On the back of the paver, at the left and right of the main screed, the screed operator will encounter a depth crank. This vertical pole with a handle on top raises and lowers the screed in small increments, and the new screed operator might think he has to spin that baby like the Wheel of Fortune to effect a change in the mat.
This is not so.
Look at the top of the depth crank like it’s the face of a clock. The top is 12 o’clock. The far right is 3 o’clock. And so on.
One whole turn around the clock will cause the screed to rise (or lower, depending on the manufacturer) about an eighth of an inch, and it will take a full length of the paver moving forward before you “see” the result of that change in the mat.
Quick Tip:
Look at the indicator on the depth crank to see whether clockwise will take you up or down.
Teach the screed operator not to turn the depth crank two or three (or more) revolutions around the “clock” at once. If he rocks around the clock too many times, he’s causing significant change to the mat (if he has that much material at the head of material to accommodate it), which will result in hills and valleys for the state inspector to find.
Instead, train the screed operator to give mild adjustments and half-turns of the depth crank. Teach him to be patient watching for the slight and gentle change in the mat.
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