Safety precautions are essential when the use of any mechanical equipment is involved. These
precautions are necessary when using, storing, and servicing mechanical equipment. Using this
equipment with the respect and caution demanded will considerably lessen the possibilities of personal
injury. If safety precautions are overlooked or ignored, personal injury or property damage may occur.
The machine was designed for a specific application. It should not be modified and/or used for any
application other than which it was designed. If there are any questions regarding its application, please
write or call. Do not use this unit until you have been advised. For more information, call 1-800-264-
6587.
Read this entire manual carefully. Know your equipment. Consider the application, limitations, and the
potential hazards specific to your unit. Occupational safety is of prime concern to us. This manual was
written with the safety of the operator and others who come in contact with the equipment. This manual
was written to help you understand the safe operating procedures of the Crop Sweeper. We want you as
our partner in safety. A copy of this manual should be available to all persons who may operate this
machine.
It is your responsibility as an owner, operator, or supervisor to know what specific requirements,
precautions, and work hazards exist and to make these known to all other personnel working with the
equipment or in the area, so that they too may take any necessary safety precautions that may be
required. Avoid any alterations of the equipment. Such alterations may create a dangerous situation
where serious injury or death may occur and will void warranty.
Why is SAFETY important? Three reasons:
1. Accidents disable and kill
2. Accidents cost money
3. Accidents can be avoided
Note the use of the signal words DANGER, WARNING, and CAUTION with safety messages. The
appropriate signal word for each message has been selected using the following guidelines:
DANGER – An immediate and specific hazard which will result in severe personal injury or death if
proper precautions are not taken.
WARNING – A specific hazard or unsafe practice which could result in severe personal injury or death
if proper precautions are not taken.
CAUTION – Unsafe practices which could result in personal injury if proper precautions are not taken
or a reminder of good safety practices.
Safety Alert Symbol
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BE ALERT! YOUR SAFETY IS INVOLVED!
The Symbol Shown Above Is Used To Call Your Attention To Instructions Concerning Your Personal
Safety. Watch for This Symbol - It Points Out Important Safety Precautions. It Means ATTENTION!
Become Alert! Your Personal Safety Is Involved! Read The Message That Follows And Be Alert To
The Possibility Of Personal Injury Or Death.
Read this manual before operating or working around a Crop Sweeper! This manual must be delivered
with the equipment to its owner and operator. Failure to read this manual and its safety instructions is a
misuse of equipment.
Safety Equipment
Please, remember safety equipment provides important protection for persons around a Crop Sweeper
that is in operation. Be sure ALL safety shields and protective devices are installed and properly
maintained. If you find any shields or guards damaged or missing, contact Patriot Equipment for the
correct items.
Safety Procedures
1. Use only lifting equipment with the proper capacity when installing or removing the Crop
Sweeper. Forklifts with too little capacity may tip towards the front where the lifted weight is.
2. Do not operate unit without safety shields or guards in place.
3. IMPORTANT: Use caution when transporting. Be alert of the transport unit’s overall width
when approaching obstacles, such as post sign and poles, along the road. Check the transport
width of the unit to ensure clearance before entering.
4. Comply with all safety warnings and cautions in this manual and in the combine operator’s
manuals.
5. Do not allow any riders on the corn head or near the Crop Sweeper when in use.
6. In case of any defect or awareness of potential danger, please contact Patriot Equipment at 1-
800-264-6587 immediately.
Operator Qualifications
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Operation of this Crop Sweeper shall be limited to competent and experienced persons. In addition
anyone who will operate or work around a Crop Sweeper must use good common sense. In order to be
qualified, they must also know and meet all other requirements, such as:
1. Some regulations specify that no one under the age of 18 may operate power machinery. This may
include the Crop Sweeper. It is your responsibility to know what these regulations are in your own area
or situation.
2. Current Occupational Safety Health Administration regulations state in part: “At the time of initial
assignment and at least annually thereafter, the employer shall instruct every employee or user in the
safe operation and servicing of all equipment with which the employee or user is, or will be involved.”
3. Unqualified persons are to stay out of the work area.
4. A person who has not read and understood all operating and safety instruction is not qualified to
operate the machine.
Safety Overview
YOU are responsible for SAFE operation and maintenance of your Crop Sweeper. YOU must ensure
that you and anyone who is going to operate and maintain or work around the Crop Sweeper must be
familiar with the operating, maintenance, and safety information contained in the manual.
