Log Splitter Leaks

[Wonkydonkey]

I,ll also add this bit of info. As it’s just popped up that dangerousatom just added some info.


My cylinder/ ram started leaking, it had some rusty pits about 3 or 4 inches down the chrome ram/shaft.
The guy I brought it off assured me it was fine it didn’t leak … then 3yr later

I took it off an took it apart..dam that was difficult. Mine had two holes in the end a bit like an angle grinder but off centre

I fashioned a round bar with 2 bits of nails welded on to turn it to get the wire out and open it up.

I see yours has a hex nut, that is defo easier.

Then as I slid the rod outta the cylinder all was good, well then I tried to undo the nut on the end of the rod that held the piston on.

I clamped the end and got a big wrench and bounced on the end for a bti. Then realised it probably had thread locker on it.

So I got the propane torch out and heated the nut carefully. Then bounced abit and heated just a bit more then bounced on the end and it just moved a bit and then a bit more.
It was that permanent red thread locker (needs tobe heated)

I looked at the seals, then realised it was the rusty pits that caused the leak. It was pointless me just replacing the seals as they would fail sometime soon ish or just a bit later.

I took it to a place, that sent me to another place that would cut the end plate off and make a new ram the correct length and weld the end plate back on.

It just happened that it was today I picked it up and fitted it back together.

The place that made the new ram and welded it plate on it then pressure tested it cost me £345 cash inc new seals. If I,d paid by card it would have cost 20% more as they would have to charge VAT.
Anyway it works now.

I didn’t get any pics Of before or after. But I could get a pic of that lovely new shaft/ram

 

[krag]

Leaking splitters if you are doing contract work for others are a must fix problem. Customers do not want to see leaks, especially the high end ones and I have been a bad offender in this department. Trying to always economize living poor leads to problems. I sold one mis-matched homemade unit to a landscaper years ago and my conscience bothered me ever after. There are a lot of log splitters for rent and sale on Facebook, I saw a good used Troybuilt sturdy model for around $550 that looked attractive recently. A lot of homeowners have bought 27 ton and 35 ton units, etc. and rent them out reasonably.