Ransome ar250 running a log splitter

[damon73]

I have a ransome ar250 and its mowers are shot so are some of the hoses to the hydraulic motors and I have an older log splitter that the motor doesn't work and I want to create a mobile log splitter by combining the two. The pump is 30 Lpm so I don't think I need a 2 stage pump and its current relief valve says 3000 psi so I don't think it would have any issues ie. hoses and stuff blowing up due to too much pressure. The splitters control valve still works but I also have a Prince RD522CCAA5A4B1 that I would prefer to use, I cant find much info on the valve but I think it would work.
So far I have gotten the adapters(from 1/2" ORFS to 1/2" NPTF) so I can use my existing hoses on the splitter and just hook in before the switch for the mowers. Basically my questions are is this safe? I believe most wood splitter valves are basically pass through as long as its in the neutral position correct(mine didn't sound like it was stressing the motor until it hit the wood)? I am thinking about getting a pressure gauge to put in before the splitter valve for the final build, at the end I would like to completely remove the mower control valve and just have it return directly to tank so I don't have anything that could cause leaks/issues.

It has lift cylinders and controls that still work so I would like to eventually integrate a log lift but for now I want to just power the splitter. I kinda also want to make a hydraulic saw with the existing hydraulic motors but probably unrealistic.

 

[WranglerX]

Most log splitter valves are open center.....

You can build anything you want from parts you have, just make sure valves and hoses and any welds are rated/capable of working at the pressures required.....

A DIY splitter is probably not any more dangerous than a commercial manufactured one as long you respect the forces that can be unleashed if you do a poor design...

This basic plumbing for splitter with open center valve....

Dale

 

[Dave M7040]

The one aspect of the Ransome unit you have not mentioned is the hydraulic system design.

You need to make certain it is not a closed center system.

I have looked on line but cannot find an answer

Dave M7040

 

[damon73]

I cant really read hydraulic diagrams but is there a way to tell from the diagram I posted? Here is where I got the diagram http://www.golftechs.us/Manuals/AR250.pdf (page 20), I am planning on putting it into the system between the cutter deck pump and cutter deck valve. If it is a closed center system and I put it in between what would it do?

 

[ptsg]

It's an open center system. Gear pump for the steering and lift and another bigger gear pump for the cutting decks.

Yes, you can plumb the log splitter the way you draw on the diagram. However, you need a Power beyond capable valve and the respective PB sleeve for it.

A line goes from the Pump to the log splitter valve. Out from the PB port of the log splitter valve will feed the rest of the circuit and the Tank line will go to the Tank or T into other tank line available.

 

[Dave M7040]

It's an open center system. Gear pump for the steering and lift and another bigger gear pump for the cutting decks.

Yes, you can plumb the log splitter the way you draw on the diagram. However, you need a Power beyond capable valve and the respective PB sleeve for it.

A line goes from the Pump to the log splitter valve. Out from the PB port of the log splitter valve will feed the rest of the circuit and the Tank line will go to the Tank or T into other tank line available.

I don't understand the need for the PB feature if, as I understand the plan, the mower deck motors are being abandoned.

Dave M7040

 

[ptsg]

I don't understand the need for the PB feature if, as I understand the plan, the mower deck motors are being abandoned.

Dave M7040

My understanding was that the OP was planning to keep the rest of the circuit and we has future plans on using the motors for a saw. But yes, if it's going to be abandoned, there is no need for PB and will make things simpler.

 

[damon73]

What would happen if I left it in without PB? I wanted to do a test run today to test cycle times and make sure everything is running right. If it isn't possible to connect it in between I will need another adapter to connect it to tank. My prince valve has the power beyond option but I don't have the sleeve so either way I would be waiting for parts before I could test it.

 

[WranglerX]

You could temporarily connect input to splitting valve into output of "cutter deck pump" and dump output of splitter valve to tank to test of cutter deck pump will run splitter... A 4 inch ram with about 3000 psi should give you about 18 -20 tons at ram... The psi (at ram) is determined by the relieve valve in splitter valve....

To me its its first step to test feasibility.... Later if you wand to add a lift booms it just another extension of the experiment...

In concept at this point I would take cutter deck valve and lift deck valve and associated hardware completely out of the picture and start over one step at a time once splitter is operations.. You have to two pumps outputs to work with by supplied by the diagram, the port off steering valve could be used to run a log lifts (if log lift valve not used probably dumped to tank) .... IT all just about how you sequence valves in flow diagram... Apply the KISS (Keep It Simple Silly) principle and build it up one phase at a time....

This would be how I would approach it......



Dale

 

[damon73]

I would like to completely remove the cutter valve and everything but a lot easier to say then in practice in this case. A lot of the things are in hard to reach areas and different hoses going everywhere like the oil cooler which I would like to leave integrated and the only way I see it getting oil is when the cutter valve is off, right now I can drive it and use the lift cylinders so I don't see any reason to remove that until I decide to start on a log lift. Nothing leaks as long as the cutter valve is off. I tired today to see if I could connect into the return manifold but those all use a smaller orfs then my adapters and the one that goes to the oil cooler is a larger line. I tried to see if I could remove the return manifold but it looks like its going to be a challenge in itself because of the location.

What I am thinking now is cap the port on the return manifold for the cutters and try to get an adapter to the larger line that goes to the oil cooler -> tank. Remove all the lines to and from the cutters and possibly remove the valve (if its too hard just disconnect it completely from the system).
Every time I work on it I find more/different parts I need to get so I was wondering what would happen if I connected it in like I showed originally and without PB so if I need any other parts I can order them at once. From what I am seeing the cutter valve is just open so it is basically a line straight to tank/oil cooler->tank so why can't I just use it as a adapter to tank while I test it?