Routine Maintenance
Inspect all hose, hose fittings and couplings for leakage and
damage (see routine maintenance for hoses and couplings).
Using a torque wrench, tighten the socket head cap screws
which hold the control valve to the valve manifold and the valve
manifold to the hydraulic cylinder plug to 180 in/lbs (20.3 Nm).
DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN! These screws are installed securely
at the factory but may loosen because of vibration while being
transported on moving vehicles.
Approximately once a year, or more often if necessary, remove
the cutter blades for cleaning and inspection. Removal of the
blades is most easily accomplished by closing the blades until
the retaining rings on the drive link pins are easily accessible.
Loosen the center bolt. Your tool is equipped with a two-piece
permanently locking washer beneath the nut. This makes
loosening the center bolt most easily accomplished by turning
the centerbolt while holding the nut in place (Photo 1). After
removing the nut and washer push the center bolt out, being
careful not to damage the threads. Remove the hex nut, lock
washer and flat washer from the socket head shoulder screw.
Now, push out the socket head shoulder screw. Next remove
the retaining ring (Photo 2) from the drive link pin for each blade.
Remove the blades and friction plates from the body (Photo 3).
Clean and inspect each blade, friction plate, drive link pin
and the center bolt for signs of damage or excessive wear.
Damaged or worn parts may need to be replaced. Also, clean
inside the body, being sure to remove all grease and dirt.
Lubricate each blade inside the center bolt hole, the drive link
pin hole, and on the surfaces where it will contact the other
blade, the friction plate, and the drive link. Use a general pur-
pose white lithium grease such as Lubriplate
®
No. 630-AA.
Position the “ear” of the blade in the drive link. Lubricate and
insert the drive link pin through the drive link and the blade.
Please note that the head of the drive link pin should fit into the
counterbore in the drive link. Install a
new
retaining ring into the
groove of the drive link pin. Repeat these steps for the remain-
ing blade.
Insert the socket head shoulder screw. Place the flat washer
and lock washer onto the threaded end of the socket head
shoulder screw. Thread the hex nut onto the socket head shoul-
der screw. DO NOT TIGHTEN!
Tool Connection
Hose
Handle
Control Valve Handgrip
Manifold
Centerbolt
Drive Link Pin
(under protective boot)
sary for extrication. However, the hydraulic cutter is not intended
as a piercing tool for heavy metal. Therefore,
when cutting,
care must be taken to insure that the tips of the blades have
a clear path of travel.
The tips of the blades will pierce the
sheet metal body panels of most automobiles, but care must
be taken to avoid the heavy metal backing plates behind seat
belt mounts, door hinges, and latching mechanisms or locks.
Please note that the blades are not unbreakable, and should not
be used to cut hardened items such as tie rods, leaf springs or
spindles. Attempting to cut such items may cause damage to
the blades that could result in blade failure.
Please note the minimum safe bend radius of the hoses is 4
inches (101.6 mm).
Lubricate the shaft of the center bolt. Insert the fric-
tion plate nearest the back of the cutter, rotate the
blade into position and insert the center bolt through
the back half of the body, friction plate and blade.
Insert the remaining friction plate, rotate the remain-
ing blade into position and push the center bolt in
completely. Install the permanently locking washer
and hex nut onto the center bolt.
Hold the center bolt in place with a wrench, and
using a torque wrench, tighten the nut to 120 ft/lbs
(163 Nm) (Photo 1).
Tighten the nut on the socket head shoulder screw
to 100 in/lbs (11.3 Nm).
Photo 1
Photo 2
Photo 3
Socket Head
Shoulder Screw