Kioti CS2410 with splitfire log splitter

[timshufflin]

Hello all, I have a 2013 Kioti CS2410 and started using a Tractor mounted Splitfire log splitter this year. The Kioto has a 6.5 GMP pump and I'm having a tough time on wood of any real challenge. Even some straight grain walnut of 20" diameter will be tough and I'll have to start on the sides. I'm not very savvy to hydraulics so my question is, am I losing power because of the GPM of my Kioti pump? If this is the issue, is there a way to boost my performance?

 

[murphy1244]

Need to ask JJ in the Hydraulics forum

 

[Gil Case]

I have a ck20hst that runs 6.7 gpm, I have a big splitter and it handles everything I put on it. I figure that I am getting about 14-16 tons of splitting force. It is slow, but then so am I, so it works out.
I think you would need 10-12 gpm to get up to the 24 ton force you can get with a stand alone gas splitter and two stage pump.
You could put a pto pump on the tractor with a separate hydraulic sump to boost performance, but I think the problem is elsewhere.

 

[timshufflin]

I have a smaller cylinder on my splitfire, it's a 2 way splitter and works a bit faster but the splitter is very narrow and that's supposed to make up for the smaller diameter cylinder. I think I'm going to have to add the PTO pump if I want to get any real power.

I was wondering if anyone had ever done anything to get some more GPM out of these tractors or if that's possible. I've only ever had the old McCormick farmalls and you could shim the hydraulic unit, I think it was the bypass, to get some more power.

 

[IXLR8]

My limited understanding is that, GPM gives you the speed of the splitter. It is the pump pressure that gives you the power, that combined with hydraulic cylinder diameter. Adding more flow is not going to help you power thru the knots, you are going to need to either increase the pump pressure, either in your tractor or with a higher pressure PTO pump, or put a bigger cylinder on the splitter. If you do either of those things to get more splitting power, you may put too much load on the splitter itself and start bending/breaking something on the splitter. Proceed with caution.

 

[timshufflin]

My limited understanding is that, GPM gives you the speed of the splitter. It is the pump pressure that gives you the power, that combined with hydraulic cylinder diameter. Adding more flow is not going to help you power thru the knots, you are going to need to either increase the pump pressure, either in your tractor or with a higher pressure PTO pump, or put a bigger cylinder on the splitter. If you do either of those things to get more splitting power, you may put too much load on the splitter itself and start bending/breaking something on the splitter. Proceed with caution.

Yah, I'm going to have to think this out. Either way, I can't believe how weak my pressure is.

 

[IXLR8]

Have you checked the tractor hydraulic pressure to make sure it is where it belongs?

 

[timshufflin]

Have you checked the tractor hydraulic pressure to make sure it is where it belongs?

I didn't but my dealer did.

 

[Piston]

Flow will only effect the speed of the cylinder. You could triple your GPM but won't get any increase in force. Force is determined by pressure. Do you know what the dealer found for psi? Or did he just tell you it checked out "okay"?

 

[Hard Knocks]

Force= Pressure X Area

What diameter cylinder is on your splitter? With that and the system pressure that the dealer checked you can tell exactly how much force your splitter is putting out.

 

[timshufflin]

Flow will only effect the speed of the cylinder. You could triple your GPM but won't get any increase in force. Force is determined by pressure. Do you know what the dealer found for psi? Or did he just tell you it checked out "okay"?

He only told me that it was to spec. I'll tell you this, when I pull a middle buster it annoys the heck out of me that I have all this engine power and the hydrostatic seems to hit bypass and not give me that power. I have no idea if the two things, low power for splitting and poor pulling, could be related but it makes me wonder.

 

[timshufflin]

Force= Pressure X Area

What diameter cylinder is on your splitter? With that and the system pressure that the dealer checked you can tell exactly how much force your splitter is putting out.

I'll get out in the barn and measure it. Does anyone know what pressure I should have?

 

[timshufflin]

Okay, found the info on the website. The cylinder is 2.75" x 24" and is rated for 16 tons @ 2700 psi. I've had a smaller self contained splitter that split with far more power than my current set up.

 

[Piston]

I'll get out in the barn and measure it. Does anyone know what pressure I should have?

tractordata.com doesn't list it, and the only other thing I found was this pdf… http://www.nslocal.ca/kingsequipment/CS2410Brochure.pdf
It only lists the operating pressure of the backhoe, which I'd think would be similar unless it's a PTO pump for the backhoe, but it operates at 1,885psi, and the front end loader has a relief setting of 1,958psi max (135bar).

Unfortunately, there isn't much you can do to increase that number easily (without having a VERY slow cycle time with a different cylinder) aside from adding a PTO pump which can be semi involved since you'd also need a tank, hoses, filter etc. That is pretty low pressure when it comes to log splitter standards. I have a log splitter for my tractor and my pressure is 2550 (tested) psi and I wouldn't want any less.

Are you operating a close to max rpm?

 

[timshufflin]

Yah, I go at 3000 rpm when splitting. I know it's a low tonnage, 16, but the bi directional splitter aren't supposed to need as much tonnage because of design of the splitter head. I just want to make sure that I'm getting the 16 tons I'm even rated for at the splitter.

 

[Piston]

what model split-fire do you have?

 

[timshufflin]

I have the 2203

 

[timshufflin]

Doing the math, it looks like I have an 11.173 ton log splitter That is, if the pressure of that pump is correct at just over 1800 pounds.

 

[Piston]

I hate to say this, but unless you can make yourself happy with what you currently have, you may be better off selling your splitter and buying a self contained one. In my opinion, you need at least 2500psi and 10gpm at the minimum end.

 

[timshufflin]

I hate to say this, but unless you can make yourself happy with what you currently have, you may be better off selling your splitter and buying a self contained one. In my opinion, you need at least 2500psi and 10gpm at the minimum end.

I think you're right Piston. The rig will take 90% of the stuff I feed it so I think I'll be making myself happy. Next tractor I get, I'll be checking the hydraulics better though.