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Looking for a complete shelling system? Check out the Eagle Shelling System! From cracking to finished product; It takes care of it all.
Need a way to separate your nut meat from your nut shell? Browse over to the Cyclone Head Blower page and find out how!
We have added the C.I.T. Sizer and the Five Screen Stack Sizer . Check them out! They are sure to answer your sizing problems.
Inspection Table information has been added to our Products Page.
See our 14 inch and 18 inch diameter Pecan Shellers here.
New information on the Modern Electronics Pecan Cracker.
The cracker is shipped with the hopper bolted in place. Be sure to check the hopper before running the machine to remove any foreign objects that may be in the hopper.
The Pecan Cracker should be oiled before each use. An S.A.E. 20, or comparable light oil is recommended throughout the unit. Oil all Red Cups twice a day using 3-4 squirts of the oiler provider with a new Cracker or using a hand pump oiler. When maintaining the Pecan Cracker, pay special attention to the Slide Cover, C-6009. This part requires 6-8 squirts of oil twice a day, so that the oil can get to the moving parts of the Cracker Box. The Gray Cups should be kept full at all times and filled once each week. This is to make sure the Oilite Bushings are replinished.
Part numbers and their location can be found on Drawing C-6108. These cleaning and re-lubrication instructions should be repeated at intervals during the life of the cracker. The frequency with which this should be done depends to a large extent upon the regularity with which the Cracking Box is lubricated during service. With regular lubrication the oil will aid in keeping the working parts clean. During cleaning process it is good practice to check for parts that may be worn or need replacing. After crackers have been operating for several seasons on long runs, it may be more economical to return the entire Cracking Box to Modern Electronics for a complete reworking instead of replacing single parts. It depends entirely on the overall condition of the Cracking Box which method of upkeep is best.
After crackers have been in operation for about six months of daily operation, it is advisable that the Cracking Box be removed from the cracker for cleaning and re-lubrication to insure the highest efficiency in Cracking Box operation.
Loosen red Set Screw, #115, located behind the Feed Chain and Hopper Bracket, C-8007-A. Use screwdriver to turn Crack Adjustment Screw located directly above Chain Adjustment Cap and Discharge Chute at front of machine. Turn clockwise for more crack, counter-clockwise for less crack. After desired adjustment is made, re-tighten red Set Screw. This adjustment should be made with the Pecan Cracker running.
Remove Inspection Plate, C-4020, located immediately above the Chain Adjustment Cap. Insert a punch into one of the holes in the Chain Adjustment Nut, C-2394. Move punch toward the right to tighten chain, toward the left to loosen chain. Care should be taken to tighten chain only sufficiently to prevent slack. Too tight adjustment on the chain will result in excessive wear.
On new crackers Feed Chain Timing Adjustment should be made within two to three weeks after Pecan Cracker is placed in operation. Inspection of Feed Chain Timing Adjustment should then be made about twice a month to make sure that the Nut Pockets are clearing the Cracking Box Die properly. Clearance between the nut pockets and the Cracking Box Die, as it moves through the Nut Pockets, must be maintained or Cracking Box Parts may be damaged.
To check adjustment the Cracker Drive Pulley, C-4507, should first be turned by hand until the Cracking Box Die has moved to the backside of the Nut Pocket. The Cracking Box Die should not be in the Nut Pocket at this time. Next, check to see if bottom of Nut Pocket is 1/16" to 3/32" below the Cracking Box Die. If this clearance is correct, no further adjustments is necessary. If clearance is not correct, adjustment may be needed.
To adjust Feed Chain Timing, remove the Inspection Plate, C-4020, and loosen the four cap screws in Chain Adjustment Cap, C-2030. Next, insert the Feed Chain Wrench, C-2141, in slot of the Sprocket Idler Shaft, C-2074. Turn Sprocket Idler Shaft in clockwise direction until proper clearance is obtained; if necessary, remove the four cap screws in the Chain Adjustment Cap, C-2030, to advance to the next Nut Pocket. NEVER TURN FEED CHAIN COUNTER-CLOCKWISE TO MAKE FEED CHAIN ADJUSTMENTS.
After proper clearance is obtained, tighten or reinstall the four ap screws in the Chain Adjustment Cap. Next, turn the cracker by hand through two complete cycles to make sure the Cracking Box Die to Nut Pocket clearance is correct. If clearance is correct, operate machine.
Insert T-handled Wrench, C-2142, provided into socket head screws which fasten Nut Pockets to Feed Chain. Loosen screws, then remove Nut Pockets and replace with desired size Nut Pocket. In changing from one size set of Nut Pockets to another size, it is also necessary to remove the Tongue Casting** located at the bottom of the Nut Hopper. Also remove the Cracking Box Die (see next paragraph). To remove Tongue Casting unscrew 3/8" cap screw, then slide casting out of machine. After the Nut Pockets have been changed, check the clearance with the Cracking Box Die and if necessary adjust as in preceding instructions.
