Engine blown on Speeco 22-ton splitter - upgrade opportunity?

[thesmackdown]

I seized my second engine on my splitter the other day, I had trouble starting it on the -10 day and I guess not enough oil was circulating, now might be a time to upgrade?

Bigger engine?

Bigger pump?

 

[sportbikerider78]

How many hrs do you have on an engine before it is seizing? Are you using the right kind of oil and doing regular changes? Do you let it warm up before driving it at full RPM and load?

 

[cachunko]

I guess it depends on what you are trying to accomplish. I have the same splitter, but with a 7hp motor and 13.6gpm pump. Pumps are kind of expensive to replace especially since your's isn't bad. A new motor can be bought from harbor freight for $100 - that's what I have. It's been going strong for 5 years.

The thing you will gain from a bigger motor/pump combo is a faster cycle time.

 

[maple1]

Two toasted engines? Even just one is a rarity, unless they're old.

With proper maintenance & care, that is.

I think I would go with the Harbour Freight replacement.

 

[blades]

and synthetic oil in the eng. plus maybe thinner hydro oil ( around 50 as 32 will be a beast untill its run for awhile) as well for the cold temps.

 

[thesmackdown]

Two toasted engines? Even just one is a rarity, unless they're old.

With proper maintenance & care, that is.

I think I would go with the Harbour Freight replacement.

The first one was def. my fault. I ran it out of oil. This one wasn't and I was using synthetic oil. Might just have been a bad motor? I will check Harbour Freight.

 

[greg13]

Is the splitter sitting level when you are running it? It seems strange that you would loose 2 motors unless you are doing hundreds of cords a year.

 

[thesmackdown]

Is the splitter sitting level when you are running it? It seems strange that you would loose 2 motors unless you are doing hundreds of cords a year.

Like I said, first one I ran out of oil, so totally one me.

 

[thesmackdown]

and synthetic oil in the eng. plus maybe thinner hydro oil ( around 50 as 32 will be a beast untill its run for awhile) as well for the cold temps.

Great news! It's 27 degrees today and I thought I'd try it once more before I went to Harbor Freight. After a couple tucks it started to free up and fired right up.

I think I will be changing to a light weight hydro oil as you suggested.

 

[Easy Livin’ 3000]

Great news! It's 27 degrees today and I thought I'd try it once more before I went to Harbor Freight. After a couple tucks it started to free up and fired right up.

I think I will be changing to a light weight hydro oil as you suggested.

Check air filter frequently. If you can, run it out of gas before storing for long periods of time. I'm not sure I'm totally sold on it, but maybe get some seafoam gas additive to add to the gas to clean the carb. 90+ percent of engine issues that I have encountered are fuel system related. And make it a point to take a few seconds to pull the dipstick and check the oil. If is black, change it. I use the cheap Walmart brand of the weight specified in the owners manual. My engines run forever.

 

[maple1]

I wouldn't expect an engine that seized once, to run for all that long after it somehow got restarted.

Was the oil changed in it?

 

[blades]

I've had customers over fill the oil and cause a hydro lock.

 

[lazeedan]

Maybe the hydraulic oil was too thick from being to cold.

 

[Sodbuster]

I changed the hydraulic fluid in my Husky 22 ton splitter to ATF, made the biggest difference in the world in cold weather. The cheapest stuff you can find is just fine, usually Wally World.

 

[cachunko]

I changed the hydraulic fluid in my Husky 22 ton splitter to ATF, made the biggest difference in the world in cold weather. The cheapest stuff you can find is just fine, usually Wally World.

Is it fine to use in the summer too? My splitter will start and run when its cold, but once the hydraulic fluid warms up, it runs like it's supposed to. I'd love for it to work good right off the bat when its 10 degrees out.

 

[maple1]

Mine has ATF in it. All year. As it came from the factory, and is spec'd in their lit.

 

[Sodbuster]

Is it fine to use in the summer too? My splitter will start and run when its cold, but once the hydraulic fluid warms up, it runs like it's supposed to. I'd love for it to work good right off the bat when its 10 degrees out.

Yep, year round is fine.

 

[fespo]

Check on Ebay for Predator engines. There have been have some crazy low prices shipped to your door. They had the 8hp shipped for $85 and the 6 for 88.00 They pop up every few days to a week and go very fast

 

[WiscWoody]

Check on Ebay for Predator engines. There have been have some crazy low prices shipped to your door. They had the 8hp shipped for $85 and the 6 for 88.00 They pop up every few days to a week and go very fast

I've seen the highly rated 6.5 hp Predators on eBay lately for as low as $72 shipped. I'm going to try one on a wheeled blower that needs a new engine for my lawn business. It is odd that two engines are toast already...!