wood spliter engine

Northvale - PA · Sep 24, 2016

so, I have a used wood splitter I bought about 3 years ago. Has a B&S engine on it. I used it this summer and noticed the aluminum block is cracked, on the bottom, where it bolts down to the splitter frame. I suppose since I normally ran it in cold weather the oil did not leak out as noticable as during the hot weather. Here is the question: is it worth trying to get this welded up? Just buy a new engine ($250) or maybe even grind it out and patch it with epoxy type filler? I suppose it got hit with a log by the previous owner, etc. The engine runs fine and I can always just keep putting oil in it. But, not a good plan for the long run. Thoughts?

old · Sep 24, 2016

Well this is one of those things of do you have the $$ to replace the engine or are you on a limited budget?? Me since I do tend to try to stay cheap since I have to I would at least try the $10 repair and watch for some one having a good used engine for cheap or some one with an engine like yours for the good replacement block.

Years ago I had some one give me a lawn mower with a bent crank shaft. I had an engine that did not run but the parts would interchange so I built a good engine form the 2 and the cost was a gasket. Gave that lawn mower away a few year ago to some who who needed it since I had since replaced it with one some one gave me

fixerupper · Sep 24, 2016

Try the epoxy , you have nothing to lose but the money you have in the epoxy. Drain the oil, tip the engine so the residual oil runs away from the crack, maybe you could grind a small shallow vee in the crack, sand the area down so it is good and shiny, clean it up very well, lacquer thinner works for this. The big word is CLEAN! Try to blow the lacquer thinner through the crack with compressed air to get rid of any oil that might bleed into the epoxy, let it dry thoroughly and smear on the epoxy. Maybe someone else has a suggestion on what kind of epoxy to use. JB will work but there might be something better out there.

What do some of you guys think about epoxying a little fiberglass cloth or tape to it? Waste of time?

Adirondack case guy · Sep 24, 2016

Harbor Freight has 6.5hp Preditor motors for $99 Bucks with coupon a lot of times. I have had one on my splitter for 3 years now. It starts first pull most every time and is very good on gas consumption.
It has mounting holes for std pump adaptors using luvjoy couplers. Mounting bolt location may vary from your B&S and shaft heidth may be a bit diff., but was no problem to mount it for me.
I highly recomend them.
Loren

jon f mn · Sep 24, 2016

You have nothing to loose by trying some epoxie except that welding is off the table after. A new engine at northern for $100 would likely make welding unprofitable anyway.

Geo-TH,In · Sep 24, 2016

I'm not sure that all epoxy will work. I've tried some on gas tanks and it didn't stand the test of time.

I bought a tube of seal all from menards. It a glue for plastic gas tanks, I would give it a try for $3.

Google seal all.
seal all

JDEM · Sep 24, 2016

The Harbor Freight Predator engine for $100 is built much better then any aluminum Briggs & Stratton was. If you're talking about a 5 horse engine, I'd replace with the HF engine. Now if you have an 8 HP engine, and need it, it's a different story.

I hate to say it - but I recently bought a new log-splitter to keep at a remote property. Got it from Tractor Supply and I picked the one with the USA built Kohler engine. Big mistake. Same style and size as the 6.5 HF engine. Starts harder, runs worse, and product support at Kohler tech is absolutely awful. Never again. I've to three HF engines and they've been great. Even the HF owner's manuals are better written then the ones from Kohler. Too bad. Kohler used to make some really good engines.

Ray UK · Sep 24, 2016

I have used two products very succesfully (or just been plain lucky) in this situation and both were from your side of the Atlantic. The first is made by a company named Laco and was called Oyltite Stick the second and probably the easiest to get hold of is JB Weld High Temperature epoxy putty, the JB weld product was used to seal up the crankase of a Kawasaki generator engine that had holes where the thread for the oil filler plug had been cut to deeply. Both worked very well but it is very important to clean and prepare the metal very thouroughly.

cole in mo. · Sep 24, 2016

If you go with the harbor freight engine for $100. the only thing you'll need extra are the 4 bolts that hold the pump adaptor to the engine. Mounting plate size, crank diamiture, height and length are all the same, comes with gas tank and muffler.

Dune Country · Sep 24, 2016

clean,clean heat it up slightly to boil the oil out of the pores, vee it slightly then JB weld!!

Jim in Ma. · Sep 24, 2016

I would go with Harbor Freight i you can. If you want to go used - Check craigs list or a snow blower with the size engine, as they seem to be low hour machines.

tractorguy2 · Sep 24, 2016

I would try some JBweld putty. That stuff really holds.

Where do you get parts for a HF engine?

wood spliter engine

Northvale - PA

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old

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fixerupper

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Adirondack case guy

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jon f mn

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Geo-TH,In

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JDEM

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Ray UK

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cole in mo.

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Dune Country

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Jim in Ma.

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tractorguy2

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