Log splitter detent valve

Brimfield · Oct 24, 2015

I built a home made log splitter, 13 hp 22 gal per min pump with a 5" cylinder and a prince detent valve all 3/4" ports. The hoses are 1 1/4" intake and 3/4" all the rest.It splits well and the speed splitting is great but it does not go back on its own with the handle in the center and a slow as heck when I pull back to return. I tried to turn up the relief pressure but it is still slow and does not go back on its own. My big concern with it is it was a valve that sat around for years and was rusty. I had to soak it in pb blast to get the valve to move. Is there any way to repair it or is it shot?

muddstopper · Oct 24, 2015

I had a prince splitter valve that sat for close to 20 years before I decided to use it. All the caps where in it and when I took them out, there was a little oil poured out of the valve. so I would say if the valve was stored with all the caps, it probably isnt rust. Without plugs, then all bets are off. If it is a detent valve, it should have two reliefs. One for extend and one for retract. The extend should be set at max pressure, or what ever pressure you want to work with. The retract relief is usually set just high enough that the valve will return without having to hold the handle and then pop to center as soon as pressure builds to the set psi point. what you are saying it would seem to me that the valve probably isnt shifting to full retract. I could have some piece of trash preventing you from pulling the handle all the way back. Before doing anything, install a guage and check your extend and retract pressures. You said the cyl doesnt retract with the valve in center, well thats because its not supposed to, it will only retract when you pull the lever to retract. If there is trash in the spool, it could be preventing you from pulling the valve all the way in retract position. If the valve sat around for a long time, un-capped, you could have a creepy crawler crawled inside and died and might have to remove the valve spool and give it a good cleaning.

LD1 · Oct 24, 2015

Pictures of the valve and hoses?

How new is this build? How much oil capacity?

I'm thinking new build, empty cylinder. Extending cylinder filled it with oil, rod side still full of air. Now trying to fill rod side with oil and and are now below pickup for pump.

Just a WAG without more info. What kind of sound does it make when trying to retract? Does it sound like its laboring? Or hitting relief pressure? Has it ever successfully retracted or is this the maiden voyage?

triptester · Oct 24, 2015

Without seeing or hearing the splitter in operation my guess would be a damaged valve or blocked return line. With a detent return valve when retracting the handle should lock in the return position until the the cylinder rod is fully returned than the handle should kick to the neutral position. With a 22gpm pump and a 5" cylinder 1 1/4" return hose and filter are recommended due to the volume difference between the two side of the cylinder.

Brimfield · Oct 26, 2015

This is the first run for this. I am using it now but as said it is slow coming back, fine going forward. I could take the valve apart and see if I can find any stuff built up in there. As I said I had to flush it with PB Blast to get it to move. It sounds as if it struggles on return, engine revs up as it comes back. The tank is over 10 gallons. This was a project that sat a few years before I finished it, money was tight and it sat in back until I decided this year to finish it.

muddstopper · Oct 26, 2015

I dont see a filter, is there one? The return for the extend and retact is in the same oil galley inside the valve. If the return was blocked it should effect both extend and retract. I am thinking you are not fully engageing the valve handle in the retract mode. A piece of trash or rust could be preventing the spool from fully shifting. Depending on where that trash is, it would allow the valve to fully shift in one direction and not in the other. I would take the valve apart and make sure everything is clean, I would also install a return filter if you dont already have one. You can try just pushing the lever a little harder and see if it will fully shift, but you risk damaging the spool. I would also check the return relief, some trash could be holding it in the open position and that might also explain the engine reving up on return. If it cant build pressure it wont lug down the engine.

Brimfield · Oct 28, 2015

I have a large volume return filter and even a pick up screen on the suction side. With my luck the tank cap would come off and something would be sucked up. I will try taking the valve apart to see what's

up.

muddstopper · Oct 29, 2015

Try swapping the hoses to opposite ends and see if the problem changes from retract to extend. That would be a good sign there something wrong with the valve. You would have to loosen your fittings on the valve to make the swap, but if it is the valve, your going to have to take it off to disassemble it any ways.