Oil getting hot???

[Kays Supply]

I have a friend that has a home built log splitter. It will run about 30 minutes and then the oil gets very hot and the cylinder goes so slow it is basically useless. Does anyone have any input to a solution????

 

[mmurphy]

We would need a little more info. First thing comes to mind is this home built, does it have the proper valving so when it is sitting still the pressure releif valve is not dumping constantly. Then I reread and see it is homebuilt. I wonder if you have a closed center valve instead of a open center type valve so pump is not unloading in between cycles. Your friend may need to put a pressure guage on to see what is happening.

 

[AKKAMAAN]

First of all, please post a few detailed pictures of this splitter, tank, pump, control valve cylinder, plumbing etc....

There is for sure a FLOW RESTRICTION problem that creates the heat....

I agree with mmurphy that a pressure gauge, T'd in between pump and control valve is a good start....

 

[Kays Supply]

I am going to be seeing the guy tomorrow. I'll try to get some pictures. There isn't any gauges on it. I will run it through a few cycles and try to describe it to you guys. Thanks.

 

[mmurphy]

Another point,does it sound more labored when cylinder is back waiting for log to be put on, and less labored as cylinder is moving before it starts splitting a log?

 

[Kays Supply]

As far as sounding labored, it doesn't labor much in or out. It won't even labor when you run it all the way out and hit the stop. It will split wood fine until it gets hot.

 

[AKKAMAAN]

As far as sounding labored, it doesn't labor much in or out. It won't even labor when you run it all the way out and hit the stop. It will split wood fine until it gets hot.

I think a video with sound would be great too....:thumbsup:

 

[J_J]

The valve on the log splitter, is it a log splitting valve? Another thing you should check, and that is the fittings used. Some fittings have built in restrictors, and can be a source of heat. On the relief valve , if it even has a relief, the relief could be set so low that just about any splitting action could cause the relief valve to relieve, and that will cause heat. The relief will relieve until the pressure is reduced to the relief valve setting.

When you say, it will split wood just fine, what kind of wood. If the relief valve is not relieving, then I would suggest that the cylinder is bypassing fluid to the other side of the piston. The cylinder will still work, at much diminished capacity. If that is true, then the relief valve may not ever see enough pressure to relieve.

You definitely need a hyd gage, about $15 plus hose and fittings.