OPERATING LURE COURSING EQUIPMENT
To run the lure machine, you simply hold the button on the switch down to make the lure go and release the button to stop or slow down the lure. The process of jogging the switch is the normal way that a course is run.
The best method of pulsing or jogging the button on the switch is to push and release the button quickly. To run the lure fast, press and release the button quickly and frequently. To slow the machine down, press the button just as quickly but less frequently. There are times when you may need to press and hold the button down for one to three seconds. NOTE: Pressing and holding the button down for more than five seconds at a time is not recommended. Running the motor continuously for more than five seconds at a time causes excessive wear on the motor brushes, causes rapid heat buildup in the motor and most importantly, runs down the battery more quickly than the short varied pulse method of operation.
After running a few courses, it is not unusual for the string to start slipping or to double over on itself on the continuous loop wheel. This is due to the string stretching and the course redirecting the string into straight lines between the corner pulleys. (We all have a tendency to weave a little while setting up the course.) To correct this situation you will need to go through the same process mentioned above to increase the string tension...move a pulley or cut a 6 to 9 foot piece of string out of the loop.
The starter motor is not designed to run continuously and has no provision for dissipating the heat that is generated when operating any motor. Therefore, you need to monitor the temperature of the motor periodically during any period of operation. To monitor the temperature of the motor, you can CAREFULLY place your hand on the motor casing or pour a little water onto the casing. Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when touching the motor because it can be hot enough to burn the skin. If the motor is too hot to touch or water sizzles or evaporates quickly, you need to let the motor rest and cool down. To continue to operate the motor when it is overheated will do permanent damage to the motor.
You can speed the cooling process by attaching a fan to the motor housing. The rapid movement of air over the motor housing will greatly aid the dissipation of heat between courses and allow courses to be run with less down time for cooling.
A solenoid failure, though happening very infrequently, can be a particularly exciting and frantic situation if you are unprepared to deal with such an occurrence. What happens is that the contacts in the solenoid become pitted and burned due to normal operation and will weld together at some point. When this occurs, the lure machine continues to run even though you are not pressing the button. Usually, the lure machine can be stopped with a couple of sharp blows being administered to the top of the solenoid. If this action does not correct the situation, one of the battery cables needs to be disconnected from the battery. While all of this is going on, the safety of the hounds should be evaluated and, if necessary, the string should be cut to stop the course. The solenoid should be replaced with a new one after such an occurrence.
The best method of pulsing or jogging the button on the switch is to push and release the button quickly. To run the lure fast, press and release the button quickly and frequently. To slow the machine down, press the button just as quickly but less frequently. There are times when you may need to press and hold the button down for one to three seconds. NOTE: Pressing and holding the button down for more than five seconds at a time is not recommended. Running the motor continuously for more than five seconds at a time causes excessive wear on the motor brushes, causes rapid heat buildup in the motor and most importantly, runs down the battery more quickly than the short varied pulse method of operation.
After running a few courses, it is not unusual for the string to start slipping or to double over on itself on the continuous loop wheel. This is due to the string stretching and the course redirecting the string into straight lines between the corner pulleys. (We all have a tendency to weave a little while setting up the course.) To correct this situation you will need to go through the same process mentioned above to increase the string tension...move a pulley or cut a 6 to 9 foot piece of string out of the loop.
The starter motor is not designed to run continuously and has no provision for dissipating the heat that is generated when operating any motor. Therefore, you need to monitor the temperature of the motor periodically during any period of operation. To monitor the temperature of the motor, you can CAREFULLY place your hand on the motor casing or pour a little water onto the casing. Be EXTREMELY CAREFUL when touching the motor because it can be hot enough to burn the skin. If the motor is too hot to touch or water sizzles or evaporates quickly, you need to let the motor rest and cool down. To continue to operate the motor when it is overheated will do permanent damage to the motor.
You can speed the cooling process by attaching a fan to the motor housing. The rapid movement of air over the motor housing will greatly aid the dissipation of heat between courses and allow courses to be run with less down time for cooling.
A solenoid failure, though happening very infrequently, can be a particularly exciting and frantic situation if you are unprepared to deal with such an occurrence. What happens is that the contacts in the solenoid become pitted and burned due to normal operation and will weld together at some point. When this occurs, the lure machine continues to run even though you are not pressing the button. Usually, the lure machine can be stopped with a couple of sharp blows being administered to the top of the solenoid. If this action does not correct the situation, one of the battery cables needs to be disconnected from the battery. While all of this is going on, the safety of the hounds should be evaluated and, if necessary, the string should be cut to stop the course. The solenoid should be replaced with a new one after such an occurrence.
The addition of a safety switch to the lure machine will allow the machine to be disconnected from the battery instantly by opening the knife switch. This is a much quicker and safer method of stopping the lure machine when a solenoid decides to lockup during operation.
If you are experiencing the string breaking at the knots you have tied, the knot shown in Figure 5, called a Blood Knot, will solve the problem. This knot is most generally used by fly fishermen to construct the tapered leaders that they use to present their flies to the fish.
If you are experiencing the string breaking at the knots you have tied, the knot shown in Figure 5, called a Blood Knot, will solve the problem. This knot is most generally used by fly fishermen to construct the tapered leaders that they use to present their flies to the fish.
To construct the Blood Knot, you need to extend or crossover the ends of the string about 6” or 8” as shown in Step #1. The two ends of the string are designated as “A” and “B” and the arrows indicate the direction of the string extending around the course. To complete Step #2, place your thumb and index finger in the center of the 6” or 8” overlap, using either your left or right hand. With your other hand, wrap the loose end around the string 3 or 4 times. Bring the end of the string back to the center loop and switch hands, holding the completed wrap in place. Wrap the second end in the opposite direction 3 or 4 times and insert the end of the string through the center loop in the opposite direction from the first wrap (Step #2, Figure 5).
To finish the knot, gently pull on all four pieces of the string at once, until the knot starts to form. When the ends, “A” and “B”, appear to remain in place, you can release them and complete the knot by pulling the string in the direction indicated by the arrows. The completed knot should look something like the one shown in Step #3. You can trim the ends, “A” and “B”, leaving at least a 1/4”.
To finish the knot, gently pull on all four pieces of the string at once, until the knot starts to form. When the ends, “A” and “B”, appear to remain in place, you can release them and complete the knot by pulling the string in the direction indicated by the arrows. The completed knot should look something like the one shown in Step #3. You can trim the ends, “A” and “B”, leaving at least a 1/4”.
