Log splitter rehab...

[Farmerford]

Captain Bob, I am with you and Wayne County Hose on the double detent valve. The main objectors didn't bother to understand what Wayne County said about his use of the double detent: he doesn't engage the valve while his hand is still on the log (at least I don't, and I can't imagine he does). He does so after he has placed the log on the beam and removed his hand.

Seems a bit rude to use words like "laziness, suicidal, foolhardy, mule, etc." just because someone is not doing something your way, particularly when you don't take time to understand exactly what they are saying. And it sure discourages meaningful exchanges of information.

Defective made the only valid objection: that you don't have a hand on the valve when it first contacts the wood so you can stop it if something happens. I have never had anything like that happen, but I suppose it could. Of course, if you adjust the detent pressure low enough the valve will kick out before it puts much pressure on the wood.

By the way Captain Bob, that machine may be home made, but someone sure took a lot of time to plan it and build it. The way the reservoir fits into the beam, the trailer axles, and the smooth curves in all that steel tubing show real craftsmanship. And I have never seen rollers on the ram like that. If it were mine I would find an air cleaner for that old Briggs and not change another thing as long as it worked. Heck, I would not even paint it.

Best of luck with your project.

 

[xlr82v2]

OK, you guys are trolling for a rebuttal, so here you go. My wife says I love to argue, and she's right I suppose.

I completely understand why WCH is wanting to put the double detent on his splitter. I haven't seen his machine, and I don't really understand how he can do all that extra stuff just by putting a detent on the push stroke on his splitter, unless he has a cycle time that you can measure with a calendar. On my machine, it's fast enough that there is no way you would have all that time to do everything that he says he could do with the detent that he says he can't do without it. In my mind's eye, from what he says he could do extra, I'm seeing a somewhat comical scene of nothing but arses & elbows, a blur of a man, and firewood of all sizes flying in every direction. I don't really think that's accurate, based on all the different log splitters that I've ever worked with. But, I can see where a detent on the push stroke might have some advantage in some situations.

What you guys that are in support of him doing this don't bother to understand is that everything does not go according to plan every single time. Accidents happen, usually when you least expect it. The human machine is not very good at doing something exactly the same way, every single time, over and over and over and over. My case in point-- I pinched my fingers between the log and the backstop on my splitter... somehow, I let my fingers drape over the back end of the log instead of over the side where they should have been. I didn't even notice it until I felt the pressure on my fingers... I had my attention focused on where I wanted the wedge to enter the log so I could get the log split where I wanted it. I had my left hand holding the log in position, my right hand on the control lever... and my left fingertips got pinched... Like I said earlier, it scared the hades out of me... because I, like WCH, thought that I ALWAYS had my hand on top of the log (which I did... but not my fingertips this one time) and I thought I NEVER would allow my fingers to get back there while splitting... but it happened anyway. Luckily, I had the presence of mind to let go of the lever fast enough that I wasn't injured... just sore. If there was a detent that I would have had to defeat in that situation, it would have been much worse. Was it a stupid thing to have happen? Absolutely. I should have been paying closer attention to my other hand. But, when you've been splitting wood all day long, and you're feeling really comfortable with the machine, and possibly getting a little tired, complacency can and will creep in at some point, opening the door for something to happen. And it can happen to ANYBODY... we're all HUMAN. If you think it can't happen to you, you are truly naive. And I truly don't want anything bad to happen to good people like WCH. I've read a lot of WCH's posts, I've gained a lot of respect for him. I was quite shocked to read that he was considering doing this... maybe that's why I worded my original post on this matter so strongly.

So, if you guys want to call me rude for having the nerve to call a spade a spade when someone obviously isn't seeing the big picture in his plan to make a very, very unsafe modification to his machine, then so be it. You're not hurting my feelings any, you're just allowing Darwin to do his work. It's WCH and his wife and kids that will bear the big burden if something unfortunate were to happen. What a shame that would be, especially when other people warned him previously that it was not a good idea.

