Need help with Hydro on wood spliter

[dlabrie]

Hi all,
I have a wood splitter that is probably 25 years old. I have had it for the last 23 years. In that time, I have replaced the original motor and replaced the Lovejoy couplings 2 or 3 times. I have split over 300 cord of wood in that time. It isn稚 fast but it has been strong and reliable.
I believe I am having a problem with the hydraulics. I don稚 know much about hydraulics so I am kind of stumped as to what to do.
Here痴 what is happening,
The ram lost power and can no longer split the wood. When it was straining to split, I could hear a kind of grinding noise, but because of the noise of the motor I couldn稚 tell where it was coming from, A or B. (I am not sure of the name of the parts so I labeled them A, B and C. in the pict.) While straining to split, some smoke started to come out of the area between the Lovejoy coupler and 腺? The motor runs fine and there is plenty of Hydro fluid and the Lovejoy is intact.
Can someone give me some guidance on where to start to trouble-shoot this?
Also Can you tell me the correct names of A,B, and C?

Thanks,
David

 

[LD1]

A. Is just the adapter flange to connect the motor to the pump.
B is the pump
C is the valve

When you said smoke, was it indeed smoke? Like smelling like something was burning?? or was it like an oil mist/vapor from a pump leak??

You need a pressure gauge to test the pump. The pump could be old and tired and not making pressure. Or the valve could be worn and leaking by. Or the cylinder could be worn and leaking by. All would cause a weak split with no way of knowing unless you either buy a hydraulic gauge and some fittings to test different places, or replace them all one by one till the problem goes away.

Also, since you mentioned the smoke, and the lovejoy is indeed intact, take it appart anc check each half anyway. Could have sheared a keyway in the lovejoy and it isnt spinning the other half full speed.

 

[J_J]

The relief valve could also be bad and dumping most of the fluid to tank.

Like LD1 said, get a hyd gage and insert it in a tee and install it in the IN port of the log splitter valve.

Lovejoy rubber spacer look OK, but disconnect pump to motor and inspect.

I did not see a return filter, could be on the other side though.

Does the motor slow down when you fully extend the cyl or retract?

Do you hear the relief valve operate?

 

[dlabrie]

A. Is just the adapter flange to connect the motor to the pump.
B is the pump
C is the valve

When you said smoke, was it indeed smoke? Like smelling like something was burning?? or was it like an oil mist/vapor from a pump leak??

You need a pressure gauge to test the pump. The pump could be old and tired and not making pressure. Or the valve could be worn and leaking by. Or the cylinder could be worn and leaking by. All would cause a weak split with no way of knowing unless you either buy a hydraulic gauge and some fittings to test different places, or replace them all one by one till the problem goes away.

Also, since you mentioned the smoke, and the lovejoy is indeed intact, take it appart anc check each half anyway. Could have sheared a keyway in the lovejoy and it isnt spinning the other half full speed.

Thanks for the terminology. It was blue smoke. I will take the Lovejoy apart and check it out. The cylinder piston has always had a slight drip where it pushes out. Am i right in assuming that the grinding noise was probably comming from the pump? Does the valve even have any parts that could grind?
Thanks.

 

[LD1]

Does the valve even have any parts that could grind?
Thanks.

Valve....NO

Pump....YES

 

[dlabrie]

The relief valve could also be bad and dumping most of the fluid to tank.

Like LD1 said, get a hyd gage and insert it in a tee and install it in the IN port of the log splitter valve.

Lovejoy rubber spacer look OK, but disconnect pump to motor and inspect.

I did not see a return filter, could be on the other side though.

Does the motor slow down when you fully extend the cyl or retract?

Do you hear the relief valve operate?

There has never been a filter on this rig. The motor didn't seem to slow down at full extend. I can't hear much of anything when the motor is running.
If I have to start replaceing parts, Where would be the best place to order them from?
Thanks.

 

[dlabrie]

Also, since you mentioned the smoke, and the lovejoy is indeed intact, take it appart anc check each half anyway. Could have sheared a keyway in the lovejoy and it isnt spinning the other half full speed.

LD1 wins the prize!!! The Lovejoy I had didn't have a keyway, just a set screw, and guess what was missing on the pump side....the set screw!
I am off to see if I can get one at the hardware store. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Thanks

 

[J_J]

LD1 wins the prize!!! The Lovejoy I had didn't have a keyway, just a set screw, and guess what was missing on the pump side....the set screw!
I am off to see if I can get one at the hardware store. I'll let you know how it turns out.
Thanks

Surplus Center - Hydraulic Cylinders Pumps Motors

valves, cylinders, filters, tanks, hoses, etc

 

[LD1]

Glad it was something simple.

Does the pump have a keyway?? IF it does, get a lovejoy and key it.

IF the pump dont have a key, there are a few methods of keeping a set screw to hold.
1. dimple the shaft with a drillbit so the set screw tightens into the dimple
2. double set screws. Run a second screw behind the first, kinda like a jam-nut
3. loctite

But I am betting the pump has a keyway, and you just got the wrong lovejoy last time.

 

[dlabrie]

Glad it was something simple.

Does the pump have a keyway?? IF it does, get a lovejoy and key it.

IF the pump dont have a key, there are a few methods of keeping a set screw to hold.
1. dimple the shaft with a drillbit so the set screw tightens into the dimple
2. double set screws. Run a second screw behind the first, kinda like a jam-nut
3. loctite

But I am betting the pump has a keyway, and you just got the wrong lovejoy last time.

The pump has a 1/2 moon type of slot on the shaft. I tried to screw the set screw into that area. I got it all together and it splits wood just fine but, it is smoking from the lovejoy and i can see bits of the spider in the coupler. The spider looked good but I don't think it is going to last. The Lovejoy is a L 095, 1" on the motor with a keyway and 1/2"on the pump. Do you think I should replace the entire Lovejoy setup? If so, I get very confused with the variety of spiders available and just guess. Is there a set up that would be optimal for this setup?

I found these at surplus center

http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3421-E&catname=
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3421-M&catname=
http://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=1-3421-X&catname=


Thanks.