Hi, Did you try running it without the air filter? When you try to rev it up does it blow black smoke out the exhaust? Is the oil overfilled? Is the breather tube kinked or plugged?

Kevin,

 

No indication of any problems that you suggestion, Kevin. Leveled splitter and checked oil as one of first things. No black smoke at any time. Breather tube clear.

 

OK, thanks. Some other thoughts...have you tried applying the choke as you try to increase speed? Checked the spark arrestor screen on the exhaust? tried setting spark plug gap to about .010 (bad coil)? replaced spark plug? Checked the plug wire for any abrasion as well as the kill wire? Checked the flywheel key? removed the muffler and run it (broken baffle inside plugging exhaust). Do you have a spark tester so you can see the spark with the engine running to see if it is misfiring? What I am getting at is the engine is running lean off idle which is caused by not enough gas, not enough air moving out the exhaust, defective ignition or timing.

Kevin,

 

Another thought...maybe the issue is with the hydraulic pump...is the pump bolted to the engine or via a belt? When the engine is idling, does the splitter travel back and forth ok? If you rev the engine a little and engage the travel lever, does the engine smooth out and then dog out when you release the travel lever?

 

I've not yet had a chance to check all these suggestions. I can report that whether idling or speeded up, engaging the splitter immediately kills the engine. The ram does not even bulge.

It was not initially like this when I started having trouble. The ram would engage and move smoothly and die only when under load. So this has gotten progressively worse.

But even when the engine is revved up a little it is actually running rougher than when idling. So there is no power to even move the ram it seems.

Hope to tinker with it more this weekend.

 

I strongly recommend that you remove the pump to see how the engine runs before doing anything else. I believe the relief valve in the pump is stuck or defective.

Kevin

 

The issue could also be in the spool valve (controls the piston movement) which has a bypass valve that can plug. Possibly it also has a relief valve in the spool. Also, the oil filter could be plugged.

Kevin

 

A breakthrough. The exhaust was clogged with mud (wasps?). Cleaned that out and the engine runs smoothly and with what seems normal power.

However, the ram still does not move. Engaging the level no longer kills the engine though it cuts the engine speed. There are no obvious obstructions and the hydraulic fluid is full. I have not tried to diagnose the problem beyond that. Suggestions on what to try next appreciated.

Jerry

 

Discovery: splitter works normally in the vertical position, but still not in the horizontal position (cylinder does not extend though the engine is obviously pushing to get it do to so).