A log splitter is said to be effective if it can easily split the wood and is fast enough to finish the job in a reasonable amount of time. The effectiveness of the log splitter is directly proportional to the amount of hydraulic pressure that is applied to the wood in order to press it against the wedge and split the log in two.
Send your log splitter in for maintenance if you want to ensure that it generates the desired output at the greatest possible level, without sacrificing any of its efficiency in any way, and if you also want to accomplish this objective as quickly as possible.
In order to ensure that it continues to perform correctly, a log splitter needs to undergo routine maintenance. One of these procedures, known as bleeding the hydraulics, is one of the processes that plays the most crucial role in the maintenance plan and must not be skipped.
Tools Needed to Bleed a Log Splitter
In the first place, you will need to have certain items on hand in order to be able to release the pressure that is being held in the system. These goods include safety goggles and an adjustable wrench.
It is quite possible that you will need to have a selection of the standard tools used for home repair within easy reach in order to carry out additional maintenance tasks on your log splitter. These items are often used for repairing things like broken windows and doors.
The items listed above are the most essential house maintenance tools that every person should have. You should definitely think about purchasing an electrician belt in order to keep things organized and continue working. These belts are fantastic for usage in business settings as well as in everyday life around the house.
To check the current price and availability of AW32 Hydraulic Oil for Log Splitters, click here to view the selection on Amazon.
Types of Air Trapped in the Cylinder
Hydraulic oil contaminants can be regarded of as any substance that impedes the ability of the fluid to execute its intended activities in a comprehensive sense. This definition applies to both natural and man-made contaminants.
Because air meets this condition, it is necessary to take remedial action if air becomes entrained in oil. This is necessary in order to prevent damage to the oil as well as the other components that are a part of the hydraulic system when air is present.
There Are Four Different States That Air Can Exist In:
Fresh Air:
air that is not being used, such as when there is a pocket of unused air in one of the components of a system.
Dissolved Air:
Air that has been dissolved in the hydraulic oil makes up between 6 and 12 percent of the total volume of the fluid.
Entrained Air:
Entrained air is defined as air bubbles with a diameter of less than one millimeter that are spread throughout the oil.
Foam:
Air bubbles that are typically larger than one millimeter in diameter and that collect on the surface of the oil are referred to as foam.
The presence of entrained air is the characteristic of these four varieties that presents the greatest challenge. In most cases, free air can be eliminated from a hydraulic system by beginning operation with pre-filled components and then bleeding the system appropriately.
The existence of a little amount of foam serves no practical purpose and does not, in the vast majority of instances, pose a threat to the user’s safety.
On the other hand, the presence of enormous amounts of foam — for example, enough to cause the reservoir to overflow — could be an indication of a more serious problem involving the contamination of the air and/or the degradation of the oil.
Why Is It Important to Bleed a Log Splitter?
A log splitter is said to be effective if it can easily split the wood and is fast enough to finish the job in a reasonable amount of time. The effectiveness of the log splitter is directly proportional to the amount of hydraulic pressure that is applied to the wood in order to press it against the wedge and split the log in two.
Send your log splitter in for maintenance if you want to ensure that it generates the desired output at the greatest possible level, without sacrificing any of its efficiency in any way, and if you also want to accomplish this objective as quickly as possible.
It is necessary for a log splitter to undergo routine maintenance in order to guarantee that it will continue to operate in the correct manner.
One of these steps, which is referred to as bleeding the hydraulics and is one of the activities that plays one of the most important roles in the maintenance plan, must not be skipped under any circumstances.
How to Bleed a Log Splitter
To begin, make sure that you have on your safety goggles so that any flying debris won’t get into your eyes.
Now, move the hydraulic ram that is extending to the most forward position it may possibly be in. On the powered models, this can be accomplished by extending the ram control switch in the appropriate direction.
You can achieve the same result by manually pumping the handle if your device has a manual mode. To remove the oil filling plug from the engine, use an adjustable wrench or your hand and turn the plug counterclockwise so that it faces away from you.
To deactivate the hydraulic ram, turn the release screw in the opposite direction, counterclockwise. This will allow the ram to be released. Permit the ram to retract, and then wait for the flow of hydraulic fluid to become noticeable coming out of the hole that is positioned in the same place as the oil filling cap.
Now, stop the ram from retracting as rapidly as possible by rotating the release screw in the clockwise direction.
After it has been detached from the log splitter earlier in the procedure, the oil filling plug will need to be reattached to the device before the process can be considered complete. It is important to double ensure that the plug has been properly fastened and tightened before using the log splitter again.
If the oil plug is not properly fastened and it is allowed to remain loose, there is a significant possibility that air will once again enter the hydraulic system.
Final Thoughts
By doing routine maintenance on the apparatus, just like you would for any other kind of hydraulic issue, you may avoid the vast majority of the troubles that are associated with air contamination. If the oil does become polluted with air, however, failing to determine the underlying reason and taking measures to repair the problem can be an enormously expensive mistake.
At this point, you ought to have learned that bleeding the log splitter is not rocket science because the process is not in the least bit complicated. It is a rather basic technique, and bleeding your splitter as an integral part of any typical maintenance routine will rapidly become second nature to you.
After you have completed the process of draining the hydraulic oil, you should replace it with fresh hydraulic oil, and then you will be prepared to move on to the next step.