replacing hydraulic pump on log splitter made in china

This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.

This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.

Popular Mechanics inspires, instructs and influences readers to help them master the modern world. Whether it’s practical DIY home-improvement tips, gadgets and digital technology, information on the newest cars or the latest breakthroughs in science -- PM is the ultimate guide to our high-tech lifestyle.

The Chinese can make anything we can make. If the specs are good and it hasn"t been ordered to be cheap, then their products can be quite exceptional. If you buy cheap, you are going to get cheap. As noted, there was nothing wrong with the pump, the installation was incorrect. When the correct NPT pipe was used, no problem.

FWIW, I got a Makita 1/2 HD lithium-ion drill several years ago. Thought it was made in Japan, but it was made in China. At first, I was mad, the drill was quite expensive, but 11 yrs later that drill is still on the original batteries and has been an incredible workhorse. It has been used hard building our greenhouse, the woodshed and even the bridge project I helped with up north. Never a whimper or a problem. This drill was not cheap, but it certainly has been worth it.

I"m not pro-China, but only a fool would ignore the astounding accomplishments they have achieved in a few decades. They are very capable and hard-working people. The country’s massive economic transformation may be one of the most impressive events in human history.

Troubleshooting your log splitter really isn’t as daunting a task as you’d think it’d be. Thanks to the great design of our log splitters, pretty much nothing can go wrong which is unfixable. We stock all the spare parts you could ever need, but first, we need to work out the problem.

There are four main categories of troubleshooting; power issues, log splitter ram failing to move correctly, oil leakage or the log splitter failing to split logs.

It may often appear as though something critical has affected your log splitter, such as the ram failing to move or it appears as though there’s no power getting to the log splitter. More often than not, there are small errors that can be easily fixed.

If you’re not comfortable playing around with your log splitter – let us take a look for you. We offer a log splitter repair service, no matter the brand. We offer a full repair of your log splitter. This includes collecting your machine, repairing it in our workshop and delivery back to yourself. The repair may include a full strip-down, rebuild or fitting of replacement parts.

Check that the plastic knob of the lever is screwed on fully. If this becomes unscrewed it then prevents the lever from being pushed right down, and this prevents the log splitter from operating.

The oil level in your log splitter may be running low, you can check this by using the dipstick. You can also run a quick test by raising the front end of the log splitter on a block of wood or something similar. If you raise the front of the log splitter and the log splitter then starts operating as normal, then this is a clear sign that you are low on oil.

This is similar to the last, but when the log splitter is pointing downhill it struggles to circulate the fluid right around the machine. This causes it to fail when operating.

The log splitter should always be operated on level ground or pointing uphill. If your log splitter is failing to split any logs, 90% of the time this will be the issue. If the log splitter is not pointing downhill then it’s likely low oil.

Now that we’ve covered the most common issues and quick fixes. Let’s look at some of the rare problems which can affect the performance of the log splitter.

Place the log splitter back upright and try the splitter again, if it produces the same noise then loosen the bolts a little from the end of the pump (13mm) and try again.

If the RCD repeatedly trips then unplug all other equipment from socks on the ring main and switch these sockets off. You can then try to start the motor.

The capacitor in the electric motor can fail from misuse over time. When operating the log splitter, we strongly advise that you press the power button before operating the lever, this allows time for the motor to gather speed before attempting to split logs.

As stated previously, the capacitor failing will also stop the motor from starting up. After you have checked the previous solutions, unplug the log splitter from the mains. Then remove the six screws on the outside of the switch cover, take the switch cover off and you will then see the capacitor.

It’s possible that the motor is jammed. First, check that the motor turns freely. You can do this by removing the black fan cover, then it should be possible to turn the fan with slight pressure from one finger. If this isn’t possible, check for obstructions of the fan.

Another possibility is that the operating lever is loose or not bent correctly, this would prevent the valve from operating correctly. To fix this, check that the face of the lever that operates the valve is bent through a full 90 degrees in relation to the mounting face. If not, remove the lever and correct the bend in a vice.

Pump gears binding is an issue that can sometimes present itself within a log splitter which would cause a trip. This is easily fixed by loosening each of the 6 bolts on the back of the pump by ¼ of a turn and then checking to see if the motor turns freely.

