Racewell Sheep Handler Manual
Main components of your Racewell Sheep Handler
Compressor
The following specification is required for your Racewell Handler:
- 12 CFM capacity
- Minimum pressure of 90 psi
Please note: when turning the compressor on or off use the switch on the compressor and not the switch at the power source.
If your compressor lower capacity than these specifications, then the Racewell may work slowly. Manufacturer installation and maintenance guidelines for the compressor should be followed. This includes checking the oil and draining water from the tank.
Attaching the air fittings and connecting the compressor
Connect the airline to the Racewell handler. The connection is located underneath the Clamp and Weigh Area. If the compressor is located some distance away from the Racewell Handler, it is recommended that you include a water trap on the line to avoid condensation getting to the handler pneumatics. The image above shows a design for a simple water trap.
Power Supply
Power can be supplied via mains (110V AC to 240V AC) or via the 12 Volt battery leads supplied with the handler. The internal system is all 12 Volt AC power supply.
Remote Control
All remotes have the following buttons:
- Tilt: Up / Down
- Clamp: Clamp/Release
- Draft gates
The remote is powered by x2 AA batteries.
Dashboard Controls
Your Racewell handler has a number of different operating modes. These are explained below. (Starting from the Left button on the dashboard).
Power
When power is connected to the Racewell Handler it can then be powered on via the dashboard power button. When the Racewell Handler is ON the button will glow green. It is strongly recommended to turn the racewell Handler off when you have finished working.
Catch
The catch button will activate the clamp. This button is used for catching a sheep manually. If a sheep is caught in the clamp and the button is pressed again, more air will flow to the cylinder and increase the pressure on the sheep. If the catch switch is set to AUTO and you press the CATCH button. It will overide the auto function and the sheep will not be released automatically.
Release
The release button will release the clamp. This button is used for releasing a sheep manually.
Draft Gates
The draft gate switch will move the postion of the Drafting gates to the left or right. When Auto drafting the switch must be set to AUTO. The draft gate direction can be changed at any time during weighing and drafting should you wish to change the direction manually.
Release Button
When set to AUTO the sheep will be automaticlly released from the Clamp and weigh area when it has been weighed. If set to MANUAL then the operator will have to press the release button for the sheep to be released.
Catch (Auto/Manual)
The Catch switch is used if the operator wants to catch a sheep manually rather than using the eyes on the side of the machine. For general use the switch should be set to AUTO.
Safety Note: Please ensure the machine is turned off or this switch is set to manual before adjusting the clamp wall width. Failure to do so could result in the clamp being activated and personal injury.
Entry
The entry gate has 4 modes:
Closed: The entry gate will remain closed regardless of the handler sensors. This option is used when you have sheep in the race and do not want them to come into the handler.
Auto: The entry gate will be closed when one of the Blue eyes on the side of the handler is activated. It will open again when the eye is cleared.
Auto fast: The entry gate will be closed when one of the Blue eyes on the side of the handler is activated however it will open at the same time as the clamp releases allowing for faster flow into the machine.
Open: The entry gate will remain open regardless of the sensors on the side of the Handler. This option is ideal when doing tasks such as treatments and the animals are not being weighed as it provides continuous flow.
Recommended position is AUTO.
Tilt
The tilt switch will move the Clamp and Weigh area up or down for access to the sheep.
Hold Pressure
The Hold pressure knob increases or decreases the pressure of the clamp wall. The recommended setting is at about 1/3 if your compressor is running at reommended pressure of 90–100 psi. If set to the lowest pressure the clamp wall will not move at all. It is important not to have the pressure to high for animal welfare.
Positioning the sensors (eyes)
Blue Eyes
These activate the closing of the entry gate to stop the next sheep from coming in while there is one being weighed. The backing hook in the lead-up race is also activated by these eyes.
Black eyes
When one of the blue eyes is covered and one of the black eyes is covered the clamp will activate and a sheep will be caught and weighed. It is important that the eyes are positioned correctly and that a sheep can not get in between the Blue and black eyes.
The eyes are on magnets to allow ease of adjustment to suit the size of the animals you are working with or the task you want to achieve in the handler.
Please Note : Wool dust or debris covering any of the four eyes can affect operation. Make sure that the lenses of the eyes are clean at all times.
Anti backing hook adjustment
This works with the auto gate and ensures that the animal can't walk backwards the handler. The anti-backing hook is activated by the blue eyes and prevents the sheep from moving backwards when it is released. It is recommended the hook is disabled when doing tasks such as crutching where the sheep is caught towards the back of the clamp and weigh area. The hook can be deactivated by shifting the pin position.
Adjusting the clamp and weigh area width
At the bottom of the clamp wall, there are adjustment holes.
Safety Note: Please ensure the machine is turned off or this switch is set to manual before adjusting the clamp wall width. Failure to do so could result in the clamp being activated and personal injury. It is also possible to remove the air hoses on the cylinder to make adjustment easier.
