Electric motor won't engage on Bilt-Hard splitter

[SamOwens]

Hello, I went out to split a few logs today and during the process of the piston moving the electric motor quit. I will try to explain. In the line drawing there is a button that I push which engages the motor.

Once the motor is running I can engage the piston. The button push is trying to engage the motor but won't. It seems to me as if the motor won't spin up even though I am providing the power. I highlighted the motor in red so it can be seen that it is separate from the button assembly. My skill level isn't the best. The splitter is less than a month old and I have contacted the company. Are there any electrical mavens out there that might offer some advice and/or knowledge? It's worked well on the logs I do until now. BTW it was -5 F when I tried this AM. I doubt that is to cold but what do I know? Thank You

 

[blades]

Very possible that the temperature is your problem. Motor drives the hydraulic pump, fluid at that temp becomes almost like mollases. So the up shot is the motor hasn't got enough umph to run the pump under those conditions. if you can get in somewhere that you can put a space heater blowing on it and give a couple hours , that will likely get it running. just the friction created in the system should keep it going the rest of your work time. Only way around this is to change fluid to something designed for extreme cold. Your system is a momentary drive design Hydro pressure out -spring return which isn't going to be helpful in very cold conditions.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Very possible that the temperature is your problem. Motor drives the hydraulic pump, fluid at that temp becomes almost like mollases. So the up shot is the motor hasn't got enough umph to run the pump under those conditions. if you can get in somewhere that you can put a space heater blowing on it and give a couple hours , that will likely get it running. just the friction created in the system should keep it going the rest of your work time. Only way around this is to change fluid to something designed for extreme cold. Your system is a momentary drive design Hydro pressure out -spring return which isn't going to be helpful in very cold conditions.

You can buy little 120V or 12V heater pads that you can RTV onto something flat

120W Silicone Heater Pad Engine Block Hydraulic Tank Heating Plate Oil Pan Sump Tank Heater Pad with Plug : Amazon.ca: Industrial & Scientific

120W Silicone Heater Pad Engine Block Hydraulic Tank Heating Plate Oil Pan Sump Tank Heater Pad with Plug : Amazon.ca: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.ca

 

[Turbo89]

Put it inside to warm it up and try it again. Definitely plausible that it’s temperature related. Secondarily, sometime long extension cords can cause motor starting problems; so if you can plug it directly into an outlet that may help.

 

[Whitenuckler]

Hello, I went out to split a few logs today and during the process of the piston moving the electric motor quit. I will try to explain. In the line drawing there is a button that I push which engages the motor. View attachment 343877Once the motor is running I can engage the piston. The button push is trying to engage the motor but won't. It seems to me as if the motor won't spin up even though I am providing the power. I highlighted the motor in red so it can be seen that it is separate from the button assembly. My skill level isn't the best. The splitter is less than a month old and I have contacted the company. Are there any electrical mavens out there that might offer some advice and/or knowledge? It's worked well on the logs I do until now. BTW it was -5 F when I tried this AM. I doubt that is to cold but what do I know? Thank You

Do you recall if the motor hummmmmed like it was stalled? In some cases it could trip the breaker or go out on thermal protection. If it did not make any sound at all it must be the control parts and it was not getting power.