Troy-Bilt 27 Ton Splitter

This is a Craigslist ad for this splitter. I wonder what he means by broken tabs? I have this model splitter, recently picked up for $500, and it's not broken,maybe this is something I need to be aware of?Is this an easy fix? I'm clueless with mechanics. wondering if it would have profit value after repairs. Of course, I have not made an offer yet, and if I did , it would be less than asking price. i'm thinking if the oil leaked out, it probably needs a new hydraulic pump, why did the ram shaft disappear?
http://goldcountry.craigslist.org/grd/3366793185.html
Ad copy-
Hi. I have a 27 ton capacity Troy Bilt Log Splitter for sale. It needs a new hydraulic ram because the one that is on it is broken. One of the tabs broke off which made it leak oil out.
I have all of the parts to the log splitter.
It has a Honda motor that runs fine
Price is firm but I'm open to trades.
$500.00 cash
Respond to ad or call my cell
Thanks for looking - Pat

A while back there was a post (similar issue) about the ram splitting & oil everywhere.
Was a Troybilt or MTD. I think Troy are made by MTD, pretty sure the same splitter on the old post..
Looks fixable, but the design might be susceptible to failure in the future.

I think BD is right . . . if you look at the picture you will see the whole thing sits oddly . . . and then if you look more closely it appears as though the "plate" that holds the "metal stud" (attaches to the "cylinder sleeve") is MIA . . . along with the hydraulic cylinder "ram rod."

A lot of the modern splitters are designed in a similar fashion . . . and there is some concern with the design . . . if the weld of the stud to the cylinder sleeve is weak or if you really push the splitter there is a chance it could tear the stud out of the cylinder sleeve and cause a leak.

My own take . . . there were just a few of these reported problems . . . I personally try not to tax my splitter (MTD clone) just to be on the safe side though and if the splitter is starting to struggle with a piece I'll back off the pressure and try again by moving the wood around to a different point.

As for buying this splitter . . . some folks who are handy might do so . . . me, I would avoid this since it will need a few more parts, not to mention that it appears based on the cradles that the previous owner wasn't very careful or easy with this thing . . . I mean to say it is easy enough to get a split wedged in between the beam and cradles one or two times and have them get beat up or tore off . . . but after awhile you learn how to run it so it doesn't make your cradles look like Optimus Prime just got beating on it.

By the way, I am not a Wrenchhead so please take my descriptive terms such as "plate", "stud", etc. with a grain of salt as I'm not exactly sure what the real names of these parts are . . . maybe doohickeys, whatjamacallits and whozamadingies?

Looks to me like someones rode that thing hard and put it away wet on more than just a few trails.
I'ld pass on it fer sure.

Depending on your ability to improvise and the equipment you have the repair cost could run between 300-500 dollars. With the frim price you could buy a new splitter.

I've read about more than one of these trunion mounted cylinders ripping open at the trunion. I prefer the clevis mount on the end.

Some reading:
http://www.arboristsite.com/firewood-heating-wood-burning-equipment/174531.htm

Log dislodger is not on it (all one piece), reason why it is sitting crooked.

Must be one of the pins on the side that is welded to the cylinder has broken off, could it be welded again?

Its worth 500 to a welder as long as the other components do work.

Broke tabs would be the bolts that run with the wedge. I dont think I have any thats not broke of at-least bent No big deal Grab it!!

Oh crap I should have look at the pic.....I was thinking the 6 bolts that slide up and down.

Yup. $1300 new. That cylinder is at least $400 if not more. Not worth it IMO when a TSC Huskee 22 ton sells for $1000.

Price the whole cylinder assembly. Metal that's been in contact with oil for extened periods of time can be a real b^&ch to weld. This is a pretty well-known issue with the trunnion mount cylinders on MTD-built machines.

yup a while back the "tabs" were welded to the cylinder and were not reenforced so if you stressed it to hard you would rip it off the cylinder and render it usless and you would need to buy a new cylinder