Outdoor Wood Furnace Info

All-Purpose OWF Discussions => Equipment => Topic started by: trz on May 03, 2014, 12:47:29 PM

Title: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 03, 2014, 12:47:29 PM
Just fired up my two year old Huskee 22 ton and split a piece of wood and the cilynder won't retract. Any ideas what the problem is? Everything was normal up to this point
 Didn't try to extend it too far or anything and had just serviced the engine and filled the res.  with hyd. fluid.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 03, 2014, 02:24:54 PM
Looking at the situation now, I'm quite sure I filled it with the wrong fluid. Did I do major damage?
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: slimjim on May 03, 2014, 06:27:36 PM
what was the fluid you used.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: mlappin on May 03, 2014, 07:46:40 PM
It would take drastically the wrong fluid to do major damage in a short amount of time.

We had one combine that used ATF for the hydraulics and hydrostatic, the other one had regular hydraulic oil in it. Have several other tractors the power shift units use ATF, the local dealers say use hydraulic instead so we don't need to keep so much ATF around. Points is for example ATF and hydraulic fluid are somewhat interchangeable with hydraulic oil having a higher flash point.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: Jwood on May 03, 2014, 08:01:42 PM
I have a buddy that works for a local excavation company and he said they just leased a new Cat CTL that apparently the diesel and hydraulic fill caps look the same and on the new one they put the hydraulic cap where the diesel cap was on the old model so he put a few gallons of diesel in the hydraulics said they ran it for probably 3 hours before he realized what he did. He said they drained it and it hasnt been a problem so far.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: Big Wood on May 04, 2014, 04:19:23 AM
It is bypassing fluid In one of three places in the valve with the handle or the cylinder or the pump or if it was really down on fluid it might be air bound crack the line on the cylinder
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 04, 2014, 03:34:20 PM
I used car quest or Bravo tractor hyd. fluid.  I think before I always used aw32 jyd fluid
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: Big Wood on May 04, 2014, 06:20:03 PM
When I get to work tomorrow I'll look it up on the computer and get back
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: Big Wood on May 05, 2014, 11:20:17 AM
did you change out the fluid and filter and start fresh if you got air bubbles in it crack the fittings on the cylinder and move the handle forward this help get the air out quicker then tell how you made out
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 05, 2014, 12:06:10 PM
I may have overlooked the obvious. When I get home from work I'll check . You guys all probably assume I've looked at and iliminated the possibility that the connection between pump and motor failed but I didn't even think to check that.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 05, 2014, 02:45:57 PM
Well, I went home and checked the coupler, that wasn't it.

I didn't change the fluid or filter I only added two gals. of fluid.

 I've taken different hoses off and tried it , nothing seems to make any difference.   I finally fired it up and just held the handle in the retract position and it did retract ever so slowly. Held it till it moved aboutan inch or so and then tried the other direction and it wouldn't. extend either.  So, as of now I can get it to retract but its slower than a snails pace.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: Jwood on May 05, 2014, 06:34:25 PM
I wonder if its anything like bleeding power steering where you crank it side to side but hold it after you turn it all the way when it bottoms out when the pump makes a different noise. If so retract it and hold pressure on the pump a few times?
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: farmboythegreat on May 05, 2014, 06:37:14 PM
maybe spring on relief valve broke
 has it a screan in intake port in tank , maybe it is plugged ??
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: mlappin on May 05, 2014, 07:43:22 PM
Where is the filter on this? I'm thinking it shouldn't be, but if it's on the suction side of the pump, that is between the reservoir and pump and if the filter is plugged there's you're problem. If the filter is on the return line from the valve (where it most likely is) then do like farm boy suggests and check the screen in the tank.

Most log splitters should be capable of producing at least 1500 psi, if it has oil to the pump no amount of air in a cylinder should keep it from moving.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: Jwood on May 05, 2014, 08:10:42 PM
Where is the filter on this? I'm thinking it shouldn't be, but if it's on the suction side of the pump, that is between the reservoir and pump and if the filter is plugged there's you're problem. If the filter is on the return line from the valve (where it most likely is) then do like farm boy suggests and check the screen in the tank.

Most log splitters should be capable of producing at least 1500 psi, if it has oil to the pump no amount of air in a cylinder should keep it from moving.

I'm not disagreeing with you but automotive power steering pumps vary from anywhere between 300 to 2200psi just as high if not higher as a log splitter but you will only hit max pressure at full lock of the steering wheel which is how you bleed them.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: Jwood on May 05, 2014, 08:15:40 PM
I'm just saying its worth a shot all you have to do is start the machine that's where I'd start if it was me run the ram to the end of the stroke and hold it for a couple seconds.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: Jwood on May 05, 2014, 08:28:14 PM
Found this online, again I'm no expert.

 In order to quickly and effortlessly cut through wood for use in your fireplace, your log splitter relies on hydraulic pressure. To ensure that your splitter is working at its optimum level and continues to cut your logs as efficiently as possible, you will regularly need to complete some maintenance on it. An integral part of any maintenance schedule is bleeding the hydraulics, but how exactly do you do this?

Step 1: Put on a pair of safety glasses to ensure that your eyes are protected in the case of flying debris.

Step 2: Extend the hydraulic ram to its maximum forward position. On powered models, this can be achieved using the ram control switch and on manual models, this can be achieved by pumping the handle. Remove the oil filling plug by turning it counter-clockwise.

