Ready to but woodsplitter; a few questions

[Highridge]

I just cut down a bunch of trees and want to split them and get them stacked this spring. I've attached a link to the Northern Tools 3-point splitter. I'm gonna get the $150 quick attach plate and weld it on.
I'm planning on using the PTO to power it. With a log-splitter valve, does the oil continuously flow throw it?

Thanks
Northern Tools

 

[stray]

The log-splitter valve has what you call an open center and fluid passes freely through it when the valve is in the center position. The valve will also be preset at a psi some where between 2000 and 3000 PSI. This will let the system build up no more than that much pressure when splitting a log. When you pull the valve into the reverse position and let go of the handle the valve will stay in and keep bringing the cylinder back until it is all the way. When the cylinder is all the way in and the system reaches about 500 psi the valve will kick back to center on its own.

 

[pequeajim]

I thought about buying that splitter too. I was going to weld a 2" square tube to it and remove the 3pt hitch assembly. I would mount it to a receiver plate that I welded up in class.

This would also allow me to rotate the splitter 180 degrees to pick up logs and split them.

I finished the mounting plate, but have not taken the second class yet. That will come over the next two months.

 

[pequeajim]

Here's what I was thinking of doing with the Northern splitter, or one that I would build myself.

 

[MossRoad]

You may want to put a foot on it to relieve some pressure and as a safegaurd for when you are not sitting on the tractor when using the splitter in the "traditional" position. Never know when someone will bump the joystick and drop it on someone's foot. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Piedmont3]

I think the foot/support would be a good safety precaution/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif, but with my luck I would have my foot under the splitter foot when someone hit the joystick. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[pequeajim]

Actually, that's a pretty good idea. The foot could be on a pivot and able to swing 180 degrees and lock. This way if the splitter is upright or upside down, it can still act as a support. It could also be removable for those times when you are only working from the tractor and are picking up logs to split.

 

[lhfarm]

I have used one of these 3pt splitters for several years now. I really like the stand design that takes all the weight off the tractor.

 

[Highridge]

That's a nice idea!
It would work great. How hard was it to fab that up?

 

[pequeajim]

Really not hard at all, did it an a few hours. My intent was to have something that would work with attachment slike the wood splitter.

 

[MossRoad]

I figure just to have it available for the traditional usage. You probably wouldn't need it for the inverted use, as you will pretty much always be on the tractor when in that mode. Nice drawing. You using a CAD program or just being creative with MS paint?

 

[pequeajim]

I used Power Point. I like it because of the pretty colors... /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Highridge]

So hooking it up to the PTO will not break anything, right? I'm also considering the horizontal/vertical splitter. I might be easier on my back when lifting big logs.

 

[pequeajim]

I believe that someone else on here, (Stray?) built a log splitter and used the PTO for the circuit.

He built it upside down so that he could stay on the tactor and pick up logs to split.

Jim!