My LOGSPLITTER Build

[mikefromnh]

Here's what is on my genie towable lift to make it self propelled. Might give you some ideas.




You would need two motors though (one for each side) It also uses another cylinder to engage the drum against the tires. With this setup you can spin in circles or drive in a straight line by varying the speed and direction of each motor... Like a zero turn. But it might be possible to work a simplified system that you manually lock the drums in place and only goes in a straight line.

 

[AaronS]

Looks great bud!

 

[LD1]

Here's what is on my genie towable lift to make it self propelled. Might give you some ideas.




You would need two motors though (one for each side) It also uses another cylinder to engage the drum against the tires. With this setup you can spin in circles or drive in a straight line by varying the speed and direction of each motor... Like a zero turn. But it might be possible to work a simplified system that you manually lock the drums in place and only goes in a straight line.

Thanks for the idea. But with using a truck axle I think it would be simpler to just drive the pinion.

Thats future plans though. Right now I can tow it with anything with a 2" ball. Lawnmower, atv, tractor, truck, etc.

 

[LD1]

Some of todays updates:

Got the axle drug in and some framework scabbed up:

 

[LD1]

And got to working on stripping out the donor motor:

 

[LD1]

And how things look now. Getting ready to order some hydraulic hose:

 

[radioman]

you could've left the transaxle connected and lock the differential. Hook up the tire only on one side as your tire jack in front and you can modify the brake as a move forward lever. You could shift in reverse/forward or neutral for your needs.

 

[LD1]

Got all of my hoses ordered just now. 3 high pressure hoses, 4' of 1" return hose and 4' of 1-1/4" suction hose as well as some various fittings. Total of $190 delivered from Ken @ discounthydraulichose.com:thumbsup:

That should be all I need now. Hopefully it will be delivered Friday and I can get back to work on it Sunday (my next day off).

If not, still got the table, tongue and hitch, and jack to get fabbed. As well as welding in the inserts into the hydraulic tank.

So total cost is ~$800 or so. And thats me supplying the motor, some of the fittings, tank, axle, beam, and all other steel.

Definatally cannot build one as cheap as they can be purchased. Heck, for $1000 from TSC for a unit with a 4" cylinder, and drop an extra $200 or so and install a 22gpm pump, you would have the same thing for $1200:laughing:

 

[SPIKER]

...


So total cost is ~$800 or so. And thats me supplying the motor, some of the fittings, tank, axle, beam, and all other steel.

Definatally cannot build one as cheap as they can be purchased. Heck, for $1000 from TSC for a unit with a 4" cylinder, and drop an extra $200 or so and install a 22gpm pump, you would have the same thing for $1200:laughing:

That is about what I have found as well! If you can get a lot of the steel and major components used, cheap 2nd hand or free then ya you can build pretty cheaply but if buying most of the parts it is about 1.5 cost what you can buy a TSC/HD/Lowes splitters for.

now IF you are adding lots of options such as log lifts hydraulic wings/round management system then you have to up to the 2500+ splitters like so commercial ones advertized here & at FF. I bought on spur of moment a 4"x28" x 2" HP tie cylinder for 75 bucks a few years back NEW with plans. so far not finished scrounging for other parts lol... one of those back burner (Way back) projects...

Mark

 

[LD1]

Some more pictures:

Got the fittings welded to the tank and filled it with water and let it set over night. Everything is dry:thumbsup:

You can also see how I plan on attaching the tank. The 2 pieces of angle iron are welded to the tank. And they run 90 degrees to the two on the machine itself. I will run bolts where they overlap so I can remove the tank if I ever need to.

 

[murphy1244]

You do some very nice work!

 

[LD1]

Here are some of the tables I am building for the end.

About 1/2 way done with them.

Probably wont get back to working on it til sunday. Gotta work the next 4 days. (12hr nights)

 

[merlynr]

I'm trying to figure out where you are going to stand when putting log on and then operating the valve control? I don't think you need that much oil capacity. I have same cylinder and 16gpm pump with 8-9 gal reservoir and no problems with heat or low oil and that's with a log lift.

 

[LD1]

I'm trying to figure out where you are going to stand when putting log on and then operating the valve control? I don't think you need that much oil capacity. I have same cylinder and 16gpm pump with 8-9 gal reservoir and no problems with heat or low oil and that's with a log lift.

There is pleanty of room to stand right there. May be hard to see that in the pic.

As to the oil...
I am running a 22gpm pump and forcing it through small 1/2" ports at the cylinder. So that will add heat. And looking at most higher end splitters, their oil capacity is roughly the same as high pump flow.

So keep in mind that even though it looks big, all of that oil is cycled every minute.

Plus it is just what I had and was easier than fabbing a tank from scratch, or buying something different.

 

[LD1]

I'm trying to figure out where you are going to stand when putting log on and then operating the valve control? I don't think you need that much oil capacity. I have same cylinder and 16gpm pump with 8-9 gal reservoir and no problems with heat or low oil and that's with a log lift.

I stood on a chair so I could get an overhead shot to better show the room to work. The pipes and framework for the "table" only stand out from the beam 8". So plenty of room. I stood there and "pretended" to be splitting wood before I located the valve and the table. The locations of them now were most ergonomic for me.

 

[merlynr]

I like the engine with part of mower since I did virtually the same thing with rear engine Snapper. It's hard to tell in my pics as well. The engine is sitting on the rear of beam and the running gear is a 49?? chevy rear with closed style driveshaft which doubles as the tongue.

 

[LD1]

Yep. I can see part of that snapper in there.

Are you left handed by chance?? Or did you "mirror" image the picture?

 

[merlynr]

Not left-handed nor is it a mirror image??

 

[mx842]

I'm trying to figure out where you are going to stand when putting log on and then operating the valve control? I don't think you need that much oil capacity. I have same cylinder and 16gpm pump with 8-9 gal reservoir and no problems with heat or low oil and that's with a log lift.

I was thinking the same thing but I'm a use what ya got kind of a guy so I understand the concept. I built the splitter I'm using now some 25 years ago with the same hydraulics and I made my axle out of some 4" sq tube I had laying around. I welded some end plates on it and some bung holes for in and out lines and another for the vent and fill and welded them in. I had an old boat trailer axle that I cut the ends off of and welded them to the ends of the tube and that has served me well for all this time. I don't think it will take a full 5 gal pail of oil and that ol girl has split probably over a thousand cords of wood over the years. I don't use it as much as I used to cause I don't sell wood anymore but it's still ready to go when I am.

 

[The Fred]

GREAT build!

Can I donate a 5.3 Chevy LS2 engine? It would look good behind your console. Wrap up headers, dual CATS, you wouldn't even smell it.
427 big block? Beer holder?

I love it, Fred