Pump gears can also get jammed. To fix this you should remove the 6 bolts from the pump and separate the motor and pump. You can then check the gears for any silicone sealant or other material. When you’re reassembling, the torque for the bolts is 12 ft-lb, 16 N m.

If the ram of the log splitter is not returning fully or is jerking upon return, there are a couple of fixes you can perform to get it back up and running smoothly.

This one is fairly simple to figure out but check the log bed of the splitter for a build-up of sap. You can then also apply a thin layer of workshop grease to the bed to allow it to operate more smoothly. Avoid using WD-40 to grease the bed as this can lead to the log splitter ram ‘juddering’ rather than solving the issue.

In order to fix this issue, use the ram stop to lock the ram in a position about 150mm forward. Remove the 4 bolts holding the DuoCut blade or pusher to the carriage and remove the blade/pusher. Unlock the ram stop, if the carriage returns then the arms are bent.

Another possibility is that the ram is bent. Remove the DuoCut blade from the splitter. If the ram does not return after removing the DuoCut blade, loosen the 2 rear lock nuts on the carriage arms and remove the 2 nuts in front of the crosspiece. You can then remove the carriage from the log splitter. If the ram does not return then the next part is a bit tricky so give us a call.

I hope you love the products I"ve recommended below, just a heads up that as an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. This means I may earn commissions on products bought via links on this page.

There are so many log splitters on the market in this day and age, finding the right one for you is becoming an ever increasingly difficult task. What I hope to do with my Brave log splitter reviews, is make your life easier. By answering a few difficult questions, are Brave log splitters any good? And are have they done enough to earn you hard earn finances.

These certainly aren’t easy questions to answer and I don’t think they ever will be. So I hope to give you as much useful info as possible, to help inform your decision. By finding out just how good the log splitters are, where they’re made, a little bit about the company. These are all important in my opinion, so strap yourself in for my buyers guide on these Brave Log Splitters.

Where a product is made is becoming a more and more important question in this day and age. This is one of the few times that it is actually easy to answer this question. Most companies usually hide where they made, which generally means made in China. But not Brave, they made it

Why is this important? This is important for a few reasons in my opinion. You know you will be getting some quality parts, and not some random generic parts. Not just that, but you will be helping keeping more Americans employed. Which is something that we can all like.

There are a few types of Brave log splitters on the market, ranging from a small 8 ton unit, to an impressive 37 ton beast of a splitter. I won’t be reviewing all the splitters they have available, for a few different factors. The main reason being I didn’t get enough hands on time with some of the units. The fact that they didn’t make this list doesn’t mean they’re bad by any stretch.

Brave have been around for a long time, and this splitter is one of the longest standing splitters in there ranks. While a few things have changed over the years with it, it’s most basic of design is almost 20 years old. If that’s not telling you something about the quality of this log splitter, or the quality Brave puts into there products. I don’t know what will. It is one of the most reliable log splitters on the market in my opinion.

It is powered by a Briggs & Stratton 305cc engine that puts out 10 hp. This helps power it’s impressive 2 stage 16GPM (Gallons Per Minute) hydraulic pump, which gives this a cycle time of roughly 14 seconds. This is something that I consider to be a sweet spot when it comes to larger splitters like this. It would seem most log splitting companies agree with me, since this seems to be the average cycle time for most of these larger splitters.

It also has two of my favorite features for a log splitter. It comes with a 2 inch ball hitch, so you can tow it, but only up to 35mph. It also has the ability to go vertical, which is one of the best features of any log splitter in my opinion. This really takes the back pain out of splitting woods. In a vertical position a log splitter can handle much larger logs then when it’s in horizontal, which is a massive benefit in my opinion.

I’m really impressed with just how long this splitter has been on the market. It really shows just how reliable it has been over the years, and why it’s still on the market today. It has been one of the easier log splitters I’ve had the pleasure of starting.

Being a 26 ton splitter allowed to to split all but the hardest, most knotted woods I threw at it. It can handle logs that are 25 inches in length which is a little higher then your average splitter. When it came to log diameter, it varied so much I don’t have a straight answer. It didn’t struggle against anything I put through it. It never slowed down on me, which really impressed me.

