How to add log splitter to John Deere 870????

[AKfish]

At the risk of sounding totally clueless... If I understand this correctly -- when the log splitter valve is in "neutral" the ram will not move either direction, correct? Therefore, if you pressure the log splitter from the DSCV (in either direction) if shouldn't move cause the log splitter valve is blocking the flow in the neutral position, yes? Thus, if you use the DSCV to power the log splitter won't you have to run the lever on the DSCV at the same time as the log splitter valve;-- activate both levers at the same time? And of course you will need 4K psi hoses on both lines to the splitter valve.
Put another way, if the splitter valve is in neutral you could pull pressure all day -- in either direction -- unless you activate the splitter valve simultaneously. The hydraulic pump on your 870 will go to 2350 psi and just humm... Let me know if I'm way off here--
AKfish /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[klm]

I have a 870 and a wood splitter with a bad engine like you. I ran two 4000psi hoses from the outside top and bottom ports to each side of the valve on the wood splitter, works fine, maybe a little slow but I am a little slow.

 

[JS415]

You are exactly correct. With the splitter valve in neutral position, the ram does not move. They way it is set up now, with one hose from the loader port going to the splitter valve, and the other hose leaving the splitter valve in going back into the fill tube on the tractor, when I active the DSCV, the fluid just cycles through the splitter valve, leaving the tractor and returning to the tractor.

I can then hold the DSCV open with a bungee cord, and the fluid continues to cycle UNTIL I operate the splitter valve. Operating the splitter valve the moves the ram forward or backward, depending which way I move the valve.

I have already split several truckloads of wood this way, and it works great.

What I want to do, is get away from pushing the hose down the fill tube on the tractor, as a return path, and just get another 4000PSI hose made to hook back up to the second loader port on my tractor.

Originally this is what I did, only I was using a 300PSI hose for the return. When I set up the tractor as described above, and operated only the DSCV, to just cycle fluid through the splitter valve, it blew the 300PSI hose in about 5 seconds.

Either the pressure leaving the valve going back to the tractor is more than 300PSI, or the second loader port was not returning fluid to the tractor, but was actually forcing it out.

I believe that it was returning fluid, but that the tractor keeps pressure on that fluid to keep the loader from just falling down real fast, and that "backpressure", was more than the hose would handle.

When the hose blew, it was under "no load", from the splitter, and should have only been cycling fluid.

It works just great the way I have it, but I would like to get the second hose in the correct place.

The reason I am so hesitant about getting a second hose made and giving it a try, is because I hate to tear something up an my tractor!!!

I appreciate all the help and suggestions.

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[JS415]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have a 870 and a wood splitter with a bad engine like you. I ran two 4000psi hoses from the outside top and bottom ports to each side of the valve on the wood splitter, works fine, maybe a little slow but I am a little slow. )</font>

So do you just use a bungee cord to hold your DSCV open. Do you pull it all the way forward towards the brake pedal, or hold it open towards the back of the tractor?

Thanks,

Jerry

 

[AKfish]

Jerry,
The way you are currently using your splitter is more or less a "power-beyond" setup. The log splitter is hooked into a circuit that dumps the pressurized fluid right back into the main hydraulic fluid "tank" for your tractor. That is the working principle (at least as I understand it..) for the power-beyond hydraulic system. As near as I can tell, the easiest way for you to use your log splitter with the DSCV would be to plumb two of your lines from one of your DSCV circuits directly into the cyclinder for the hydraulic ram of the splitter. Completely bypass the control valve on the log splitter. That way, when you want the ram to go back and forth, it would be similar to the up and down function on a front end loader or the curl function on the bucket. Would likely make it a 2 person job -- splitting wood. Somebody to put the log in place and somebody sitting on the tractor and running the DSCV lever. I'm sure that somebody out there would have a much better solution that this one --- but in my simple minded manner -- seems like it would work! AKfish /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[klm]

So do you just use a bungee cord to hold your DSCV open. Do you pull it all the way forward towards the brake pedal, or hold it open towards the back of the tractor?

I hold it open toward the back of the tractor with a bungee cord.

 

[Green4Me]

I had an 870 with power beyond and split a lot of wood with the thing. I now use the same splitter on my Zetor by connecting to the rear remote, the same as you. I just place the controll lever forward or back and work the splitter valve.