Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics

   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #1  

ovrszd

Epic Contributor
Joined
May 27, 2006
Messages
33,499
Location
Missouri
Tractor
Kubota M9540, Ford 3910FWD, Ford 555A, JD2210
I got home from Iraq a little over a month ago and have been living in my shop and loving life!!! I built a Splitter and would like to share my experiences as well as pictures. It's been a great project and works very, very well.

I used a 21 GPM Prince 540 rpm PTO Pump. A Prince 4.5x24x2 3000lb tierod cylinder. A Prince Splitter Control Valve. A 20 Gallon reservoir Tank. A 3000lb pressure gauge. A 4.5x10x60 I-Beam. Fabricated the rest.

I built the wedge from 3/8" flat steel, 8" high and 4.5" wide at the rear. I welded the V cutting edge with 7018 rod using a stick welder. Then ground it sharp.

I built the push ram from 1/4" flat steel for the face. 1" thick flat steel for the cylinder to pin to. I immediately discovered that the face was too thin and started pushing the cylinder bracket thru the face. I added a 3.8" face plate to the existing 1/4" face and stopped that problem.

I raised the rear end of the cylinder 1/2" so it would generally push down on the ram and cylinder. I thought that might lessen the stress on the ram plate bolts but not sure that was needed.

I angled the cutting edge of the wedge a couple degrees at the top, toward the cylinder. Again to try to minimize the wood riding up on the wedge. Not sure that was needed either. My wedge is very sharp and I don't have any trouble with the wood riding up.

I built the catch table too small in the beginning. Easy splitting wood would fall off before being pushed far enough out to stay on the table. I didn't want the table hitting my legs when walking up to the splitter with wood in my hands. I added another four inches to the table and helped the problem dramatically. Still occassionally drops a piece but not very often. The catch table is also removeable. It is awesome and definitely the best addition to a splitter you can make.

With no load and the tractor running at 1500 rpm, which is probably 375-400 PTO rpm, the cylinder will cycle out in about 5 seconds using the mental count method. It will return in just under 4 seconds. I'm very pleased with that speed. It's not so fast you are scared when using it. But fast enough that you don't wait on the cylinder very much. If I'm splitting by myself I don't have to wait on the return at all. The valve will automatically return the cylinder and it takes longer to retrieve another log than it does to return. If you are splitting a tough log that requires a complete stroke to finish, you will wait just a little for that to happen.

I have found some knotty oak logs that I had to tactfully split. But otherwise it's effortless. I've only saw the pressure gauge up to 1500lbs once and that was on a very tough log. Normally it only requires 500lbs or less to be effective.

I've split several loads of wood and would only change one thing. I would use a smaller reservoir just to be more compact. I have 15 gallon of oil in this tank and it's more than adequate. After splitting for an hour or more the lines are just luke warm to the touch. I could get by with half that much oil reservoir.

Otherwise I'm very pleased. Don't want to get on a tractor discussion but my Kubota B2910 runs this splitter effortlessly at 1500 rpm and just sips fuel. I don't think you could power a small gas engine any cheaper as far as fuel costs.

I like the 3pt method for the maneuverability aspect. I also like the 3pt for large pieces because you can lower it to the ground and roll them up on the splitter. You can also vary the work height to suit your back.

The PTO pump is bulky and fills the space between my lift arms. I think I could help that situation with a 1 1/4 elbow fitting for the return line but haven't been able to find one yet.

I estimated the electricity and welder/cutting products for cost. Otherwise I used receipts for everything that I bought. My total cost including paint was $1420. I'm very content with that. I have a splitter that my Sons will give to their Sons.

Hope you enjoy the pics. I'm including a lot of pics but that's the best way to answer questions.

Remember,,,,, I'm busy catching up in my shop and might not get back on here for a few days. But I'll try to answer any questions anyone might have.

I have gotten soooo much from this website during my year in Iraq. I wanted to give back a little with this project.
 

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   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #2  
First of all, I am totally elated to see you back home safe and sound. Additionally I'm impressed with your design and quality of the work. My kudos and one heck of a great job:) :)
 
Last edited:
   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #3  
Ovrszd. First and most important, thank you for your service to our country. God bless you. Our son returned from Iraq last year and a year before that Afghanistan. Again thank you. Your project looks great. I bet you and your son (I saw one in your pics) had a ball spending time on such a useful project.
I was wondering about the price as I saw and then read your description which include upgrades from the "normal 11gpm 4" x 24" cylinders. Thanks for sharing and welcome home.

EL
 
   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #4  
Wow! talk about impressive! That project looks awesome. I'd have a million questions for you if I was ever to meet you in person. And after you answered them, I'd probably still have to have someone else build it for me. I'm still dreaming of inventing a implement that will cut, split, tote, and stack all in one swoop! :D

And I agree with you 100% about TBN, I think it has changed the lives of so many "tractor heads", we'll probably never really know the ripple effect it has globally. I think there really ought to be a national day for tractor heads!

Our 18 year old son is going Marines and leaves at the end of May. Our daughter is also pumped about it and she's only 16. I never went military, but if theres one thing I respect, it's our military. True freedom isn't given or can it be bought, somewhere down the line, someone has given their life for it, so that others may live in it.

Great project! and thanks for you service!
Steve
 
   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #5  
Thank you for your service to the country!

Stellar job on the splitter.....
 
   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #6  
Good job, it is different seeing the spitting wedge on the stationay end and not on the ram. brings up a question in my mind. Which way is better and why?? this is a toatally subjective question so everybodies will be different but why did you go with the wedge on the stationry end and not the ram??
 
   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #7  
Congratulations on your safe return home. I have lived in the middle east at a time when it was very calm in the country I lived in. I know with the different culture it was very stressful living. I cannot imagine having that stress and dealing with suicide bombers and all the militants.

Your wood splitter is awesome. That is definetly something that will last for years and years and years. Very good job.
 
   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics
  • Thread Starter
#8  
Mahana79 said:
Good job, it is different seeing the spitting wedge on the stationay end and not on the ram. brings up a question in my mind. Which way is better and why?? this is a toatally subjective question so everybodies will be different but why did you go with the wedge on the stationry end and not the ram??

I wanted my split wood to end up away from the tractor and controls. Working by myself it is easy to toss the wood onto a pile away from the splitter. Working with one or two people it is easy to carry the split wood away from the splitter to the trailer or pile.

The advantages I can see to having the wedge on the ram is that you can use the ram to dislodge a stuck piece if you add brackets to the beam at each side and you could make the beam tilt for heavy pieces that you didn't want to lift. I'm not concerned about the lifting part with it mounted to the 3pt. By lowering it to the ground and adding a couple split pieces for a ramp you can roll a very big log onto the splitter beam. As for stuck pieces, with a wide wedge it is easy to remove the wood that you can't split and try another angle. My old splitter used a wide wedge and I rarely had trouble with wood being stuck on the wedge.
 
   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #9  
cool thanks. i see your points. gives me more ways to look at mine when i start it. not sure how many more years my shoulder is going to like swingin that maul and my 2 boys are old enough yet :D :D
 
   / Homebuilt PTO 3PT Wood Splitter w/pics #10  
ovrszd, Very nice work. If you were to weld a piece of 3/4' x 6" rod on the front of the vertical 3pt post you'd have a fine storage location for your pto pump when dismounted from the tractor. MikeD74T
 
 
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