Just wondering if anyone has experience here. I have a Countyline 25-ton, about 2016 vintage. I note that hydraulic fluid is leaking out of the cylinder when splitting wood. It's still functioning, and not spurting out, but it's a significant leak. I assume a seal has gone bad. Does this require replacement or can you put some kind of seal-fixing liquid in that could help? I have never used anything like the latter, but I ask, cuz I dread this repair, lol. I had a line go bad on this splitter couple of years ago and by the time I was done, I said screw it and just went and got a hose made a local shop that does this kind of thing. I wonder if I could take them the entire cylinder and say Here, fix it, please lol. Or is this pretty simple? Do you think getting nine years out of an OEM seal is decent?
You could *probably reseal it yourself if you can get it apart. Me, I'd pull the cylinder and take it to the local cylinder shop because I'm flying blind in such circumstances.
My experience is that cylinder repair (unless you have an exceptional local shop) is very expensive! When my Dirty Hands Tools splitter started leaking it was close to worth it to just buy a new cylinder. I ascertained that it was just my outer seals that were leaking (no loss of splitting power just an ooze after splitting). This is the most common occurrence of leaking seals as the outer seals are constantly being exposed to grit and grime on the piston shaft. I bought a kit and fixed it myself. Others here have done the same! Cost about $30 and a few hours time. Here is the link to my posts and an excellent video on the fix. Leaking hydro piston . Best wishes on a solution!
"A few hours time" is my problem. I wish I could just hire it done as I am swamped with other duties. Is there no other even temporary fix other than replacement? I guess one could limp along with it leaking. But that oil is expensive these days.
I have an older (mid-80's) Montgomery Ward branded splitter, think it was made by Didier but not sure. Anyway, after dealing with a seal leak for many years, (oozing on the backstroke mainly), I just had the cylinder rebuilt at a local reputable shop. Splitter was down for nearly 8 weeks and it was costly as metalcuttr suggested. Just FYI... I would look at cylinder replacement vs. repair next time for both cost and downtime. Good luck with the repair!
Do you have a friend with a modicum of mechanical skills? Buy the kit, have the friend review the video, pay him a reasonable price to do the work and you will both make out.
I just spoke with a shade tree guy who I'd bet could do it, he is kind of a jack of all trades and is going to do some other stuff for me. But I recall seeing something in the past week... not sure if this splitter was made by Speeco but I think it used to be and maybe this 2016 model was? And it said the Speeco kit is no longer available. I don't know. I see lots of different seal kits but I would need to know how to match up mine with the right kit. A problem could be buying a kit for, say, $50, and then it's not an exact fit, and you've blown $50. Anyone have any idea how much the entire cylinder would cost? Wow, just doing a search, cylinders sure are expensive! Hundreds of dollars? Sheesh.
Have your guy pull it apart, take the pieces parts to the local hydraulic shop, they will measure things up and put together a "rebuild kit" for you...might not be quite as cheap as the rebuild kits online, but at least you know it'll fit. These cylinders are generally very easy to work on.
