27 July 2014

Assembled the 24 ton Northstar log splitter.  Marty and Ricky Lapidus came up to help stand up the main beam and hydraulic ram (which the assembly directions accurately said would take two people to do).  We then took an abbreviated tour of the house construction as one (of many) thunderstorms unleashed itself just as I was getting rolling with my prepared remarks.  The person who sold me the log splitter said that the hydraulic tank held 3 gallons, so I bought a 5 gallon container.  The assembly directions said the tank holds 8 gallons, so I made a mad dash to #1 Auto in Middlebury (who are open until early afternoon on Sundays) and procured another 3 gallons.  With 7 gallons poured in, the tank was completely full.  Hmmm…  Started the splitter; ran fine for a few minutes and then the engine died; restarted; same thing; restarted; same thing; wouldn’t start; cursed fluently; didn’t help.