I’m new to the site and looking for help on my venerable splitter. It has provided trouble-free service for close to 40 years, so I do not begrudge it needing maintenance.
The problem is a leaky hydraulic valve. The main problem was easily solved: A steel pipe was shearing off. After breaking it free with a little twist, plus some quality time with a screw extractor and other tools, I was able to replace that pipe, button it all up, change the filter and fluid, and fire it up. It now leaks only slightly, but enough that I want to address it.
Question 1: What model is the valve? It is a Prince valve, for sure, and it looks very close to an RD5200 (but remember it's 40 years old -- was the RD5200 around that long ago?). From what I can see, it’s a two-spool monoblock. There is a data plate on it with a serial number, but the model number is blank. Prince says the model should be stamped on the body, maybe on the “end cap opposite the handle.” If that means the end cap on one of the detent assemblies, it isn’t there or anywhere else I’ve been able to find.
Question 2: Hydraulic fluid appears to be weeping from the junction between the detent body and the valve body. I'm fairly sure that's the source: After careful cleaning, I don't feel any fluid on either side of the drip. (Please excuse and correct any faulty terminology. I’m no expert.) What kind of seal is on that junction? I’ve tried tightening the cap screws that secure the assembly to the body, and that didn’t help. I’m looking at Prince’s RD5000-series parts manual and don’t see a seal there.
Question 3: One of the valves stopped autocycling, suggesting to me that one of the relief valves needs adjusting. Is it possible that a severely misadjusted valve could cause enough pressure to force a leak?
Question 4: How long does the valve stay pressurized after the engine is shut down? Does it drain down immediately?
Question 5: If it were you, would you proactively replace all these 40-year-old hydraulic lines?
The third picture shows the two end caps. It's the nearer one that's leaking. Note the rough-looking gasket: Neither my splitter partner nor I know how that got there, but that doesn't seem to be the source of the leak anyway. The fourth picture shows the leak in action.
Any help is appreciated. I've been using this splitter for decades, but I've only been working on it for a few days...
—Rick
The problem is a leaky hydraulic valve. The main problem was easily solved: A steel pipe was shearing off. After breaking it free with a little twist, plus some quality time with a screw extractor and other tools, I was able to replace that pipe, button it all up, change the filter and fluid, and fire it up. It now leaks only slightly, but enough that I want to address it.
Question 1: What model is the valve? It is a Prince valve, for sure, and it looks very close to an RD5200 (but remember it's 40 years old -- was the RD5200 around that long ago?). From what I can see, it’s a two-spool monoblock. There is a data plate on it with a serial number, but the model number is blank. Prince says the model should be stamped on the body, maybe on the “end cap opposite the handle.” If that means the end cap on one of the detent assemblies, it isn’t there or anywhere else I’ve been able to find.
Question 2: Hydraulic fluid appears to be weeping from the junction between the detent body and the valve body. I'm fairly sure that's the source: After careful cleaning, I don't feel any fluid on either side of the drip. (Please excuse and correct any faulty terminology. I’m no expert.) What kind of seal is on that junction? I’ve tried tightening the cap screws that secure the assembly to the body, and that didn’t help. I’m looking at Prince’s RD5000-series parts manual and don’t see a seal there.
Question 3: One of the valves stopped autocycling, suggesting to me that one of the relief valves needs adjusting. Is it possible that a severely misadjusted valve could cause enough pressure to force a leak?
Question 4: How long does the valve stay pressurized after the engine is shut down? Does it drain down immediately?
Question 5: If it were you, would you proactively replace all these 40-year-old hydraulic lines?
The third picture shows the two end caps. It's the nearer one that's leaking. Note the rough-looking gasket: Neither my splitter partner nor I know how that got there, but that doesn't seem to be the source of the leak anyway. The fourth picture shows the leak in action.
Any help is appreciated. I've been using this splitter for decades, but I've only been working on it for a few days...
—Rick