Remember YOU are the key to safety. GOOD PRACTICES protect not only you but also the people
around you. Make these practices a working part of your safety program. Be certain EVERYONE
operating this machine is familiar with the procedures recommended and follows safety precautions.
Remember, most accidents can be prevented. Do not risk injury or death by ignoring any information
addressed.
Crop Sweeper owners must give operating instructions to operators before allowing them to operate the
Crop Sweeper. They must be reviewed at least annually thereafter per OSHA regulation 1928.57.
The most important safety device on the equipment is a SAFE OPERATOR. It is the operator’s
responsibility to read and understand ALL instructions in the manual and to follow them. All accidents
can be avoided!
Any person who has not read and understood all operation and safety instructions is not qualified to
operate the Crop Sweeper. An untrained operator exposes himself and bystanders to possible serious
injury or death.
Do not modify the equipment in any way. Unauthorized modifications may impair the functions and/or
safety and could affect the life of the equipment.
Safety Affirmation
DATE EMPLOYER SIGNATURE
EMPLOYEE SIGNATURE
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1. I have read and understand the operator’s manual and all safety signs before operation,
maintenance, adjusting, or unplugging the Crop Sweeper.
2. I will allow only trained persons to operate the Crop Sweeper. *An untrained operator is not
qualified to operate this equipment.
3. I have access to a fire extinguisher.
4. I have all guards in place and will not operate the Crop Sweeper without them.
5. I will not allow riders on the Crop Sweeper.
6. I understand the danger of moving parts (rotating paddle reel, hydraulics, and pinch points) and
will stop engine before servicing.
7. I recognize the danger of the Crop Sweeper coming in contact with power lines.
8. I have the safety lock up pins and know and understand where and when to use them.
9. I understand that any accidents that occur with the Crop Sweeper are my responsibilities.
10. I understand that Patriot Equipment will not be held responsible for any accidents that involve
the Crop Sweeper.
Sign Off Sheet
(This sheet should be signed annually as part of your safety program)
As a requirement of OSHA, it is necessary for the owner/employer to train the employee in the safe
operation and safety procedures with this Crop Sweeper. We include this sign off sheet for your
convenience and personal record keeping.
Machine Inspection
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After delivery of your new Crop Sweeper and/or completion of assembly, and before each use,
inspection of the machine is mandatory. This inspection should include, but not be limited to:
1. Check to see that all guards are in place, secured and functional.
2. That all fasteners are tight.
3. That all Hydraulic lines are free from leaks and defects.
4. That all electronics are working properly and wires are in good condition.
Lighting and Marking
It is the responsibility of the customer to know the lighting and marking requirements of the local
highway authorities and to install and maintain the equipment to provide compliance with the
regulations. Add extra lights when transporting at night or during periods of limited visibility if
necessary.
Serial Number
To ensure efficient and prompt service, please furnish us with the model and serial number of your Crop
Sweeper in all correspondence or other contact. The serial number is located on the hydraulic motor
plate.
Safety Decals
1. Keep safety decals clear and legible at all times.
2. Replace decals and signs that are missing or have become unreadable.
3. Safety signs are available from your Dealer or the Manufacturer.
How to install Safety Decals
1. Be sure that the installation area is clean and dry.
2. Decide on the exact position before you remove the backing paper.
3. Align the decal over the specified area and carefully press the small portion with the exposed
sticky backing in place.
4. Slowly peal back the remaining paper and carefully smooth the remaining portion of the decal in
place.
5. Small air pockets can be pierced with a pin and smoothed out using a piece of decal backing
paper.
Safety Decal Locations and Part Numbers
BE ALERT! YOUR SAFETY IS
INVOLVED!
Important: Install new safety decals immediately if the old
decals are destroyed, lost, painted over, or cannot be read.
When parts are replaced that have safety decals, make sure
you install a new decal with each new part. New decals are
available from the manufacturer or your authorized dealer.
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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Serial Number Decal: TS2003: Decal located below
hydraulic motor.
Patriot Decal: TS2004
Crop Sweeper Decal: CSP154
Decals are located on the main arm.
Chain Pinch Point Decal: CSP152
Falling Reel Pinch Point Decal: CSP153
Hydraulic Oil Warning Decal: BC2515
Decals are located on the upper chain cover.
Safety Decal Locations and Part Numbers
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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CSP154
CSP152 CSP153
TS2004
TS2003
BC2515
OPERATING THE CROP SWEEPER
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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Controls
The Crop Sweeper uses two hydraulic circuits from the
harvesting machine.
