wood splitter problems

mrDean · Jan 29, 2004

I'm new here so please be gentle.
My splitter has a two stage Barnes pump, I was not getting the performance I expected so I added a pressure gauge.
Only 1000 psi! So I turned in the screw on the valve, 1200 psi. The pump is rated at 2500 psi and I drive it with a 5hp Honda motor.
Why am I not getting enough pressure? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Deerlope · Jan 29, 2004

Either the sequence valve in the pump is not shifting when the pressue hits 1000 psi or the second stage (high pressure part)is worn out. That is a gear pump and the side plates wear in it allowing the oil to slip by. How old is it? Does it have a filter? Has it been working ok? The 2500 psi only comes from the second stage of that pump(low volume) first stage 1000psi high volume.

mrDean · Jan 29, 2004

Thanks for the quick reply,
I just built the splitter, new pump and filtre.
The pressures I have got are when the splitter is under load (big log in it's teeth)
Just ahead of the supply hose on the pump is a bolt with a spring under it. Is this something I can adjust?

JimMc · Jan 29, 2004

Is the cylinder stalling without completely cycling or is it completing the stroke but just a little slow?

mrDean · Jan 29, 2004

It is working slow, I can split a large log but it labors to do it.
It is as if the second stage never happens, that would explain the pressures I get.

JimMc · Jan 29, 2004

Gotta go with Deerlope on this one.

Deerlope · Jan 29, 2004

Does the Barnes pump use 4 long (6") or better bolts to secure it or does it use 4 short ones? If there were any metal shavings or pieces that got to the pump they will hang up the sequence valve. Yes you can take that valve apart and clean it . If the pump uses the long bolts to secure it they have a torque setting which is very important because if you over torque them it wears the side plates out real quick.

mrDean · Jan 29, 2004

Thanks, I will take the pump off and have it checked. I was unaware of the torque requirements

powerstroke2000 · Jan 30, 2004

I am pretty sure there is a relief vavle of some kind reight on the pump as well as the control vavle

Deerlope · Jan 30, 2004

If the pump does indeed use the long mounting bolts don't feel too bad about over torqueing them cause I been there and done that. There was no one in my area that could check the pump so I just bought another. The way I found out what I had done was I called the company and the guy asked if I had the right torque on the bolts, duh. I then went and got the box that the pump came in and the instructions gave the torque settings. I don't rightly remember but it was either 10 ft pounds or 10 inch pounds, when I backed the bolts off I must have had them at 40. This must have caused the company a big problem cause they don't make them like that anymore, they have a flange mount and use 4 short blots around 1 1/2".

Deerlope · Jan 30, 2004

Powerstroke2000
There is no releif valve in that type of pump, just in case you ever run into this type of problem. I have built several hyd. splitters for people over the years and always use that type of pump.(Barnes 2 stage) most of the time I use 11GPM but the last one for myself I used 13GPM and am thinking of upgrading to 16 GPM.

powerstroke2000 · Jan 30, 2004

you will like the 16gpm pump that is what is on the one we built makes it really move

powerstroke2000 · Jan 31, 2004

Are you sure there is not an adjustment on the pump mine has a adjustment right close to the mounting flange. We built several splitter as well the first one got destroyed because of to much pressure,snapped the beam in half. So after making a new one we decided to check the pressure, blew up a 5000psi guage so we really got curious then so installed a 10,000psi guage from work and had right around 7000psi. Which explains why it was pulling down the motor a 18hp twin cly.

Deerlope · Feb 1, 2004

Now you have put some doubt in my mind. I'll do some checking but not for a few weeks,just brought the wife home from the hospital last night. I'll be busy inside for a while. I am certian that is a sequence valve that you are referring to. It is adjustable and usually comes pre set to shift at 500psi which shifts oil flow to the second stage.
With all that is going on with the wife I am not sure of anything anymore.

powerstroke2000 · Feb 1, 2004

I was at the Power show ohio today and there was a guy sell pumps and vavles he said there is an adjustment and it is the big cap by the mounting flange take the cap off and there is a screw inside to adjust. However he did say there is another adjustment that I didn't know about. There is a stage split adjustment on the inside to change the high to low pressure but you have to take the pump apart to do it.

Deerlope · Feb 1, 2004

What can I say, but I stand corrected. Thanks.

powerstroke2000 · Feb 1, 2004

no problem Deerlope just think when you get around to putting your 16 gpm pump on you can give it a little more a$$ for them hard pieces /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

powerstroke2000 · Feb 1, 2004

Oh by the way while at the show my buddies and I just for sheets and giggles price the Timberwolf they had down there with what the call a box wedge (toothpick maker) List price was a little over $10,000 show price was around $9000 just seems to make heating with wood a expensive way to heat /forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif

Deerlope · Feb 1, 2004

I would have thought that you wood have bought one of those tooth pick makers. LOL just for a back up in case the splitter broke down. Around here a logger usually has a wood processor and the cheap ones go for around $20K.
I plan on calling Barnes hyd pump co. tomorrow cause I still don't think that their pump has a relief valve in it. been doing searches and reading for the past 2 hours. All I have found so far is an un-loader valve that is adjustable between 400&900 PSI. Yea, I am one of those people that has to know for sure.

Deerlope · Feb 2, 2004

Ok,here it is and this is all I got to say on the subject. The Barnes 2 stage hyd pumps 11 thru 16GPM do not have a pressure relief valve in them. They have an adjustable unloader valve that is pre-set at the factory at 650PSI and the factory does not recommend that field adjustments be made. This infor is per costumer service rep at Northern Tool. That guy at the Ohio show was probably more of a sales person.