Vickers pump....

PILOON · Nov 10, 2009

JJ is correct. Don't open it.

I'd simply turn by hand while introducing fluid in one port and see if it comes out the other and repeat in the other direction the same way.
In theory a gear pump should push both ways.
Inlets are generally a size larger than outlets to prevent cavitation but often sizing is accomplished by using a smaller adaptor on the outlet port.

Have fun, and good luck.

mrcaptainbob · Nov 10, 2009

Well, after closer inspection, I found the inlet port is 1" and the outlet is 3/4".
Here are some pics of the 'beast'.

PILOON · Nov 10, 2009

Qualifies for the "Rube Golberg" trophy!

J_J · Nov 11, 2009

I noticed a needle valve on the cylinder. I wonder why they needed to reduce the speed of the cylinder. Does everything work?

mrcaptainbob · Nov 11, 2009

It works. Just barely. The cylinder is a 4" x 20" and it takes it about eight seconds to make it's move forward. Same for retracting. It has almost as much copper plumbing as my house! Rube is a good description of this beast. It does have some good power, though. The whole point of this is to capture as much 'good' from this splitter to make a proper one. The engine is excellent. And I believe the cylinder, although only 20" will suffice for the way I'm cutting. That leaves the pump. Before I head on down the road to recovery I'd like to make sure of what I have to help in deciding what other stuff to purchase. Certainly a control valve is necessary, but since they're based on pressure and gpm, the need to know is important, pump-wise. All the old controls are Sperry-Vickers. The pump has raised letters 'Vickers' on it. No plate or numbers.
Thanks for the help and guidance. Will post pics of when new splitter is being assembled to ask for hose requirements and such.
Thanks again.

J_J · Nov 11, 2009

I believe I see galvanized fitting in the plumbing. Therefore I believe the pressure is probably around 1500 psi, and a 4 in cyl, with a 2 in rod, will produce about 9 ton. Also, the pump seems to be driven on the flywheel end, and that is turning clockwise. So if you want to drive the pump directly, you will have to mount it on a pump mounting bracket, and use Love-Joy connections. Since you don't know the max rpm of the pump, and it was geared down to run slow, about 1000 rpm, you might have a problem with pump displacement. The engine might not be capability of driving the pump, because torque was achieved by gearing. Driven directly, you don't have that torque. This is all conjecture, because we don't know all the particulars. The newer Vickers pumps can run at 3300 rpm. A faster rpm on that pump will give more GPM, about 3 times what it is now, if the pump can handle the speed.

You might work out a new budget with new parts, and weigh the new parts with adapting what you have. A new 2 stage 13 GPM pump is about $130, and log splitter valve is about $60.00. mounting, $30 to $70. Love-Joy about $25., then hoses, fittings.

Willl · Nov 11, 2009

mrcaptainbob said:
Here are some pics of the 'beast'.

Oh my.

George G · Nov 14, 2009

That would be a V-104-?-10. In place of the ? would be Y (1gpm), E (2 gpm), G (3 gpm), A (5 gpm), C (8 gpm), D(10 gpm). If ypu can see between the motor and pump, you should be able too see the arrow(Direction of rotation), under that, the model #. The Y, E, G & A are rated for a max speed of 1800rpm, the C a max of 1500rpm and the D is a max of 1200rpm. All are rated for a max of 1000psi.

mrcaptainbob · Nov 14, 2009

WOW! You got all that from those pics??! Well, I had the pump off and looked real close at it. All I could see was a faint 'Vickers" image. I will look a LOT closer at it now for those markings. However, if it is what you say it is, the fact that it's only putting out 1,000 PSI is not good enough. Am surprised it did as well as it did, then. It may be that all I can salvage from this machine is the engine. Will investigate further...
Thanks.

George G · Nov 15, 2009

Just because it was rated at a certain speed or psi. Don't mean thats what it was being run at. Not recommended, But, It could vary well been run at say, 3000 rpm and 2000psi. Could run like that for years, or only a couple of secounds. If it was me, I would put a gauge in line and see what the psi was. Plus, I'd run it at whatever speed, time how fast the cylinder extends, then figure out what the gpm was.