MTD 580 Series Operator's Manual page 8

• The return hose is attached to the top of the control
valve. Loosen the hose clamp on the free end of the
hose. Cut the securing strap. Remove protective
insert from end of the hose. See Figure 10.
• Remove the protective cap from the fitting on top of
the filter head. Attach the end of the hose to the
fitting on top of the filter. Place the hose clamp at
the base of the fitting and tighten securely.
Attaching theLogCradle
• Pull the beam lock on the beam support/latch
bracket out and pivot it down. Carefully lower the
wedge, beam, and cylinder assembly to the
horizontal position. Pull out and rotate beam lock to
secure beam in the horizontal position.
NOTE: The hardware for attaching the log cradle is
packed with the operator's manual.
• Place one cradle support bracket against the lower
outside surface of one of the beam flanges.
See Figure 11.
• Insert two carriage bolts through the cradle support
bracket and the beam flange. Secure with two lock
washers and hex nuts. Do not tighten at this time.
• Attach the second cradle support bracket to the
same side of the beam in the same manner.
• Place one log cradle over the support brackets and
align the bolts holes.
• Insert four carriage bolts through the log cradle and
cradle support brackets. Secure with lock washers
and hex nuts and tighten all eight carriage bolts and
nuts securely. See Figure 11.
• Attach the other cradle support brackets and log
cradle to the other side of the beam in the same
manner. See Figure 11.
Log Cradle
Cradll Support Bracket
?
Figure 11
Preparing the LogSplitter
• 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 12.
• Fill the reservoir tank with Dexron III automatic
transmission fluid or 10W AW hydraulic fluid.
NOTE: The reservoir tank has a capacity of 7 gallons.
• Check fluid level using the dipstick or a ruler. 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.
• Make sure the spark plug wire is disconnected.
Then prime the pump by pulling the recoil starter as
far as it will go. Repeat approximately 10 times.
• Reconnect the spark plug wire and start engine
following instructions in the OPERATION section.
Dipstick
Tank
Figure 12
• Use control handle to engage the wedge to the
farthest extended position. Then retract the wedge.
• Refill tank as specified on the dipstick.
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 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.
_ WARNING:
Much of the original fluid has
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.
• If your log splitter is so equipped, attach taillights
following the taillight kit manual