Clarke Log Buster 5 problems

[merryman]

As I have several trees to cut up for firewood, I decided to get a log splitter. The electro hydraulic models all seem to be of the same basic design, so when one came up at our local machinery auction I decided to take the gamble (everything there is sold as seen, no warranty implied or given). Anyway got it for a reasonable cost, but it doesn’t work. Plugged in, pressed the button, it gave a slight buzz and blew the 13amp fuse. Took the cover off on the side of the motor and someone has been messing with it before. I am used to cap start, cap run, adaptations of three phase motors, where you test that all phases are equal resistance and no shorts to earth, but this one isn’t. It has two red wires and two blue. The reds are connected to the on/off switch, the blues are not connected to anything, I assume a capacitor has been removed, connected to the blues? So, I don’t know how to test it, but set the ohmmeter to 20M ohm scale and get 1.32 across the reds, same across the blues and same between any blue and red, does this make sense? Between any wire and earth the meter wanders about. Also the on/off switch doesn’t stay latched. Instructions are a bit vague, but imply you need to have your finger on the button and press the hydraulic lever at the same time to make it work, is this correct? The cover plate has been replaced with a piece of sheet metal, so no motor details, but the machine is a Clarke log buster 5, I can download a manual, but it doesn’t have a full parts list.

 

[julianf]

This isnt a comment on specifically what you are asking, but -

I bought one cheap once, advertised as non working. My hope was that it was the cap, but -

The windings were stuffed. I replaced the whole motor but, even then, it runs hotter than I'd like / expect.

I wonder if the reason is that they get put on the ends of extension leads and the voltage drop causes excessive heat? Mine is ok if used for short periods on an extension but I could see it getting damaged again if I'm not careful.


I mention all this to you in suggestion that you check the windings as best as possible before focussing too much on the cap.

 

[julianf]

Ps button -

Some of them have dual levers so you have to have a hand on each one, and some a non latching button. Its safety stuff to make sure you cant hold the log stable with the other hand...

 

[GavJ]

Most of this type have a non latching button that you have to keep pressed in and the hydraulic lever far enough away that its a two handed operation... they dont trust us to keep our hands away from the ram ..... I bought the cheap one from Screwfix, has done a couple of years so far without issue, will be pressed into service again soon, not bad for £100......

 

[GavJ]

Maybe it was more than £100, cant remember excly what I paid but it was on offer at the time....

Titan TTB762LSP Corded Brushless 37cm Log Splitter 1.5kW - Screwfix

Order online at Screwfix.com. Powerful electric log splitter, perfect for residential use. Torsion-resistant steel construction. Easy to move with conveniently located handle and durable wheels. Automatically returning ram makes jobs easy for single person use, returning to the starting position...

www.screwfix.com

 

[Robotstar5]

Thought I'd put this in here, the second one (starts about 2 mins in) would be dangerous if the op wasn't wearing PPE

 

[Wozzaaah]

Thought I'd put this in here, the second one (starts about 2 mins in) would be dangerous if the op wasn't wearing PPE

That second one is an absolute death machine!

 

[Neilj]

It does look like a capacitor is missing looking at the space in the housing. Assuming it's a run capacitor that's missing, then it should be wired something like this:

Your red wires are the running winding and blue are the start winding.
If you get 1.32 ohms across the reds and also 1.32 across the blues, I'd expect one of the combinations of one red and one blue to give you 2.64 ohms as you will effectively be measuring them both in series if you get the right combination.
Could you try measuring all the combinations of one red and one blue again and report back what you find?

 

[dobbslc]

What readings are you getting to earth on the windings? Wondering about could be damp in the windings.

 

[Erie Fred]

Champion 37-Ton Horizontal/Vertical Full Beam Gas Log Splitter with Auto Return - 100330-1

The Champion Power Equipment 100330 37-Ton Horizontal/Vertical Full Beam Log Splitter not only offers relief from the back-breaking work of splitting logs, but also reduces your work time so you can move on to other tasks. Depend on the reliable recoil s

www.ruralking.com

No electrons are injured in using this device....

 

[merryman]

Right, got the multimeter to, sort of, work on the ohms scale (why do digital ohm meters never give the same reading twice?) Across reds, 1.3 ohms, Across blues 3.3 ohms, 1 red 1 blue 4.5 ohms, 1 blue other red 3.2 ohms, other blue 1 red 1.5 ohms other blue other red 0.5 ohms. Open circuit with earth. No idea what this means, if anything, motor is 2kw according to the manual.

 

[Neilj]

2nd reply, deleted the 1st as it was wrong!

Open circuit to earth is good, means your windings are OK. The internal wiring might not be exactly as per my post #8 but the values you're getting are what I'd expect.
I think you need a run capacitor to connect to those two blue wires, to work out what size we need to know the motor rating. Clarke are sods for using non-standard motors, are there any markings on it at all? The manual just says 2000 watts power consumption which is a start but a bit of an unusual value.

 

[Migmac]

Thought I'd put this in here, the second one (starts about 2 mins in) would be dangerous if the op wasn't wearing PPE

Number two I’d scary stuff

 

[fizzy]

This isnt a comment on specifically what you are asking, but -

I bought one cheap once, advertised as non working. My hope was that it was the cap, but -

The windings were stuffed. I replaced the whole motor but, even then, it runs hotter than I'd like / expect.

I wonder if the reason is that they get put on the ends of extension leads and the voltage drop causes excessive heat? Mine is ok if used for short periods on an extension but I could see it getting damaged again if I'm not careful.


I mention all this to you in suggestion that you check the windings as best as possible before focussing too much on the cap.

My Clarke motor runs hot and has done so for years - with a nasty fibreglass smell coming from it. Does it on an extension or plugged in close.
My solution is to use a normal desk fan blowing on the alli motor housing - works a treat