1. The fore/aft hydraulic circuit for the reel on a
platform head or the deck plates on a corn head,
2. Reel drive circuit
Both circuits are easily controlled from the operator’s seat in
the combine cab using the combine control joystick and
operator console. On newer harvesting machines, the factory hydraulic control for the deck plates is
located on the corn head itself. If the control is on the corn head, the hydraulic oil supply for the crop
sweeper will come from this location and not from the single point connector on the combine. The reel
drive will still come from the single point connector on the combine.
The Crop Sweeper comes with a control box (Fig. 1) that turns the fore/aft circuit into three circuits:
1. Stripper Plate Adjustment – deck plate or stripper plate adjustment on the corn head
2. Fore/Aft Adjustment – adjusts the length of the paddle reel from the rear tube
3. Lift Adjustment – adjusts the height of the paddle reel
These circuits are used to control certain functions of the Crop Sweeper depending upon which circuit
switch is selected. The circuit will only be activated if the associated toggle is placed in the “on”
position. Once the operator selects the circuit to be used, the fore/aft button on the combine joystick is
used to control the hydraulic flow. For example, if the operator selects the “Stripper” circuit, that will
activate, and when the operator uses the fore/aft button in the combine, the deck or stripper plates on the
corn head will get closer together or further apart depending upon the direction of operation of the
fore/aft button.
Please notice the toggle switch labeled as the “Reel Motor”. This toggle switch controls an optional
motor shut off kit for the Crop Sweeper.
Finally, the Crop Sweeper also uses the reel drive hydraulic circuit from the combine to supply oil to the
reel motor giving control of the reel speed to the operator. The operator can adjust the reel speed the
same way they do with the reel on the platform head, right from the cab of the combine.
Operation
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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DANGER!Make sure everything and everyone is clear of the Crop
Sweeper and the combine before operating!
1. Have the fore and aft in the back position when starting the CROP SWEEPER.
2. Lift the CROP SWEEPER hydraulics so that the reel is about a foot above the gathering chains.
3. Engage the combine to run and then move the feeder house switch to the on position and the
CROP SWEEPER will start.
4. Once the combine is running to speed, adjust the rotational speed of the CROP SWEEPER
paddles with the reel dial-o-matic switch on the combine console.
5. In the field, adjust the CROP SWEEPER up or down according to crop conditions.
6. If the crop is down and will not slide over the snouts, adjust the paddles out using the fore and aft
feature and then lower the CROP SWEEPER, being careful to avoid contact with the head.
7. If the corn slides up and over the snouts, bring the CROP SWEEPER back so that the paddles
run right behind the rubber ear saver.
8. In extreme down conditions, removing the rubber ear savers may improve crop flow into the
combine head. The CROP SWEEPER may also be lowered.
9. In all situations, run the height of the CROP SWEEPER wherever it best improves crop flow.
10. On standing corn or in fluff run the CROP SWEEPER about ear high with the paddles running
slowly to keep the trash and fluff moving into the auger and feeder house.
11. When the CROP SWEEPER is not in use, move it to a position that allows for the best visibility
for the combine operator.
12. Transport the CROP SWEEPER in the down position.
13. When working under the Crop Sweeper or when transporting it in the up position, always install
the safety lock pins that are provided to prevent the reel from dangerously coming down!
Adjusting the height of the Crop Sweeper
Fig. 2
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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1. Use the threaded yokes at the top of the raise and lower cylinders.
2. Use the hydraulic cylinder lower link plates by moving them up or down and flipping left to right
to get the optimum height when the CROP SWEEPER is in the down position.
3. NOTE: When making adjustments, care must be used to prevent the reel from making contact
with the corn head or combine cab. Making contact with the corn head or combine cab may
cause damage to the Crop Sweeper, corn head, or cab.
Fore and Aft Setting
1. Run the reel as far back and close to the corn head auger as possible and still maintain sweeping
performance.
2. The optimum position of the reel is to run in the dead space between the gathering chains and the
auger, grabbing the crop at the front of the reel and pushing it into the auger at the back of the
reel.
3. In standing corn, raise the reel to cob height or higher. Barely touching the stalk as it passes by.
4. In all cases it is necessary for the operator to find the “sweet spot” that matches field conditions.
Extra Electric Plug at Valve Block
The two pin plug, Fig. 2, is for the optional reel shut off valve. The shut off valve can be purchased
separately, the part number is CSP12C. See the shut off valve diagram for complete instructions of
installation. The control switch, labeled “Reel Motor”, is factory installed in the switch box that came
with the Crop Sweeper.
