Firewood processor build thread

[kiotiken]

You'll NEVER believe this... I ran into trouble installing the hydraulics!! :laughing: Surplus Center sent me a coupler with the wrong key way. I bought the pump, the couplers and mount from them (called and did a phone order to get all the right parts) but I guess the 28 GPM pump uses a larger key way than the standard pump. They were excellent about it, apologized and are sending the correct coupler, free of charge, they don't even want the old one back (although that's because it's not worth the postage). Anyway, unless I get it before Friday (not likely going standard mail across and international border), this won't be running until after Christmas since I'll be leaving for the holidays.

The paint seems to have dried nicely. The valves, engine, tank etc are installed and I'm plumbing hydraulics now. I'll have it all done waiting for the coupler in the next day or two. Wish I could test it, but not much happens without that one $4 part.

 

[Scooby074]

Glad to hear the paint came around. Usually if it donsnt kick off correct.. it never really hardens. Sure saves a lot of work.

 

[muddstopper]

I dont know about Canada, but you can get a keyway at just about any autoparts or hardware store around here.

 

[kiotiken]

Glad to hear the paint came around. Usually if it donsnt kick off correct.. it never really hardens. Sure saves a lot of work.

The funny thing is when I went to finish painting, I put the first coat on the splitter head and I started off spraying it un-thinned. After I couldn't handle it anymore, I thinned the paint and left the top part of the splitter head as a test to see if it dried any differently. I painted several other pieces and re-coated virtually the entire processor. Everything dried properly except the splitter head and it made no difference between the thinned and un-thinned paint, it stayed tacky for 24 hrs, then seems to have dried and hardened properly. No fans on, just one heater to keep the temperature up after the shop heater and fan was turned off to paint. I don't know what the difference could be, it's hanging right beside the other parts and beside the processor.

 

[kiotiken]

I dont know about Canada, but you can get a keyway at just about any autoparts or hardware store around here.

This is the coupler half from the pump that fits into the half from the engine. The one they sent has a keyway that's too small for the pump. I'm sure I could get one at Princess Auto or TSC, but I don't think I'd find one at the local hardware store.

I've also now discovered that the 90 elbow I have to supply oil to the pump doesn't clear the relief valve on the pump. That means a trip to Princess Auto for some new fittings. I may pick up the coupler at the same time.

 

[Scooby074]

The funny thing is when I went to finish painting, I put the first coat on the splitter head and I started off spraying it un-thinned. After I couldn't handle it anymore, I thinned the paint and left the top part of the splitter head as a test to see if it dried any differently. I painted several other pieces and re-coated virtually the entire processor. Everything dried properly except the splitter head and it made no difference between the thinned and un-thinned paint, it stayed tacky for 24 hrs, then seems to have dried and hardened properly. No fans on, just one heater to keep the temperature up after the shop heater and fan was turned off to paint. I don't know what the difference could be, it's hanging right beside the other parts and beside the processor.

Weird.

I still wonder if it was old paint..

I assume you wiped the splitter head down with solvent before painting?

RE: the keyway, any supply house will have it. Kinecor, PA, Acklands, Motion Industries... The fittings for the supply side of the pump can be just normal NPT black iron stuff from Home Hardware.

 

[muddstopper]

Actually, if the coupling has one size keyway, and the shaft another, you can get tee shaped keyways that are made just for that situation. I had the same problem with a coupling and shaft when changeing out a pump on another piece of equipment. I got the special keyway at Carquest Auto parts.

 

[kiotiken]

Well, I've done as much as I can with the parts I have. I need to exchange a few of the fittings I bought and a couple of the hoses as well. Once I have all the parts, it should take me an hour or two to finish the rest, fill it with hydraulic oil and engine oil and fire it up for the first time.

As for the keyway, perhaps I'm using the wrong terminology or I'm just not understanding, but here's a picture of the part that has the wrong size keyway cast into it. The keyway is too small, I need the same part with a larger keyway.



Here are some pics of the nearly finished and assembled processor. I forgot 4 bolts for the chainsaw mount, but other than that and the wrong fittings and hoses, it's fully assembled.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

I can't remember the correct term for that type of part but its not a keyway.

A keyway is a slot in a round shaft with a corresponding slot on the inside of a sprocket or pulley that accepts a small piece of square stock (the key) to lock the two of them together and transfer the rotational force.

 

[kiotiken]

I can't remember the correct term for that type of part but its not a keyway.

A keyway is a slot in a round shaft with a corresponding slot on the inside of a sprocket or pulley that accepts a small piece of square stock (the key) to lock the two of them together and transfer the rotational force.

That part has a keyway in it, to connect it to the shaft on the pump. That part fits properly to the other half that is mounted to the engine, but it doesn't fit on the shaft of the pump because the keyway in that part is too narrow to accept the key from the pump. They're sending a part that is identical except it has a larger keyway.