log splitter
My mom has a hydraulic wood splitter that my dad had when he cut firewood to sell. The problem with it is this: when you start to split a block of wood, the motor dies. I think it may be the carburetor. The splitter is about 15 years old.
It hasn't been run for 4 years now. When it started doing this, everything else was good, hyd. fluid full, oil changed regularly, always fresh gas, etc. Anyone have any ideas???? thanks
The first question is- Was gasoline left in it?
Was the spark plug changed this year-gap it or a new one to 25 thousanths if a B+S.
It is also possible that if it a Briggs +Stratton with many hours of service/ millions of revolutions/ the coil will work when the engine is cold and when it(the engine) heats up/expands the flywheel and spark gaps no longer are 25 thousanths of an inch and it dies- been there done that with a "Matthews Company Lawn Genie" towed flail mower powered by a Briggs and Stratton 16 horse single cylinder.
The box top lid for a B+S coil is the proper size to gap the coil too-smart people there those B+S folks.
If its a briggs the fan housing has several bolts holding it to the other tin work-typically 4 short bolts and the coil is right on top of the fan housing exposed-the tecumseha are not-hidden behind the flywheel/ been there done that with a 40 year old snow blower with a Tecumseh.
If the plug is removed is it cold or hot with carbon residue or wet/oily?
If the air filter is very dirty or without a foam sock covering it would possibly die with the lack of oxygen to the carburator-If the air filter has never been changed it may be the culprit as the carburator will not get enough air under load and the engine will stop-been there done THAT WITH AN OLD JEEP.
Is the fuel line shut off or nearly so? A lot of the time dirt in the tank will float around and settle and when things get moving again the fuel being sucked into the inlet will pull dirt/rust in with it and block the suction and boom its dead and when the vacuum from the fuel suction stops the crud floats away. Been there done that with a diesel underground mining scoop-styrofoam in the diesel fuel tank.
It will not hurt to empty the tank and remove it from the engine frame and remove all the plumbing to clean the inside of the tank-you would be surprised how much crud gets in there when a screen is not used for the fuel and the residual water if any will make rust occur.
1. what type of engine? Is it a vertical or horizontal cylinder engine?
2. gravity gas tank or suction to carburator (tank next to engine?)
3. Briggs, Tecumseh, Robin, Honda?
4. the float may be shot so it floods/closes shut out under load too.
5. needle valve-dirt or worn out but if thiere is a fuel bowl under the carburator I would imagine there is dirt in the fuel bowl too.
Check the fuel bowl first- shut the fuel off from the tank and remove the bowl by removing the bottom screw if its a B+S.
I would also add a little dry gas too and a spray some carburator cleaner into the air inlet of the engine first and run the engine before you decide to remove the fuel bowl to look for dirt.
opcorn: