Huskee Woodsplitter Hydraulic Oil Change Frequency?

[CobyRupert]

Not sure where to put this post, and maybe it's been asked before (I couldn't find), but..

I have a "30 ton" / 12.5 Hp Huskee woodsplitter I bought from TSC 10 years ago.

I started thinking that maybe it's time to change the hydraulic oil and filter.

...but then when I look at the oil, it "looks" as clean as the day it was new. Also, when I do the math, the splitter probably only runs 6-10 hours a year, so after 11 seasons, the oil probably only has 66-110 hours of use. ....IMHO hardly any(?). Seems like a sealed system.

The owner's manual doesn't give any indication of change frequency. It would take 5-8 gallons of new oil.

Should I change the oil? Or just the filter? (If so, can I change only filter and not dump oil (use vacuum trick)?)

Just wondering what the majority of opinions are.
I'm guessing they probably range from "I'm on 30 years with same oil without a filter", to "change filter only", to "mail oil sample in to test", to "change oil every year or every 50 hours".

So what do you say, and/or what do you do?

Thanks.

 

[oldnslo]

If the oil is still clear looking with no moisture ingression I would just change the filter.

 

[CobyRupert]

Follow up:
That’s all I did, just filter.

 

[4570Man]

It would cost me more to change the oil than change a pump. I'll go for the never changing it plan. Really there's not much that could go wrong with it.

 

[big bubba]

agree. have a Huskee 35 ton model for around 10 yrs as well. in that time i just change the filter & top off the fluid. since the filter is below the reservoir, changing the filter will also draw off any moisture, contaminants that have settled, etc.

have changed the filter twice in 10 yrs. i surely wouldn't change the entire reservoir. assume your filter replacement was with the 25 micron filter. the machine has been flawless. best regards

 

[90cummins]

I built my splitter back around 1975 with a 10hp engine & 22 gpm pump and it as split 100’s of cord for 3 family’s.
Lost the majority of 15 gallons of oil when filter was damaged. I never leave my machines out so oil looks like new. I have changed the 35gpm 10 micron filter.
Only problem in all those years was a broken kick-down spring in pump and the lever hinge on valve broke and was repaired.
90cummins

 

[CobyRupert]

What's a kick-down spring?
Is that in regards to a 2 stage pump? I don't have a good understanding of how they work.
But am reading this thread:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/hydraulics/24431-how-does-2-stage-hydraulic.html

Post #9 shows hydraulic diagram with a spring on the "unloading valve". I assume this unloading valve is in the pump, and "unloads" the high flow /low pressure part of the pump when the load requires high pressure?

Question: When the hydraulic cylinder reaches the end of stroke, or tries to split an unsplittable object (i.e. the cylinder "stalls") is there any pressure relief, or does the pump "dead head", or motor stall if you let it?

 

[goeduck]

I just bought a new splitter to be delivered Monday. I opted not to have it shipped with fluids, what are people using? I have JD Hygard on hand for the tractors but I wasn’t going to use that. I am not a fan of House brands but I do want to use a quality fluid that performs well in cooler temps since I usually split in the winter.

 

[CobyRupert]

By cooler temps, do you mean below 32?
The only oil spec mentioned in my manual
Is SAE 20.
The Wally World oil I topped mine off with says made for splitters but doesn’t list a SAE rating.

 

[CobyRupert]

I think the Napa 1553 that Huskee listed is a 30 micron filter.
Maybe I should of got a 1551 or 1552 which are 10 and 20 micron, respectively.
Oh well, we’ll see if I use them in another decade.