Log Splitter Hydraulics

[jdb4whlr28]

I recently purchased a log splitter off a gentleman for fairly cheap. He mentioned the cylinder would probably have to be rebuilt as it was leaking under pressure. When I picked it up from him, everything was running as expected (cycle time, auto retract) but when I got home I went to try it out and the cylinder cycle time was outrageous. The thing barely moves now. Also if you use the detent for the auto retract, the pump starts screaming when it gets to the end of the cycle. My first thought was the pump was bad so i put a new pump in and its still doing the same thing. Any thoughts???

 

[motownbrowne]

Collapsed suction hose from the tank to the pump?

 

[rswyan]

Check the hydraulic fluid level ?

 

[triptester]

Check for coupling slippage between engine and pump.

 

[Leejohn]

Lower the 3pt a little and see if that helps. If so the feedback needs to be adjusted. Also check quick couplers.



Man what was I smoking when I wrote the above?

 

[muddstopper]

If the cyl is leaking, good chance its low on oil. As for the screaming in detent, I would guess that the detent relief is set to high and probably just needs a little adjusting.

 

[4570Man]

What gpm pump did you get, and how big is the cylinder? Assuming it's in the fairly typical range of a wood splitter with a 4.5 cylinder and a 11 gpm pump it should cycle probably decent. Not a speed racer put a lot faster than hardly moving. I'd definitely check out the simple stuff like collapsed suction hose, low oil, and clogged oil filter. Also check the relief pressure on the pump and some valves have a relief pressure valve.

 

[jdb4whlr28]

Thanks for the info all! I checked the oil level and its topped off. I also checked for slippage of the coupling as my first guess was the pump wasn't working properly. There's definitely no slippage. The pump is a 11.5 GPM 2 stage pump. The guy I bought it from changed the fluid/filter less than a year ago so I'm doubting the filter is clogged but I will buy a new one just to rule that out. The tank suction line doesn't seem to be collapsed at all. However the line going from the filter back to the tank is questionable. But that is on the pressure side of the pump. Could that possibly be the issue?

 

[CincyFlyer]

Did you rebuild, or at least check, the cylinder?

 

[LD1]

Does l"leaking under pressure" mean that its leaking oil onto the ground? or just leaking internally?