3 pt log splitter on L2600DT

Anonymous Poster · Nov 16, 2001

It's firewood season again and I'm looking for info on running a 3pt log splitter off my L2600DT. I have the 3pt splitter complete with cylinder. What I want to do is attach the hydraulic lines to the loader control spool and run the splitter from the tractors hydraulic pump. Any ideas/suggestions? Is this feasible?

JimMorrissey · Nov 16, 2001

Sounds like a great idea. You have the engine and the pump/fluid. I'm looking forward to the responses to this. --Sorry, don't know the answer......somebody will though.

rbargeron · Nov 17, 2001

There is a "power beyond" kit available for many Kubota loader valves which allows you to tap into the hydraulic system to run other stuff. Get a separate splitter control valve from Northern or somebody who sells splitter parts - one with an auto-center function - a real time saver - lets you do something else while the cylinder retracts. Run hoses from the valve to your cylinder, plumb up the supply, return and add some quick disconnects and you'll be in business.

I'm assuming the L2600 has around 2000 psi hydraulic pressure and at least 4 gpm flow - maybe someone else can comment. Should be adequate if your cylinder is 3 1/2" or less. If 4" it will be a little slow but there'll be plenty of push.

Have fun - and be careful - keep your fingers.

Anonymous Poster · Nov 17, 2001

The L2600DT has a pump capacity of 7.2 gpm and system pressure of 2205 psi. It should be capable of splitting logs. I had asked the dealer about putting a remote on the tractor and he wasn't too familiar with it and didin't know if that was possible. I like your idea and will check into that. In the mean time I plan to plumb into the loader spool and see what happens. Thanks.

rbargeron · Nov 20, 2001

I may not be getting the picture correctly - are you thinking of using the loader control valve to operate the splitter?

If so, it might turn out to be pretty complicated - would you completely disable the loader? If so would you plug the unused ports? If you only disable one circuit (lift or curl) would it be safe to leave the other circuit connected while splitting wood? If you "tee in" to get hydraulic power, how will the loader motion be restrained? Sorry to throw cold water but using the loader valve seems to be either complicated or dangerous, not to mention inconvenient.

Anonymous Poster · Nov 20, 2001

That's what my question is. I wanted to use the loader valve to operate the splitter. That would mean I would have to have the loader in a position where I could drive/move it and still use the splitter. My idea was to run two hoses to operate the splitter. I had asked the dealer about connecting a remote but he didn't know how to do that.
My other (maybe better) idea is to build a splitter with it's own power source and pump but still leave it attached to the 3 pt. OR, perhaps I could just run a pump off the pto. The pto pump though alone is almost $400.00. That would mean I have to split a LOT of wood - and it isn't that plentiful here in central Texas!
Maybe someone knows more about the idea of using a tee or someother way to connect to the tractor hydraulics??????

rbargeron · Nov 21, 2001

Ok - the answer is DON'T use the loader control valve to run a splitter.

What you need is (1) a separate splitter control valve and (2) a way to put it SERIES with the FEL valve in your system. While I'm not familiar with the exact layout of your L2600, it has an open-center hydraulic system like all Kubotas. The loader valve has a supply line coming to it from the pump and a return line going back into the main gear housing (gears run in hydraulic fluid - all one reservoir). If your dealer doesn't know how to add another open-center valve to this system, there should be several other sources of help - someone who does maintenance or repair of construction equipment should be able to figure out a proper installation. This is pretty basic stuff - surprised your dealer is drawing a blank - time for a more experienced dealer?

It makes sense to use the hydraulic system of your tractor and would be a waste of money to add a pto pump with another reservoir etc. I'll bet if you contacted Carver Equipment they could send you a remote hydraulics kit for your L2600 and you could put it on yourself.