Splitter Leaking

Hey gang, just noticed last night it appears the splitter is leaking a bit. Full admission, I am not the most mechanically inclined with many things and still learning as I go. I last used the splitter about 2-3 weeks ago and was running some really narly stuff my cousin brought over. I don't know what the hec he brought me but this 25ton splitter couldn't split most of it. Just shredded as we tried to split it.

Attached are a few pic's not sure where to even start. I check the hydraulic fluid and looks pretty good and full. Hopefully this isn't something major and can be fixed. Thanks a ton in advance!!

 

If it's leaking from the red circle area it would have to be the cylinder itself leaking. Bad spot in the weld? Make sure it's not leaking somewhere else and moving to that spot. Clean it and pinpoint the leak. If it is leaking from the weld you'll need to grind it down and re-weld.


Mike in Okla

 

It's very possible it's running down and building up there. I know it's sitting un-level in that direction a bit.

 

Seems like a good time to give it a serious cleaning and then let it run while you watch. If nothing appears, get somebody to split while you keep watching. No sense tearing something apart until you know what the problem is.

 

Ran out quick before work and tried to get a better handle on the leaking. Looks like there is a leak occuring up by the wedge/front of the cylinder and it was running along the cylinder and creating droplets.

However down by the hydraulic fluid tank looks like there is another leak occuring. I don't know what he hec is going on now....!

 

You obviously have never owned an old school Harley Davidson...if they are that dry the bike gets taken to the shop to find out what's wrong with it!

 

My splitter is leaking at the same spot on the tank. Mine appears to be leaking at the weld. Your cylinder probably needs a rebuild if it’s leaking at the front.
I’m choosing to ignore my tank leak since prime time splitting season is upon us.

 

Unless it's making a mess I wouldn't worry about that small amount from the cylinder.
The hose you could tighten with a wrench.

 

Thanks Dennis, sounds good, makes me feel a tad better............

Thanks Chris F that was first thing I was going to try. Busy week, but hoping to get out there this weekend and wipe it down good and tighten that up a bit and go from there.

 

The leak at the tank should be an easy fix. There is absolutely no pressure there. Next time you change the hydraulic fluid, pull that fitting out and put some pipe dope on the male thread end.
The leak at the cylinder I'd let go unless it gets worse. (Cylinder work is very expensive...unless you can do it yourself)

Throw that crap away!!! Why ruin your machine.....

 

I guess that's what I was getting at...Dennis just said it plainly instead of making a smart comment like I did...

Go ahead and check that nothing is "loose", but don't put the "supertorque" on it to try and get it to seal...if its tight (normal tight) and still leaking, something is wrong...tightening more rarely fixes anything, sometimes causes new problems...

 

Good advice there^^^

 

Awesome info thank you!

 

Thanks brenndatomu

Am not the smartest tool in the shed, took me a sec to get what you were saying LOL.... Full admission it went right over my head initially, LMAO...But I got it....Thank you

 

Yup, and use PIPE DOPE, not thread tape...thread tape can cause problems in hydraulic systems if a little strand of it gets in the wrong spot...probably not much risk with a log splitter, but its just bad practice, so why do it...oh, and use pipe dope made for high pressure hydraulic systems...it does a much better job of sealing, and staying sealed, vs "low pressure" pipe dope (std plumbing, etc)

 

I bet that the hose connection on the tank is simply a little loose. Probably just needs a tad more tightening. The cylinder, it might not even be an issue. If you were using it to try and split petrified wood , there may have been a little side torque and the cylinder weeped a bit. Kinda like if you strain too hard lifting something heavy and you put a streak in your underwear..

Now we need pictures of the gnarly wood you were splitting.

 

Betting elm or gum?

 

I'll see if he can send me some over. Wasn't anything I'd ever seen and got stuck a few times in the wedge we had to flip vertical and bang out/off. Perhaps that what's lead to the leak in the cylinder?

 

Shouldn't have...the cylinder is rated for more pressure than the system is allowed to make (regulated) if everything is working right...and chances are the engine would have stalled before the cylinder max pressure was hit...