Task Force splitter "ram" bent

[snydley]

I noticed today when splitting wood that my Task Force electric splitter ram is bent and binds when it is returning "home" after a split. I've never put anything but splits through it to split them into smaller pieces when necessary for my V.C. Resolute stove, but I guess over time it was bending little by little and now after more than 2 years of use it has bent to the point that it binds.
I would like to disassemble it, take the ram off of it, heat it up with my torch and straighten it out with my sledge hammer.
Has anyone ever taken one of these apart, specifically removed the ram? Any video or pics of the disassembly?
Thanks,
Snyde

 

[raybonz]

I noticed today when splitting wood that my Task Force electric splitter ram is bent and binds when it is returning "home" after a split. I've never put anything but splits through it to split them into smaller pieces when necessary for my V.C. Resolute stove, but I guess over time it was bending little by little and now after more than 2 years of use it has bent to the point that it binds.
I would like to disassemble it, take the ram off of it, heat it up with my torch and straighten it out with my sledge hammer.
Has anyone ever taken one of these apart, specifically removed the ram? Any video or pics of the disassembly?
Thanks,
Snyde

Thinking heat and a sledgehammer would destroy a polished shaft.. If you can get it apart and chuck the shaft in a lathe you could check the shaft for runout and try tweaking it straight by sliding a close fit pipe over the shaft and applying pressure.. Disassembly looks tricky as there are many parts in these little beasts...If you decide to do this it would be cool if you could take pics along the way and create a manual on how to do this..

Good Luck,
Ray

 

[snydley]

I noticed today when splitting wood that my Task Force electric splitter ram is bent and binds when it is returning "home" after a split. I've never put anything but splits through it to split them into smaller pieces when necessary for my V.C. Resolute stove, but I guess over time it was bending little by little and now after more than 2 years of use it has bent to the point that it binds.
I would like to disassemble it, take the ram off of it, heat it up with my torch and straighten it out with my sledge hammer.
Has anyone ever taken one of these apart, specifically removed the ram? Any video or pics of the disassembly?
Thanks,
Snyde

Thinking heat and a sledgehammer would destroy a polished shaft.. If you can get it apart and chuck the shaft in a lathe you could check the shaft for runout and try tweaking it straight by sliding a close fit pipe over the shaft and applying pressure.. Disassembly looks tricky as there are many parts in these little beasts...If you decide to do this it would be cool if you could take pics along the way and create a manual on how to do this..

Good Luck,
Ray

Sorry, I guess I wasn't specific enough, the shaft is fine, I'm still splitting wood with it, it's one of the external plates on the side that's bent,(part #68 in the manual), that and the "foot" that pushes the wood. It looks like,(from the exploded diagram in the manual), that the internal shaft,(#104 piston bar), and the external part that's bent, (#68 push rod), can be separated and the piston and cylinder won't be heated. I'm just looking for anyone that's ever had one apart, I don't want to mess it up any worse than it already is by taking something apart that doesn't need to be. I can continue to use it as is if necessary.
Thanks,
Snyde

 

[raybonz]

I noticed today when splitting wood that my Task Force electric splitter ram is bent and binds when it is returning "home" after a split. I've never put anything but splits through it to split them into smaller pieces when necessary for my V.C. Resolute stove, but I guess over time it was bending little by little and now after more than 2 years of use it has bent to the point that it binds.
I would like to disassemble it, take the ram off of it, heat it up with my torch and straighten it out with my sledge hammer.
Has anyone ever taken one of these apart, specifically removed the ram? Any video or pics of the disassembly?
Thanks,
Snyde

Thinking heat and a sledgehammer would destroy a polished shaft.. If you can get it apart and chuck the shaft in a lathe you could check the shaft for runout and try tweaking it straight by sliding a close fit pipe over the shaft and applying pressure.. Disassembly looks tricky as there are many parts in these little beasts...If you decide to do this it would be cool if you could take pics along the way and create a manual on how to do this..

Good Luck,
Ray

Sorry, I guess I wasn't specific enough, the shaft is fine, I'm still splitting wood with it, it's one of the external plates on the side that's bent,(part #68 in the manual), that and the "foot" that pushes the wood. It looks like,(from the exploded diagram in the manual), that the internal shaft,(#104 piston bar), and the external part that's bent, (#68 push rod), can be separated and the piston and cylinder won't be heated. I'm just looking for anyone that's ever had one apart, I don't want to mess it up any worse than it already is by taking something apart that doesn't need to be. I can continue to use it as is if necessary.
Thanks,
Snyde

Oh OK that's a different story and that happened on the 1st one I bought.. It was caused by an unsquare log end against the pusher.. Have you tried placing a split in there and applying hydraulic pressure in the opposite direction of the bend on the pusher? This should correct the bent pusher issue however disassembly may be needed to straighten out the U-shaped piece if it is bent.. I returned the 1st splitter after this happened because the motor didn't want to start (another issue) and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.. So far the new one has been OK.. I have kept the splitter on the screened in deck and it has come in handy for resplitting.. I try to keep an eye on the pusher if I see it bending as it is prone to bending if the log end is less than square...