** #11 and #13 Nut Pockets use Tongue Casting C-2087 while #15 and #18 Nut Pockets use Tongue Casting C-4460. Refer to Drawing C-6108.
Remove Cracking Box Slide Cover Assembly, C-6008-A, turn Drive Pulley, C-4507, counter-clockwise until Cracking Box is at the rear of machine, then place a punch against the shoulder of back of the die and drive forward and out. For correct combination of Nut Pockets, Tongue Casting and Cracking Die, refer to Drawing C-6108.
Position the tapered end of the Cracking Box Die into the end of the Cracking Box Die Rack, C-4024, with clean-out hole in the die facing the floor. Also the number stamped on the die should face the installer. Turn the Drive Pulley, C-4507, counter-clockwise until Cracking Box is at the the front of the machine. Lift Inspection Door, C-2036, insert brass rod through Inspection Door opening until it contacts the Cracking Box Die. Then use a hammer to drive the Cracking Box Die into the Die Rack.
Unscrew Knockout Rod Bushing, C-2054, at the rear of the machine and remove the Knockout Rod, C-2420-B. Remove Cracking Box Slide Cover, C-6009, unscrew Drive Stud, C-2287, and lift the box out. After the Cracking Box has been removed, it can be clamped in a vise, taking care that clamping force is applied only to the bottom plate of the box. The Die Rack Spring may then be removed by removing the Die Rack Spring Nut. Use the T-Handle allen wrench supplied to hold pressure against the Die Rack Spring Nut as you unscrew it. Then ease the spring pressure off and remove Die Rack Spring. Failure to use caution in disassembling Cracking Box will cause bodily harm.
Cracking box and all parts should be cleaned in a suitable cleaning fluid, such as kerosene, and dried. Care should be taken that the small hole in the center of the Die Rack, C-4024, leading to the Cracking Die is cleaned of all dust and fine shell. This can be done by using a small round brush which can be passed through the hole.
In reassembling parts in the Cracking Box, care should be taken that parts are replaced in their proper working positions. Special attention should also be given to the Pawl Spring Adjustment Assembly, to make sure that Pawl Spring Guide C-2311 is assembled in spring and pawl alignment plug as shown.
Parts should be re-lubricated as they are reassembled in the Cracking Box. After assembly of all parts, including Cracking Box Cover, C-2180, the Cracking Box can be replaced in the Cracker Frame and the Connecting Arm, C-2281, connected to the Drive Gear, C-4008, by inserting and tightening the Drive Stud, C-2287. The Slide Cover can then be replaced and reassembly is complete.
When reassembling a Cracking Box, be sure that Pawl Spring Guide, C-2311, Pawl Alignment Spring, C-2412, and Pawl Alignment Plug, C-2312, are assembled as shown to insure proper operation.
Refer to Drawing C-2440. Simply loosen Lock Nut, C-2075, and the entire assembly can be removed by unscrewing the Adjusting Screw.
The Red Cup, on the front of the Pecan Cracker, MUST BE FILLED EACH DAY while the Cracker is in operation. Periodic inspection of the Carrier Chain should be made by removing the Inspection Cover, C-4020, on the front of the Feed Chain Plate, C-8008-A. A properly lubricated Carrier Chain should ride freely in a straight vertical line between sprockets. If the Chain shows a tendency to buckle, it is not receiving sufficient lubrication. In such instance, additional oil should be applied to the Carrier Chain until it runs free. If this oil cup remains full, cup and tubing should be immediately checked for possible clogging. Insufficient lubrication will result in excessive chain wear, binding of chain, and mis-alignment of Nut Pockets with Cracking Box Die.
For proper crack, follow directions as outlined in paragraph labeled "To Set Crack Adjustment". Adjust Pecan Cracker just hard enough to crack shell completely around all nuts.
When reassembling chain, make sure that Nut Pocket attachment holes are on bottom ends of chain links on cracking side of unit. Refer to Drawing C-6108.
The Modern Electronics Pecan Cracker comes equipped with Protective Guards. DO NOT OPERATE THIS MACHINE WITHOUT PROTECTIVE GUARDS IN PLACE. Stop the Pecan Creacker before performing maintenance and before performing any other activities that will require removal of Protective Guards. Stop the Cracker before reaching inside the machine with body parts (i.e. hands, fingers, etc.) or tools. Failure to follow these guidelines can result in severe injury or even death. Unless otherwise specified, before operating this machine, alert employees of safety guidelines. As always, common sense and direct and clear instruction will keep everyone safe.
