Troy Bilt 27 Ton Splitter - Bad Weld Alert

[fidiro]

That would definately get them to see this in a different way if you took it back. Take it back and tell them you want the cylinder to be made like this one around the trunion. It's from a 96 Cat 416B w/single trunion mounted piston for front bucket and it's been through hard work, still original and still working as it should. This is the design this splitter trunion will need to make it last longer than 6 years and it will still need to be watched as now I am afraid of anything else that will come from this splitter.

I will definately have the goggles/safety glasses on my safety gear now. I always wore tight fitting leather gloves and ear protection but after this the eyes will need to be protected as well.

 

[stytch64]

I feel the pain of all these others. Yesterday afternoon I next to had to clean my shorts out of something other than hydraulic oil. O Lordy did she blow. Never gave any warning. My unit is only 4 yrs old and in my opinion gently used. I have only split about 20 - 25 cord of wood. This is dangerous! It is also heartbreaking to know that a company is being allowed to get away with this. Almost $500 for new cylinder is going to take away on Christmas this year. The worse part is that we rely on the split wood for our home heating and we will not be able to make the quota of wood we will need to get through the winter for a season. It looks like I will need to go back to the old fashioned maul and wedge. Does any one have any ideas on how to get a good quality replacement cylinder that is REASONABLY priced! I to will be contacting Troy Bilt and the Consumer Product Safety Commission because I do not want this to hurt anyone else.

weld break
full piston
different angle
clean break

 

[ANeat]

This might be a good replacement for your cylinder Stytch, $229.00

https://www.surpluscenter.com/item.asp?item=9-7849&catname;=

 

[bogydave]

WOW!
Several blowouts.

I'd also write my Federal & State legislatures.
Imagine some kid helping Dad or Grandpa?

It's time for a recall before metal fatigue causes more & more failures.
Injury to people & environmental damage.
Looks & sounds like one of those lawyers looking for this type of lawsuit would jump at this.
Several tons of multi-directional stress with every split on this weld, many more are bound to fail.

Send this thread (or some of the pictures) to Home Depot & other dealers of this model.
Drop a few pictures off at local dealers.

Local TV new channel may even cover it if it's a slow news day.

Mind if I take a few of the pictures & send to my legislatures & reference this thread?

 

[fidiro]

WOW!
Several blowouts.

I'd also write my Federal & State legislatures.
Imagine some kid helping Dad or Grandpa?

It's time for a recall before metal fatigue causes more & more failures.
Injury to people & environmental damage.
Looks & sounds like one of those lawyers looking for this type of lawsuit would jump at this.
Several tons of multi-directional stress with every split on this weld, many more are bound to fail.

Send this thread (or some of the pictures) to Home Depot & other dealers of this model.
Drop a few pictures off at local dealers.

Local TV new channel may even cover it if it's a slow news day.

Mind if I take a few of the pictures & send to my legislatures & reference this thread?

Anything that you can add to help this become a recall faster is OK with me. I'm sitting on mine untill I need to start splitting in the spring and then I'll put it back together with the original cylinder that I will be attempting to weld. As you see in my pics my trunion mounts on the I-Beam are also all bent up so I will have to heat and bend them back creating more fatigue areas to fail because of that faulty cylinder design. But because Troy Bilt has not taken care of my situation or others like mine, I have to heat and weld possibly creating a bigger problem, but I'm not spending another $1700 on a new one or not even spending 250 on a new cylinder, especially a cylinder that is designed the same as this one that will also eventually fail. This is something that will have to be taken care of by TB.

I'll keep waiting for the PM from Troy Bilt asking me for the address where they can send me the newly designed 27 ton with a cylinder design like the Cat one I posted earlier. Any time now. I keep checking my mail and still nothing. I'm sure they are just waiting for the signature from the president of TB to release a new splitter.

I seriously hope they don't wait for this to become more serious with bigger injuries as I know there are many out there that do take their kids to watch just like I did.

 

[thinkxingu]

I notice a lot of the designs either use the pin at the top of the cylinder or a plate across the top--it seems there'd be nothing to go wrong with those. Is there a way to retro-fit the MTD/Troy Bilt, etc. models to do this?

S

 

[benjamin]

If it was me, I'd retrofit whatever you want onto it, at least once the manufacturer has washed their hands of it.

