Logsplitter 2.0

[rswyan]

oldtimer,

Checked the engine last night - the cooling air exhausts in the same direction as the combustion exhaust: out the side and away from the splitter ...

:thumbsup:

 

[mikehaugen]

That's a beautiful cradle. I've been following this build but I can't remember if you mentioned if you are putting another socket somewhere to store the cradle.

Great job.

 

[rswyan]

mike,

That's a beautiful cradle.

Thanks ... I was happy with how it turned out.

I've been following this build but I can't remember if you mentioned if you are putting another socket somewhere to store the cradle.

Actually - assuming we're talking about the same thing - the table grate will rotate/pivot up (over 90 degrees) for storage/transport. It will be removable by taking out two 5/8" bolts.

Haven't figure out exactly how I'll secure it in the upright position ... might drill a couple of holes and use removable pins ... or just use a chain with clips on the ends.

BTW, I meant to include some additional specs: the table grate is 31" wide at the bottom rails, 38" wide at the top rails, the longest tubes are 36" long. The top rails sit above the bottom ones about 5" or 6" ...

Great job.

Thanks again ...

I'm following your build ... love the pivoting double front wheels ... :thumbsup:

 

[rswyan]

Didn't make any progress yesterday ... just too much screwin' around with keeping the home fire going and fixing the 'bota ... but I did manage to get these welded up night before last ... they are the lower arms that the table grate mounts to.

IIRC, they are 1 1/4" Schedule 40 pipe, about 30" or so long ... welded to some 1/2" x 1 1/2" flat stock:

 

[rswyan]

They bolt to a pair of plates (one pictured) that will be welded to the H-Beam on either side of the splitting wedge. This will allow the table grate to fold up and out of the way for transport. A piece of 1" solid round cold roll welded in the plate provides a rest or stop for them to sit on when in the lowered position:

 

[rswyan]

Hinge pins for the log lift:

These were made using some 5/8" hot roll solid rod and a couple of slugs that came from drilling holes in 1/4" plate using a hole saw. Had my friend Mike chuck two of the rods in his lathe and turn down the rod so that it fit inside the center hole in the slug, after which I welded them together.

Then I cut two more 4" lengths of 5/8" rod and welded those on to act as handles. The pins still need drilled for the hitch pin retaining clips.

 

[mikehaugen]

Had my friend Mike chuck two of the rods in his lathe and turn down the rod so that it fit inside the center hole in the slug,

I'm flattered that you consider me your friend and all, but I don't remember doing that.

 

[rswyan]

Frame for the log lift largely completed. Still have to do a little clean up grinding (probably won't happen until I take the splitter apart to paint it this summer), cut some sheet metal to cover the two open panels and weld those on, and weld on the attachment points for the hydraulic cylinder:

Pivot points for the log lift:

 

[rswyan]

I'm flattered that you consider me your friend and all, but I don't remember doing that.

LOL ... yeah ... different Mike ...

 

[rswyan]

I've finally managed to get back to puttin' in some real time on this project in the last couple of days ... rather than just picking at it as I have been over the last month ... so time for an update.

Took the wedge over to Pineridge's to mill an edge on it after welding on some 1" solid square to use as an aid in securing/clamping it.

That didn't work out all that well ... mainly because we really weren't able to secure the wedge well enough to eliminate all the chatter. It did however allow us to machine the tapers on the wedge so that they were planar (more or less)

After that I cleaned up the tapers with a flap disc and then used the Delta Sharpening Center to grind a sharp edge on the wedge.

Then I welded it the wedge to the piece of 1" x 3" x 8" bar stock with a root pass and stuck the assembly in the cut-out in the H-Beam and welded it all together: