ok folks, I have a 28 ton DHT splitter. I personally replaced the ram under warranty because the seals leaked a bit. DHT warranty service is impeccable. Anyhow this new ram has a strange vibration and shuddering once it gets hot. Creates an irritating noise with it. Only on the return stroke, not on the push. Doesn't do it while it's cold either, just after the oil is fully heated up. I get the impression maybe there's a bubble of air trapped in there somewhere? I'm not well schooled in hydraulics. I thought they were self bleeding but maybe not? I've split probably six cord with it in this condition,,,,,,,,faint hope it would rectify itself, don't laugh sometimes my equipment fixes itself once it gets tired of waiting for me to do it. So I'm ready to figure this out. It's annoying. My automatic back feed trips constantly from the shuddering effect. Not when cold, everything works perfect then. Once hot all the gremlins come out. Anyone know what's wrong? Thanks.
Check the fluid to see if it is milky. If milky before starting it could indicate moisture, if milky after running for a while air. MasterMech is gooder with this stuff.
Without looking at it, it is hard to tell. Are the gibs loose or out of adjustment? If they are loose or too tight, it might cause vibrations. I would think air would not be the cause and would be more evident on the extension, but I am not a mechanic. Change the filter and check the gibs would be my first whack at it....
Did you follow the proper procedure for changing the Hydraulic Oil , when you replaced the ram " Changing Hydraulic Oil on splitter ,need some Info ?? | Firewood Hoarders Club Procedure in this manualhttp://www.ironandoak.com/uploadedfiles/manuals/MBHVH2213C.pdf
Could be noise from flow turbulence , a partially blocked port can cause noise. Does it to it in all 3 positions, forward, reverse & not moving. ? at full speed , medium & idle ?
Nope, not milky. I've never checked it right after use but it does have a clear pickup hose and the oil looks sweet in there.
Ehh, what's a gib? All the fittings are tight and dry as a bone but I get the feeling those arent gibs.
Alright this is getting weird. WTH is my ex wife doing on a firewood forum? I'll tell Ya the same thing I told you in 96 sweety. I have the male full exempt status of ever following instructions. Thanks HD. Those links may come in handy but I hope it's easier than taking the whole thing apart again. I did get the correct viscosity oil anyway.
Only does it in reverse. Not the entire cycle either. Usually about ten inches back from full extension. Then clears up again for the last four inches or so. I'll try it at slower speeds to see if it remains.
Gibs are the adjustable pieces that ride along the I beam. Some are fixed, some are adjustable. They are generally a wear item, but they keep the push block, or wedge (whichever is moving), tight to the beam as it travels. The back bolt came loose on my old splitter, and it chattered a little on the retraction. Your manual should have an exploded view or a simple google search will show you. Again, not a mechanic, but this was the cause of my issues once.
Ok thanks. Yes at first I thought it was my wedge/gibs causing the chatter and some of the noise does come from that area. I removed the entire wedge assembly and just operated the ram while holding it in my hand. That's when I realized it's actually a problem caused by the ram,,,,or something else and the chatter in the wedge is just a byproduct of the real problem.
Had a cylinder on a piece of equipment that would chatter on close stroke . Nut on end of rod worked loose and packings and rings were running in barrel cattywampus and scoring barrel. Easy check without pulling rod out of barrel would be to check filter for metal shavings.
just a tad more labor intensive than I was hoping for but I must admit that's an excellent, common sense diagnostic suggestion. Just might go that route. Thanks.