I'd clamp that baby back together and weld it right on the splitter. Fill the cylinder with argon or nitrogen or borrow a vacuum pump to pull a vacuum on the cylinder and don't worry about a little crud that will form inside. The piston seal shouldn't go past that port originally, it would never last. If the seal is that close that it now shows from the break, then you're out of luck. I still can't tell from the pics if this is the weld breaking or metal fatigue right next to the weld, but in either case you want to build it up to look like their new weld pattern. Take a look wherever they're sold. It sure wouldn't hurt to scab something onto the side tabs also.

As with any hairbrained comments, if it doesn't make sense to you, seek professional help.

 

[fidiro]

If it was me, I'd retrofit whatever you want onto it, at least once the manufacturer has washed their hands of it.

I'd clamp that baby back together and weld it right on the splitter. Fill the cylinder with argon or nitrogen or borrow a vacuum pump to pull a vacuum on the cylinder and don't worry about a little crud that will form inside. The piston seal shouldn't go past that port originally, it would never last. If the seal is that close that it now shows from the break, then you're out of luck. I still can't tell from the pics if this is the weld breaking or metal fatigue right next to the weld, but in either case you want to build it up to look like their new weld pattern. Take a look wherever they're sold. It sure wouldn't hurt to scab something onto the side tabs also.

As with any hairbrained comments, if it doesn't make sense to you, seek professional help.

The more I looked at the weld and the tear the more it looks like it was the cylinder wall that just popped and ripped open along the weld. The pins look like they were welded right onto the 1/4" wall of the cylinder without having holes cut out to set pins, not that the holes would help keep this together. I don't know how it was built but it shouldn't happen on a machine listed as 27 tons. This setup now shows that it was built to never exceed 15 tons and still think it's too much. They will either have to beef up the cylinder wall and pins or drop the pump to a lower pressure closer to 15 tons to make this a safer setup, but dropping the working pressure will definately keep people from ever buying one.

The seal does come up to the break. I would say the seal goes right up to about the middle of the pins.

I stopped at lowes the other day and saw the splitter and it looks like the trunion is still just like mine is. It didn't have the thicker cly pins. So I don't know if the new one in the previous posts is just one of the very first ones showing up or if I can't tell from the pic.

Until they double wall this cylinder, I wouldn't trust it with just thicker cly's so do keep alert. But I will hate that feeling that I have to keep watching for sudden failures, I want to split wood and not worry about the heavy metal parts cracking open.

They really need to test these cylinders with the double wall @ the trunion and thicker cly's.

 

[fidiro]

I feel the pain of all these others. Yesterday afternoon I next to had to clean my shorts out of something other than hydraulic oil. O Lordy did she blow. Never gave any warning. My unit is only 4 yrs old and in my opinion gently used. I have only split about 20 - 25 cord of wood. This is dangerous! It is also heartbreaking to know that a company is being allowed to get away with this. Almost $500 for new cylinder is going to take away on Christmas this year. The worse part is that we rely on the split wood for our home heating and we will not be able to make the quota of wood we will need to get through the winter for a season. It looks like I will need to go back to the old fashioned maul and wedge. Does any one have any ideas on how to get a good quality replacement cylinder that is REASONABLY priced! I to will be contacting Troy Bilt and the Consumer Product Safety Commission because I do not want this to hurt anyone else.

weld break
full piston
different angle
clean break

Have you had a chance to contact Troy Bilt and/or the safety commission. Please keep us updated on your outcome

 

[benjamin]

I completely misunderstood the pictures. I thought the pins were welded into a hole and the cylinder tore just outside of the weld. Probably not salvageable in that case.

I looked at a new one the other day that had the same cylinder, pins and mounts, but the weld covered a far bigger area, not just one bead around the pin, like they were trying to strengthen it without redesigning anything major.

 

[stytch64]

Thank You all for the support you have given me. ANeat, Thank You very much for that link. That will help. Yes I have sent a letter to them and waiting for some sort of reply. This is what I said.

