Maxim LSM55H Owner Manuals

Op er a tor's Man u al

Maxim LSM series

Models: LSM5B, LSM65BVG, LSM55H,
LSM8H, LSM6R, LSM9R, LSM5BS, LSM­65BVGS, LSM55HS, LSM8HS, LSM6RS,
LSM9RS, and CELSM

CE

WARNING: READ ENTIRE MANUAL BE FORE A T TEMPT ING TO OPERATE MA CHINE!

If incorrectly used this ma chine can cause severe injury. Those who use and maintain this
machine should be trained in its proper use, warned of its dan gers, and should read the en­tire manual before attempting to set up, operate, adjust, or service this machine.

The Engine Exhaust from this product contains chemicals known to the State
of Cal i for nia to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.

IMPORTANT: THIS UNIT IS EQUIPPED WITH AN INTERNAL COM BUS TION ENGINE AND SHOULD NOT

BE USED ON OR NEAR ANY UNIMPROVED FOREST-COVERED, BRUSH-COVERED, OR GRASS-COV-

ERED LAND UNLESS THE ENGINE'S EXHAUST SYSTEM IS EQUIPPED WITH A SPARK ARRESTER
MEETING APPLICABLE LOCAL LAWS (IF ANY). IF A SPARK AR REST ER IS USED, IT SHOULD BE MAIN TAINED IN EFFECTIVE
WORK ING ORDER BY THE OPERATOR. IN THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, A SPARK ARRESTER IS REQUIRED BY LAW (SEC­TION 4442 OF THE CAL I FOR NIA PUBLIC RE SOURC ES CODE). OTHER STATES MAY HAVE SIMILAR LAWS. FEDERAL LAWS
APPLY ON FEDERAL LANDS. SEE YOUR AU THO RIZED SERVICE CENTER FOR A SPARK ARRESTER.

2

Important Rules for Your Safety

Before operating this machine read all the instructions for safe operation, as well as,

the in struc tions gov ern ing the engine and other components of this machine.

TRAINING

• Read the Owner's Manual carefully. Be thoroughly
familiar with the controls and the proper use of the equip­ ment. Know how to stop the unit and disengage the con­trols quickly.

• Never allow children to operate the equipment. Never al­low adults to operate the equipment without proper instruc­tion.

• Operators should be mature enough to understand the
dangers of the equipment.

• Never use your log splitter for any other purpose than
splitting wood. Misuse can cause serious injury or death.

PREPARATION

• Always wear proper footwear. A dropped log can seri­ously injure your foot.

• Keep the area of operation clear of all persons, par tic u­ lar ly small children and pets.

• Do not operate the equipment without wearing adequate
outer garments.

• Loose clothing or jewelry may be caught by moving parts
on the machine or by the surrounding environment and
cause serious injury.

• Keep clothing away from all moving parts of your log
splitter. Keep hair away from moving parts.

• Wear safety goggles to protect eyes from any debris or
objects that may be thrown from the splitter.

• Always wear protective hearing devices as needed.

• If you wear gloves, be sure they are tight fi tting without
loose cuffs or draw strings.

• Handle fuel with care. It is highly fl ammable.

• Use only an approved fuel container.

• Never add fuel to a running engine or a hot engine.

• Fill fuel tank outdoors with extreme care. Never fi ll fuel
tank indoors.

• Replace gasoline cap securely and clean up spilled fuel
before starting.

• Never attempt to make any adjustments while the engine
is running (except where specifi cally recommended by
manufacturer).

• Do not operate splitter until you are familiar with all con­ trols and safety symbols.

• Never operate your log splitter on slippery, wet, muddy, or
icy surfaces. Safe footing is essential to safety.

• Operate your log splitter on level ground only. It could tip
over. Rolling logs or poor footing could cause an ac ci dent.

• Always block wheels to prevent movement during opera­tion.

• Never attempt to move the log splitter over hilly or un­even terrain without a tow vehicle or adequate help.

OPERATION
ASSUMPTION OF RISK: THE OWNER AND/OR OPERATOR OF THIS LOG SPLITTER AS SUMES ALL THE RISKS

IN CI DENT TO AND ARISING OUT OF THE OPERATION OF THIS MACHINE. BE FORE OPERATING THE LOG
SPLITTER, READ ALL THE IN STRUC TIONS GOVERNING THE ENGINE AND THE SPLITTER.

• Prepare logs properly. Both ends of each log should be
cut as square as possible to help prevent the log from slip­ping out of the splitter during operation.

