home made log splitter

[seedman4]

i am making a home made log splitter,need help..
i am using a 11 HP briggs an statton engine to power the unit.
My question is do i mount the oil tank above the pump or below the pump?
I was told that the HYD TANK needs to be below the pump for greater oil movement.WHAT DO YOU THINK???

 

[Defective]

I've almost always ended up with the tank mounted higher than the pump simply because I never thought about it and there's usually more room for things on top than below. I've never noticed any lack of movement when the pump was running...

 

[charlie C]

Seedman, the tank can be any where as long as the pump suction is always covered by the oil.

 

[Wayne County Hose]

Most are mounted below but only because that's the most convenient place. Pump location doesn't matter. For my test station in my shop, I have my pump and motor unit mounted on top of the tank. Most electric forklifts run the same style pump as a log splitter and their pumps are mainly mounted over the tank. Given a choice, I would mount below, but you will do no damage to the pump by mounting it higher.

 

[jwmorris]

When I built my log splitter I used a piece of 4X6 box tube for the tank so it could double as the axel (just welded spindles to the end caps). Being 3/8 thick it was also strong enough to mount the engine & pump too (above).

 

[pilemonkey]

i would mount the reservoir so that the feed line to the pump is coming from just above the bottom of the reservoir, which limits intake of accumulated crud from the reservoir bottom. in addition, i would have the elevation of this feed line at or above the elevation of the pump intake. the logic behind this is to help ensure that your pump is always flooded with fluid (lubrication). the last thing you want to risk is running the pump in a dry state, or having it cavitate. by placing the reservoir feed at or above the pump, these risks are minimized.
another point to mention is that many people use soft hose for the feed from reservoir to pump, as this line is not under pressure. the risk in doing this is that there is a potential for the hose to collapse if the pump pulls a vaccuum for whatever reason. this condition will starve the pump of fluid, which is bad. consider a hard line (pipe) or reinforced hose.

good luck to you and please update your progress...