Big old log splitter.

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

I traded some old wheel horse stuff for this massive old homemade splitter. Crazy what people used to make back in the day. Most of it seems good. Needs a new pump and engine. The little control piece has been sitting open for a good 20 years so if I can’t clean that up I’ll need a replacement as well. Other than that though the piston seems fine and that’s what matters.

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

good use for your old splitting wedges I guess😅

[ebinmaine 67,641]

That's awesome!

 

We have a custom modified splitter that was built by a local logger. 

He used it to split the bottoms and scraps his bosses gave him. 

We've put a 22" diameter piece of beechwood in it and it didn't even hesitate. 

 

 

[Pullstart 62,916]

That thing’s got all kinds of wedgies!  Sorry @SylvanLakeWH… we know you’re a visuals guy!

[SylvanLakeWH 25,602]

18 minutes ago, Pullstart said:

That thing’s got all kinds of wedgies!  Sorry @SylvanLakeWH… we know you’re a visuals guy!

 

 

Now if they were cheese wedges... 

 

Cool old splitter!!!

[Maxwell-8 4,277]

8 hours ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

Crazy what people used to make back in the day.

Simple but stronger then anything out on the market today! Like Wheel Horses. My lathe guy, makes these types of log splitters. Maybe he wants to make me one to fit on my WH?

[ebinmaine 67,641]

6 hours ago, Pullstart said:

That thing’s got all kinds of wedgies!

Well played Sir

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

21 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

That's awesome!

 

We have a custom modified splitter that was built by a local logger. 

He used it to split the bottoms and scraps his bosses gave him. 

We've put a 22" diameter piece of beechwood in it and it didn't even hesitate. 

 

 

Wow that’s definitely one hell of a splitter. 
 

as far as mine goes, I wouldn’t know. It’s been sitting for nearly 20 years now. I have a foot and a half wide log I’ve been needing to split, I guess that’ll be the first test.

[ebinmaine 67,641]

38 minutes ago, Ifixoldjunk said:

first test

Of course we're gonna need video!!

[SylvanLakeWH 25,602]

 

37 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

Of course we're gonna need video!!

 

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

So I’ve made some progress on the homemade splitter. I’ve even managed to track down its original creator. It was apparently built in 79, and used all through the 90s. He ended up selling it and it pretty much dropped off the face of the earth until now.

I ended up ripping a crappy MTD snowblower apart for the engine and mounted a generic China hydraulic pump to it. Surprisingly everything lined up perfectly. 
I need to clean the hydraulic tank and control module before I can start making up hoses, but I believe I’ll have a functional splitter soon. 
 

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

Redsquare is making my photos sideways, so y’all are just gonna have to tilt your heads for now.

Anyways, snowblowers all lack air filters. Do you think I should modify this engine to have one? It’s gonna be stationary from now on so it’s not like it’s kicking much dust up.

The best part of a snowblower engine however is now I’ll have an electric start for my splitter😅

Edited January 2, 2022 by Ifixoldjunk

[8ntruck 7,018]

Yup.  I think you should add an air filter.  Splitting logs is not the cleanest of jobs.

[ebinmaine 67,641]

7 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

Yup.  I think you should add an air filter.  Splitting logs is not the cleanest of jobs.

I'll second that. 

[WHGuy413 2,700]

I have to say I’ve seen a lot of home made wood splitters. But I’ve never seen someone use actual wedges to build a wedge. 
 

My grandfather built a couple that I grew up splitting wood with. My dad and grandfather teamed up and built one or two more and the one that my dad has now is a custom beast. Seems like most people around here have custom splitters. We have a pair of 4 foot splitters at work. One home made one John Deere. The home made kicks the Deere’s but every day.

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

So I know this project has been on the back burner for quite some time due to the frigid weather. But I’m finally getting back to it.

So, to start I had to cut the oil tank free. It is filled with some kind of mystery hazardous waste. So I’m gonna let it sit in my shop with some simple green in it for a week or so to break it loose. After that I will have to determine if the tank is still usable. Shouldn’t be to bad seeing that no real pressure is put on the tank. 
after that point I’ll weld it back to the frame of the splitter and mount the engine/pump setup. I’ll probably have to clean the valve body as well. I’m gonna find some garbage 15’ tires to toss on it so I can actually move it around for the time being. I’ll need it to move to bring it to the local hydraulics shop to have high pressure lines made up.

[Ifixoldjunk 778]

As heretical as it sounds, I’m thinking John Deere green and yellow will look good on this splitter. Paint it up to look like the old waterloo boy tractor.