oil. Before oiling the chain remember to remove the chain guard, and replace after oiling is finished. **Wheel bearings on the transport tires will need to be repacked by hand twice a year. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 9 of 11
Use the grease zerts to grease the bearings on the left side as well. These should be greased after 8 hours of continuous use, as needed, or before periods of storage. Use caution to not over grease the bearings. 2-3 pumps of grease with a manual grease pump should be sufficient for greasing the bearings. **Wheel bearings on the transport wheels will need to be repacked by hand twice a year. There are 2 grease zerts located on the ratcheting turn knuckle. These should be greased as needed, or before periods of storage. Additional Maintenance - Make sure to wash out the Elite Spreader after every use to help ensure the life of your spreader. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 10 of 11
If you have any other questions about you ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader please feel free to contact our Customer Support Department at 855-211-0598. You can also check out or support page at www.abisupport.com for more information and videos on your ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader as well as any of our other quality products. For information on or to order parts for your ABI Elite Ground Drive Spreader please contact our Customer Service Department at 855-211-0598 M-TH 8am-8pm EST or Friday 8am-5pm EST. ABI(Absolute Innovations, Inc.) - 855-211-0598 - www.abiattachments.com Page 11 of 11