For those of you unfamiliar with these incredibly useful pieces of equipment, a hydraulic wood splitter is powered by a pump and lever. Fluid from a storage tank is pumped into the system via a series of tubes and valves; this provides the pressure needed for the splitter to push the log forward into the wedge, splitting it. By regulating the hydraulics on your splitter, you can create the force needed for the logs in question, thereby putting less pressure on the equipment.
Read the Owner’s Manual
It is of the utmost importance that you are familiar with your splitter and its maximum load capabilities. This will prevent you from pushing the equipment too far, thereby breaking or voiding the warranty on it. It is also a good idea to familiarise yourself with the different mechanisms and where everything is located. On top of this, make sure that you follow all safety precautions and guidelines to avoid injury.
Fill the Fluid Storage Tank
Before you begin even thinking about regulating your splitter, you will need to fill the storage tank or reservoir with enough hydraulic fluid to reach its maximum capacity. This will ensure that you aren’t harming the equipment in any way and will ensure that the log you are cutting receives maximum pressure. A low or even an empty tank can cause all sorts of serious problems, including irreparable damage.
Test the Equipment
Make sure you test the hydraulic wood splitter with full fluid levels and by opening up the valve only half way. This will allow only some of the fluid into the pressure chamber, letting you determine how much pressure can be exerted at half power. If there is not enough pressure to split the log, allow more pressure to escape by opening the valve a bit more. Repeat this step until you are able to cut the log into two.
Different Sized Logs
It is important to keep in mind that different sized logs will require different pressure in order to split them – you may not always need to exert the full force of the splitter. Knowing how to regulate the pressure using the valve and different amounts of hydraulic fluid will go a long way towards keeping your equipment in tiptop operation. Using too much or too little pressure will increase the need for maintenance.
Maintain the Equipment
Without the proper maintenance, all of the hydraulic regulating that you do will mean nothing. It is of the utmost importance that you check the bearings and seals, change the fluid and filter when needed, and complete other maintenance tasks as needed. It is also important that you properly care for your splitter between seasons, store it correctly when not in use, and have damage fixed as quickly as possible.
We hope that you are new equipped with everything that you need to know about regulating your hydraulic wood splitter. Just remember that it will take a little bit of trial and error, but you will soon know exactly how much fluid to let into the pressure chamber for splitting your firewood. If you still feel as if your splitter is exerting too much pressure, thereby increasing the need for services and maintenance, make sure you speak with a professional – they should be able to offer some advice or suggestions.