isaaccarlson
Addicted to ArboristSite
Hope no one minds me butting in here... Got a 2 stage pump issue as well.
I just put a new Haldex 16gpm pump from Northern Tool on my splitter with a 4x2x24 ram. Initial cycles without splitting a log were impressive over the old11 GPM pump. Well after I split the first log it is constantly in the second stage. The piston moves very slowly now.
Oil is filled to within an inch of the top of the tank. Breather is a steel cap with two holes in it and they are not clogged. The intake hose is tight. The oil filter only has about an hour on it now. Power to the ram is not the issue so things are working. Old pump would stall out and squeal like a stuck pig with some of the crotches this new pump is pushing through.
Just don't have a first stage for some reason.
I wondered if the control lever could be restricting flow for the 16 GPM pump. The old pump was only an 11gpm. The restriction might be pushing the pump into the second stage. I adjusted the unloading valve all the way in to increase the pressure needed to kick into the second stage. No luck there so I doubt this is the problem.
Only other thing I can think of is the oil is too thick. I got ISO 46 hydro oil. Would a ATF transmission oil be "lighter" than the hydro? Could this be the issue?
Northern Tool offered to exchange it but if I can fix it I would rather go that route.
do you have a gauge? what does it say? without a log?