To whom it may concern,
I would like to inform you of a problem that I have had with your 27 ton log splitter. On October 7, 2010, I had the hydraulic cylinder blow up on me. I got showered in hot oil and as of the moment, I have some skin irritation which is currently subsiding. After collecting myself and taking several showers to get the oil off of me, I went to see what happened. The trunnion on the right side tore away from the cylinder. Heartbroken and angry that my splitter tried killing me I started looking for a replacement part for the failed unit. What I found was that I am not the only one that this has happened to. I became aware of a ongoing serious and dangerous problem occurring. All of the other posts that I read are carbon copies to what has occurred to me. I am glad that so far no one has been seriously hurt or even hospitalized. I am by no means a metallurgist or hydraulic engineer but what I was reading made a lot of sense to me. From what I can tell and see from other trunnion designed cylinders is that the welds are not breaking but that the cylinder wall is too thin to support the pressures repeatedly put upon it. Other trunnion cylinders have a sleeve welded around the unit to give them the strength needed. In my opinion this should never have occurred. From reading what others have said about their units, I use my splitter gently, with only 20 to 25 cord of wood put through it. What I would like to see is a recall on these cylinders before something bad happens to someone else. Others online have mentioned that your company has already been informed of their failures as well and I am wondering what is being done about this situation. Please let me know if there is a recall currently in place and a redesigned part available. I am now afraid of buying a new replacement part that in my opinion will eventually fail as the others have. I am truly concerned about this and don’t want to see anyone else become a victim to this. Thank You,

 

[southland]

I hope MTD/Troy Bilt fixes this design problem. I bought the Huskee 22 ton a few weeks ago. I was leaning toward the this 27 ton, but this thread helped me decide on the Huskee instead. So this problem has cost them at least one customer.

 

[thinkxingu]

Stytch, when you hear back, you should give them the links to this and other posts. It would be nice to know if the new cylinders have been changed in some way--mine (two months old) looks much beefier and, as mentioned above, like they made some corrections. If that's the case, they should warranty older ones with the known issue.

S

 

[bogydave]

I hope MTD/Troy Bilt fixes this design problem. I bought the Huskee 22 ton a few weeks ago. I was leaning toward the this 27 ton, but this thread helped me decide on the Huskee instead. So this problem has cost them at least one customer.

TWO & probably growing!
I also bought the Speeco (Huskee) splitter. I had it narrowed down to Troybuilt & Speeco.
One reason I went with the Speeco, because I didn't like the design of the ram with welded small attachment points on the side of the ram.
Every-time it is use to split, tremendous force is exerted on these welded ears of which one is the hydraulic input port.
These failures & pictures made my concerns justified.

I'm sure MTD will have to "make it right". When? How many more will fail before they do?
Folks with one now that has failed not getting "customer service" is a big down side to the issue.

Up side is it shouldn't take a welder long to modify the splitter to a "normal hydraulic ram configuration"
to get those with one up & running safely.
$$cost is the issue here though, (less $$ than a new splitter I'd think)

Sure is a good thread.
Lots of good info.

Thanks for the Alert & pictures.
This forum is "Great" for this kind of communication.
Getting this kind of information passed around is "Golden"

 

[fidiro]

Who knows how many have failed and didn't turn to the net for info. There are still people out there with no web connections that are possibly working these without knowing what will happen. This thread will continue to grow with more failures from others. I wouldn't purchase any replacement identical cylinder that will just blow up again in a few years. I wouldn't even trust the one that looks like it got some extra weld, a sorry excuse for a redesign IMHO, to try to fix this problem. I would only try to trust the thicker wall design @ the trunion, that will surely come sooner or later if they know what's best.

When I emailed them I pasted a link to this thread so they can see the pics of their bad design, but I don't know if they follow these things. I also pasted this thread to the safety commission.

Thanks for keeping us updated.

BTW, is there a way to edit the thread title to add MTD, Cub Cadet, Yard Machines, Troy Bilt 27 ton Bad Cylinder Alert

This way the other names don't feel left out since they are all the same. Let's not forget that there are the 25 ton models that use the same setup as well but may take longer to blow up since pump pressure output is slightly lower.

 

[fire_man]

Does anybody know how old this Troy-Bilt 27 Ton Splitter Trunnion mount cylinder design is? It seems odd that all of a sudden there is a cluster of these failures. It would also be good to know the Year and Month purchased of the blown ones posted on this thread so far: Stytch64, Pelletnubi ,Bsticks?

Better yet a serial number located below the engine near the on/off swtich. Mine is SN 1A089H40050 Model 24BF572B766 Purchased October 2009.

I researched this splitter extensively a year ago before purchasing it, and never a mention of this problem, now we have three cases in a few months.

 

[fidiro]

Does anybody know how old this Troy-Bilt 27 Ton Splitter Trunnion mount cylinder design is? It seems odd that all of a sudden there is a cluster of these failures. It would also be good to know the Year and Month purchased of the blown ones posted on this thread so far: Stytch64, Pelletnubi ,Bsticks?

