woos splitter problem....help needed

[turnkey4099]

Thanks for the great responses. Last night I changed the fluid and ran the splitter for about 1/2 hour. I also cleaned/ lubricated the "govener rod and linkages" (sorry if thats not the right terminology). Also, the "suction screen" (filter) located within the resiviour was clean as a wistle. None of this helped my problems . The engine rpms continue to drop when the ram is in motion. RPM's drop just slightly with no load on the ram and much more when there is a log being split.

I did notice another thing, don't know if its significant, but the pump is not holding a prime. The pump is located above the resiviour and after I shut the unit down fluid drains out of the pump down to the level of fluid in the resiviour.

That is not good. A hydraulic pump will wear rapidly if run without oil in it. I don't see it as being the cause of the problem though as if the pump were damaged it wouldn't produce normal pressure.

Harry K

 

[woodlot]

Well guys here's the deal: I worked on the wood splitter this weekend and identified the problem. It is in fact the engine that is to blame. The engine is running to fast and maxing out the rpm's, which in turn is spinning the pump to fast, which in trun is putting to much vacuum on the suction line and causes it to collapse, hence the pump is starved of fluid and bogs the engine. whewww....I got it figured out, but I have no idea how to adjust the engine to fix it.

The engine has lost all throttle controll. It only runs at maxed out rpms or nothing. If anyone can help that would be great! There is no info in the manual. I'll need to buy a shop guide or take it to the small engine guy. Unless you guys can help....Thanks!

Here's the engine: honda 5hp

 

[BillyP]

Well guys here's the deal: I worked on the wood splitter this weekend and identified the problem. It is in fact the engine that is to blame. The engine is running to fast and maxing out the rpm's, which in turn is spinning the pump to fast, which in trun is putting to much vacuum on the suction line and causes it to collapse, hence the pump is starved of fluid and bogs the engine. whewww....I got it figured out, but I have no idea how to adjust the engine to fix it.

The engine has lost all throttle controll. It only runs at maxed out rpms or nothing. If anyone can help that would be great! There is no info in the manual. I'll need to buy a shop guide or take it to the small engine guy. Unless you guys can help....Thanks!

Here's the engine: honda 5hp

Sounds like a governor problem to me. If the engine uses an air vane governor, the governor spring has most likely came loose or stretched..

 

[woodlot]

Its a centifugal mechanical governor. The spring between the throttle lever and govenor is in place. However, there appears to be an adjustment nut where the govenor rod exits the base of the engine.

 

[BillyP]

Let's back up a little here. You said "The engine has lost all throttle control". Does that mean you can't control the engine speed by moving the throttle by hand/finger? By throttle I mean the throttle on the carburetor itself.

Below is the percedure to adjust the governor on a Honda GC160. Probably the same engine you have.

1) Loosen screw holding governor lever to governor crank.

2)Rotate throttle plate linkage from idle position to wide open position. Note the rotation of the governor arm attatched to the throttle linkage.

3) Place and hold the linkage in high speed position.

4) While holding the linkage in this position, rotate the governor shaft until it stops in the direction noted in step 2.

5) Torque screw holding governor lever to governor crank.

6) Before starting engine, manually actuate governor linkage to check for binding.

 

[woodlot]

BillyP - now we're getting somethere! thanks.

Should that procedure be done with the manual throttle controll lever in the wide open position?

You lost me a bit from step #2 to #4. Step #2 says to note the rotation of the governor ARM, step #4 says to rotate the governor SHAFT.

I think I get the idea though. I should hold the governor arm in the wide open postion. Then rotate the governor shaft and tighten the set screw. I'm confused on which way to rotate the shaft.

 

[Willl]

If I read it right, the same direction it took to go from closed to wide open.

 

[tnau664]

Mine would cause the motor to stall if you held on the handle, yes the valve is internal in the pump. I'm thinking you need new fluid to start with. Sounds like your getting foaming in the system. Hydaulic fluid has an anti-foaming additive in it. I am also suprised you have clear fluid (fancy i guess) mine just uses car grade ATF.

Dubba, I found this string during a search and it seems you have hit my problem with the statement above. The motor on my splitter will stall even when closing the cylinder. Are you aware of any type manual that covers pump rebuilds? Did you pump rebuild stop the motor from stalling?

Thanks
T
Piedmont, AL

 

[woodlot]

Sorry I forgot to post a follow-up on this, noone probibly cares anymore, but for archive sake i wanted to post the resolution to this problem. It turned out to be a broken govenor arm. Hence the engine was runing at max rpm all the time. Simple fix and a hard to find part.- woodlot

 

[escavader]

I have found with the two stage pumps,all you need to do is idle the engine along,even with a 5 horse ,the pump does the work.Faster rpm doesnt noticably increase cycle times either,or power.
ALAN