FYI my manual shows an M10 axle nut for part# 68 and there is no part# 110 (69 is as high as it goes)... Mine was new in November 2009 and maybe they modified it? I think I know what you're talking about though...

Ray

 

[snydley]

I noticed today when splitting wood that my Task Force electric splitter ram is bent and binds when it is returning "home" after a split. I've never put anything but splits through it to split them into smaller pieces when necessary for my V.C. Resolute stove, but I guess over time it was bending little by little and now after more than 2 years of use it has bent to the point that it binds.
I would like to disassemble it, take the ram off of it, heat it up with my torch and straighten it out with my sledge hammer.
Has anyone ever taken one of these apart, specifically removed the ram? Any video or pics of the disassembly?
Thanks,
Snyde

Thinking heat and a sledgehammer would destroy a polished shaft.. If you can get it apart and chuck the shaft in a lathe you could check the shaft for runout and try tweaking it straight by sliding a close fit pipe over the shaft and applying pressure.. Disassembly looks tricky as there are many parts in these little beasts...If you decide to do this it would be cool if you could take pics along the way and create a manual on how to do this..

Good Luck,
Ray

Sorry, I guess I wasn't specific enough, the shaft is fine, I'm still splitting wood with it, it's one of the external plates on the side that's bent,(part #68 in the manual), that and the "foot" that pushes the wood. It looks like,(from the exploded diagram in the manual), that the internal shaft,(#104 piston bar), and the external part that's bent, (#68 push rod), can be separated and the piston and cylinder won't be heated. I'm just looking for anyone that's ever had one apart, I don't want to mess it up any worse than it already is by taking something apart that doesn't need to be. I can continue to use it as is if necessary.
Thanks,
Snyde

Oh OK that's a different story and that happened on the 1st one I bought.. It was caused by an unsquare log end against the pusher.. Have you tried placing a split in there and applying hydraulic pressure in the opposite direction of the bend on the pusher? This should correct the bent pusher issue however disassembly may be needed to straighten out the U-shaped piece if it is bent.. I returned the 1st splitter after this happened because the motor didn't want to start (another issue) and that was the straw that broke the camel's back.. So far the new one has been OK.. I have kept the splitter on the screened in deck and it has come in handy for resplitting.. I try to keep an eye on the pusher if I see it bending as it is prone to bending if the log end is less than square...

FYI my manual shows an M10 axle nut for part# 68 and there is no part# 110 (69 is as high as it goes)... Mine was new in November 2009 and maybe they modified it? I think I know what you're talking about though...

Ray

I've been placing the splits in the splitter on the side where the bend is hoping to straighten it out, eventually maybe it will. I also thought about putting a metal pipe or plate in there and using the splitter, but I'm afraid that the pipe might "shoot" out of there and "impale me", SO I decided NOT to try that, for obvious reasons :-S . If "push come shove" there is a phone number in the manual where I can call for a new part, but I still need to take it apart. I have a feeling if no one else has taken one apart, and can't help me I'll probably just use it as long as it'll work and buy a new one later on. I also have a Huskee 22 ton gas powered splitter that is my main splitter, this electric one is in my garage and I use after the wood has seasoned and I split the bigger splits to a smaller size to fit my stove better, so it's not like I'm without a splitter, but I don't want to run the gas powered one in the closed garage. I bought the Task Force electric splitter in Jan. '08, so I'm 1 month past the warranty period,(that's how they "get 'ya). They might have changed the diagram sometime after I got mine, and you got yours. The part that's bent on mine is the plate on the left side of the "pusher". If I could get it apart I could probably heat it and pound it back into shape. I wouldn't want to heat and pound it while it was assembled, I'm afraid I'd ruin a seal or something else internal.
Thanks for the info.,
Snyde

 

[LLigetfa]

No need to heat it. It wasn't heated when it bent.

 

[snydley]

No need to heat it. It wasn't heated when it bent.

Nope, but it will form back into shape easier if it is heated. It's all mute though if I don't get any help from someone that's had one apart. I'm a little leary of taking it apart without help.
Thanks,
Snyde

 

[LLigetfa]

No need to heat it. It wasn't heated when it bent.

Nope, but it will form back into shape easier if it is heated.

Heating could anneal it requiring that it be heat treated. Heat treating can warp it requiring it be cold straightened afterward. If it bent cold, it will straighten cold too. Can you straighten it in situ with some hardwood wedges?