Check that the plastic knob of the lever is screwed on fully. If this becomes unscrewed it prevents the lever from being pushed right down, stopping the log splitter from operating. View the video below for a demonstration:

Remove the valve as above. Loosen the grub screw in the angled hole below the valve sleeve then use a wooden drift to tap in the sleeve and tighten the grub screw.

Check that end of the valve stem remains in contact with the face of the lever when the lever is depressed and released. If the valve does not pop back out when the lever is realeased, clean as explained below.

ENSURE THE RAM IS FULLY RETURNED

Remove the nut holding the lever and remove the lever. Remove the valve, check the O-Ring and clean the valve with lint free cloth. Replace the valve and the lever.

Check oil level or raise the front foot on a block of wood, if the splitter works normally then the oil level is low, top up. The log splitter must be vertical and the dipstick screwed in to check the level.

Check that the front (fixed blade end) of the log splitter is not pointing downhill, the splitter should be level or pointing uphill.