• Only operate the log splitter from the operator zone.

• NEVER place hands or feet between log and splitting
wedge or between log and ram during forward or reverse
stroke. To do so may result in crushed or amputated fi n-
gers, toes, or worse. You could lose an arm or foot.

• Never straddle the log splitter when using it. A slip in any
position could result in a serious injury.

• Never try to split two logs on top of each other. One may
fl y out and injure you.

• Never allow one person to operate the valve while an­other is positioning log, as serious injury could result from
starting operation with the hands near the ram or wedge.

• Never operate the splitter indoors where exhaust from
engine can collect. It contains carbon monoxide which is a
tasteless, odorless, poisonous gas.

• Don't step over log splitter when the engine is running.
Walk around.

• Take all possible precautions when leaving the machine
unattended. Stop the engine.

• Never attempt to load your log splitter when the ram is in
motion. You may get caught by the ram and be injured.

• If the splitter should start to vibrate abnormally, stop the
engine and check immediately for the cause. Vibration is
generally a warning of trouble.

• Only use your hand to operate the control lever. Never
use your foot or a rope or any other extension device. This
could result in your inability to stop your log splitter quickly
and cause an injury.

• Do not put hands or feet near moving parts.

• Always keep fi ngers away from any cracks that open in
the log during splitting operation. They can quickly close
and pinch or amputate your fi ngers.

• Never move the log splitter while the engine is running.

• Operate equipment only in a well lit area. Do not use
splitter after dark without artifi cial light.

• Never operate equipment when under the infl uence of
drugs, alcohol, or prescription drugs which could cause
drowsiness or poor judgement.

• Keep work area clean. Immediately remove split wood
around your log splitter so that you do not stumble on it.

• Split wood with the grain. Do not attempt to split across
the grain.

Safety Information continued from page 2

3

MAINTENANCE

• Keep machine in good working condition.

• Do not alter your log splitter in any manner. Such altera­tions could cause your splitter to be unsafe.

• Before cleaning, repairing, or inspecting the machine,
shut off the engine and make certain all moving parts have
stopped. Disconnect spark plug.

• Follow the recommendations for maintenance described
in this manual and the engine literature.

• Store gasoline only in an approved container.

• Never store machine with fuel in the fuel tank inside a
building where open fl ame or spark are present. Allow
engine to cool before storing in any enclosure.

• Frequently check all bolts and other connectors for
proper tightness before operating the equipment.

• Replace safety decals as needed.

TOWING SAFETY

• Never tow your splitter at road speeds unless it is
equipped with a suspension package.

• Obey all state and local regulations when towing on pub­lic roads and highways.

• Before towing, be certain that the splitter is correctly and
securely attached to the vechicle. Attach the safety chain
with slack for turning allowance.

• Don't allow anyone to sit or ride on your log splitter.
They can easily fall off and be seriously injured.

• Before using your log splitter, disconnect it from the tow­ing vehicle. A log can easily be pushed forward onto the
vehicle.

• Never carry any cargo or wood on your log splitter. It
may fall off and injure bystanders.

PREVENT FIRE

• NEVER operate your log splitter near a fl ame or spark.
Hydraulic oil and gasoline are fl ammable and can explode.

• Don't fi ll the gas tank while the engine is hot or running.

Allow the engine to cool before refueling.

• Never smoke while operating or refueling your log splitter.
Gas fumes can easily explode.

• If gasoline is spilled move machine away from the area of
the spill and avoid creating any source of ignition until the
spilled gas has evaporated.

• Take a class B fi re extinguisher with you when operating
your log splitter in dry areas as a precautionary measure.

• COMPLETELY drain the fuel tank prior to storage. This
guards against accumulation of fuel fumes which could
result in a fi re hazard.

HYDRAULIC SAFETY

• The hydraulic system of your log splitter requires care­ful inspection along with the mechanical parts. Be sure
to replace frayed, kinked, cracked or otherwise damaged
hydraulic components.

• Fluid escaping from a very small hole can almost be
invisible. Do not check for leaks with your hand. Escaping
fl uid under pressure can have suffi cient force to penetrate
skin, causing serious personal injury or even death. Leaks
can be located by passing a piece of cardboard or wood
over the suspected leak and looking for discoloration.

• If injured by escaping fl uid, see a doctor at once. Se ri ous
infection or reaction can develop if proper medical treat­ment is not administered immediately.

• Should it become necessary to loosen or remove any
hydraulic fi tting or line, be sure to relieve all pressure by
shutting off the engine and moving the control handle back
and forth several times.

