Log splitter hydraulic problems

[Tim Boyd]

Hello, I am trying to fix my log splitter and I am at a loss for ideas. Could someone please point me in the right direction. My problem is that I keep foaming out my vent and barely can make the cylinder move, it seems as if there is no pressure being made. There is no tag on the pump but it looks like a standard 2 stage pump, the first thing I did was switch the control valve with one that I knew for fa t works fine and that didn't help so I noticed some varnish/slime/gel in the tank so I cleaned it out spotless, still nothing. So then I put a psi gauge in line between the pump and the inlet side of the control valve and it never register anything unless you extended the cylinder and kept trying to bottom it out, after about 3 mins of continuouslying working the handle it sometimes would go from 0psi and spike to1500psi. If anyone could help me I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you,

 

[Tim Boyd]

I also cleaned all the lines and replaced the filter aswell as took the cylinder off and worked it back and forth to make sure all old fluid was removed before replacing it with new fluid

 

[Dave M7040]

I also cleaned all the lines and replaced the filter aswell as took the cylinder off and worked it back and forth to make sure all old fluid was removed before replacing it with new fluid

Post some photos. It sounds like you have a hose in the wrong place.

Likely your pump is dead headed and the relief valve is constantly having to release the pressure hence the foaming. This can lead to a pump failure and you should not be running it.

Dave M7040

 

[4570Man]

Did the splitter previously work or did you just put it together and it’s never worked?

 

[triptester]

Foaming of the hydraulic fluid is a sign of air getting into the fluid on the suction side of the pump.

 

[Tim Boyd]

Yes it did work before, but i should have added in the original post that it has not been used since 2008.

 

[Tim Boyd]

I generously dumped oil on both conections on the suction side of the pump aswell as replace the suction hose thinking it may be colapseing internaly

 

[LD1]

No pressure until you bottom out the cylinder is normal. Its a standard open center system. Infact if the gauge reads anything with the lever not moving is an indication of a problem.

Foamy oil is air. Most commonly air is sucked in via a cracked suction hose to the inlet of the pump. And less common but would still cause the issue would be a bad shaft seal on the pump itself

 

[Tim Boyd]

How do i test the cylinder to make sure that it isnt bypassing thru itself

 

[LD1]

How do i test the cylinder to make sure that it isnt bypassing thru itself

Why do you suspect that? You havent described any symptoms that indicate the cylinder is an issue.

And with your gauge tee'd in the pressure port of the valve......and fully stroking the cylinder til it wont move anymore....and continuing to hold the lever...(bottoming out as you say).......what is pressure reading there? If near full system pressure....seals are fine. If seals are shot.....you wont make much pressure as it will just bypass the cylinder seals and return to tank.

A weak cylinder or slow cylinder is a sign of bad seals.

Bad seals WONT cause the air problem you have.

Do you do as suggested and inspect the suction hose? What does it look like?

 

[triptester]

The foaming issue must be resolved before any other tests can be preformed.

 

[4570Man]

How do i test the cylinder to make sure that it isnt bypassing thru itself

I doubt that’s the problem but you can attempt to extend the cylinder by pulling on it with a ratchet strap with the valve closed. If the seals in the cylinder are good and the valve is mostly tight you won’t be able to move it like that. If the seals are bad the ram could be extended by pulling on it with minimal effort.

 

[oldnslo]

Foaming in the reservoir can also be caused by a return line above the oil level or high oil velocity from a restriction like a relief dumping.

 

[Tim Boyd]

I replaced the suction hose with a new hose they made for me at the local truck repair shop.as far as the cylinder i was just wondering. With the gauge tee'd in and holding completely stroked out the gauge reads nothing, yes the gauge is new aswell.

 

[LD1]

If complete stroked out either direction....that should deadhead the pump and give full pressure.reading on the gauge.

But nothing is accurate if oil is foamy.

You sure you cycled everything out and back many times to purge air and rechecked oil level?

 

[Tim Boyd]

Yes I believe I have worked it more than enough to purge the air out of it, the return drops down in the tank about 3 inches from the bottom of the tank, it's also a 14 gallon tank and put 10 gallons back in it.

 

[oldnslo]

Does the foaming happen if you do not cycle the cylinder?

Is the new suction hose vacuum rated?

 

[Tim Boyd]

It always appears foamy in the tank, and the suction hose is a braided hydraulic line with crimped ends

 

[4570Man]

Are you sure it’s the right oil? If the valve is good, there’s no obstruction in the suction side, and there’s enough oil it should work.

 

[Tim Boyd]

The oil is Kendall hyKen 052, the valve is working properly and I'm certain it has enough oil in it