Firewood processor build thread

[kiotiken]

That's a good idea. Another possibility would be a used rubber track from a mini ex or CTL. I'd imagine that it shouldn't be hard to find one for a couple hundred or less since they are just scrap once replaced

I'll take a look. At one point I was thinking old snowmobile tracks. I started looking and discovered they don't exist. People either use them for their trailers or find something else to do with them I guess. I'm wondering if the old tracks from a mini ex would be the same. I'll give it a try though.

 

[jclaudii]

Put the word out at your Co-op and farm stores around that you are looking for farmers USED belts as hay season is not too far off. Same thing if you have a distribution plant for ask what they do with their old belts or elevators or even conveyor chain.

Also, do you not have any junkyards, salvage yards, old farm machinery that may have an actual hydraulic tank on it that you could already purchase and just reuse? Think about old tractors, lift trucks, combines, etc. Even steel fuel tank or an air tank would work from a bus or truck. Heck, I would think even a 30 gallon steel drum would work to hold oil.

Also, if needed, why could you not add an automotive style radiator that is plumbed into it's own ports of the tank and uses it's own circulation pump,transfer pump, water pump(some type of pump is needed) to move fluid through the radiator? It would not have any pressure on it and it would not be at risk of any type of pressure spike as it is only circulating static fluid in the tank. They also hold a few gallons as well to increase capacity.

I am super impressed and have followed this build along. Awesome job!

 

[kiotiken]

Put the word out at your Co-op and farm stores around that you are looking for farmers USED belts as hay season is not too far off. Same thing if you have a distribution plant for ask what they do with their old belts or elevators or even conveyor chain.

Also, do you not have any junkyards, salvage yards, old farm machinery that may have an actual hydraulic tank on it that you could already purchase and just reuse? Think about old tractors, lift trucks, combines, etc. Even steel fuel tank or an air tank would work from a bus or truck. Heck, I would think even a 30 gallon steel drum would work to hold oil.

Also, if needed, why could you not add an automotive style radiator that is plumbed into it's own ports of the tank and uses it's own circulation pump,transfer pump, water pump(some type of pump is needed) to move fluid through the radiator? It would not have any pressure on it and it would not be at risk of any type of pressure spike as it is only circulating static fluid in the tank. They also hold a few gallons as well to increase capacity.

I am super impressed and have followed this build along. Awesome job!

Wow, you're full of really good ideas, thanks. I have the word out to a friend who farms in my area. I figure he knows all the farmers for miles and may be able to help me find something good to use. I know somebody's got an old belt or chain, if not an entire elevator, sitting around that would work for me. I'll update the thread when I finally find a solution.

I love your idea of a rad plumbed to its own port. I would still have a problem running a pump, but its a great idea that I'm going to give more thought to.

 

[aczlan]

I love your idea of a rad plumbed to its own port. I would still have a problem running a pump, but its a great idea that I'm going to give more thought to.

What if you teed into the return as shown below and had it exhaust into its own port on the tank? As long as your radiator is larger than the return (ie: 1.25" vs 3/4") any excess flow/pressure over what the radiator can easily take will go straight into the tank. No circ pump needed that way.


Aaron Z

 

[kiotiken]

What if you teed into the return as shown below and had it exhaust into its own port on the tank? As long as your radiator is larger than the return (ie: 1.25" vs 3/4") any excess flow/pressure over what the radiator can easily take will go straight into the tank. No circ pump needed that way.
View attachment 422655

Aaron Z

Another good idea. How much of a benefit do you think using a rad with no fan would give? I'd still have the issue of not being able to power the fan.

 

[aczlan]

Another good idea. How much of a benefit do you think using a rad with no fan would give? I'd still have the issue of not being able to power the fan.

IIRC, that engine was intended for a mower with an electric clutch correct?
If so, many of those pull 4 amps (per:http://www.ganos.com/electricclutchtesting.pdf ), so you should be able to handle a 2.8 amp fan like this one: Amazon.com: CFR Performance 8" High Performance Electric Radiator Cooling Fan - Flat Blade: Automotive if needed.
I would start with just running it fanless and if you find that you need a fan, add a thermostat controller such as: Amazon.com: Hayden Automotive 3653 Economy Adjustable Thermostatic Fan Control: Automotive

Aaron Z

 

[muddstopper]

I am going to go against the car radiator as a oil cooler suggestion. Automotve radiators are not rated for anywhere near the possible pressures that a real hydraulic oil cooler is. Even a cheap cooler has a 250psi pressure rating. A oil cooler is subject to pressure spikes as the returning oil passes thru them. I really dont think a car radiator is going to hold up for this application. Consider a radiator cap is generally around 14psi to prevent the radiator from blowing up, It would be very easy to exceed 14psi with a fast moving hydraulic fluid moving thru a radiator. You can buy a real oil cooler for less than $200. You will probably spend a pretty penny trying to fit hoses to a automotive radiator

 

[ultrarunner]

Anyone know the psi integrated automatic transmission coolers found in radiators?

 

[muddstopper]

Pressure varies in a transmission. And it takes two 400psi guages to do the test. At idle, pressures range from 55-63psi in drive and 72-98psi in Reverse. Stall test pressures are 151-169psi in D and 188-288 psi in R. Line pressures to the cooler is going to be much less since it is just circulating, but I havent found any specific pressures anywhere.

 

[jclaudii]

you could just hook up a small soaker hose to the radiator and mount it horizontal instead of vertical and just let the water run through the fins and take the heat away.

If you go the smaller oil cooler setup, a belt driven squirrel cage fan or convert one over to a pulley and just run a pulley before your coupler on your hydraulic pump or a separate engine to do this like you were talking about with the rollers.