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ebinmaine

How do we SPEED UP our log splitter?

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8ntruck
Posted (edited)

Assuming the cylinder walls are 1/4" thick, an operating pressure of 3000psi, you should be making about 12 tons.

 

The valve is rated at 18 gpm.  I can't read the numbers on the pump tag, but the John S. Barns web sight gives 3 possible pump sizes - 8, 11, and 16 gpm pumps.

Calculated full stroke (22.5") extension times are as follow:

Valve limited 18gpm gives 2.6 seconds.

A 16 gpm pump gives 2.9 seconds.

An 11gpm pump gives 4.5 seconds.

An 8gpm pump gives 6.1 seconds.

 

Retract time will be about .9 times extend time.

 

Total extend and retract times:

 

Valve limited 18gpm is 4.9 seconds.

16gpm pump is 5.5 seconds.

11gpm pump is 8.5 seconds.

8gpm pump is 11.59 seconds.

 

The 11 and 16 gpm pumps are listed as two stage pumps, so actual times might be a bit quicker.

 

These calculations are based on assuming the pump is operating at 3600rpm, and that there are no flow restrictions in the system.  Accurate?  Not exactly, but good enough for comparing proposed systems.

Edited by 8ntruck
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oliver2-44
4 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

 

 

Cylinder outside diameter. 3.75

Piston diameter 1.75

Stroke appears to be about 24 but the collar eliminates some of that for the auto return so it comes out about 22.5?


If you cylinder has a 3.75 diameter, then you piston diameter would be somewhere in the 3” - 3-1/4”. So is the 1.75 that you are referring to the rod-shaft diameter.

Look closely at you cylinder to see if it has any manufactures name and info stamped in it. 

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ebinmaine
5 hours ago, oliver2-44 said:


 

Look closely at you cylinder to see if it has any manufactures name and info stamped in it. 

 

Couldn't find any but there old decals and thick red paint. 

 

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ebinmaine
6 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

good enough for comparing proposed systems

 

Perfect. 

 

We'll get the splitter running soon and time the movement. 

 

Thanks.  

 

 

 

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ebinmaine

@Oldskool  Mike and I have been babbling a little bit about this by text.

 

He brought up the possibility of using an electric motor. 

How do I figure out how much motor I need to be able to power a 16 GPM pump?

 

 

 

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kwalshy

electric motor HP = ( GPM x PSI ) / ( 1714 x % efficiency)  I would probably use 85% or 90% efficiency, not 100%.

or lower your pump GPM from 16 to 10 or 12 to use a smaller hp electric motor. 

you'll want 220VAC power source, not 110VAC

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ebinmaine

Given those calculations that would put an electric motor way out of scale for us.

No worries there...

 

Another thought.  

 

Given the fact that we have several Horses that run and drive I'm considering bolting a hydraulic pump like above right onto the side of a Kohler engine on a tractor and running a pair of quick disconnect hoses right to the hydraulic valve. If we did that on something like my 1975 C160 Automatic it would give it a non-snow chore to do and I have no intention of using the PTO on that for anything else.

 

Another advantage there would be that if we bolted a new pump to the side of an existing engine that runs and drives there would be nearly zero changeover time.

 

I do have concerns that if we are trying to connect and set up any other engine/motor right onto the splitter body there could be a little engineering involved. No time for that...

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Handy Don
1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

bolting a hydraulic pump like above right onto the side of a Kohler engine on a tractor

More than a few splitters are made to connect to remotes on larger tractors so I’d say it is a viable solution for your situation. Might even come in handy for some other hydraulic implement like a jib hoist

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8ntruck

:text-yeahthat:. A while back, there was a thread about accessories that would be neat for a Wheel Horse.  A pto powered log splitter came up on that list.

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Wayne0

With a pump on the tractor side, a 3pt hitch splitter could be cobbled into a pull behind.

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wallfish

More than once I've thought about doing a cone/screw type splitter for the end of that back hoe. Basically just sit in the seat and poke them logs right on the ground to split'em up. Push the splits into a pile with the loader and then get started on the next batch.

You could also screw into them part way to move the big logs around :twocents-02cents:

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Wayne0
Posted (edited)
1 hour ago, wallfish said:

More than once I've thought about doing a cone/screw type splitter for the end of that back hoe. Basically just sit in the seat and poke them logs right on the ground to split'em up. Push the splits into a pile with the loader and then get started on the next batch.

You could also screw into them part way to move the big logs around :twocents-02cents:

I had one of those once. It worked pretty good until the log wasn't supported and became a propeller! :o

For speed, a Kinetic splitter is the way to go.

Edited by Wayne0

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wallfish
1 hour ago, Wayne0 said:

I had one of those once. It worked pretty good until the log wasn't supported and became a propeller! :o

You couldn't just push it into the ground?

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ebinmaine
16 hours ago, Wayne0 said:

For speed, a Kinetic splitter is the way to go.

 

I agree with that but we won't be spending several thousand dollars to get a decent one. 

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ebinmaine
14 hours ago, wallfish said:

You couldn't just push it into the ground?

 

I've operated a Twist Splitter on a strong HAND DRILL. 

It was extremely difficult to control even at my personal oversized proportions. :lol:

 

I can't begin to imagine the circular forces created by a medium sized hydraulic circuit.  

 

 

 

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ebinmaine
 
Wayne0
3 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Real good price! Not sure about the durability of an aluminum pump though. No experience.

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ebinmaine
43 minutes ago, Wayne0 said:

Real good price! Not sure about the durability of an aluminum pump though. No experience.

 

Me either.  The lower weight hanging out from an engine might be nice...

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wallfish
5 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

I've operated a Twist Splitter on a strong HAND DRILL. 

It was extremely difficult to control even at my personal oversized proportions. :lol:

 

I can't begin to imagine the circular forces created by a medium sized hydraulic circuit.  

The long arm and weight of the hoe plus the tractor should be sufficient leverage and weight for the ground to be the log stop but had also thought of something if it wasn't.

I realize you're not going this route but just throwing out ideas anyway.

514491057_logstop.jpg.8d33c30f8eb648135d48453809de0dd1.jpg

 

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ebinmaine

Got this in the mail today. 

 

 

20250416_171251.jpg

20250416_171300.jpg

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wallfish
12 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

Got this in the mail today. 

Perfect. I'll take 45 2x10s about 15-20 ft long and delivered this Sat. :lol:

If you haven't set up a saw yet, there is a better way to sharpen/shape the chain teeth for ripping compared to cross cutting.

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ebinmaine
23 minutes ago, wallfish said:

Perfect. I'll take 45 2x10s about 15-20 ft long and delivered this Sat. :lol:

If you haven't set up a saw yet, there is a better way to sharpen/shape the chain teeth for ripping compared to cross cutting.

 

 

Oh this isn't for a mill.  

 

This is the pivot point of the chainsaw for a cutting station. 

 

It'll get set up at the end of a sawbuck/horse. 

 

 

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