• Don't remove the cap from the hydraulic tank or res er voir
while your log splitter is running. Hot oil under pres sure
could result in serious injury.

• The pressure relief valve on your log splitter is preset at
the factory. Do not adjust the valve. Only a qualifi ed ser-
vice technician should perform this adjustment.

ASSEMBLY

1. You will need help lifting. Get help before you start.

2. Cut Bands and remove top part of crate.

3. With help lift the reservoir and engine assembly from crate and turn to rest it across the crate.

4. Install wheels. Apply a good grade of wheel bearing grease. Grease is available from any hardware store or auto
parts store.

5. Install tongue using 1/2" x 4 1/2" capscrews (Ref. 52, Figure 2) and 1/2" (Ref. 13, Figure 2) nuts.

6. Lift assembly and put on level concrete or fl oor.

7. Never attempt to lift Beam assembly unaided. Stand I -Beam on end. Roll reservoir assembly to standing I­Beam. Attach I-Beam to reservoir assembly using 5/8" x 7 1/2" bolt (Ref. 17) and 5/8" Nylon Lock Nut (Ref. 15).

8. Lift beam into horizontal position and lock in place with lynch pin.

9. Connect hydraulic hoses. Remove 3/4" plug from reservoir. Screw in 3/4" return hose. This hose goes from the
control valve to the reservoir.

10. Remove 1/2" plastic plug from pump. Attach high pressure hose going from control valve to pump.

11. Your log splitter is shipped with only enough fl uid to prevent damage with accidental starting. There is not
enough fl uid to split wood. Fill hy drau lic res er voir 3/4 full.

12. Fill engine with oil according to engine manual.

4

Operation

Before Starting Your Log Splitter . . .

1. Check your Log Splitter. Be sure all bolts are tight. After several hours of operating and at periodic main te nance
in ter vals, check all fasteners and tight en securely as required.

WARN ING : YOUR ENGINE IS SHIPPED WITHOUT OIL. YOU MUST FILL THE

EN GINE WITH OIL BE FORE AT TEMPT ING TO CRANK.

2. Check oil and fi ll ac cord ing to the engine owner's manual.

• Read Engine manual for full in struc tions and safety warn ings.

• Place splitter on level ground.

• Clean around oil fi ll area.

• Remove dipstick. Wipe with clean cloth.

• Reinsert dipstick and tighten. Remove dipstick and check.

• Oil should be at FULL level.

• If oil is required, add slowly. Recheck level.

• Tighten dipstick and clean around oil fi ll area before start ing.

3. Fill en gine with clean un lead ed gas o line ac cord ing to the engine owner's manual.

WARN ING: GASOLINE IS FLAMMABLE. USE CAU TION WHEN HANDLING OR STORING GAS O­ LINE. NEVER FILL THE GAS TANK WHILE THE ENGINE IS RUNNING OR HOT. ALLOW THE
ENGINE TO COOL BEFORE ADDING GAS. CLEAN ANY SPILLED GAS O LINE.

4. Check hydraulic fi ttings and tubing. Do not operate splitter with defective hydraulic assembly.

5. Check hydraulic fl uid level. Do not operate splitter without hydraulic fl uid.

6. Check the air cleaner element. Insure that the air fi lter is clean.

7. Familiarize yourself with all operating controls.

Operating Controls

1. Throttle --

Operating Handle

Splitting Wedge

• To crank engine pull throttle
all the way out to the choke
position.

• To operate engine position
the throttle to the 3/4 out posi­tion.

• To turn engine off push
throttle all the way in.

Tongue

Splitting Ram

Hydraulic Return Hose

Beam

Hydraulic Fluid Reservoir

2. Operating Handle --

• To split logs push handle

Hitch

forward towards the front of the
splitter.

• To stop splitting action re­lease handle.

U Bracket and Clevis Pin

• EC standard splitters require
two handed operation. Push
both handles forward.

Safety Chain

Hydraulic Fluid Filter

Log Cradle

Figure 1

DO NOT ATTEMPT TO START OR OP ER ATE THIS SPLITTER UNTIL YOU ARE COM PLETE LY FA MIL IAR WITH
LO CA TION AND USE OF EACH CON TROL NECESSARY TO OPERATE THIS SPLITTER. YOU MUST KNOW
HOW TO STOP THIS MACHINE BEFORE YOU START IT. EACH TIME PRIOR TO START ING, CHECK THE

THROT TLE ASSEMBLY TO INSURE IT IS WORKING PROPERLY.