Homemade woodsplitter problem

It is possible that the cylinder has an internal flow restrictor. Landing gear cylinders aren't made to work fast, they are made to raise and lower the gear in an orderly fashion. There are often gear doors to be opened and closed, and (if you plan things right) you have pleanty of time to get the job done. Do you have an actuating cylinder, or a strut? Struts often have an internal metering pin to tailor the shock absorbing characteristics of the system. This is essentially a flow restrictor which varies with the strut extension.

I've never had a log splitter, but I have flown & miantained aircraft.

Pat

Thanks for getting back. I checked the suction hose and it is 3/4. The line to the cylinder split end is 1/2 but the line to the return end is 3/4. Could that make a difference. Tthe line form the valve to the resevoir is 3/4 but the return line from the resevoir to the pump is 1/2. The pump is not marked so I don't know how many GPM. The engine states it is 11HP at 3600 RPM. I can't tell if I have a gear reduction on the shaft although there is something on the shaft end that is round and attached by set screws, just before the shaft goes into the pump. Do you think I could take the pump off and have it checked. I can't tell if the cylinder is designed for air. It does work with the hydraulic fluid. Thanks again. Craig