=Adjustment of the gland.=—The adjustment of the gland will require the exercise of some judgment. If screwed up too tight, the frictional resistance of the packing on the piston rod will be increased so much that the counter-recoil springs may fail to return the gun to battery, especially at high angles of elevation. _It should be screwed up just tight enough to prevent the leakage of oil through the stuffing box._ Ordinarily this can be done by hand, but in cases where hand power is not sufficient the wrench provided for the purpose should be used. When its proper adjustment is determined, the gland should be lashed with copper wire to prevent it from screwing up or unscrewing. =To remove the piston rod.=—Unscrew the gland sufficiently to release the pressure of the packing upon the rod; unscrew and remove the cylinder head. The rod may then be withdrawn from the cylinder. In dismounting and assembling the cylinder head (and also the cylinder-end stud), the cylinder should be held from turning by a spanner applied to the head retainer or flange on the front end of the cylinder. _It should never he clamped in a vise_, as its walls are thin and not intended to withstand such usage. =To remove the counter-recoil buffer.=—Remove the cylinder-end stud screw; unscrew and remove the cylinder-end stud; the counter-recoil buffer is attached to the latter. =To dismount the springs.=—Bring the gun to approximately zero degrees elevation; unscrew the cylinder-end stud nut and the piston-rod nut; shove the gun about 1 inch from the battery; attach the sleeve end of the spring compressor to the cylinder-end stud and put sufficient strain on the compressor to relieve the retaining ring from spring pressure; then remove retaining ring (and cradle head) by loosening and swinging aside the retaining-ring bolts; ease off slowly on the spring compressor until the springs are free.