Log Splitter Finally Serviced

All

After a long time trying to service the Troy Bilt 27 Ton Long Splitter my dad bought, I finally got it done. This is the model, TB 27 LS Hydraulic Log Splitter. It came with a no-name MTD 208cc motor on it. I tried everything under the sun to get what I still believe to be the oil drain plug. If any of you recall, it's a non-standard size in an awkward spot. I want to say this coming on 2 years I've been trying to get this done. Now try to keep in mind this was during the period my dad had cancer. I put the log splitter on the back burner.

I ended up buying a Koehler Enterprises RA990 Multi-Use Siphon Fuel Transfer Pump Kit from Amazon. This worked perfectly. With the oil finally out, (oil was amazingly clean for having never been changed) I filled it up with new oil. Changed out the spark plug, and we set about changing the hydraulic fluid. Again the siphon came in handy extracting the 3 gallons of hydraulic fluid out. We changed the filter out and refilled with a fresh 3 gallons.

While this took a long time to accomplish this, I am glad it's done. My son helped me which made it even better. Next time we'll be able to do this much quicker.

Now I have to remove the poison sumac away from the logs, and we'll be all set to process the logs. One more step closer.

Jason from RI

 

Nice! I definitely need to give mine some TLC too.

 

Wow, I thought mine was overdue at 7 years old!
I had to call Champion to get the filter number as the manual didn't say, and the one that came on it had no markings on it...it's pretty roached though...looks like it took some high pressure at some point and kind of balloned the canister...parts inside loose to...bypass spring just flopping around...it was due!

 

Uploading photos is frustrating now with Apple devices. The new format HEIC is not able to be uploaded. Every photo needs to be exported and saved as a JPEG. I hope that the forums will catch up soon and allow the HEIC format.

Jason from RI

 

Our old Didier is old, like around 40-45 yrs old. It's never had it's hydraulic fluid changed, just topped off. There's no filter on it either.

Maybe this is a case of stuff being built better years ago?

 

What size are the pics? I've found that if the pic is over 8 or so megabytes, then it won't accept it.

Try a screenshot. Might be easier? That's what I do with my crazy camera Android.

 

Could be, at least partially, some regular old fashioned good luck too...
Still wouldn't be surprised to find a bunch of nasty laying in the bottom...might have a magnetic drain plug too, that helps.
The older Honda 3 wheeler engines didn't have filters...but there were certain spots where the shavings and junk/debris tended to collect inside the engine...there was almost always a thick layer of gunk there when you tore into one...

 

Try using Tapatalk; I'm able to upload directly from my phone to the forum. I used the free version.

 

Go to settings in photos, find ' transfer to mac or pc' and change the setting to 'automatic' - this is supposed to select jpeg output instead of heif.
You can also not save photos in heif/hevc to begin with. iphone: settings/camera/formats/deselect 'high efficiency'
The biggest advantage with HEIF, more so HEVC is it uses almost half the storage space.

 

That's good...I should have, and probably would have if the original filter would have had a number on it.
Sounds like between adding oil, and changing the filter, you are not really in that bad of a place...probably still wouldn't hurt to change it all out once...you round up supplies I'm sure any one of us would be glad to change it the next time we're there.
Anyways, good maintenance reminder boettg33

 

I called RKO where I bought the splitter, after they passed me to the 3rd different person, and 16 minutes on hold, I gave up and called the manufacturer...I had a number within probably 3-4 minutes.

 

This worked well. I did in my other thread Overall Wood Pile Plan. Tapatalk did just what you said. One thing to note is that you have to upload one picture at a time or pay for the VIP version.

Jason from RI

 

That is why in the old days, non-detergent oil was used in small engines. It allowed the heavy material to settle at the bottom of the pan. Detergent oil kept things suspended so they ended up in the filter. Some new B&S engines now don't even have oil plugs. They claim their research showed so many people never changing oil it was another way to save a nickel.

 

You inspired me to change the engine oil for my Speeco log splitter. Got it used 2 years ago and I don't know if the oil was ever changed in it. Old oil was very black and had a little shine in it. Engine has iron sleeves so didn't surprise me.

Have not made the jump to change hydro filter. Hydro oil looks clean still

 

Got a filter for the log splitter hydraulics. Fairly certain it has been on there for years, maybe original. No name or markings on it. I could not get it to turn to come off. I crushed it trying a strap wrench. Ended up having to use a large antique F wrench to dig into the end seam. Old filter was starting to rust around the thread face.


Hydro oil looked very clean. Tank still reads full on dip stick even after everything that spilled out. Probably was over filled since I got it. It would burp fluid out the vent every time I used it.

Engine was made in 2009 so my guess is the splitter was manufactured in 2009 or early 2010. I'd bet this is the first fluid and filter change for it.

 

I need to get the oil changed in my splitter now that the bulk of this years splitting is done. I try and change the oil in all my small engines annually with a cheap full synthetic for piece of mind. I just wish they would have made it easier to change on the splitter. The drain dumps the oil all over the mounting plate for the engine, makes it messy.

 

I put a new plug and air filter in my splitter a few weeks ago along with changing the motor oil. I'm about to put the old plug back in... It took 25 pulls to start it the other day. It always started on a couple pulls before...

Back to my old theory I guess. If it ain't broke, don't fix it...

I'm wondering where that new plug was made... maybe it has a virus