Hey Bud glad your on the mend . As for hyd. splitter servicing , the biggest issue is quality hydraulic oil use and quality properly sized oil filter use . I have seen more hydraulic pumps fail due to bad or contaminated or over heated oil and restricted oil filters . Secondarily always ensure you replace oil and filter every 3 yrs minimum . As for your engine quality syn oil and air filter replacement every 2 yrs minimum along will quality gasoline !

Thanks for the tips. I’ll plan to schedule visits with two surgeons if the explanations for the continued restrictions are not spelled out in the Portal that I have not accessed. Retirement was “Fun Home and Vehicles Maintenance, Fishing, Firewood Harvesting, Volunteering “Initially”.

The Neck Injury has changed it all from a violent swing to break a fill plug on our 02 Camry. One of a few that had a rear-end mounted on the front of a Front Wheel Drive Transmission. Yep! At 120,000 miles and block to block driving I had no reason to ck it except “Being Me”! It was fine but the swing cause the Whiplash. The best advice was not to drain the oil before the Fill Plug was removed. On a Lift with a “long Wrench would have been “No Problem”.

My log splitter was rebuilt back to back approx 2012 due to leaking seals with very few hrs. I’ll have to go back to pics for exact dates. That was the Wake-Up on adding Ram Guides and limit splitting to 12”-16” Dia wood.

I have checked the Hyd oil’s look and amount per season and have not noticed a change as looking worn or different in color. The motor is 1 HP Electric "Farm" that I monitor in the Tx Heat by feeling.

Before retirement I felt I burned two cords from my 4 cord rack. 2 to burn while 2 seasoned. Burning 24 hrs 7 Days now when needed I easily burn 4 cords. Still just holding the “Chill Off” and Staying Busy!

Sounds like good idea as to the medical second opinions . Yes quite often hyd . splitter use is less than anticipated . If the oil appears abnormally dark or white , then draining and new oil is warranted . Otherwise all should be good to go !

My 12 month Neck Fusion release “Limits” did not suggest any Limits higher than my 6 months “Limits” of 35 LBS lifting. The Physician Assistant (PA) is saying with that surgery occasional lifts above is not known to hurt you. But, Repetitive and Shock as on a Riding Mower is what causes the most danger. That will basically rule out my Rodeo Ride on our Small Yard. When I mentioned once a week, He went,”Once A Week”, Why! That explains “He Must Live in an Apartment”.

The shock and lifting above the shoulders puts too much stress on the neck. Trimming Trees (Looking Up) was Specifically Mention as hard on the Neck. I doubt I even try the Riding Mower on this small yard now. Then have to use the Walk Behind to Trim what was a :30 Minute Total Cut. Cuts and Edging will replace week Day walks!

The Bottom Line Is I Need To Cut Back Some Physical Work! I’ll have to cut back on supplying Firewood for 24/7 fires. I’m getting to attached to the “Direct Heat” vs Central Heat. I should start working down since I have given up direct sources of wood. Time Brings Changes!

Sometimes you can have unexpected visitors in your equipment.

I am back to Processing Firewood to season and burn that friends have helped me with when needed. We move into this 1969 built home in 1972 and added on to it including a Den and Fireplace. Working firewood was new except for visiting my Grandparents. A friend gave me his Splitter as he used it for small stove wood. I wanted to split larger wood for our fireplace. Plus, I had learned quick how hard on the body splitting could be (about 1977).

I took his start that was working and modified it to handle larger wood and refined many areas. It appeared to have been a manual splitter he had modified with a 12 Ton Hydraulic Cylinder, 1 HP Farm Motor, Hydraulic Pump, Gauges and Etc... It worked well until I went above my planned 12” dia wood 16”- 18” green and some larger with good seasoned cracks. I needed two seal jobs back to back from larger wood in my opinion. I added the guides to keep the Ram on line and it has been good since. I replaced the fluid on the first rebuild and added a filter and all has been good since. Splitting 4-6 cords a season.

Attached is a Pic of the fluid I pulled to see how it appeared. My guess is 20 hrs per season or less since 2008. When it appears to try to Raise it back as an “Angry Cat”, I back off. If I hear any resistance, I back-off. If I have resistance at a clean start, I,ll cut 2-4” and it always continues.

A Pic!

A Pic of the Original Log Splitter as it was given to me. It has been one of my best Projects and “A Lifesaver Splitting Firewood. I used it on minimal splitting as I improved it to what I felt was safe. 16”-18” Dia is my limit of splitting wood w/o seasoned cracks. With any signs of hesitations I will cut 4-6” into the wood as a leverage cut. That has always worked vs it giving the “Angry Cat” Look.

Making Brass bushings and surface guided to reduce steel to steel contact and wear has been fun. It moves very little from the “Parked Car-Port Home”. Most loads of wood are taken to it. It has been years of help and we hope to get many more years. Take Care!

Electric motor simplifies things !

Do you feel this was a Manual Hydraulic Splitter’s “Frame” initially? That is my thought looking at the handle on the Wedge (that I increased the “width” on) and small rear wheel initially. I Am Hurting To This Day! Dragging it to my backyard from the curb that made unloading easy was a Killer.

The Electric Motor Is A Winner In The Texas Heat. It has not had a problem as I use it as long as I can lay my hand on it. Below 70 degrees that is all day if needed. I respect my Neighbors by the rear Carport side by not using it too early or late due to the Pump’s High Pitch Sound. When needed I moved to my open Back “With No Neighbors Behind Us (Before the Back Tires Went South). I want some simple 3-4” wide Metal Wheels with rubber vs tubes. I do know where a large stock of Hard Rubber Tires Are, “LOL”!

It may well have been a low budget model initially , that someone upgrade prior to your purchase . The design points in that direction as you have indicated. A very good unit for your needs none the less Bud !