The width of the clamp and weigh area can be adjusted to suit different size animals. The ideal adjustment will catch the sheep with the clamp wall parallel to the other side and minimise movement of the clamp wall to catch a sheep.
Size can also be adjusted differently from front to back if required.
The length of the squeeze clamp wall ram can also be adjusted. In the middle of the moving wall, there are four adjustments for ram length. Adjust the ram so that the clamp wall movement is minimal to catch a sheep. Ideally, the wall is vertical when a sheep is clamped.
Adjust this pin so the wall cannot touch the opposite side. This is a safety feature so that hands and fingers cannot be caught in the empty unit accidentally.
Safety Note: when adjusting for large sheep the wall may be able to touch the opposite side. Be careful not to activate the clamp without a sheep in the clamp area.
Adjusting the lead up race
The lead up race can be adjusted for width at the top and bottom. A slight V configuration is best to prevent smaller animals turning around.
Trouble Shooting Guide
- Please check this troubleshooting guide before contacting customer support, as often something quite simple could be the problem.
- A service charge will be made for callouts if the fault is not covered by your warranty.
- When testing the unit without sheep ensure at least one blue and one black eye is covered, covering either of the blue eyes on their own will only close the auto gate.
- For your safety, and that of others, never leave the unit operational when not attended.
| Air and Power Issues | Possible Causes | Possible Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| NO POWER AT UNIT AND IT WON’T GO | 12v adaptor not getting power | Check the12v adaptor cord is firmly connected |
| Faulty extension cords to 12V adaptor | Check all extension cords | |
| Faultly 12v Adaptor | Check for external damage to the adaptor and using a multimeter check the adaptor output is at least 11 volts | |
| Faulty On/Off switch Wire loose/off in autobox | Check the On/Off switch and wiring to it | |
| No air to unit | Check wiring generally for breaks or chew marks | |
| Check the air lines and compressor | ||
| SHEEP UNIT DOING UNUSUAL THINGS | Fluctuating power supply | Check power, compressor and test unit for a stable weight |
| Faulty Catch/Release switch | Check air lines and wiring | |
| Faulty compressor | Check compressor is operating correctly | |
| AUTO GATE MOVING UNEXPECTEDLY | Sensors (eyes) obscured by dust or wool | Check the sensors (eyes) for dust on the lenses |
| Also check they have no loose wool in front of them | ||
| Check cable for damage | ||
| PARTS OF THE UNIT ARE WORKING SLOWLY | Constricted, broken or punctured air lines | Check the airlines for cracks & leaks |
| Remove hoses from the cylinder and test. This will help identify if the issue is a air issue or a cylinder issue | ||
| Ensure the compressor is resting upon the airlines | ||
| CRUSH WALL IS NOT OPERATING QUICKLY ENOUGH | Low air pressure | Check the compressor–require 90--120 psi |
| TILT GOING BACK OR CREEPING OVER | Faulty switch | Repair or replace the switch |
| Faulty solenoid | Replace solenoid | |
| Air leak | Check joints and lines and remedy as required | |
| Remove air line and see if there is air flow leaking through the valve. If so contact support | ||
| UNIT IS NOT CATCHING PROPERLY | Low air pressure | Check compressor output is above 90 psi at all times |
| Eye not working | Check sensor (eye) and cables for damage | |
| Dirty Sensor (eye) | Remove wool and/or dust from the sensor (eye) lenses | |
| Incorrect eye positions | Adjust positions so 1x blue and 1x black eye get covered Remove air line and see if there is air flow leaking through the valve. If so contact support | |
| WALL PRESSURE IS HIGH ALL THE TIME | Faulty potentiometer | Check and adjust or replace as required |
| Remove hoses from ram and activate catch and see if air keeps coming out should only do a short burst, possible the valve needs service as its stuck open | ||
| UNIT SLOWLY RELEASES AFTER SHEEP ARE CLAMPED | Air may be leaking | Check for air leaks |
| Catch solenoid may be faulty | Check solenoid | |
| Damage to cylinder piston | Check piston | |
| Remove air line and see if there is air flow leaking through the valve. If so contact support | ||
| THE UNIT IS NOT HOLDING THE SHEEP | The unit is designed to operate at 90-120 psi | Check the ram adjustment on the moving walls allows the ram to apply pressure to the wall |
| Check the potentiometer (increase/decrease knob) on the dashboard is turned up enough | ||
| Ensure any regulator on the compressor is set to correct pressure | ||
| SHEEP SLIPPING OUT OF CLAMP | Potentiometer (increase/decrease knob) | Adjust upwards to increase pressure |
| Wall position | Ensure position is correct for animal size, when a sheep is held the top flat of the crush wall should be about vertical | |
| Air leak | Check for air leaks to ram and replace hosing | |
| SHEEP ARE GETTING TOO FAR THROUGH THE UNIT | Wall not adjusted for animal size | Adjust the wall |
| Eye lengths are too short | Adjust the black eyes closer to the blue ones so the sheep is caught further back | |
| Potentiometer (increase/decrease knob) | Adjust upwards to increase pressure | |
| Compressor | Check pressure is 90 psi cut in and 120-130psi cut out | |
| Air leak | Check if crush cylinder needs lubricating | |
