DIY Log Splitter Repair - Ramsplitter Cracked In Half!

DIY log splitter repair to a typical gas powered hydraulic wood splitter. This Ramsplitter actually cracked in half and while it's 10 years old and I split about 4 cords of wood a year; I've only split soft wood with it (mostly pine & a little fir). It's well maintained and is always stored indoors.
Time to pull out the sledge hammer and MIG welder to see if it can be repaired...
Marketed as the "Toughest Log Splitter In The Business", this particular Ramsplitter 20 TON, 5hp, hydraulic log splitter proved to be anything but! Perhaps an anecdotal failure, but this is not the first time it cracked. I had to re-weld the hydraulic cylinder end mount on it several years ago because it also started to develop a crack on the welding seam where it was attached to the main beam.
I hypothesize that the main beam steel is simply too thin, or more specifically, not properly reinforced at the main stress points.
Video Chapter Time Index:
- Intro 0:00
- Assessing damage 0:55
- Removing beam 1:32
- Straightening beam 2:56
- Welding beam 5:08
- Testing repair 6:17
Please leave comments below if you have a Ramsplitter wood splitter that cracked in a similar manner; or any other hydraulic log splitter for that matter. I would like to know if log splitter structural & welding failures like these are common or not.
And yes, this log splitter welding repair did at least hold long enough to get the remaining wood split; about an hour of splitting. No signs of weakening, but will it last?
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[@Rchelicopterfun]

Fall 2023 Update: Just finished another year's wood splitting task and about 15 cords total since the repair, the metal hot snot is still holding without any issues. Anecdotal proof that even a bald monkey can use a metal hot snot buzz box to fix something. 😄

[@stephenjharnois]

I'm surprised it's held up.i would have done same thing but I would have ground the welds flush then added some side plate .I'm not a real welder either

[@AkatarawaJapan]

Good on ya for repairing it. It’ll hold, and if it doesn’t then it will next time. I’m a KZbin-taught welding hack artist but managed to stick weld a snapped boom on my 3.5t digger with a few reinforcing plates. Still going strong.

[@JoshChase114]

I just think it’s funny it snapped right where there “toughest splitters in the business” is 😆

[@Rchelicopterfun]

😄

[@Ernesto-te7oj]

Funny mine split at the end just like yours. After seeing the split in the middle I might just go ahead and add some support there before mine splits. lol thanks for the video

[@daveblackwell180]

Grind the "Welds" flat on the two vertical sides and fish plate each side with a rounded diamond shape about 6-8 " long 1/4" plate this will distribute the stress over a much larger area. Also your welder sounds to be set a little low as it is not" sizzling" but that might just be the audio

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Thanks for the tips 🙂

[@eCitizen1]

Yes, what Dave said.

[@tonymontana897]

Yep, I noticed the mig was a bit too low. Needed to crank it up so you get more heat and better penetration.

[@larrychamel]

Hi John. Wishing you all the success in the World with your Log Splitter Repair. Having said that... I would like to Thank You very much for your reply to my email. I really appreciate you taking the time to give me such wonderful and insightful advice and ideas. I thank you for your time and your thoughts with regard to my iKON 2 FBL Programming issues. You are a wealth of knowledge and I can't Thank you enough for opening your vault and sharing with me. Cheers John and as always, my very Best to you and your Family! Stay Safe, Stay Well and Stay Healthy! ❤🙏🙏🙏🙏❤ Larry.

[@Farm_fab]

Probably you should have placed a piece of box tube inside of that to reinforce it, or place a reinforcing plate on the outside over the ground flat weld.

[@terryherrera5252]

YES !!! I have the 16 ton !!! ELECTRIC MOTOR !!!! It is 3+ years old !! MAIN PROBLEM is the cheesy nylon bushings on the splitter sides ! Also the head goes up about 1/4” on splitting !!! I ONLY split hardwood !! 24”-6” in diameter !! It has been a BEAST!! Needed to use it inside,so electric only choice !! Have you had issues like mine ?(or anyone else ?) Could use some HELP !!

[@PainterD54]

I'd have added an extra piece of metal on each side to strengthen the broken area to make it stronger.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Yep, I would have as well if I had any plate steel on hand, but I didn't so had to make due to get it up and running ASAP to finish the job. It's still holding after almost 4 years now, but if it cracks again, then it will get plates 🙂

[@ikecarlson6732]

They welded across the top of the beam. That's a no-no.

[@larrychamel]

Hi again John. Great advice about grinding the existing weld flat first. Having spent many years in the Pallet Recycling Industry, I would grind the paint off in the area you plan on welding and after you have done that I would weld some L angle on 2 sides so you can weld the side & bottom to strengthen the Frame. Of course this would only apply if it doesn't interfere with the sliding action of the blade. Looks like it's all good now but... if you want to strengthen it, try the L angle. Nice repair and Cheers again John! ❤🙏❤

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Thanks for the reinforcement tip.🙂

[@mikehoran9901]

Yes, I had one that split apart like that. It was new. They fixed me right up. Still splitting with it 12 years later.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Good to know 🙂

[@SeriousSchitt]

I just doomed my splitter build before it’s even out of the workshop by putting a weld right across the face of the beam on the top of the table. I took a mates advice but noticed he never welded his one there himself. As soon as I done the weld I realised my mistake, now I’m just expecting failure, and you’ve just confirmed my demise.

[@eCitizen1]

You need a good arc welder. Using the mig will give you a big ugly shallow weld, but good enough is probably good enough for a while. 90% of anything is just doing it. Personally, I would have added a few reinforcement plates to beef it up considerably, but I do tend to err on overkill.

[@raptordan6851]

He used mig not tig , although mig welding doesn’t have deep penetration a proper bevel and open gap will ensure full penetration. I’ve repaired major heavy equipment with this process without an issue.

[@doboy861]

For a home welder you did fine, what I seen where the tube broke it looks like the tube is to light. You might want to get some thick flat bar and weld it to both sides of the tube about one foot either side of that area. That seems to be the spot where the stress is the most. Just a thought.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Thanks for the constructive feedback. 👍 Appreciated. The old rammer has split about 10 more cords since that repair, but I fear it will fail again. If & when, I'll add extra material plate to the area.

[@minirock000]

More wire speed, sounds like the wire is burning back up into the nozzle. Try to watch the wire to see if it is burning back if so turn the speed up until it keeps up. Sounds and looks to be too cold as well. I used to make high stress cylinders.

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Thanks for the tips! Much appreciated.

[@anmwolfrc159]

Good evening John I need your help with an rc helicopter and a new transmitter and a receiver ,,,,,can you help me PLEASE this is transmitter and receiver FlySky FS-i6X Transmitter and FS-X6B Receiver can and will I be able to use it on my Blade 130s rc helicopter and how

[@Rchelicopterfun]

Sorry, I don't know a thing about FlySky's system/s.

[@anmwolfrc159]

@@Rchelicopterfun thanks still for the information

[@kenweis2291]

Toughest lol....using bedframes for 100 years