Woodsplitter build #2

[Scooby074]

I split wood for about 3 hours today.

And i swear on almost every 3rd round i was screwing with that darn valve.

Some times it would split perfect then other times the return would stick on.

The way I understand it it is like this.

If relief is 2000, then the detent on the return spool should be 1700 or so. And the forward should kick out at 1500. The difference between the two is to prevent the reverse from kicking out when the forward kicks out at the end of the extension.

My problem is i can get it to work fine for several splits, then all of a sudden the return wont kick out after the cylinder retracts. Or the forward wont kick out at 1500 and climb up to almost relief. You never know which problem will arise, sometimes the forward works fine but not the reverse, sometimes its only the reverse or the forward. There is no rhyme or reason.

When its acting up the forward kickout is inconsistent too. Its behaving like there is either dirt or a burr on the detents or the spools. When the dirt is not in the way, it runs fine, when the dirt is there, the detents wont kick properly. When the valve doesnt kick, when i manually move it back to neutral, it feels like there is "something" stopping the detent ball from moving out of its groove smoothly.

Its hard to describe here in words, but im getting pretty ticked. I hope your not having the same issue. I may disassemble the valve to clean it not sure yet. Might call Prince too.

 

[6sunset6]

Exactly the same. Mine stops a lot mid to end of ram stroke and does not retract.
I think I noticed that one of the big splitter mfg ers does not use it anymore.
I wondered if it was safety or did not work as advertised.

A thought , try it with out a log in it. I am going to try that as well.
I think it is the spike from the 2 stage pump somehow.

 

[Scooby074]

I noticed a thread that timberwolf dropped the auto valve as well. I dont think that it was a quality issue, but a liability one.

Ive tried mine both with and without a log and noticed no difference in performance. Funny thing is that it worked perfect up till just the other day.

I went to the place where i bought my valve and pump today. They dropped the entire Prince line, not for quality reasons but price. The hydraulics specialist is going to call Prince and see what he can find out. He said that it sounds like im adjusting it properly. He's heard of both levers kicking out or one sticking on with that valve, but usually a easy adjustment increasing the "gap" between forward and reverse kick off pressures will fix it. He's not sure why mine behaving so erratically. He suspected maybe a burr or dirt as well. Im going to wait and see what he tells me after talking to prince.

He also ordered me a seal kit for my pump for free.

Hopefully ill have some info to share soon.

 

[6sunset6]

Nice to have a supportive dealer. Maybe the pump seal breaking down got caught in the valve detent poppet. It's in the flow path.
I am sure you know this but when you break everything down it has to be really clean going back together. There was also a note in the Haldex pump IPL that the sealing shims between the pump sections are specific to the pump tolerances. Color coded
They are probably all similar.

 

[6sunset6]

Last post with final pictures. Unless something blows up.
Splitter in its final home at the wood shed. I realized that if I have to weld on it I have to move it back to the shop. uh portable welder????
Power pack is inside , beam outside. The skid is 3 x 4 x 2 1/2 high about a 1/4 of a cord. That is all my loader can lift. Notice no bark on the splits. A full skid of 4 x 4 x 16 will fill the trash skid under neath. Some kindling slips through but the split wood is nice and clean. I have 8 skids filled like the one you see, all oak from 1 tree. I was thinking about a concrete pad but figured I would get sticker shock. I had the gravel around and put down some geotextile I also had around. It's a little harder to clean up on gravel than concrete but that is life. Lets see have to get my wife to move her peat moss bale, or rather tell me where she wants it. I decided to ignore the valve problem for now. Maybe it will fix itself or I will get used to it. I also have to put in some kind of fence rail so I don't spend any time under the crane boom. I don't worry about it coming down but I also don't like being under it on purpose.
I actually have 20ft from the splitter to where the end of the boom would be if it came down. Anybody ever taken one down by cutting the cable inside the cab where it comes off the spool? All the action would be out side then. I would really like to use an explosive cable cutter and be far away. Off topic sorry. Ok this was a great story and fun to build. Thanks everyone for comments and looking.
Bob

 

[Scooby074]

Nice looking shed. I think im going to do something like that this summer if time allows. It sure beats dealing with tarps all winter.

Good idea on the box under the splitter. I got a ton of splitter trash piled up under mine. Im going to have to wait till it thaws out and push it into a pile to burn. Your system seems easier to keep clean.

 

[6sunset6]

About the trash box. The chains hook on the back of the fork attachment and the front door lifts out. So other than getting on and off the tractor a couple of times I can dump the box with the forks.
The shed was supposed to be my wife's garden shed but she discovered she hates mice. Oh Well. I have to finish the siding and stain it. Been ummm 18 years. Maybe next week.

 

[GE222]

Hi Bob,

Thanks again for all of your excellent posts and pictures of the splitter and shed. Excellent job!!!:thumbsup:

 

[6sunset6]

I can't believe I did this. Splitting season is coming. I walked by the splitter and just for hahas turned it on. Ran.
Good Then I looked at the hour meter 3650 Holy $$%^&. Long story short I tied the hour meter across the line before the switch . Since it was plugged in it just kept racking up hours. I decided to try and remember to un plug it, but as I type this I know I will forget so I think I will rewire.

Jason Did you ever get your pump and valve straightened out?

 

[Scooby074]

Hi bob... yes I agree splitter season is here!!. Hard to believe.

Yes, I got my splitter fixed.Although I had the parts for months, I just got around to installing the parts last week. Princess Auto went good for both the leaky pump and non-shifting valve. They sent me brand new ones!! Great service from PA as usual.

I hooked them up and so far the splitter is working fine (in the shop, haven't tested with wood). If I was to guess, Im going to say that something was in the valve, dirt? rubber grit from the new hoses? hard to say, but its behavior was indicative of something like that.

Im also increasing the output chute length (by 3') and going to elevate it a bit so i can move the split pieces further from the work area and hopefully be able to pile them a bit higher. Ill try and add some pics to my build thread when I finish.

The Subaru engine worked well. Started second pull, with last years gas!! Not quite as smooth in operation as a Honda, but real close.