Log splitter revisited, need input please.

joecoin · Aug 5, 2017

Nearly 2 years ago I posted here looking for assistance with a Brave TMVH-75 pto driven log splitter. Someone had

modified it to run off a 3 hp B&S model 14 engine from 1948, using a dedicated hydraulic tank.

Forum members TUDOR and Hydronerd gave me excellent advice dissuading me from attempting to power it directly from

the hydraulics on my Steiner tractor.

After that , I mothballed the project. Well, I'm ready to attempt to get it functioning and am looking for some

more guidance.

Here's what I have:

Brave TMVH-75 pto log splitter.

STA-Rite Industries 3HBSV2-7RB hydraulic pump. Can't find any info on this pump.

The valve has the name CROSS cast into it along with "BYD", the handle has 4Z00030 cast on it. I don't see any

other info on it.

The ram is made by Hydroline, it's 4x24 and 2500 psi.

The tank has no info on it. I estimate it as being around 3 gallons.

What I don't have:

Trailer/axle to mount the whole thing. It is temporarily on a utility trailer until I am sure I can get it running.

Hope to find a cheap axle/trailer to mount it on once it's running.

No filter of any kind.

No idea which port on the tank does what.

Just looking for best course of action to take from here.

LD1 · Aug 7, 2017

What kind of flow and capacity is the steiner hydraulics? And why were you advised not to use them.

Seems the splitter is basically complete once you put an axle under it. You just need the most efficient way to deliver hydraulic power to it.

Without knowing anything about the pump, how many GPM it is, 2-stage or single (I am guessing single), I'd nix that whole idea.

A new 2-stage 11 or 16 GPM pump is in the $150-$200 range.

Your 3 gallon tank is TOO small.

How you gonna power the pump? Does that steiner have a PTO? OR something like a $120 harbor freight 6HP motor.

If the steiner has adequate flow and capacity, I'd revisit that idea. As the alternative is buying a new pump, powersource, and tank. Then alot of plumbing

joecoin · Aug 7, 2017

LD1 said:
What kind of flow and capacity is the steiner hydraulics? And why were you advised not to use them.

Seems the splitter is basically complete once you put an axle under it. You just need the most efficient way to deliver hydraulic power to it.

Without knowing anything about the pump, how many GPM it is, 2-stage or single (I am guessing single), I'd nix that whole idea.

A new 2-stage 11 or 16 GPM pump is in the $150-$200 range.

Your 3 gallon tank is TOO small.

How you gonna power the pump? Does that steiner have a PTO? OR something like a $120 harbor freight 6HP motor.

If the steiner has adequate flow and capacity, I'd revisit that idea. As the alternative is buying a new pump, powersource, and tank. Then alot of plumbing

Don't know exactly what the flow on the Steiner is but it was guesstimated to be around 3gpm.

The unit did work years ago with the 3 hp B&S powering it, but I have purchased a new Harbor Freight 6.5 hp engine, rather than repairing the B&S 3 horse.

How big of a tank do i need? Is there a way to test the existing pump, do not want to buy a new pump if I don't need to.

LD1 · Aug 7, 2017

IT looks like a single stage pump. And considering a 3hp was running it, the flow is going to be extremely slow.

Your best off to buy a new 2-stage pump.

As for tank size.....need to know pump size. So not knowing what you have, and not knowing what you might buy.....cannot answer that

muddstopper · Aug 9, 2017

Using the steiner hydraulics is out of the question. I own one. variable displacement pump, low volume and not enough oil capacity to run a big cyl in and out One option is to make a mount for the front and run a hyd pump off the pto. A lot of the steiner attachments are configured that way.

Since OP had already bought a 6.5 HF engine, I would just buy a 2 stage pump and hyd tank. Mount wheels on the 3pt hitch pins and keep it simple.

LD1 · Aug 9, 2017

With a 6.5HP motor.....(depends on how over/underrated it is) it would be border-line running a 16 gpm 2-stage pump to full pressure.

11 or 13 gpm 2-stage would be no problem.

Typically with a 2-stage....you would want system capacity to equal high flow rating of pump. IE: 11gpm 2-stage = 11 gallon tank. (I'd probably cheat down to 10).

You have got to have adequate volume of oil for cooling.

3 gallon tank on a 13gpm 2-stage = recipe for disaster.

joecoin · Aug 9, 2017

muddstopper said:
Using the steiner hydraulics is out of the question. I own one. variable displacement pump, low volume and not enough oil capacity to run a big cyl in and out One option is to make a mount for the front and run a hyd pump off the pto. A lot of the steiner attachments are configured that way.

Since OP had already bought a 6.5 HF engine, I would just buy a 2 stage pump and hyd tank. Mount wheels on the 3pt hitch pins and keep it simple.

Mount wheels on the 3 point hitch pin on the Steiner? Can you discuss further?

muddstopper · Aug 10, 2017

joecoin said:
Mount wheels on the 3 point hitch pin on the Steiner? Can you discuss further?

Well a Steiner uses a two point hitch on the front of the tractor and the pto runs by belts and pulley's from the engine crankshaft. The Steiners have a ton of different attachments that all mount on the front of the tractor. I have a tiller, stump grinder, trencher, mowing deck, pallet forks, home made root rake, dozer blade and small scoop. Handy tractor for landscape work. I do have a 3pt hitch on the back of my Steiner, but there is no pto to power anything back there.I have a drop spreader and a areovator I tow behind the tractor. As for mounting the wheels on the 3pt hitch pins, the op has a 3pt splitter. My suggestion to mount the wheels on the hitch pins is referring to the pins on the attachment. Just change out the pins for something that will fit a hub and put some cheap tires on.

joecoin · Aug 10, 2017

muddstopper said:
Well a Steiner uses a two point hitch on the front of the tractor and the pto runs by belts and pulley's from the engine crankshaft. The Steiners have a ton of different attachments that all mount on the front of the tractor. I have a tiller, stump grinder, trencher, mowing deck, pallet forks, home made root rake, dozer blade and small scoop. Handy tractor for landscape work. I do have a 3pt hitch on the back of my Steiner, but there is no pto to power anything back there.I have a drop spreader and a areovator I tow behind the tractor. As for mounting the wheels on the 3pt hitch pins, the op has a 3pt splitter. My suggestion to mount the wheels on the hitch pins is referring to the pins on the attachment. Just change out the pins for something that will fit a hub and put some cheap tires on.

Good idea to use the hitch pin mounts/holes on the splitter itself. Unfortunately, all that hardware is missing. all I have is the I beam assembly with the ram, wedge and valve. So I'm looking for a cheap way to get it on wheels.

You're right about the Steiner being handy. I don't have as many attachments as you, but I do have the tree farm mower, finish mower, scoop, box blade, trailer and cultivator.