Added Hydraulic Oil to Log Splitter & now Seized

I have an old home made log splitter...30+ years, never a lick of problems...It has been sitting a couple of years & it started like usual....I worked it about 1/2 hour, added about 1-1/2 quart of hydraulic fluid (Sams Club AW 46 R&O Hydraulic Oil) & finished my work.....The next day I discovered the control flow valve was stuck, and cannot move it, also the pump is seized??? - What happened ???? I have since drained the oil & found nothing unusual..... Really would appreciate any input....Thanks

That sucks. Unless it was a contamination issue, chances are, the new oil before it failed was all coincidental. The pump hatched at some point and the debris jammed up the valve.

BTW, Welcome to the group.

You could take the pump apart and post some pictures. I’m sure you will receive lots of input at that point.

I guess why I'm so puzzled is both the control valve (back & forth on the ram) & the pump are locked up tighter than a drum...almost like running an engine without oil? I'll get the pump off & opened up and will post some pics....Thanks for the reply...

As mentioned further downthread, the same question in multiple locations can cause confusion. Since both threads had replies, the easiest remedy was to merge the two, hence the repetition here of the opening question.

~Digger242j~



....Posted in Lubrication section....giving it a try here.......I have an old home made log splitter...30+ years, never a lick of problems...It has been sitting a couple of years & it started like usual....I worked it about 1/2 hour, added about 1-1/2 quart of hydraulic fluid (Sams Club AW 46 R&O Hydraulic Oil) & finished my work.....The next day I discovered the control flow valve was stuck, and cannot move it, also the pump is seized??? - What happened ???? I have since drained the oil & found nothing unusual..... Really would appreciate any input....Thanks

Asking the same question again is not going to get better answers. Take it apart and tell us what happened.

I'd take the valve apart first. If that's blocked the engine might feel locked up.

Well, coaldust kinda said it all. Most likely the pump grenaded at the moment of shutdown and debris got into the valve. Take the pump apart and see.

edit: Or the valve, gotta start somewhere. Til you disassemble something, we're all guessing.

Why not just report the post as a duplicate and have it removed.

To the OP. Posting the same question in multiple locations is considered poor forum etiquette.

Sorry about the etiquette...I had thought my question was more lubrication related, thus changed category....Taking it apart..... Can't find Rube Goldberg who put it together....The control valve is bolted on to a 'C' channel & the 'C' channel is welded on to the machine...not tacked, but a full bead....Got the pump off & found the manufacturer is 'Adel'....My on line research did not turn anything up....The power unit is a 1957 10 HP Briggs rope start, external points...sweet as honey, most always starts on the first pull, possibility a second pull, but never gets to a 3rd pull as its running by then....Getting back to the problem....just found it very unusual that the control valve & pump would seize, overnight after working it for less than an hour the day before with no indication of an issue.....Thank you for all the responses.......

yes, it's extremely odd, which is why nobody has much of an idea of what could have happened.

Soooo..... question: have you tried to rotate the engine over slowly with the pump removed? Just to verify the engine isn't the one seized?

What about the pump? I'm assuming its a small gear or vane pump. If so, can you rotate the pump shaft by hand with the pump disconnected and removed?

Just trying to work out of maybe the stuck valve resulted in the pump becoming hydro-locked. It'd be very difficult to pull the rip cord on the engine if the oil can't flow.

With the pump disconnected & removed the engine turns freely.....I had a pipe wrench on the shaft & it won't budge, neither will the control valve with some coaching with a heavy hammer......How can something sit for a couple of years, startup with about an hours use & then be locked up the following day.....I hesitate to buy any parts for it, for the fear the hydraulic piston is seized as well......

Beating the control valve is asking for trouble. Don't worry about the WHY. The WHAT will tell the story so find that.

The oil you put in it to top up was a Joe Blow’s Gas & Groceries Special maybe..?

Just for kicks how about posting a good picture of the pump and valve? Someone may have an idea of what it is.
If the motor and the cylinder are still good it might be worth it to start shopping for a new pump and valve.

https://northernhydraulics.net/catalog/log-splitter-parts-and-accessories-179-1.html

Going to put this on the back burner for the moment, as there is no quick fix....The control valve is an 'Energy' - the pump is 'Adel'...A good guess the log splitter was made in the early seventies.....a crude home made unit....sprocket & chain driven...I'll post some pics at my next opportunity....Thanks again........

I think the answer lies in the sitting for a few years pump got rusty had water in the tank from condensation ect Or it was just its time to go pump blew filled valve with stuff and your right the cylinder is full of stuff also replace the pump, hoses,valve and rebuild or replace cylinder and your into a new splitter price If you do go that route look to Surplus Center and northern tool for parts 2 stage direct mount pumps are the way to go

Arensano said:

With the pump disconnected & removed the engine turns freely.....I had a pipe wrench on the shaft & it won't budge, neither will the control valve with some coaching with a heavy hammer......How can something sit for a couple of years, startup with about an hours use & then be locked up the following day.....I hesitate to buy any parts for it, for the fear the hydraulic piston is seized as well......

Click to expand...

I've read through this and the only explanation I can come up with is the splitter was shut down with pressure on the cylinder. That could lock everything up like you've mentioned. I'd crack the hose fittings on the cylinder and see if there's pressure to bleed off. If the valve doesn't kick out at the end of the stroke that could be your answer.

Still confusing....going back around to what I mentioned...I drained the system into a clean pan, & found nothing unusual in the oil...perhaps a trace of condensation, but overall the oil seemed fine....Cracking the hose fittings did not release any pressure in the system.....Even if the pump exploded upon shutting down, the distance to the valve is too great to cause contamination to the valve...again, evidence of contamination/debris would have been present in the drained oil.....I will make the effort to take pics of the pump....Its large, heavy, and foreign of what you would expect to find on a log splitter.....

Not sure how much use you have for this machine but if the gas engine is a good running 10 horse and the hydraulic cylinder is good it could be a good investment to buy a new two stage pump with the mounting bracket to fit your motor and a detent valve to replace the one you have now.

I dealt with a couple home home built splitters over the years and while they worked OK. Having a two stage pump and the automatic detent valve that my store built splitter has puts the single stage pump and non-detent valves to shame for ease of use!

Well...If it was in the shed 2-3 years its a good indication its not on the priority list of use....Last year I had 3 hardwoods cut near the house & now just getting to cutting them up & splitting for this winter....and at my age not sure how much longer I want to do this, & the key word is 'want', after doing it most of my adult life....Then there's the China syndrome....I don't know how much more of that crap I want to digest anymore....Go one line, or box stores...its all the same junk....Getting off topic here but as a retirement gift to myself I bought a brand new Kubota BX with a bucket & backhoe.... and I have to admit, I'm impressed with the quality of it...I can't think of much else you can buy with this quality....I also help a friend of mine at a lawn mower repair shop & that a real eye opener, of the junk that is out there, & most people don't even realize it....Most of it have Chinese engines, & Chinese carburetors...There is no real identification other than its a Chinese engine...That's it....Chinese.....So going back to your suggestion it does sound logical, & merits consideration...but before I do anything else I will try to take apart the pump & valve.... Just have to get it closer to the priority status.....