Log splitter problems

[tessiers]

I built my own log splitter about a dozen or so years ago and it has split well over 200 cords of wood. The other day my brother was using it and the wedge broke off. It has stalled often and I have never even seen a cracked weld until now. There was some signs of the weld being partially broken before so it obviously has been cracking previously. The weld broke right throught the weld itself, penetration was good on both sides. Sorry I don't have pictures. I did fix it by grinding out the old welds and re welding the whole thing back together.

Is this good 200 plus cords or do I have a bigger problem? This is the only splitter I have owned so I don't know a lot about them, but it has been trouble free until this week. It runs off the tractor hydraulics but it is the same tractor it has been running on for the last 5 years.

 

[bobodu]

Simply metal fatigue. Think of how many times over the years that joint has been subjected to bending and flexing.
Nothing to worry about. Maybe a little less than perfect weld to start with ...but hey....AIRPLANES fall outta the sky for the same reason!!

 

[20 20]

Agree metal fatigue fix it up and use it till it dies.

Bobodu: planes falling out of the sky? I thought that was caused by alien attacks fom the lizard people.

 

[Mattlt]

That sounds like what happens to me when I loan stuff to my brother!

Isn't there some old saying about breaking an anvil?

 

[bobodu]

Bobodu: planes falling out of the sky? I thought that was caused by alien attacks fom the lizard people.

I hear it was either the Republicans or the Democrats..depending on who I hear it from.

 

[tessiers]

If I don't let him use my saws and splitter he will just come get my wood while I am not at home. I have a standing offer of free meat (we raise and butcher all our own meat) from our freezer. the other day he came in and took the 2 steaks I had set out to thaw for supper, the least he could have done is set out some hotdogs for me. He is single and raising 2 young kids so I try to help him out when I can, my mother says something like kids raising kids. Sometimes it aint easy smiling though.

As for the welding I am sure it wasn't purfect but it held a long time and I had just about decided it was going to hold. I am a construction supervisor and the other day I got a new kid in to do some welding. His cert card was only a couple of weeks old and he was having trouble with a weld, I showed him a trick or 2 and he asked if I was certified and I said no, Farm trained, I can weld an aluminum Gear to a cast Iron shaft with a coat hanger if I have to, It took him a while before he got the joke.