Step 3: Release the hydraulic ram by turning the release screw counter-clockwise. Let the ram retract until fluid flows out from the plughole you opened in the above step. You will then need to quickly turn the release screw clockwise to stop the ram from retracting any further.

Step 4: Replace the oil filling plug, making sure it is tight before attempting to use the log splitter again (a loose plug can allow air to enter the hydraulic system and cause all sorts of problems).

As you can see, bleeding the hydraulics of your log splitter is actually a fairly simple process and is one that you will quickly get used to completing as a part of any regular maintenance schedule. Remember to replace the drained hydraulic fluid with brand new fluid and you will be good to go.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: mlappin on May 05, 2014, 11:27:51 PM
Long as your pump is getting oil, it will work. A bit of air in a cylinder versus a minimum of 1500 lbs of hydraulic pressure....air looses.  Drain the oil out of the tank, check the screen in the tank, clean if required, reassemble. If desired the supply line to the pump could be removed and a pan placed under it, dump a couple of gallons of oil in the reservoir and see how fast it runs out. It's never happened to us, but I've heard of supply hoses collapsing internally and cutting off the flow of oil, have also heard of fuel supply hoses doing this.

I'm no expert either but I do repair almost all the hydraulics on the farm and have even worked on some hydrostats which can carry up to 5500lbs of pressure, if the pump is getting oil, it will displace the air.

Me thinks something else is causing the pump not to get any oil. Could even be as perverse as the key has sheared on the shaft that drives the internal pump gears. I've had this happen on spray pumps, shaft turns, even moves fluid till x amount of pressure is obtained then they fall flat on their faces and nothing happens.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: slimjim on May 06, 2014, 02:48:08 AM
Been there and done that, good post mlappin
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 06, 2014, 06:00:53 PM
Talked to Sean at Speeco and these are the tests he asked me to run.


  To test the pump

Disconnect supply line from the pump to the valve at the valve. 
Cap it off
Try to start engine

If engine starts and runs, pump is BAD.

Test cylinder

Disconnect return line at the filter
Disconnect line at far end of the cylinder
Use air compressor to pressurize cylinder
If you can blow fluid or air out of the return line seals in cylinder are
BAD.

When I did the pump test the engine started and ran for about 15 sec.  Then locked up and quit.
  Disconnected pump from motor and motor ran fine but the pump was locked up

    Called Sean back at Speeco and he said it sounds like the pump was failing g and the test was the last straw. So, I guess I will be buying a new pump and hopefully he was right.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: mlappin on May 06, 2014, 08:35:23 PM
Thats kinda disheartening, only two years old and the pump took a dump?
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: slimjim on May 07, 2014, 04:06:49 AM
Friday night build, hopefully there is a warranty!
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: whitepine2 on May 09, 2014, 06:47:32 PM
  Don't think pump is bad if you capped the line it deadended and stalled the engine this is what the man said if engine ran pump is bad but it didn't run so pump good. Now test piston like the man said you will need to have a good connection for air as it will take some PSI's to move oil. Before you do that I would crack a line to piston then slowly pull valve and see if you got pressure
at cracked line try both line's to piston if no pressure may be valve that is not working. You might try to crack the return line from the valve with engine running and see what you have for pressure, just crack fitting slowly as oil will be flying if pump is good. Hope this helps.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 09, 2014, 07:28:38 PM
Whitepine2 ..The pump is locked up, won't turn at all.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: slimjim on May 10, 2014, 04:24:00 AM
Any Warranty? is there possibly a foreign object inside the pump.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: farmboythegreat on May 10, 2014, 05:18:24 AM
or a kinked suction line
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: whitepine2 on May 10, 2014, 10:46:35 AM
Whitepine2 ..The pump is locked up, won't turn at all.
O.K. but is the line still capped this will stop pump,you cannot compress fluid?
If you uncapped line and pump is still not turning then trouble with pump did you try turning pump by hand or with a hand tool?
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 10, 2014, 01:16:27 PM
Took pump completely off and disconnected both lines ..it's locked up.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: whitepine2 on May 10, 2014, 08:48:53 PM
Took pump completely off and disconnected both lines ..it's locked up.

        CRAP Too bad we tried. Could take pump apart as it's not working but try
going back to where you bought it and see what they will do for ya.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: mlappin on May 11, 2014, 07:41:38 PM
Took pump completely off and disconnected both lines ..it's locked up.

        CRAP Too bad we tried. Could take pump apart as it's not working but try
going back to where you bought it and see what they will do for ya.

If it's going to be warrantied don't take it apart, they may assume you buggered it up by messing with it.
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: CountryBoyJohn on May 12, 2014, 05:53:40 AM
Speeco has a 3-2-1 warranty tier.  3 years on steel/frame, 2 on the engine (per manufacturer), and 1 on hydraulic components.  SpeeCo makes the Huskee, Oregon, and Country Tuff splitters.  Distributors put their own motors on them. 

Sounds like he is on his own on the pump.  But, as I have found, SpeeCo is good to talk to on the phone.  I don't have personal experience with a Warranty issue, but I've spoken to them a couple times with questions about their products and they've been easy to talk to.  Sounds like Mr. TRZ has had a similar experience.

I'm looking at getting the Oregon 28-Ton with the Kohler Command 9.5 horse motor. 
Title: Re: log splitter
Post by: trz on May 13, 2014, 06:10:56 PM
Got a new pump but haven't had time to get it on yet.  And yes the gentleman I spoke to at speeco was very helpful
.