7. Screw spring compressor eye into rear of left spring rod. Make loop in compressor and attach double sheave close to cradle. Attach single sheave to lunette by means of loose cord of sheave rope.
8. Man pulling rope with from four to six men, retract gun not less than 10”, and secure rope to lunette.
9. Remove cylinder retainer, slide cylinder forward until free of groove in gun and remove cylinder. Handle carefully.
10. Allow gun to return to battery slowly by slacking off on pull rope.
II. To Disassemble Recoil Cylinder.
Note.—The interior parts of recoil cylinder are made with great accuracy to insure proper operation and must be handled with care to avoid injury.
1. Remove recoil cylinder from carriage. (See I.)
2. Drain recoil cylinder by resting on blocks at front and rear, removing both filling plugs and drain plug, and tipping rear end up to allow all oil to flow out of drain-plug hole.
3. Unscrew buffer-rod nut from rear cylinder head, draw out buffer rod until wrench can be applied on flats, and remove nut. Push rod back into cylinder.
4. Remove lower split pin from gland lock, swing gland lock back until free of notches in gland, and loosen gland with gland wrench. Unscrew front cylinder head with special wrench. Threads may be started by striking handle of wrench with soft hammer. Do not hold cylinder in a vise.