Troubleshooting Your Hydraulic Log Splitter

Is your log splitter ready to take on a lot of woods to do splitting upcoming winter? Maybe not as you keep it not in action in the summer.

Before winter comes, make sure all the parts are active and check If there are any problems. Here is common troubleshooting that you should know how to fix to get the log splitter ready to take action.

How To Fix Hydraulic Problems

Problem with pump lines

The hydraulic system mainly depends on the pump connected with lines which are filled with fluid to accomplish the splitting.

The fluid being pumped through the lines creates enough force to run the ram through the logs to break apart. When there is not enough fluid in the pump and lines, the hydraulic ram cannot move as it doesn’t get as much force as required to go through the wood piece.

So make a schedule and check the pump and lines accordingly if they have sufficient fluid inside. Every log splitter comes with a user manual where you can get all the information including how much and how often the pump requires to fill with fluid.

Hydraulic Pump Failure

The main task of the hydraulic pump is to control the flow of the fluid throughout the hydraulic system.

While the single stage pump can only push the ram forward, the double stage can move to both forward and backward directions. But the basic principle still remains the same.

The hydraulic pumps create a force on the fluid to move within the pump and lines. Sometimes the fluid leaks out of the system due to wear of the seals on the pumps with aging.

This causes the failure of the hydraulic system. When such failure happens, all seals have to be replaced. While repairing, check the whole hydraulic system and flush the liquid thoroughly.

Control Valve Fault

One of the important parts of a log splitter is the hydraulic valve which plays an important role in running the arm. The hydraulic valve controls the liquid directions within the system.

And the cylinder is directed by the control valve to retract the ram. When the seals on the valve wear, the liquid leaks out of the valve. As a result, the system fails to work completely.

It’s suggested to replace the valve in this situation because a leaked valve often stops the operation.

Filter Problem

A filter in a hydraulic system is the basic part. It works as a filter to filtrate the dirt and debris from the fluid. The dirt and solid materials in the liquid cause jam inside the pump and lines.

When a hydraulic log splitting tools runs for a long time with contaminated liquid, the hydraulic cylinder can easily be damaged. A blocked filter not only slows down the movements of the fluid but also creates an impact on the power and motion of the arm.

Even it may cause serious damage to the engine. The filter needs to be cleaned regularly. If it’s too plugged to cleanse, it’s better to replace both the blocked filter and dirty fluid.

Problem with Pressure Plate

You may notice that sometimes the pressure plate vibrates more than the normal limit. This is not a good sign for a splitter.

It happens due to either the lower level of fluid or the air present in the system. You need to check the amount of oil first. If the oil is found to be enough then the problem is due to the air mixed with liquid when opening the bleed valve and cycling pressure plate.

Remove the air from the system to solve this problem and keep the bleed valve tightened enough. 

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