What changed?

[lobsta1]

A few years ago I purchased a used splitter. Did not want to deal with the screwed up Briggs 8 hp so replaced it with a 6 1/2 chinese Honda clone.
Originally it was hard piped from the valve to the forward end of the piston. That kept loosening up & leaking. Replaced the piping with pressure hose. Problem solved.

During this I had noticed that performance was not as good. The piston sort of stuttered going out & was down on power. It retracted smoothly. Often times I would flick the handle off & back on. That seemed to help. Same thing biting into the wood. I was splitting today & it started getting worse. I was going to post here tonight & ask if anybody could narrow down whether I had a pump, cylinder or valve problem.

All of a sudden it started operating smoothly. Could it have taken about 15 hours for any trapped air to bleed out? When I installed the hose I did crack the lines & try to bleed the cylinder out.

Al

 

[SmokinDodge]

Did you use teflon tape on the threads of the hyd line when you put it together?

 

[lobsta1]

No, but I can't remember if I used Rectorseal or not.
Al

 

[SmokinDodge]

No, but I can't remember if I used Rectorseal or not.
Al

?

It's common for people to wrap a little too much teflon tape around the end of the hose closing off part of the hose. When the hyd fluid hits the partial obstruction it can do weird things and also blow off and clog filters, strainers, valves and pumps. That's why i asked.

You might have had a small obstruction in the relief valve causing you some grief or the suction hose supplying the pump may be a little loose and drawing air.

 

[lobsta1]

Thanks for the reply. Maybe I should just be thankful it's working OK now.
Al

 

[lobsta1]

Update

Cyl. started sputtering again & down on power. Had to keep reoperating the valve. Thought maybe the tank was to small & oil was aerated. Running it today & realized the sound & manner of operation was as if I was only opening the valve half way. Took a look at the valve. The handle is a bent handle. It was mounted with the bend towards the valve body. Wondered if the handle was hitting the casting before full operation. Pulled the pins & turned the handle around so the bend was away from the valve.

Wow, I just got me a new splitter.A lot more power & twice as fast.
Al

 

[redprospector]

Glad you found the problem.
Sometimes the answer is so simple we overlook it, been there done that.

Andy