Farmerford, I'm not doing sitting here typing all this because he's not doing it "my way". There's no challenge being made to anyone's manhood or anything like that, so there's really no reason that I can see for anyone to get their hackles up. You guys can do whatever you want however you want to do it... myself and everyone else that advises against it here are powerless to stop you. All we can do is try to get you to see the light. Whether you choose to see it or not us totally up to you, and the responsibility for your actions fall solely on you as well. All I can do is try.

So, call me rude, call me whatever you want. But don't say I don't care about you or what happens to you.

All I ask is that you not let your ego get in the way of your better judgement.

Peace, all. I'm not looking to make any enemies here... just trying to keep friends together (pun intended).

So, Be safe, have a good evening, and enjoy the rain that we're finally getting (if you're as dry as we are here, and you're finally getting some rain).

 

[mrcaptainbob]

YEs, that machine is old and very well built. It's problems are the engine and the controls. The engine smokes very badly and goes through quarts of oil during a short sessu=ion. As for the valving, it has two 'devices', one top and one bottom. THe bottom one is activated by a plate on the ram head so that, on return, the said plate makes contact with this 'device. The upper one is the levered handle one that controls the ram. It is a detent valve and will kick off when the lower valve is contacted by the ram as previously stated. To get these to work: while holding the lever in the forward position to split the log, the ram must be manually (read prybar here...) started to relieve it's contact with the lower 'device'. (So far two hands are taken up with these controls leaving knees to balance the log.) Not a fun situation. Pretty much that's all that has to get changed out. Engine and controls. THis is a beasty toy...uh--tool, but needs some updating. Paint wise....not concerned about it being a show piece. THe carrier, by the way, is an I-beam trolley configured for this purpose. I too thought it was a great idea.

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Just now looked at your pics, Ovrszd. Looks quite sturdy and very clean. Also a greta job matching it to the tractor color. Very nice. THis will NEVER be to that level of sharpness!

 

[Wayne County Hose]

I'm seeing a somewhat comical scene of nothing but arses & elbows, a blur of a man, and firewood of all sizes flying in every direction.

That is accurate, I'm 5' 7" 155lbs of energy. I'm 41 and outwork kids half my age routinely. I absolutely love physical labor. If you knew what my real hobby was, you would understand.

Accidents happen, usually when you least expect it.[QUOTE]

You are absolutely correct. I almost cut my hand off in a table saw 4 1/2 years ago. I vowed nothing like that would ever happen again. If I never cut my hand, I would be making a good living at my hobby.

My case in point-- I pinched my fingers between the log and the backstop on my splitter... somehow, I let my fingers drape over the back end of the log instead of over the side where they should have been. I didn't even notice it until I felt the pressure on my fingers... I had my attention focused on where I wanted the wedge to enter the log so I could get the log split where I wanted it. I had my left hand holding the log in position, my right hand on the control lever... and my left fingertips got pinched... Like I said earlier, it scared the hades out of me... because I, like WCH, thought that I ALWAYS had my hand on top of the log (which I did... but not my fingertips this one time) and I thought I NEVER would allow my fingers to get back there while splitting... but it happened anyway. Luckily, I had the presence of mind to let go of the lever fast enough that I wasn't injured... just sore.

Thank God. You were far luckier than I. Yours also was a much easier lesson.

And I truly don't want anything bad to happen to good people like WCH. I've read a lot of WCH's posts, I've gained a lot of respect for him. I was quite shocked to read that he was considering doing this... maybe that's why I worded my original post on this matter so strongly.

Understood, and the concern is appreciated. Thank-you also for the kind words.

It's WCH and his wife and kids that will bear the big burden if something unfortunate were to happen.

They already have. And, I am maimed for life. Trust me, it won't happen again.

 

[cruzer]

I think the other poster was probably talking about aboristsite.com they have a good forum on firewood with a lot of information on logsplitters etc.

Stew