Ok bought a new splitter now problems

Thanks to all who chimed in on my post below a few days ago. Well I bought my splitter Saturday from Tractor Supply. Its a Speeco 22 ton (called country line). It has a Kohler engine. So far I am disappointed. Maybe I got a lemon? Had a heck of a time getting the Kohler started, maybe it was because someone left the gas on and it may have flooded the cylinder. After getting it started (after pulling the spark plug, checking for spark and shooting starter fluid down the cylinder) she started up. Granted it was cold out today (around 20). Once started, the ram made one push on a piece of wood and the cylinder will not retract. Checked fluid and it was very low so added some hydraulic fluid. Cylinder will still not retract. Any clues?? I think I am going to take it back and complain or exchange it for another one? The hydraulic valve also was missing the master chain link to hold the handle on correctly. My biggest problem is the cylinder not retracting. I cant even push it back by hand. Its like cylinder is locked up or the control valve is stuck? I am open to suggestions on what to do.
 
I would take it back and ask for a replacement, and ask to see it run and operate before you pull it home. Also I would never use starting fluid on a small gas engine, too dry, use a little mixed chain saw gas.
 
I believe you have the right idea. Take it back and get your money back. I wouldn't exchange it. Then I would go to a place that specializes in this type of equipment and buy one there. You might pay a little more but at least you will have service. TS is just wally world that specializes in ag equipment.
 
Those splitters get the final assembly and check out at the local store so final product quality varies a lot plus they park them out in the weather and that takes it toll with water getting places it doesnt belong.
I would take it back and say fix it or replace it and also tell them they owe you some oil.

We bought our oldest son one just like yours and he is very happy with it. It takes a lot of choke to get it going and as it warms but runs just fine after that. That particular problem is not store related. 22Ton Speeco/Husky has been one of the better values over the years but has had some bumps in the road with differing power plants they used. The current one is a good one, hard starting with lots of choke and cold running problems are due to EPA mandates. Fixable if you know your way around a carburetor, but not at a dealer as they cant do what needs done.
 
I would also add that every small engine we own starts easier and runs better on non alcohol blended gasoline and the difference is more marked in cold weather.
 
Your hyd. fluid is GOING to be low if you checked it after the ram was extended. If that's the case, if you do retract the ram the tank will over flow. And if you tried to retract the ram by hand this only shows you do not have a clue what you are doing.
 
The missing link on control lever is what pushes spool to retract. The amount of oil when cyl is extended to retracted is minsucal. But still I would take it back, make them fix or get a replacement.
 
Yup, the difference in tank level will only be the displacement of the rod it self, guessing a quart? didn't bother to do the math.
 
Don't count on anything being checked out right when it leaves stores like TSC and your big box stores. I know some stores finish putting them together and out the door with out running them. I know for a fact that you have to put the oil in a new air compressor from TSC and check it out before you use it. I know one of the big box store that puts push mowers, tillers, and snow blowers together and don't run them at all.
 
Sounds like an assembly problem and I would not hesitate to have TSC make it right. The linkage on the valve, #60 chain master link comes to mind and they have that on the shelf, but it should be with the parts to assemble one of these, given the valve assembly, why would that be apart or missing. Seems like there's some "green" staff at the store you bought from, I've seen it at the one across the road.

Speeco makes a good product, if TSC can't deliver, and I certainly recommended their product on your first post, find a Speeco dealer and can that TSC county line. TSC sure can screw up a simple thing like a splitter, it used to be the lovejoy connector on these due to poor assembly, now this ? Tell em I said so, that is disappointing.

I would never use ether on one of these, its the cold that makes them more difficult because you can't get them to spin fast by hand, the honda GC 190 on mine won't start without a lot of pulls if it sits for weeks, and its cold. Even in the summer, it takes some pulling to get fuel primed or so it seems. Once running, starts on the first pull every time. The modern Kohler can't be much different, given their all throw away now, not like an old K series Kohler.
 
I have never been around a Kohlor that started easy in cold weather.That is the nature of the beast.

I have never seen or heard of a discount or chain store start and test any kind of mower or outdoor equipment before it is sold.

You ever heard of a store testing propane grill before it goes out the door?

If the ram won't go back. I'm guessing it has a bad valve or hoses not connected correctly.
 
A lot of the carbs you cannot adjust any more. There are a couple of VERY special little screw driver type tools that only dealers can get. When they work right you are OK but if not ..... Take it back. They should exchange it.
 
Our TSC was good at one time of checking out what you bought before you left with it but not that way today. That's why I buy all my chainsaws, log splitter, generator, and garden tractors from a dealer that services and checks it out before I take it home.
 
Hi Fred, When I bought mine they told me to run it for several split cycles doing the job then change the oil filter. I did that but wondered why until I checked filter I removed. It had some metal pieces in it like you get when drilling steel. Spiral shapes. Maybe you should do that too. My motor is a replica of a Honda but I think it is a Chinese knock off. Runs good, starts good. Ed Will
 
If the chain link is missing that holds the lever how are you making it move the valve spool correctly???? The one way would work because the handle would be pushing against the valve body but in the other direction the handle would free travel and do nothing. I would second checking the hose routing too. As for the hard starting motor. Is this a splitter that you tow???? IF it is you really need to run the motor until the carb is dry before you tow it. Some gas motors will flood when shook around bouncing around being pulled behind a truck. The tank is higher than the carb. So the shaking will make the float jump up and down allowing extra gas to go through. I have had that happen on lawn mowers on the single axle lawn mower trailers. Nothing looks better then delivering a brand new mower that ran great at the store but starts hard when you go to unload it at the customers house. We started shutting the gas off on any of the smaller mowers because of this problem.
 
Went to TS this morning and told her the problem. They are supposed to swap it out with another that they will operate before we load it up. The other ones they had all had the handle lever installed correctly.
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You could have gotten someone else's damaged return. Would NEVER buy anything major like that from TSC. Last year I bought a boom pole that had been run over and the welds were cracked. They tried to sell it as new, told them I'd give $50 for it -- they sold it as damaged. At my local TSC they can't hire anyone that will stay, employees have been quitting. Would not expect anyone to be able to setup a log splitter properly.
 
It would work but you missing the link and 2 pins and cotter pins that fit those two holes that you see in picture. That would let the controls move the cylinder in both directions. But the control lever is in the wrong location.
 
Those are good splitter.I have a red husky one, dad has a red husky one that is 15+ years old now. Only complaint is no choke on the Briggs on mine, have to limp it up with the primer button. Good splitter
 
You nailed it. I went to the hardware store and got a $1.50 60T master chain link and it did the trick. Works fine now. I did go back to TS and their service was not that great. They were kind of ho-hum about everything. In the mean time I contacted SPeeco technical support and showed them what I was missing. The guy at sPeeco was very helpful and he is mailing me the part and a new handle. Super service from speeco.
 
Your correct. I noticed that the cold wont allow the motor to spin fast enough to start it. Their instructions say to get the piston at top dead center then pull. I tried that and it starts better now. Not great but better. The motor does not spin fast enough in the other positions because it is spinning the love joy coupling and the pump. Now I know the "trick" its not too hard.
 
Hi Fred, When I bought mine they told me to run it for several split cycles doing the job then change the oil filter. I did that but wondered why until I checked filter I removed. It had some metal pieces in it like you get when drilling steel. Spiral shapes. Maybe you should do that too. My motor is a replica of a Honda but I think it is a Chinese knock off. Runs good, starts good. Ed Will
 
You get some build up at times, but it does self clean, scraps push back under the cylinder and fall out. I use a metal pan under mine, catch all of that and sift the fines out for use in garden or planting soils, the rest is dried down and bagged for kindling, works well on a bed of coals.
 
That one thing most people don't know is that TSC and big box stores have no service center. They hire some plain Joe off the street that knows nothing to put this stuff together and they don't run before you take it home. I was into a Lowes a while back just looking around and got into the snow blowers section and 4 of 7 blowers had no oil check plug in crankcase( anything small could get in crankcase). That's why I buy from a servicing dealer they run their product to see that its functioning right when it leaves their establishment.
 
(quoted from post at 08:56:37 01/19/16) That one thing most people don't know is that TSC and big box stores have no service center. They hire some plain Joe off the street that knows nothing to put this stuff together and they don't run before you take it home. I was into a Lowes a while back just looking around and got into the snow blowers section and 4 of 7 blowers had no oil check plug in crankcase( anything small could get in crankcase). That's why I buy from a servicing dealer they run their product to see that its functioning right when it leaves their establishment.

Perhaps that is because they don't put oil in them and by leaving the fill cap off people then will then check the oil and fill it before they try to start it.
 
That's odd because the TSC in Valparaiso, IN uses Riggs for all service work. For those who don't know, Riggs is a large multi store small equipment dealer in NW Indiana. They are known for high prices but sell a quality product and have great service. They stand behind their product.Those who shop by price only probably wouldn't do much business there.
 
That what I just said TSC does not service their stuff. They send you or take what every it is your having trouble with to somebody else if you have problems. TSC does not set up air compressors or generators and doesn't check to see if they are working properly before they leave store. I bought my Log splitter from Tractor supply and it was never run to see if it was working properly when I got it. I Know Riggs real well because I have bought all my new Stihl chainsaws and parts from them and Echo parts( They no longer carry Echo ). I knew that Riggs did service work on MTD products for TSC and they told me they service their costumers first.
 


JD Seller is right.Do not tow that thing more than 10 feet on rough ground with the gas turned on unless it's running.That will turn an easy starter into an arm breaker.The manual says not to tow when running either but I've gotten away with that- SO FAR!
 
You can solve that problem with towing by putting a fuel shutoff in fuel line. I put one in mine and also shut fuel off and run it dry when I am done splitting.
 

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