Hints to Improve Performance
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1. Not all field conditions encountered are the same. The Crop Sweeper is shipped with the 15”
standard paddles which are the best to address most all crop conditions. In the event you are
experiencing difficulty in getting down stalks to come up onto the head, one of the following
suggestions should solve this problem.
2. If more reach is needed, check to see that the rear lift tube is slid all of the way out in the
mounting bracket rocker assemblies. This gives the Crop Sweeper its maximum reach.
3. For more down reach, there is adjustment at the top of the hydraulic lift cylinders. If the
downward reach is still inadequate after this adjustment, it is possible to gain more downward
reach by moving the hydraulic cylinder lower link plates.
4. Sometimes just a little bit more outward reach is necessary to get the stalk coming up the snout.
In the event you are experiencing this, a long (19”) paddle option is available for 30" or wider
row spaced machines. Place over standard paddle supplied.
5. On rare occasions, in extreme down crop conditions, it sometimes becomes necessary to resort to
adding the (27”) longest paddles available for 30" or wider row spaced machines. When these
paddles become necessary, the corn head snout is longer, taller, or are not as slick as standard
snouts combined with extremely down corn. Place over standard paddle supplied.
6. ORDER CSP152 BOLTS, 9 PER ROW, WHEN ORDERING EITHER CSP119 OR CSP130
PADDLES.
7. When either of these longer paddles are used, the Crop Sweeper reel is not able to be drawn in as
close to the auger as would be possible with the standard paddles. The reel is drawn in close
when it is necessary to clear fluff building up in front of the auger and feeder house. In addition,
the longer paddles do not have as long of a useful life as the standard paddle because of the extra
leverage being applied to them.
8. All paddles are normal wear items.
TROUBLE SHOOTING
Symptom
Solution
What is the combine ground speed?
Are you running too slowly, below 2 mph?
Increase the combine ground speed up to 3 mph
Are you exactly on the row?
Align the two center paddles with the rows.
Debris building on the snout?
Raise the crop sweeper.
The paddles are slipping.
Install the three set screws provided per row.
Stalks are draping on the inside of the snout.
Lower the crop sweeper.
The crop is not coming far enough up the snout to
feed in.
Adjust the reel out and/or down.
Symptom
Solution
Reel will not lift or is not working correctly?
Check for power to the switch box.
Check the switch box to see if it has more
than one switch that is in the on position.
The crop sweeper is designed to have a
single circuit active at a time.
Depending on make and model of the
combine, check to see that the reel is
activated with the operating system.
Depending on the make and model of the
combine, check to see that the hydraulic oil
supply is coming from the correct outlet.
Some combine models have a check valve
installed so the hydraulic oil supply comes
from the head and not the feeder house.
Symptom
Solution
Reel doesn’t turn
Check oil flow to the hydraulic motor
Check the combine control system that the
reel is activated.
Check that the drive sprocket set screws are
across from each other and tightened.
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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Plugging
Reel Doesn’t Lift or Work Properly
Reel Doesn’t Turn
Hydraulic Motor Wobbles/Hanger Bearings Wobble
Symptom
Solution
Hydraulic motor not running straight and/or
hanger bearings not running straight.
Loosen set screws on the center tube and
run the Crop Sweeper empty. This should
center the bearings to run straight.
Tighten the set screws
Symptom
Solution
Crop material wrapping around center tube
Add the 19” paddle (CSP119). The taller paddle
moves the center tube further away from the
wrapping material. The 19” paddle is placed over
the existing paddle, so longer fasteners will be
required (CSP152, 9 per row).
Extreme wrapping conditions
Use a 3” sleeve, schedule 40 PVC that is
purchased locally, cut to length and placed over
the center tube, in between the rows. If extreme
conditions are known before assembly, add prior
to assembling the Crop Sweeper.
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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Crop Material Wrapping
Minden Machine Shop Inc
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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LIMITED Warranty
Minden Machine Shop Inc warrants all products manufactured by it to be free of defect in material and workmanship for a
period of one (1) year from the date of purchase.
This Minden Machine Shop Inc. warranty does not cover:
1. Parts and accessories supplied by Minden Machine Shop Inc. but manufactured by others. Minden Machine Shop
Inc. will facilitate the other manufacturer warranty for the benefit of the purchaser but will not be bound thereby
(example: augers, motors, trailers, tanks, etc.).
