Log splitter plans...
- Thread starter Junkman
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kenneyz
Member
I've been thinking of making one also. I have a bx2200, which has a four way valve on it. My question ..is my tractor's hydraulic system strong enough to power splitter sized cylinder. It pumps 5.5gpm but I cant find a spec on operating pressure.I looked in tsc, they have a cylinder I think it had a 3.5" body, 1.5" ram and 16"throw for about 130 bucks..I could order a larger one for not much more. If that will work, a few hoses and some scrap steel and I'm in real cheap. /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif
I'm not qualified to answer that one about whether the pump on the bx2200 is big enough. Maybe someone else knows... What I can tell you is that my splitter has 26 tons of force, and it will split almost anything I can feed it. I did have one piece of hardwood about 36" in diameter that it could not split. It just killed the engine trying (6 HP Briggs). I ended up throwing it on the burn pile since I could not split it.
tawilson
Platinum Member
If I'm wrong someone please correct me, but the tractor won't be a 2 stage pump that a typical woodsplitter uses. I guess that will just affect the cycle time. I see a lot of 3 point splitters out there that run off the rear remotes, so must be they work ok. My uninformed opinion/answer to your question, you'll be ok. You are planning on getting a logsplitter valve, aren't you? I'd also browse around Northern Tool and Surplus Center for ideas and products too.
RonMar
Elite Member
That 3.5" X 16" cylinder you described has an internal volume of around .67 gallons. If you could deliver all your 5.5GPM to it, you would fill it in a little over 7 seconds. This would be the no-load ram extend time. Restrictions and drags in the system will lower this no-load time a bit. And any load(splitting a log) will slow it a bit more. It would retract a little quicker due to the smaller volume on the rod side of the cylinder. A ram with a 3.5" piston has 9.62 sq/in of surface area. 2000 PSI of hydraulic pressure will equal 19242 pounds of force. Your typical logsplitter uses a 4" X 24" cylinder. The same 2000 PSI would get you 25,132 pounds of force but your 5.5 GPM pump would take nearly 15 seconds to fill it.
Most logsplitters use a dual stage pump which is basically 2 pumps. When no load is detected, the pumps operate in parallel for high volume and low pressure to get that big ram moving fast. When the ram comes under load, the pumps switch into series operation for high pressure with less volume to apply maximum force to the ram.
I have thought about this myself. I use a smaller woodstove that won't burn anything over 18" long. With the width of the wedge, I really only need a ram with 12-14" of stroke. This project is still on hold though as I am young enough to still split wood way faster with an axe or maul than I can with a splitter(I can split them faster than my wife and daughter can stand them up). The key is to cut a slot through the bark along the length of the log before you cut it up. Someday I won't be able to do this as fast and the logsplitter project will be on again
Most logsplitters use a dual stage pump which is basically 2 pumps. When no load is detected, the pumps operate in parallel for high volume and low pressure to get that big ram moving fast. When the ram comes under load, the pumps switch into series operation for high pressure with less volume to apply maximum force to the ram.
I have thought about this myself. I use a smaller woodstove that won't burn anything over 18" long. With the width of the wedge, I really only need a ram with 12-14" of stroke. This project is still on hold though as I am young enough to still split wood way faster with an axe or maul than I can with a splitter(I can split them faster than my wife and daughter can stand them up). The key is to cut a slot through the bark along the length of the log before you cut it up. Someday I won't be able to do this as fast and the logsplitter project will be on again
Varmintmist
Platinum Member
Or your wife and daughter stop helping /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I agree that if I have one clearing and one feeding me I can split at least as fast with a maul as a splitter, on straight grained stuff. Toss in a knoted red oak or a twisted choke cherry and the speed rops right off. I still split with a maul, but I dont need to split that much. The door on the firebox is 18 in /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
I do split my dads, he has a horz/vert splitter. When I use it it stays horz
I do split my dads, he has a horz/vert splitter. When I use it it stays horz