Section 9: Controls - Yard Machines 550 Operator's Manual

PRESSURE HOSE
1. The pressure hose is attached to the control
valve. Route the hose between the beam and
the tongue. Secure the pressure hose to the
adapter on the side of the pump, using a 7/8"
wrench.
PREPARING THE ENGINE
1. Place the log splitter on a firm, level surface.
2. Fill engine with oil as instructed in the separate
engine manual packed with your log splitter.
3. Fill engine with gasoline as instructed in the
separate engine manual packed with your log
splitter.
PREPARING THE LOG SPLITTER
1. Lubricate the beam area where splitting wedge
will slide with engine oil (DO NOT USE
GREASE). Make certain to oil both front and
back of the beam face.
2. Remove reservoir vent plug. Refer to Figure 4.
3. Fill the reservoir tank as follows. Using Dexron
III automatic transmission fluid, or 10W non-
foaming hydraulic fluid, fill reservoir to the top.
Replace vent plug securely.
HYDRAULIC OIL ONLY
10 WEIGHT AW OR DEXRON III
FILL TO TOP
MAINTAIN WITHIN 1.5" TO 2" FROM TOP
AT ALL TIMES - NEVER RUN BELOW
THIS LEVEL. PUMP WILL BE RUINED.
OVER FILL WILL FLOW OUT CAP.

SECTION 9: CONTROLS

ENGINE CONTROLS
See the separate engine owners guide that was
shipped with your log splitter.
LOG SPLITTER CONTROLS
CONTROL HANDLE
The control handle has three positions. Read the
following descriptions of the three positions.
Splitting:
Push the control handle forward or
down. Splitting wedge moves toward the end plate.
NOTE:
There are two reservoir tank capacities
depending on the log splitter model. The large tank
has a capacity of approximately 7 gallons.
small tank has a
gallons.
4. Disconnect the spark plug wire. Prime the pump
by pulling the recoil starter, to turn the engine
over, approximately 10 times.
5. Reconnect the spark plug wire.
6. Start engine.
7. Use the control handle to engage the wedge to
the far extended position.
8. Now retract the wedge.
9. Refill tank to within 1-1/2" to 2" from the top of
the tank.
10. Extend and retract the wedge fully 10 to 12
complete cycles to remove trapped air in the
system (system is ''self-bleeding'').
11. Refill the reservoir to within 1-1/2" to 2" from the
top of the tank. Much of the original fluid has
been drawn into the cylinder and hoses. Make
certain to refill the reservoir, to prevent extreme
damage to the hydraulic pump. Failure to refill
the tank will void your warranty.
NOTE:
Some fluid may overflow from the vent
plug as the system builds heat and the fluid
expands and seeks its own level.
WARNING:
splitter without the proper amount of
transmission fluid in the reservoir tank.
Neutral:
Control handle will return to neutral
position when handle is released. Splitting wedge
stops in place.
Disengage:
Pull the control handle up or back.
Splitting wedge moves toward the cylinder. The
control handle will lock in the disengage position,
and will return to neutral automatically when the
disengage stroke is complete.
11
capacity of approximately 4
Do not operate the log
The