log splitter cylinder failure

[motoman3b]

Went to use my splitter a couple weeks ago and got half way through a log and on the return stroke I heard a bang felt something hit my arm and instantly showered with hydraulic fluid!

My first thoughts were I just blew a hose but couldn't believe it when I looked down to see this!

Now I'm only running a 11 gpm pump on a 6.5hp motor, I called cross who made the cylinder they wouldn't warrantee it and parts to rebuild it were upwards the cost of a new cylinder so I decided to go with a welded cylinder from James at splitez.com

Just curious if anyone had any ideas why this happend or has seen anything like this before? The only thing I can think of is it was about 12 degrees out and that made the cast brittle not really sure just glad I didn't catch any schrapnal in face!

 

[Hddnis]

I'd be taking a close look at your pressure relief valve to figure out why it didn't open up.






Mr. HE

 

[Mac88]

Just curious what the "country of origin" is on that cylinder.

 

[motoman3b]

Just curious what the "country of origin" is on that cylinder.

Cross made in the usa I believe they quoted me 446 for a replacement no thanks after having this happen

 

[Mac88]

Cross made in the usa I believe they quoted me 446 for a replacement no thanks after having this happen

That's pretty steep. You could probably find a good used one and have it rebuilt for less than that. I've never seen one explode like that. Usually a hose goes first.

 

[motoman3b]

Yeah I considered rebuilding it but went with the welded cylinder from james 225 shipped to my door and while I'm sure its a chinese cylinder its atleast 30lbs heavier then the cross cylinder that exploded.

Everyone I've talked to has never seen one explode like that guess it was just my luck!

 

[Fred Wright]

Probably a poor casting. I've seen cylinder guides blow out of the end but never seen an end break like that.

 

[Steve NW WI]

There's more to this story. I'm not sure what it is yet, but there's more there. I have literally dozens of those cylinders around and haven't seen one fail like that before. I've bent rods, even broke one clevis, but never had the front casting break like that.

The one thing that sticks out to me in the pics is that it looks like there's no clearance between the clevis and the pusher plate, causing binding that bent the cylinder, then put a big side load on the front casting during the retract.

It's something to look at with the new cylinder as well. You should be pushing with the pin, not the face of the clevis/cylinder. That allows a little play and room to give if something goes wrong.

Can we see some pics of the old cylinder after you get it off and apart? Might be more clues there. The only other idea I have is the elbow that was on the cylinder was way overtightened (maybe to compensate for a leak) and cracked the casting there which led to the final failure.

I'd be real interested in more details here.

 

[brenndatomu]

WOW!
Maybe combination of weak spot in the casting and over torque on the pipe fitting, starting a hair line crack?
I never used to think twice about hydraulics, but since being around when a few hoses/fittings have blown....try to stay back as much as possible now!
Lucky ya only got an oil bath...

 

[motoman3b]

There's more to this story. I'm not sure what it is yet, but there's more there. I have literally dozens of those cylinders around and haven't seen one fail like that before. I've bent rods, even broke one clevis, but never had the front casting break like that.

The one thing that sticks out to me in the pics is that it looks like there's no clearance between the clevis and the pusher plate, causing binding that bent the cylinder, then put a big side load on the front casting during the retract.

It's something to look at with the new cylinder as well. You should be pushing with the pin, not the face of the clevis/cylinder. That allows a little play and room to give if something goes wrong.

Can we see some pics of the old cylinder after you get it off and apart? Might be more clues there. The only other idea I have is the elbow that was on the cylinder was way overtightened (maybe to compensate for a leak) and cracked the casting there which led to the final failure.

I'd be real interested in more details here.

I'll upload somemore pics tonight I took the cylinder apart last night shaft is 2" and unbent the casting was cracked completely across blew all the holes off that the tie rods go through. The pusher plate does have alot of slop but I've probably split 10 cord since I acquired this splitter and it was like that before so figured it was fine maybe I should look into tightening it up so it doesnt bind the cylinder but dont think that caused this failure. The clevis was close but dont believe it was bottoming on the pusher plate.

 

[Mac88]

opcorn:

 

[Guswhit]

Had one on my rear mount snowplow do that. Had a factory weld fail causing stress there due to changing the pivot point. Better check for too much slop in your ram or a bentram or rear brace. Maybe a broken weld also? Keep us appraised.

 

[Fronty Owner]

first thought. What was the temperature when that happened?
Second though. Take a look at the fracture. is it all fresh (gray to shiny) or is part of it rusty or has a duller look to it?
this was on a return right cycle right?

 

[Boogieman142]

first thought. What was the temperature when that happened?
Second though. Take a look at the fracture. is it all fresh (gray to shiny) or is part of it rusty or has a duller look to it?
this was on a return right cycle right?

Exactly what I was thinking. Looks like that cast pipe fitting on the pressure side(no no) was overtightened and cracked it. If the entire fractured part is same color/shade than thats prolly not it. Can you put up pics of the fracture?

 

[Hddnis]

Memo to all: Some cast fittings are rated well beyond operating pressure for log splitters, just because you see one does not mean something is wrong!




Mr. HE

 

[cantoo]

I agree, there has to be more to the story. Maybe the cylinder had another life before it was put on your splitter? Bolts could have already been stressed and a little upwards push from a little slop in your push plate and bang goes the bolts, domino effect? Make sure you check everything else after you put the new cylinder in place.

 

[Boogieman142]

Memo to all: Some cast fittings are rated well beyond operating pressure for log splitters, just because you see one does not mean something is wrong!




Mr. HE

I know I know but usually...

 

[Steve NW WI]

Memo to all: Some cast fittings are rated well beyond operating pressure for log splitters, just because you see one does not mean something is wrong!




Mr. HE

I don't think that was aimed at me, but just in case.

I wasn't referring to the elbow being the problem in itself, just that someone who's not familiar with tapered NPT style threads could conceivably overtighten one to the point of stressing or even cracking the cylinder casting, causing the failure we see in the OP's pictures.

It's just an idea I have, can't say for sure without knowing more, but between that and my binding cylinder/side loading theory (that the OP's mention of having a lot of slop in the push plate leans toward), it's all I've got.

 

[motoman3b]

With the side load theory, wouldnt you think it would wear the seals before it started putting stress on the cast end? The seals were all good no sign of leakage as well with the pipe fitting if there was a hairline crack one would think it would of seeped hydraulic fluid and been pretty obvious

Here are some tear down pics

 

[farmboss45]

Went to use my splitter a couple weeks ago and got half way through a log and on the return stroke I heard a bang felt something hit my arm and instantly showered with hydraulic fluid!

My first thoughts were I just blew a hose but couldn't believe it when I looked down to see this!

Now I'm only running a 11 gpm pump on a 6.5hp motor, I called cross who made the cylinder they wouldn't warrantee it and parts to rebuild it were upwards the cost of a new cylinder so I decided to go with a welded cylinder from James at splitez.com

Just curious if anyone had any ideas why this happend or has seen anything like this before? The only thing I can think of is it was about 12 degrees out and that made the cast brittle not really sure just glad I didn't catch any schrapnal in face!

I am kind of wondering about water in the hydraulic fluid being frozen? Been cold here in the mitten, is it stored outside? Even stored in a barn could happen with our temps past week or so.