Better yet a serial number located below the engine near the on/off swtich. Mine is SN 1A089H40050 Model 24BF572B766 Purchased October 2009.

I researched this splitter extensively a year ago before purchasing it, and never a mention of this problem, now we have three cases in a few months.

Mine is dated: I believe August 2003 by serial #. I don't have it at home since it happened. It's still covered in oil and don't want it dripping in my yard.

So figure if you split about 8-10 cords of wood per year, I would expect yours to fail in about 5 years or less. But didn't Bsticks just own his for a year when his failed?

 

[bogydave]

I tried to write a review on Amazon
"Blue Max", I think is that model there.
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Max-27-Ton-Powered-Splitter/dp/B00274XQ80
Beyond my computer skills I guess. (couldn't get to the review site)

I have posted pics of the failures on other forums.
May or may not help but at least getting the info out there.

 

[fidiro]

I tried to write a review on Amazon
"Blue Max", I think is that model there.
http://www.amazon.com/Blue-Max-27-Ton-Powered-Splitter/dp/B00274XQ80
Beyond my computer skills I guess. (couldn't get to the review site)

I have posted pics of the failures on other forums.
May or may not help but at least getting the info out there.

Thanks for spreading the news.

No, that is not the one. That one has a full I beam and the cylinder is being held by a plate on the end with 4 rods running the length of the cylinder.

I'll post a link to troy bilt site with the model.

 

[fidiro]

http://www.troybilt.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/category2_10001_14102_54998_54998_54998_-1# There are reviews about the splitter and I was trying to find a way to write my own with this thread linked to it but I think you would have to buy one online to write a review. Notice the slogan on the page about the splitters:

Log Splitters
Our log splitters are built to last. They have a cast-iron splitting wedge that can be sharpened and replaced, plus enough force to power through your jobs.

They forgot to say: It has enough force to blow open the metal cylinder before it blows a hose or a seal.


These are the closest to mine. These on the above link are the ones found at Lowes with the plastic fenders but these are also sold at dealers which are exactly the same but with towing lights and metal fenders like mine in the previous pics I posted.

 

[stytch64]

I don't remember when I bought it without dragging out receipt but according to the serial # it was manufactured May 12, 2006.

 

[stytch64]

I only split 4-5 cord a year and it has only been 4 yrs before my cylinder had it's premature catastrophic failure.

here is a link to tell when your unit was made.

http://www.troybilt.com/wcsstore/Ma.../media/ConsumerInspectionProcedures_Final.pdf

 

[stytch64]

OK, are there anymore forums out there that might have the same topic we are discussing. According to Troy Bilt, says "Based on the model and serial number you have provided, Troy-Bilt is unaware of any reoccurring issues associated with this product, specifically the cylinder or cylinder walls. " They then go on to recommend to take it into an authorized service center. So, I will. I don't know what they are expected to do but it might be worth a chuckle. I also might go and try to snap a picture of a new unit to see if the weld has been beefed up and if it has been I want to know why, if there have been no problems reported with them.

 

[bogydave]

OK, are there anymore forums out there that might have the same topic we are discussing. According to Troy Bilt, says "Based on the model and serial number you have provided, Troy-Bilt is unaware of any reoccurring issues associated with this product, specifically the cylinder or cylinder walls. " They then go on to recommend to take it into an authorized service center. So, I will. I don't know what they are expected to do but it might be worth a chuckle. I also might go and try to snap a picture of a new unit to see if the weld has been beefed up and if it has been I want to know why, if there have been no problems reported with them.

Probably some other failures just nothing was done, just fixed it themselves or put it in the junk pile.
You may just be in the beginning stages of failures, the stress cracking (metal fatigue) may just be starting to show up.
Over time, IMO, more are going to fail. Some will get reported, some not.

Here's one site (I posted it on) that calls a skunk a skunk.
Interesting comments from members.
http://idigmygarden.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37446

 

[RNLA]

I know none of you will believe me but here it goes. I do not like seeing people buying stuff and then it breaks... or worse yet hurts someone. That being said I think Troybuilt is having QC issues. I am not defending them either. I have a good friend who has the exact same spliter. He actually splits upwards of 100 cords per year. He had a motor give out from over use. TB warrentied the motor, which took forever... Bad customer service? Still I'm just saying they probably have a manufacturing problem. My friend is a fire wood supplier he buys logs, cuts, splits, and sells 100+ cords/ year. I will be warning him about this.