Question on kinetic?? What happens when they hit something they won't split do the gears just jump and ride over the rail? stall ? what happens??
Very good question.
So, the ram pushes a piece into the wedge and there is resistance enough to stop the piece from splitting completely...
In my experience, a number of things can happen.
-The most common is that the rack stops, disengages from the pinion gear, and the springs retract the ram. Re-engage, the ram pushes the piece through, or possibly hit it a third time if cutting through a really tough knot. I would not call multiple hits stalling.
99.9% there are no issues with 'stalling'.
Stalling is something else... And as stalling a hydraulic splitter on occassion, does not seem to cause damage.
-A stall can occur. Meaning a couple things. But
understanding how it occurs allows you to avoid it almost completely. The end of the round being pushed on by the ram needs to be cut square.
If the round is not cut square, side pressure on the racks push plate occurs and can bind the push plates slide mechanism in a twist as the round engages the wedge. This may prevent the rack from disengaging from the pinion completely, perhaps not at all.
-If still engaged and the pinion is still under power can not turn, you may get belt slippage and squeal at the flywheel. Pull up on the engagement lever to disengage the rack (the rack lift up off of the spinning pinion gear). If the rack does not disengage from the pinion because it too is in a jammed state, hit engine kill switch.
-If partially engaged you will get pinion/rack chatter. Not good! Pull up on the engagement lever to release. If necessary hit the kill switch on the engine. You may need a pry bar to release the side torqued push plate from the round. Usually just a slight nudge, or tap with a another small round will release the bind. The binds are all quite small, but can telegraph backwards to the engagement lever.
Reading the rounds all but eliminates stalling the rack in a jambed state. It is normal practice to have to hit difficult pieces more than once. Again, I do not consider that a 'stall'.
As to your specific question, Do the gears jump...
The pinion gear is a fixed position gear, a long wide gear, that also acts as the axle with a flywheel at each end. If the engine is running over an idle, the pinion gear is continually turning. (unless the pinion under power can not turn, then there may be belt slippage on the flywheel which you will hear) The rack is bar stock with gear teeth the length of it, teeth facing down, positioned between the flywheels and above the pinion gear, and it has the push plate assembly on one end. The push plate assemble has a vertical pivot point, and is spring loaded to hold the rack up off the pinion. Lifting the engagement lever to begin a split, pushes down on the rack to engage it in the continually spinning pinion. At the end of the stroke it is released upward off the pinion, and springs retract the push plate/rack assembly.