Log splitter troubleshooting help

[cjnspecial]

I have an older Iron & Oak fast cycle splitter that not creating enough force to split wood. The ram extends and retracts quickly but it goes limp wristed as soon as it hits a piece of wood. I'm thinking a piston seal in the cylinder crapped out or the 2 stage pump isn't kicking down like it's supposed. The engine never loses RPM's, bogs down or changes tone the entire time. What's the best way to diagnose these issues? I'm thinking take the port off the retract side of the cylinder, extend the ram and see if fluid is leaks out. No clue on diagnosing the pump. Any help is appreciated.

PSA: if you loan your equipment to someone, make sure they aren't loaning it out others. No good deed goes unpunished.

 

[cjnspecial]

The piston seals crapped out. I took the hose that runs from the rear of the cylinder to the spool valve loose, retracted the rod all the way and fluid stared pouring out once it was fully retracted.

 

[Kevin in Ohio]

Repacking seals isn't too bad to do. Look on youtube for some videos of the style you have. With age, lots of them go out. Only bad thing to look for is to make sure no one had dented the tube. No real fixing that issue without replacing.

 

[cjnspecial]

I've repacked a few before, the hardest part is tracking down all the seals when seal kits are no longer available.