Not every splitter needs to be a 20 plus ton beast. This is where the impressive little 8 ton EZ splitter comes in. This impressive little unit managed to handle some logs I wasn’t expecting to be able to. It managed to split some 15 inch in diameter oak logs, which I wasn’t expecting. These were properly seasoned, and not very knotted logs I will say. But oak is still a hardwood, so it’s impressive it managed that.

There is a lot I like about this small splitter, it’s more then a reliable splitter, with it’s Brave backed quality. It only weighs around 100lbs so it’s not to difficult to put on the back of your truck if you need to. It’s also very easy to wheel it around the yard as well. This extra bit of portability is something I really like, since I’m not always splitting close to home.

Even tho it is a smaller splitter, I’ve been really impressed with what Brave have got out of it. It’s convenient Briggs & Stratton 148cc engine gives this more power, then most other smaller splitters on the market. The only other small gas log splitter I can think that may out do it, is the Champion 7 ton unit.

There is one really big downside of this unit, that makes it hard for me to recommend to people. That is Brave has started to discontinue this model, so it won’t be around for much longer. This is really disappointing, and the only reason why I don’t 100% recommend this unit now. If it wasn’t being discontinued I would be telling you to buy this now!

Like any tools, log splitters will one day break down. So finding replacement parts is crucial, especially when you’re relying on your log splitter for wood! So where do you get log splitter parts? You have a few options here, with the two easiest being call them, or email them. You can

This is something I really like about Brave with what they’ve done. They’ve given us a variety of ways to find what we need. This is one of the benefits of going with a larger company like Brave. I know a few times I’ve tried to find replacement parts for something, and the brand has zero ways of attaining them. I really commend Brave on this.

There are a few good reasons why you should get a Brave log splitter. They produce a lot of quality tools, that stand the test of time. I’ve heard several stories of grand parents passing down there 20 Year old Brave log splitters to there kids, or even grand kids. They build there equipment to last the test of time in my opinion. At the end of the day reliability is more important then power, what’s the point of power if your splitter doesn’t work.

So they make quality tools, and make there log splitters in the USA, what other reasons are there to choose Brave? Those are already pretty great reasons to choose Brave, but the one selling point I really like. Is how available they make replacement parts. They understand how

I think a lot of people will really like there splitters, and how they are designed. They are owned by Iron and Oak who are known for some incredible log splitters. They do share some similarities in there parts, and technology which is a big selling factor for me. Having such high quality parts, and a company like that backing them. Means that you will be getting reliability.

While I wish I got more hands on time with all 4 of these splitters, there is something that they all had in common that really impressed me. Which is Brave make extremely high quality machines, that are some of the most reliable on the market in my opinion. I just wish they weren’t discontinuing the smaller 8 ton splitter. It really impressed me with what it could do for an 8 ton unit.

I would of liked to of got more time with the 37 ton unit the most, since I like the bigger models. Hopefully in the future I get the chance to try it again, and review it properly. The biggest thing to take away from all this, is you can’t go wrong with Brave as a company. They really seem to care about there customer base more then most. Brave has really impressed me with what they have done with there machines. I hope they keep going forward and introducing more models, just so I can get the pleasure of using them.

This 2-Stage pump fits a wide variety of log splitters and outdoor power equipment and works in both horizontal and vertical orientations. The included inlet nipple requires a 1" inner diameter suction hose.

Rated for up to 3,000 PSI at 3,600 RPM, this pump can power log splitters from 5 to 35 tons, depending on the inner diameter of the hydraulic cylinder. It features a fast cycle time by moving quickly when unloaded. It automatically shifts to low-flow/high-pressure mode at 500 PSI.

Be sure to use AW-32 10-Weight (ISO 32) or AW-46 20-Weight (ISO 46) light hydraulic fluid or Dexron III automatic transmission fluid. This pump is not designed for use with “universal” or "tractor" transmission oil, such as "303". The use of incorrect fluid may damage the pump and void the warranty.

Make sure the hydraulic fluid reservoir is not below the pump to ensure a sufficient flow of fluid to the pump. Suction-side filtration should be no finer than 150 microns. The use of a 10-25 micron filter on the suction side of the pump is too restrictive and will cause failure.

The mounting flange on this pump has a 4-bolt, 2 inches on center, mounting pattern. The bolt circle is 2.85" and the bolt hole diameter is M8 (.344").