2. Products that have been altered by anyone other than a Minden Machine Shop Inc. employee or are used by the
purchaser, for purposes other than what was intended at time of manufacture or used in excess of the “built
specifications”.
3. Products that are custom manufactured by Minden Machine Shop Inc. utilizing the purchaser’s design which
deviates from Minden Machine Shop Inc. normal production line manufactured or customized features of the
products.
4. Malfunctions or damages to the product from misuse, negligence, customer alteration, accidents or product abuse
due to incoming material or poor material flow ability or lack of required performance or required maintenance
(e.g., poor material flow ability caused by incoming wet fertilizer or hot soybean meal, etc).
5. Loss of time, inconvenience, loss of material, down time or any other consequential damage.
6. Product use for a function that is different than designed intent (e.g., storing soybean meal in grain bin, unacceptable
material in the bin such as hot bean meal when product originally designed for other application, etc).
7. Minden Machine Shop Inc is not responsible for any equipment that this product is attached to or mounted on.
To activate this warranty, the purchaser must make contact in writing with Minden Machine Shop Inc. within one (1) year of
date of purchase. After contact, Minden Machine Shop Inc. has the right to determine the cause and qualify the legitimacy of
the claim. Minden Machine Shop Inc., upon acceptance of a warranty claim, shall have a reasonable time to plan any repair
or replacement and may affect repair or replacement out of its factory or through contract with a local repair service. If a
purchaser after warranty notice is made, chooses to make the repair itself, Minden Machine Shop Inc. must approve any
expenses before they are incurred to be responsible for customer reimbursement. Minden Machine Shop Inc. shall be liable
on a warranty claim for repair or replacement of any defective products and this is the purchaser’s sole and exclusive remedy.
Minden Machine Shop Inc. will not be liable for any other or further remedy including claims for personal injury, property
damage or consequential damage. The law of the Sate of Nebraska shall govern and any such claim and any issues with
regard to the same shall be resolved in the Nebraska District Court for the county of Kearney.
RETURN OF MERCHANDISE
Merchandise may not be returned without written approval from the factory. All returns must have a return authorization
number. Obtain this number before the return and show it on all return items. A 15% restocking charge is made on
merchandise returned. Returned merchandise must be shipped pre-paid.
RECEIVING MERCHANDISE AND FILING CLAIMS
When receiving merchandise it is important to check both the number of parts and their description with packing slip. The
consignee must make all claims for freight damage or shortage within 10 days from the date of delivery.
When the material leaves the factory it becomes the property of the consignee. It is the responsibility of the consignee to file
a claim on any possible damage or loss. Please list your preferred routing on purchase orders.
MODIFICATIONS
It is the policy of Minden Machine Shop Inc. to improve its products whenever possible and practical to do so. We reserve
the right to make changes, improvements and modifications at any time without incurring the obligation to make such
changes, improvements and modifications on any equipment sold previously.
WARRANTY REGISTRATION
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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To register equipment, or file a claim, copy and paste the words on this page into an email or word
document, fill out the appropriate information completely, and email it to
larry@mindenmachine.com with the subject as EQUIPMENT WARRANTY, or fill it out and fax
it to 308-832-1340.
Dealer Information: Not Applicable, check here: [ ]
Dealer Name:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone #:
Email:
End User Information:
Purchaser:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip Code:
Phone #:
Email:
Equipment:
Serial #:
Date of Purchase:
CROP SWEEPER
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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ASSEMBLY
INSTRUCTIONS
Machine Layout Guide
Crop Sweeper V 10.0
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Rear Tube
Mount Plates Face
Rear of Corn Head
Right Side
Left Side
Front Tube
Notice how the paddles are timed
60 Degrees, or 1/2 way between
Thank you for choosing the Patriot Crop Sweeper for your needs!
The following is the assembly guide for the machine. Please refer to
the machine layout on this page as you assemble the crop sweeper.
Just a few references before the assembly process begins. The left
and right side of the machine is determined by sitting in the operator
seat of the combine. An 8 row machine is shown, but it is a reference
that can be used for smaller or larger machines. If you have any
questions, please feel free to contact Patriot Equipment at
1-800-264-6587.
Thank you!
Patriot Equipment
Center Paddle
30 Degree Offset
From Other Paddles
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Minden Machine Shop Inc.
1302 K Road Minden, NE
800-264-6587 / 308-832-0220