Log splitter Problem

[Dave M7040]

Maytea
At first I would remove the hose with no flow and look into any fittings, especially elbows. Look into the valve ports with the engine off while you move the lever to see if you notice any debris.

Try blowing compressed air through the hose with it removed from the splitter valve. Blow first from one end and then the other. If something is blocking the flow it will be packed in very hard.

If no flow out of either hose, I would reconnect them so as to not get sprayed with oil.

Then I would remove the return line to the tank and check for flow right out of the valve.

Dave M7040

 

[LD1]

Id either take hoses off as dave mentions and put into a clean bucket and see if you get flow.

Or I'd take the valve off completely and air test it. Put shop air in the inlet. IT should blow out the outlet. Then move the lever and see if you get air out the work ports.

Valves have some small passages and tight tolerances. IT appears you used tape on all of your fittings, which is frowned upon when working on hydraulics. And no offense, but it looks like it was applied rather sloppy. IF one must use tape on hydraulics, its always cautioned to NOT tape the first two threads. While I cant see that, based to everything else I see, and some fittings with tape wrapped backwards, the presence of black pipe fittings, etc....it seems hydraulics isnt your area of expertise.

Again, no offense meant. Glad you are here seeking help and we are glad to help you get this straightened out and have a SAFE working splitter.

As of now, I'd suggest:
1. Go to a hydraulic shop and get steel fittings to replace all the black pipe fittings you have in the high pressure side.
2. Get some paste or sealant other than tape. I like loctite 545
3. Now preform the tests above on the valve. Either with a clean bucket or do an air test on that valve.
4. Report back here with the results of test 3

 

[Maytea]

Thanks all for continued engagement

I blew out valve at 125 psi air no hoses

Full flow inlet port to outlet port with valve in neutral
Full flow inlet to A port and also B port to outlet loop when handle moved
Full flow inlet to B port and A port to outlet when handle moved. Note no connection A to B. I am moving air line

Hooked back up the inlet and outlet line
hooked back up line for flow port to back of cyl, ran hose from front of cyl to bucket and pressure spiked to 2000 psi as soon as handle moved

 

[mrmikey]

The only thing I can see left is the cylinder. Are the ports open on the cylinder, not plugged with anything?................Mike

 

[Maytea]

Ran hose from valve port to front of cyl and hose from back of cyl to bucket
Moved handle and pressure was 2000. Also noticed that some fluid leaked from 2nd open valve port I had disconnected to run line from back of cyl to bucket. I did not notice the pressure jumping between ports in valve on last test.

Will disconnect cyl and check again what I get when I flow direct to bucket from each port

Reason I don't think it is cyl is because when I loop the valve ports with a line I get the pressure spike with the cyl not in the loop

 

[SPYDERLK]

Do you still have the old valve that worked?

 

[SPYDERLK]

Ran hose from valve port to front of cyl and hose from back of cyl to bucket
Moved handle and pressure was 2000. Also noticed that some fluid leaked from 2nd open valve port I had disconnected to run line from back of cyl to bucket. I did not notice the pressure jumping between ports in valve on last test.

Will disconnect cyl and check again what I get when I flow direct to bucket from each port

Reason I don't think it is cyl is because when I loop the valve ports with a line I get the pressure spike with the cyl not in the loop

This would be normal if the cyl was retracted and you moved the lever to retract.

Are you using one of the cylinder lines to loop the valve ports?​

 

[Dave M7040]

Ran hose from valve port to front of cyl and hose from back of cyl to bucket
Moved handle and pressure was 2000. Also noticed that some fluid leaked from 2nd open valve port I had disconnected to run line from back of cyl to bucket. I did not notice the pressure jumping between ports in valve on last test.

Will disconnect cyl and check again what I get when I flow direct to bucket from each port

Reason I don't think it is cyl is because when I loop the valve ports with a line I get the pressure spike with the cyl not in the loop

Maytea

I don't think it is the cylinder either but starting by establishing good flow from both out ports on your valve will rule out both the cylinder and the hoses supplying the cylinder.
That is why you need to do the test with both hoses to the cylinder disconnected and discharging into buckets.

If you cannot pump fluid out the open hoses, something is blocked, perhaps inside the valve, by broken down cylinder seals or internal hose flaking off in pieces.

The plumbing circuit, as you have stated, is simple with no power beyond or other features which can lead to problems so although the problem is frustrating, the cause will turn out to be something simple. your photos show that you followed the schematic provided by prince. You have a mix of new and old parts now and the old parts can affect the new ones with crud.

Dave M7040

 

[SPYDERLK]

Im going to guess you have a collapsed liner in one of your cylinder hoses and it is the hose you used to loop the work ports.

 

[banjodunn]

G'day have you tried blowing air through the valve from the A and B ports to the tank port? You can also use compressed air CAREFULLY to check that the cylinder will move I say carefully because unlike fluid air will compress and as the cyl moves it can shoot out the full length in a hurry

Jon

 

[triptester]

View attachment 515558

Gauge side is inlet from pump
Opposite to gauge side is the return flow back to filter then back to tank

Two Hoses on top in line with handle run to cylinder

I think everything matches the drawing

I notice an extra fitting between the elbow at the front of the valve and the hose, could it be a restricted orifice fitting, if so it would cause pressure to spike.
Also noticed Teflon tape on the female swivel fittings these fittings have a tapered seat and no sealant is to be used on the threads.

 

[Maytea]

Bingo we have a winner.

I purchased a swivel fitting at tractor supply

1/2 npt male to 1/2 npt female

Nothing on fitting packaging says it is an orifice fitting but there is only 1/8 hole

I assumed it wasn't just made wrong but maybe it was packaged wrong

The way I first noticed was the oil in bucket looked likenchocklate milk as the high pressure spray caused foaming

The other port did not generate this color

A big thank you to that contributed to this 4 page thread

 

[Dave M7040]

Maytea
Congrats to you for sticking to the solving of this seemingly crazy problem. Sending each hose to a bucket allowed you to see there was obviously something wrong and what is more you recognized it when you saw it.

Thank you as well for providing the final chapter as we all learn from your experience.

I am amazed that TSC would even carry an orifice fitting. It is a specialized item that TSC customers would not even know about.

Dave M7040

 

[Dave M7040]

I notice an extra fitting between the elbow at the front of the valve and the hose, could it be a restricted orifice fitting, if so it would cause pressure to spike.
Also noticed Teflon tape on the female swivel fittings these fittings have a tapered seat and no sealant is to be used on the threads.

Triptester

I would like to acknowledge your expertise in noticing the extra fitting and being aware it could be a flow restrictor. Good call!!

I have used ones made by DOLE in hydronic and domestic water systems to balance flows but have never had the need to use one in a hydraulic system but do understand their purpose.
Usually forum members are trying to increase flows

Dave M7040