(d) Replace rear filling plug, raise front of cylinder about 6 inches, and tap cylinder lightly with wood block or lead hammer to remove air. Level cylinder, fill, and replace front filling plug. Be sure that all gaskets are in place and properly centered.
Note.—After recoil mechanism has been disassembled and replaced on carriage gun should be retracted 46 inches and eased back into battery slowly to be sure that it is properly reassembled.
IV. To Dismount Gun.
1. Remove recoil cylinder (see I) and breechblock (see VI).
2. Raise and block up trails in horizontal position, elevate gun until axis of bore is parallel with trails, and attach retracting mechanism (see I-7) to left spring rod, retract gun about 6 inches, remove 3-16-inch split pin in left spring-rod key, and drive out key with bronze drift. Ease gun into battery slowly and permit further forward movement of spring rod until rope is slack and front end of spring-rod rests against spring cylinder cover.
3. Transfer retracting apparatus to right spring-rod, retract gun about ¼ inch, remove split pin and spring-rod key, ease gun into battery until spring-rod rests against spring-cylinder cover, and detach retracting mechanism.
Note.—In this position full pressure of springs is against cylinder cover and gun is free to slide in ways. Men should be kept from in front of spring-cylinder and care must be exercised to prevent tipping of cradle to the rear, which may cause gun to slide off.
4. Bring gun to maximum depression.
5. Lower trails to ground, spread trails against wheels, set brake, and bring gun to zero elevation.
6. Requires seven men and four pick handles or implements of almost the same length and strength. Slide gun about 36 inches to the rear by hand, place one pick handle in bore of gun at breech with one man, one pick handle with a man on each side under gun slides at front of cradle, and four men with two pick handles under gun as gun is drawn out.