| REDUCTION IN AIR PRESSURE | Water trap filters | Should be checked visually every 3 months and replaced as required |
| Please ensure there is no air pressure from compressor into the handler |
| Drafting Issues | Possible Causes | Possible Solutions |
|---|---|---|
| SHEEP ARE NOT BEING DRAFTED/SORTED | Draft switch or cable fault | Communication cable may not be connected or scale configured correctly |
| Check cable for damage | ||
| Ensure the manual draft switch is in the auto position. | ||
| Turn power off and on again on the Handler. This will force a communication handshake between the scales and handler. | ||
| DRAFTING THE WRONG WAY FOR PRESET WEIGHTS | Ensure the manual draft switch is in the auto position. | |
| Turn power off and on again on the Handler. This will force a communication handshake between the scales and handler. | ||
| EVERYTHING WORKS APART FROM THE DRAFTER | Indicator not talking to drafter | Check comms cable between indicator and autobox for damage. |
| Turn power off and on again on the Handler. This will force a communication handshake between the scales and handler. | ||
| Ensure autodrafting option on your indicator is selected. | ||
| NOT AUTOMATICALLY DRAFTING OR RELEASING | Comms cable fault | Communication cable from indicator to unit is damaged or has dirty terminals – clean terminals with CRC |
| Communications cable is in the wrong comm port | ||
| Incorrect indicator settings | Check your indicator settings are correct | |
Power and Air Issues
Frequently asked questions
Hazard Identification
The Racewell Drafter has moving gates positioned at both the front and rear of the unit. Keep hands clear to avoid the risk of a crush injury when the machine is operational.
Entry gate
The entry gate will move when the switch position is changed on the dashboard or the blue sensor is covered. Be sure to keep your limbs, head and body out of the area of movement area.
All the above hazards can be activated by the double-foot pedals. Unplug when not in use.
Clamp wall
The clamp wall will move quickly and with force when the catch or release button on the dashboard or button on the remote is pressed. It is also activated when one of the blue and one of the black eyes are covered. It can also be activated if the foot pedal is connected to the clamp/release plug on the underside of the handler. Depending o the adjustment of the wall it is possible for the wall to come in contact with the opposite side of the clamp and weigh area. This is a potential crush hazard. Be sure to keep your limbs, head and body out of the area of movement area. Please ensure the machine is turned off or this switch is set to manual before adjusting the clamp wall width. Failure to do so could result in the clamp being activated and personal injury. It is also possible to remove the air hoses on the cylinder to make adjustment easier.
Tilt
If the handler is fitted with a tilt option – The tilt will move when the tilt switch position is changed on the dashboard or button on remote is pressed. It can also be activated if the foot pedal is connected to the Hoist Up/Down plug on the underside of the handler. Ensure the entry gate is closed before tilting. This is a potential crush hazard. Be sure to keep your limbs, head and body out of the area of movement area.
Service position. If the tilt is up to allow access to the control box under the floor be sure that the power is disconnected to the machine and that a chock is put in place to prevent the tilt from coming down while working on the handler. This is a potential crush hazard. Be sure to keep your limbs, head and body out of the area of movement area.
Draft gates
The draft gates will move when the switch position is changed on the dashboard or gate buttons are pressed on the remote. Be sure to keep your limbs, head and body out of the area of movement area. Draft gates may activate from signals received from the scale causing unexpected movement.
NOTE: If a stock prodder is used to work stock with the machine, the warranty is void as the current can damage electrical componentry.
All the above hazards are applicable during manual or automatic operation.
EC Declaration of Conformity Machinery
(according to Annex II.1.A of the Machinery Directive)
Te Pari Products Ltd hereby declares as manufacturer that the Racewell Sheep Handler with specifications:
| Machine | |
| Type | |
| Serial | |
| Year |
Meets the provisions of the following Directives:
Machinery Directive (2006/42/EG)
And furthermore declares that (parts of ) the following harmonized standards have been applied:
ISO 14120: Safety of machinery - Guards - General requirements for the design and construction of fixed and movable guards
IEC 60204-1: 2006 Safety of machinery - Electrical equipment of machines
Part 1: General requirements
ISO 13849-1: Safety of machinery - Safety-related parts of control systems
Part 1: General principles for design
IEC 61310-1: 2008 Safety of machinery. Indication, marking and actuation.
Part 1: Requirements for visual, auditory and tactile signals
IEC 61310-2: 2008 Safety of machinery. Indication, marking and actuation.
Part 2: Requirements for marking
ISO 4414: 2010 Pneumatic fluid power - General rules and safety requirements for systems and their components
| Manufacturer | Te Pari Products |
|---|---|
| Address | 9 Endeavour Crescent, Oamaru, Otago 9494 |
| Country | New Zealand |
| Responsible | Patrick Blampied |
Tutorial Videos for Racewell Sheep Handlers
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