Log splitter Hydraulic tank size

[mac230305]

Need help in Italy

I plan to build a log splitter with a 3.5inch bore ie. 14Ton ram, via a honda gx270, with a 11GPM hi-lo pump. Does this sound like it will work? It will only be for home use, for 1-2 hours a week (not that cold compared to northern USA)
My question is that having spoken to a local supplier/parts shop regarding the pump and hydro tank matching they say for a 11gpm pump I would need a 21 gallon tank (80 litres) !!!! what do you think? please help

 

[ovrszd]

That would be overkill. I built a 22gpm, 6" cylinder, PTO powered with 12 gallon storage and had no heat problems.

I currently have a 22gpm, 6" cylinder, Honda gas powered with 15 gallon storage. It has a thermometer on the tank. Never gets over 140F degrees.

 

[lennyzx11]

I thought I have read the smallest tank size is 2.5 times the pumps gallons per minute output.

That said, I think a 10 gallon metal tank that is exposed to open air on all sides would work on a splitter that wasn’t being worked hard by two people.

 

[4570Man]

I only ran 10 gallons of fluid in my last splitter with a 11 gpm pump. My current splitter has a 20 gpm pump and a 20 gpm pump.

 

[triptester]

Splitter manufacturers rarely use a ratio of 1 to 1 for hydraulic reservoirs. Most residential splitters up to 16 gpm 2-stage pumps have 4-5 gallon reservoirs. Commercial grade splitters seldom go over 20 gallon reservoirs with up to 28 gpm 2-stage pumps.
Old DIDIER splitters that have been used for 40 years only have just over a 1 gallon reservoir.
In general reservoir design is more important than capacity. Greater side surface to dissipate heat and greater distance between supply and return.