MAINTENANCE
Saber Maintenance Section 4-29
©2011 Alamo Group Inc.
MAINTENANCE
Boom Cylinder Removal and Replacement Instructions
1. Clear the area of all personnel before lowering the boom mower head.
2. From the tractor seat with your seat belt fastened around you, Lower the boom mower head to the
ground. Extend the boom to the furthest reach and lower the mower head flat on the ground. DO NOT
attempt to replace the cylinders with the boom in the raised or transport position.
3. Shut off the tractor, engage the parking brake, place the tractor transmission in the park position, and
remove the key before dismounting.
4. Allow the system to cool to room temperature before removing any hydraulic components
5. Wear Safety glasses and impenetrable gloves when working with hydraulic hoses and fittings.
6. Release all oil pressure from the hydraulic circuit by manually stroking each valve section with the
tractor engine off. Utilize the Manual Override function if the unit is equipped with an electric over
hydraulic valve.
7. Utilize blocks, jack stands or a suitable over head hoist to support the weight of the boom section and
remove pressure form the cylinder mounting pins.
8. Check to see that the cylinder to be replaced is not under pressure by moving the cylinder pins by
hand. The pins should be loose and should slide form the pin bore easily. If the pins are tight and
cannot be moved, the cylinder may be under pressure. Make sure the boom components are properly
supported and that the pressure is relived from the circuit.
9. Cylinder assemblies are heavy and can fall when the pins are removed. Support the hydraulic cylinder
with a suitable hoist or jack.
10. Slowly loosen the hydraulic connections to the cylinder. Carefully unscrew hose fitting and allow any
remaining pressure to bleed off. Use Extreme Care. Oil must be cool, and the technician should stand
to the side to prevent exposure to any hydraulic oil. Always consult the Material Safety Data Sheet and
wear any required Personal Protective Equipment. A catch pan may be required to retain any spilled
oil.
11. Cap both ends of the fitting with suitably sized metal caps.
12. Remove the cylinder pins starting with the ROD end cylinder pin. Make sure the cylinder is properly
supported, and remove the base end cylinder pin. The cylinder may be heavy, use proper lifting
techniques to lift and handle the cylinder. If needed, get assistance from another person to safely lift
the cylinder from the machine.
13. Measure the distance between the cylinder pin holes and extend the new cylinder the correct length
prior to attempting an installation.
14. Install the new cylinder in place and install both cylinder pins and retaining hardware.
15. Remove the metal caps, and re-install the hydraulic hoses.
16. Check the hydraulic reservoir of the boom mower to ensure there is sufficient oil. Follow the
manufactures recommendations for proper oil type and filtering techniques and requirements to add oil
to the system.
17. Clear the area of all persons prior to starting the tractor.
18. Consult the Operator's Manual for instruction in regard to the proper operating procedure.
19. From the tractor seat, with the seat belt fastened, operate the boom to ensure proper operation of the
boom function.
20. From the tractor seat, with the seat belt fastened, operate the boom controls to fully extend and retract
the new cylinder several times to purge any trapped air from the system.
21. From the tractor seat, with the seat belt fastened, look for signs of and oil leak. If an oil leak is
observed, shut the tractor down and follow the steps to remove pressure from the hydraulic circuit.
Identify the source of the leak, and resolve the issue.
22. Upon completion of the required repairs, return to Step # 16 to recheck the cylinder for proper
operation.