The tension should always be kept as high as possible, consistent with maintaining the normal rate of fire (500 rounds per minute). STRIPPING THE GUN. The gun is stripped in the following order:— NOTE.—All pins are driven in from right to left, and out in the reverse direction. (i) =Lock and Feed Block.= Raise the cover, turn the crank handle on to the buffer spring, see that the extractor drops, place finger between the extractor and stop, raise the lock and allow the crank handle to come slowly back on to the check lever; slide the live cartridges out of the extractor, keeping the latter down. Give the lock ⅛ turn to the left and lift off. Lift the feed block out. (ii) =Fusee Spring Box.= With the right hand at the rear and the left hand at the front, press the box forward until clear of the lugs, and remove. Disconnect the fusee chain and remove the box and the spring. Care should be taken to throw no cross strain on the chain. (iii) =Tangent Sight and Cover Lock.= Lower the cover, putting a screwdriver across the breech casing under the gunmetal block, drive out the axis pin of the stem and remove with its piston and spring. Close the cover, press in the cover lock, and, with the large screwdriver, remove the stop screw; the lock with its piston and spring can then be removed. (iv) =Cover.= Drive out the fixing pin of the cover joint pin, remove the collar and joint pin and take off the cover. (v) =Rear Crosspiece.= Drive out the tapered fixing pin, grasp with the left hand the left handle of the rear crosspiece, slightly raise the casing and, with the mallet, strike the top edges of the casing alternately until the rear crosspiece is clear of the dovetails on the casing. Lift out the trigger bar. (vi) =Slides, Right and Left, and Check Lever.= Pull out the slides. Drive out the fixing pin from the check lever collar, remove the collar and check lever. (vii) =Recoiling Portion.= Fold back the connecting rod on to the crank, turn the crank handle to a vertical position, and draw out to the rear the recoiling portion. Disconnect the side plates by dropping them and springing them outwards. If necessary, by taking out the fixing pin, the crank handle can be driven off with a drift and hammer, and the fusee unscrewed from the left bearing of the crank; but as a rule these parts should not be stripped. (viii) =Foresight.= The position of the foresight should first be carefully marked. Remove the fixing screw and foresight. (ix) =Steam Tube and Packing Gland.= Up-end the barrel casing so that it stands on the rear end of the breech casing. Remove the keeper screw and unscrew the steam tube. Unscrew and remove the packing gland and packing. (x) =Breech and Barrel Casings, and Ejector Tube Spring.=