I have started having trouble with the oil overflowing from the tank plug when the cylinder returns to the top of the stroke, especially if it sets for a minute while getting another round in position. I filled it to correct level last fall and haven't added any since. It has been doing this for several months. Any ideas Backwoods Savage, Steve Burns Wood or anyone else with this type splitter?
Whatever the manual says...You could go online and pull up the manual and it will tell you..Mind you Correct level or not...If and I say "If" it is air in the line...Level doesn't matter.
Interesting thread from years ago.... I just picked up a home built wood splitter for free that was in need of a engine. I put a Briggs 6hp on it and started her up this morning for the first time. With in 30 seconds of running it started to spew hydraulic fluid out of the vent mounted on top of the holding tank. The fluid coming out of the vent seems very full of foam. It also would not engage the ram... I'm not sure where to start, I got this from my neighbor (good friend) and he said it always worked like a champ until the motor went bad on it. It has been sitting for around 5 years or so in his barn. The fluid is what's been sitting in it. I'm not really sure where to start, any help would be splendid. I tried to search on here but came up with no results, hopefully this is not getting answered all the time and I'm just oblivious. RESPONSES: start from scratch. drain the fluid and add new. filter also, if it has one. i pumped/sucked out most of it , then took off the lower hose. mine has a dipstick on the vent cap. you? when its full, remove plug wire and gently pull on starter rope 10 full times. this primes the pump, lines , etc. check fluid level and add if necesary. start it up and cycle the ram/piston 12 full times to purge the air. thats how its done on mine- mtd. just did it last week. good to go. yours might have too much fluid. when it warms up, it expands. too much and it comes out the vent. good luck. Hydro lines are reversed. Check the plumbing. Was a hose or hose pulled & put back wrong? For free, you can do allot to it & still be way ahead. Foam may be from low oil level or wrong type oil too. There are only two places air will get into the system. A leak in the suction line or the fluid returning to the tank is just dumping into the top of the tank. The return line is most be submerged. If the fluid foams up in less than a minute there is definitely a suction line air leak. **UPDATE*** I think I found the culprit... the return line needed to be replaced. It was not leaking fluid out, but sucking in air. When I removed it, it fell apart. It now runs and moves the ram in and out, but won't split even the smallest of logs. It is hissing air out of the vent every time its under any kind of load. Could this mean I need more fluid now that the new lines filled up with oil? BTW... the intake line is mounted on the bottom of the tank and the return line is mounted on the top of the tank. Here is a quick photo I took with my phone, so its not of great quality. If anyone wants to see a more specific photo let me know, and I'll get a close up or whatever you want in the next few days.
No sir. I haven't added any since last fall. It has done this several times, only when left idling for a few minutes while getting another round in place.
I'd take a qt or 2 out . as long as the pump can't suck air, its good. if there's no air or water in the oil. [and assuming its sitting level] its overfilled.
My American splitter does this, although rarely. Generally it is because the unit is off level, on a hot day and I am working it hard. I chalk it up to expansion. Even at idle, the fluid is circulating and heating. I would check the cold level in the tank. I would think there needs to be room for expansion. I think rule of thumb on the farm was 10% space for fluid expansion and to allow oil to deaerate. Good thread, looking forward to answers.
T.Jeff Veal when did you last change your filter? Not saying that is the problem, but we co-own a splitter with my friend and he said it was venting hyd fluid this spring. When he brought it over, I changed the filter as that was already planned, topped of the fluid to proper level and didn't have an issue once with it venting fluid. Just a thought.
There is your mistake. The level needs to be a couple inches from the top else the oil will come flowing out. If you can, drain some out and try it again.
If everything else checks out and it’s just a little overfilled, it will level itself out if you don’t mind the mess.
Fundamentals of Hydraulic Reservoirs The reservoir should contain additional space equal to at least 10% of its fluid capacity. This allows for thermal expansion of the fluid and gravity drain-back during shutdown, yet still provides a free fluid surface for deaeration. In any event, NFPA/T3.16.2 requires that maximum fluid capacity of the reservoir be marked permanently on its top plate
Label was probably translated from Chinese to English when printed. Should say fill 1" or 2" from the top, something like that. Oil returns pretty fast into the reservoir & makes turbulence doing it. Add heat expansion & it blows out the vent.
Never check or top off the level when the cylinder is extended any. The displacement of the rod is substantial. It needs to be totally retracted. If they are filled full then retracted the pressure can even build faster than the air vent can flow. Most every log splitter has a way undersized reservoir, about right is a gallon for every gallon pumped in a minute. This causes the level to be somewhat touchy. Also make sure you have NO suction leaks between tank and pump, as this causes foaming of the hydraulic fluid that can reach the air vent.
I like to fill to ~80% on mine...these big box store splitters have barely adequate oil storage quantities and when you run 'em hard on a hot day...and the machine not entirely level...it will blow a lil oil out if you fill to 90% full.
