MTD 500 Series Operator's Manual page 6

• Disconnect the log cradle from the beam on the
side of the control valve. See Figure 4.
Lock
Washer
Carriage Bolt
Figure 4
• Lift and slide the cylinder up to the top of beam and
into the weld brackets.
• Attach the dislodger over the wedge assembly and
secure with hardware, previously removed, to the
weld brackets. See Figure 5.
NOTE: Once the six hex screws are tightened, there
may be a slight gap between the dislodger and the weld
brackets. This gap is normal.
• Reattach the log cradle to the side of the beam with
the control valve, aligning the ends of the cradle
with the beam flanges. See Figure 5.
• Roll log splitter off the bottom crate.
Attach dislodger
here
Attach log
cradle here
Figure 5
Hex
Nut
Disconnect
Log Cradle
Preparing the Log Splitter
• Lubricate the beam area (where the splitting wedge
will slide) with engine oil; do not use grease.
• Remove vented reservoir dipstick or pipe plug, as
the case may be, located in front of the engine on
top of the reservoir tank. See Figure 6.
• Fill the reservoir tank with Dexron III automatic
transmission fluid or 10W AW hydraulic fluid.
NOTE: The reservoir tank has a capacity of 3.5 gallons.
• Check fluid level using the dipstick or a ruler. See
Figure 6. Do not overfill. Replace vented dipstick or
the pipe plug tightening it until the top of the threads
are flush with top of the pipe.
Dipstick
• Make sure the spark plug wire is disconnected.
Then prime the pump by pulling the recoil starter to
turn the engine over. Repeat 10 times.
• Reconnect the spark plug wire and start engine
following instructions on page 8.
• Use control handle to engage the wedge to the
farthest extended position. Then retract the wedge.
• Refill tank as specified on the dipstick. If your log
splitter is equipped with a vent plug instead of
dipstick, refill to 3-3.5" from top edge of pipe.
NOTE: Failure to refill the tank will void unit's warranty.
• Extend and retract the wedge 12 complete cycles
to remove trapped air in the system (the system is
"self-bleeding").
• Refill reservoir within range marked on the dipstick.
WARNING:
been drawn into the cylinder and hoses. Make
certain to refill the reservoir to prevent damage
to the hydraulic pump.
NOTE: Some fluid may overflow from the vented
dipstick, or the vent plug, as the system builds heat and
the fluid expands and seeks a balanced level.
• Attach taillights, if so equipped, following the
taillight kit manual included with your log splitter.
6
Reservoir
Tank
Figure 6
Much of the original fluid has