PTO pumps (hydraulic log splitter)

[Great Escape]

Hello,

New member to the forum.

Need help with choosing a PTO pump to run my hydraulic 3 PNT log splitter.
My JD 790 doesn't have rear remote connections so I intend to run a PTO pump to a 11gal reservoir that I will
mount to my splitter. Have any of you done this and if so, could you share your experiences?

 

[teg]

What do you know about your log splitter? Normally, they would have a "Flow rate" for the valve. something like 15 to 20 gallons per minute (more or sometimes less). If you don't get the correct size the oil could be heating up or you might not get good speed out of the unit.

I know you might not be able to post photos until 5 posts (or is that just for links???) If you post a photo of the splitter TBN might figure something out.

Let us know if you need help posting photos....

 

[LD1]

Your machine is rated at 26 PTO HP, which has the ability to run ~12.5 GPM @ 3000psi or ~15 GPM at 2500PSI. But PTO pumps arent two stage, and without an oil cooler in the system, the reservoir should be about 3x pump capacity for continuous duty. Being a logsplitter dont work 24/7, and isnt always at max pressure, you can cheat that a but, but I wouldnt want to go much more than 2x.

So....if it were mine, I would either be getting a larger reservoir, say 25 gallon, and make full use of the tractor potential....

Or.....limit my pump selection to the 5-6GPM range so you dont cook your oil.

 

[2458n]

And there you have the reason for buying a cheap Harbor Freight 6hp engine and getting a two-stage pump. You can go this route and save several hundred dollars, have a faster splitter and have use of your tractor. PTO pumps on the back of the tractor are better used to power a backhoe.

 

[Dave M7040]

Here are two pto pumps. Prices are Canadian.

I feel that using a tractor for log splitter duty is not wise for a number of reasons.

Diesels do not like periods of low load running leading to a condition called diesel slobber.

What exactly is diesel engine slobbering, and what causes this condition?

The following taken from another site:

No, it doesn't mean your engine is slobbering like Fido. A symptom of engine slobbering is excessive crankcase blow-by. In some cases, condensation can be seen seeping from the exhaust manifold joints. Engine slobbering usually results when an engine is run for long periods of time at light loads. If the engine is not run under load, the piston rings may not seal properly, resulting in oil carryover into the combustion chamber and cylinder wall glazing. Low engine temperatures can also result in incomplete combustion, causing low exhaust temperatures and the condensation of un-burnt fuel in the exhaust manifold.

The pto driven pumps need internal gears to get the pump up to a reasonable speed. These gears, all internal to the pumps I have posted a picture of, add to the cost. You still need a control valve, filter,and reservoir and these pumps are single stage.

Some handy mechanical types drive a hydraulic pump off the front of the engine to have it running at a faster speed.

In my opinion a cheap gas engine and two stage pump with a kick off valve will serve you far better than one run off a tractor pto.

I did my wood splitting for years from a tractor driven pump. One day the tractor was broken and I rented a gas splitter from a local rental place. The speed it had was amazing. I never went back to the tractor setup.

Dave M7040

 

[Sawyer Rob]

My splitter runs off a pto pump, 20GPM@540RPM and has a 15 gallon tank/5" cyl.., it has GOOD speed and works just fine, in fact it works waaaay better than fine! lol

My second splitter runs off my tractors remotes, and it's waaaaay too slow for my liking! 5" cyl., and (I think) just under 12GPM at the remotes.

BTW, none of my diesels slobber... lol and not for sure while splitting wood!

SR

 

[Great Escape]

Thanks for all your input guys, I think I'll go with a PTO pump for my needs for now.

According to the supplier of my splitter....

They say it can handle 5gpm or higher? Not sure of the PSI? I'll check it to see if there is a label stating what rating it has.
I think with a 6-7 gpm pump I should be fine with a 11gal reservoir, I won't be running it for long periods of time, maybe 1-3 hours every month during the winter?

 

[teg]

....They say it can handle 5gpm or higher? ...

I'm pretty curious about this now... usually, anything below 10 GPM is super slow for a log splitter. The money you spend on the pump could go towards running it off a hydraulic remote (that you could use for other attachments).

Who is the supplier of the log splitter???

 

[ovrszd]

I'm with the pessimists here.... Don't think you are going to be happy with a 6-7gpm pump.

I built a splitter several years ago using the 20gpm pump pictured above. Like SawyerRob I got along fine. Was fast and powerful. I ran it on a B2910 Kubota (30HP) tractor.

 

[Great Escape]

I'm pretty curious about this now... usually, anything below 10 GPM is super slow for a log splitter. The money you spend on the pump could go towards running it off a hydraulic remote (that you could use for other attachments).

Who is the supplier of the log splitter???

woodsplitterdirect.com