Logsplitter 2.0

[CDN Farm Boy]

Why the removable table for the valves? You must be seeing something that I'm not as it won't be able to go very far with the valve attached and plumbed.

 

[rswyan]

Why the removable table for the valves?

Because I could ... :laughing:

You must be seeing something that I'm not as it won't be able to go very far with the valve attached and plumbed.

In all seriousness, I just thought it might make getting at the cylinder at some point easier, for one thing.

In order to finish the splitter I am going to have to flip the beam at least one more time ... unless I wanna do overhead welding while on my back on the wedge and the bar that ties it to the top and bottom flanges of the beam.

Being able to remove the table in that instance would be handy.

 

[oldtimer 66]

RSWYAN, I keep forgetting to mention this on your splitter build. I assume that the engine is air cooled. Which direction does the engine cooling air exhaust? You may want to turn / position the engine so that the engine cooling air does not exit onto the operator. On a warm day that just adds to the discomfort of running the splitter. Now on a cold day it just may feel good. I just wanted to mention that. Another thing, I to had the free gas at one time. The gas companies drilled around here in 1984. The gas lasted until 1997. Before that it was fuel oil and wood. Since them it has been propane and wood. During the free gas era it was no wood. LOL Later.

 

[rswyan]

RSWYAN, I keep forgetting to mention this on your splitter build. I assume that the engine is air cooled.

Correct.

Which direction does the engine cooling air exhaust?

Good question.

You may want to turn / position the engine so that the engine cooling air does not exit onto the operator. On a warm day that just adds to the discomfort of running the splitter. Now on a cold day it just may feel good. I just wanted to mention that.

Thanks - appreciate it.

I've positioned the engine so that the combustion exhaust exits away from the splitter, that being the most critical. I'll have to take a further look and see where and how the cooling air exits.

Another thing, I to had the free gas at one time. The gas companies drilled around here in 1984. The gas lasted until 1997. Before that it was fuel oil and wood. Since them it has been propane and wood. During the free gas era it was no wood. LOL Later.

Well (pun intended) I'm somewhat lucky in that the well on our property is an injection/extraction well that they use to stockpile natural gas in an old depleted field. It was put in to replace other wells that have been put out of service due to becoming less efficient/productive over time. Apparently they can only frac them so many times to regain efficiency before it is no longer cost-effective in terms of the gains they get back.

Based on my observations, these wells tend to last 30 years or more before they take them out of service ... so I should be covered for my lifetime ... but ya never know.

The polebarn has a gas line run to it ... so if I ever get that finished it will be heated with gas. The house has gas of course, but the furnace went ****-up ... so it's wood heat until we get that replaced.

 

[rswyan]

Got the steel picked up on Friday for the table grate and to finish the log lift. Still have to figure out the cylinder attachment points and pivot mechanism for that.

Got most of the steel cut for the table grate Saturday morning while I was doing other stuff up in the shop ... using 3/4" Schedule 40 pipe mostly. Should be able to get that welded together today, barring any unforeseen events.

My Surplus Center order with the valve for the log lift is due to be delivered tomorrow ... assuming the UPS guy can summon up the courage to put his tires on a little snow ...

Might see if I can get over to my friends and get the wedge milled today if he has any free time.

 

[newbury]

Once again it seems you never sleep.

But just wanted to comment on your use of the fluid for the splitter being the same as what you buy for the tractor.

Unless you just changed your tractor oil I'd suggest you drain your tractor (as soon as you get it working) and use it for your splitter. And of course fill your tractor up with new oil.

 

[newbury]

Once again it seems you never sleep.

But just wanted to comment on your use of the fluid for the splitter being the same as what you buy for the tractor.

Unless you just changed your tractor oil I'd suggest you drain your tractor (as soon as you get it working) and use it for your splitter. And of course fill your tractor up with new oil.

 

[rswyan]

Once again it seems you never sleep.

Sleeping is a vastly overrated activity ...

Kinda like eating: it's something ya have to do occasionally just to function, but I find it's no near as fun as making something happen ...

But just wanted to comment on your use of the fluid for the splitter being the same as what you buy for the tractor.

Unless you just changed your tractor oil I'd suggest you drain your tractor (as soon as you get it working) and use it for your splitter. And of course fill your tractor up with new oil.

:thumbsup:

Actually I did just recently change it.

However, with the axle problem on the tractor and a lot of the hydraulic fluid leaking out, I'm going to drain what's left in the kubota and use that (and what we were able to catch in buckets/bowls - probably 2 gallon) in the splitter initially and put the fresh stuff in the tractor.

Good idea - thanks !

 

[rswyan]

Last night I welded up the top portion of the table grate.

It's mostly 3/4" Schedule 40 pipe, except for the angled pieces that the two side rails sit on ... I made those by taking some 3/4" hot roll solid round and heating them up with the o/a torch and bending them in the vise:

Still have some bends to make on the pipe ... but I won't do that until I have the bottom mount for the table grate done and the entire thing mounted in place.

 

[rswyan]

Earlier today the UPS guy delivered the valve for the log lift and some hydraulic fittings ... so I worked on getting that mounted and plumbed in:

The log lift valve will have quick couplers on on the work ports, as I'm using the angle cylinder (and hopefully the hoses) from the landscape rake. The quick coupler on the valve inlet plumbing will be used to mount a 0-5000 psi liquid-filled pressure gauge I have that is currently mounted on my FEL valve: