Wood splitter hydraulics

[Dead Horse]

my 3710 has power beyond, spring valve controlled connectors mounted at the back. What if any problem am I causing by useing these connections to drive a wood splitter cylinder?

I have to bungee the lever in an open position to get oil flow, then the splitter valve works just fine....

Heat problems?

the alternative is to disconnect the HP feed line and the return line from the FEL, and run hose to the splitter valve and back. This disables the FEL and generally is a PITA.

Comments??????

 

[Diamondpilot]

No problems, this is how many use a 3 point splitter.

Chris

 

[Brad_Blazer]

That's actually the correct way since most splitter valves are not plumbed for power beyond.

 

[Ordite]

I am planning to build or buy a log splitter to run from the hydraulics on my JD 3320. It has a rear SCV connection. Can I eliminate the seperate control valve for the splitter and use the control valve on the tractor to run the splitter. I know this does not make for convenient operation without someone helping you but I have a helper and only produce enough wood for my shop stove. If I were to use the control valve on the wood splitter I too would have to tie off the tractor's control valve. I apoligize if this is the same question as above, as I am not familiar with the power beyond set up on these tractors.

 

[kennyd]

Dead Horse and Ordite:
We need to get the terminology correct so as not so confuse others reading, your are both talking about rear "remotes" NOT "power beyond" to operate your splitters. If it was a Power Beyond circuit there would NOT be a valve controlling the flow to the couplers. Remember the Power Beyond circuit has oil flow whenever your tractor is running.

Dead Horse:
Your setup is perfectly acceptable, no problem doing it that way whatsoever.


Ordite:

Can I eliminate the seperate control valve for the splitter and use the control valve on the tractor to run the splitter.

Yes, you can eliminate the valve on the splitter.

If I were to use the control valve on the wood splitter I too would have to tie off the tractor's control valve.

Yes, that is correct.

 

[Ordite]

kennyd

Thanks for the information. I am leaning towards building a splitter since I do not use a lot of wood and don't want to make the investment necessary to purchase a manufactured unit. I have been using a spiral cone splitter on the PTO of my older tractor but I am convinced this is too dangerous to continue using. Guess I'm getting more safety conscious and having too much fun being retired to risk getting seriously injured.

 

[Dead Horse]

Dead Horse te:
We need to get the terminology correct so as not so confuse others reading, your are both talking about rear "remotes" NOT "power beyond" to operate your splitters. If it was a Power Beyond circuit there would NOT be a valve controlling the flow to the couplers. Remember the Power Beyond circuit has oil flow whenever your tractor is running.

Dead Horse:
Your setup is perfectly acceptable, no problem doing it that way whatsoever.

The FEL control does have a power beyond circuit. This is NOT what the dealer tied into when installing the rear valve control? Ok then what and how can that circuit be used???????

The dealer also ran two seperate hoses to the back of the tractor that can quick connect to the loader High pressure line and the return line. Of course using these disables the FEL, as I mentioned in my first post. Sounds like the morons could have just tied into the power beyond circuit and ran the second line back to T into the return line. If I made this modification, I could run my splitter from these rear connections WITHOUT having to disconnect the FEL.......... AND I would not have to deal with an additional control valve (one on the remote and one on the splitter) as I have to do now. Is this correct?

learning and learning..................

 

[kennyd]

The FEL control does have a power beyond circuit. This is NOT what the dealer tied into when installing the rear valve control? Ok then what and how can that circuit be used???????

The dealer also ran two seperate hoses to the back of the tractor that can quick connect to the loader High pressure line and the return line. Of course using these disables the FEL, as I mentioned in my first post. Sounds like the morons could have just tied into the power beyond circuit and ran the second line back to T into the return line. If I made this modification, I could run my splitter from these rear connections WITHOUT having to disconnect the FEL.......... AND I would not have to deal with an additional control valve (one on the remote and one on the splitter) as I have to do now. Is this correct?

learning and learning..................

Sounds like your dealer hooked your valve up backwards to me, the FEL should ALWAYS be active

It should be:
-OUT of the pump directly to the IN of the FEL valve
-The OUT of the FEL valve should got to the tank return
-The PB of the FEL valve should go to the IN of the rear valve
-The PB of the rear valve should go to the 3PH probably
-The OUT of the rear valve should got to the tank also-this can be T'd with the line from the FEL valve (it's the ONLY line that can be T'd)

 

[Dead Horse]

Sounds like your dealer hooked your valve up backwards to me, the FEL should ALWAYS be active

It should be:
-OUT of the pump directly to the IN of the FEL valve
-The OUT of the FEL valve should got to the tank return
-The PB of the FEL valve should go to the IN of the rear valve
-The PB of the rear valve should go to the 3PH probably
-The OUT of the rear valve should got to the tank also-this can be T'd with the line from the FEL valve (it's the ONLY line that can be T'd)

That is probably the way they have it hooked up. HOWEVER, in addition to that plumbing, there are two more hoses that run from the couplings (between the loader control and a block just under the drivers right foot that controls to flow of fluid) to the rear of the tractor. These get used by disconnecting the 2 couplings at the block to the FEL and connecting these lines there.

The original purpose was to provide remote power to an implement (splitter) that had its own control valve, eliminating the extra CV.

my question is, can these lines be tied into the PB line and the return line. The key is how the flow of the PB circuit works. I need to go diagram what is there and figure out how it is currently working.

 

[kennyd]

I am not comprehending how it works now...You will have to draw a diagram I guess.

 

[Dead Horse]

I am not comprehending how it works no...You will have to draw a diagram I guess.

The whole thing may well be a waste of effort as I cannot use both remote duals at the same time anyway, as they are now hooked up. I think I will remove the jury rigged one........ It is just two lengths of hoses and connectors on each end anyway.

If the dual remote with the control valve is tied to the PB, at the loader control, that is what I will do.

If for some reason it is not, then I will look into properly plumbing the spare set I have back there. If I do that, does it have to complete a cuircuit, or can it end at the couplings in the rear. IE is the PB under pressure that is not bled off by the FEL control valve somehow?

 

[kennyd]

If for some reason it is not, then I will look into properly plumbing the spare set I have back there. If I do that, does it have to complete a cuircuit, or can it end at the couplings in the rear. IE is the PB under pressure that is not bled off by the FEL control valve somehow?

If it is indeed a power beyond circuit, then you MUST connect them back together before staring the tractor. Power Beyond lines have the full flow of the pump whenever the tractor is running...failure to complete the "loop" can cause damage to your machine or a the very least overheat you hydraulic oil very quickly as it goes through the relief valve.

Please post a diagram of how it's plumbed now if you can, I am curious.

 

[Dead Horse]

I finally got a chance to spend some time with it. The three hoses going to the FEL valve have quick disconnects which allow the loader and control valve to be removed from the tractor.

The dealer strung two lines from the back of the tractor to the point where these connectors are. One line ends in a male quick disconnect the other, female, both on 90degree fittings. They set the them up such that one was designed to plug into the return line and the other into HP line coming out of the block.

This is a mistake, all around, (because as you said, unless the circuit is completed...... big problems). Now, it works just fine as long as there is a valve on the implement plugged into the rear fittings. However the way they did the plumbing, hooking it up results in the loader being disabled.

The solution was pretty simple. I reconfigured the fittings such that they connect to the male and female quick disconnect fittings for the PB line.

Now, when I am running a rear hydraulic implement that has a valve, I connect the "extension lines" into the PB circuit. This way, the FEL is not disabled if I need to move the tractor or move a load, AND the rear attached implement operates off of its valve, rather than having to go through an additional control valve next to the operators seat. (chipper with a hydraulic feed motor, or a wood splitter)

I need to make a short half loop with male ends, OR remember to connect up the PB circuit whan I remove the implement.

BTW if the loader circuit is turned off (IE loader is removed from the tractor) then these "extension lines" have to be connected to the FEL supply and return line.

This Web site has improved my knowledge of hydraulics vastly in just the last two weeks. THANKS!

 

[Safeman4u]

I have appreciated your this posting. ..Thanks for the information. I am leaning towards building a splitter since I do not use a lot of wood ..its very nice..

 

[Dead Horse]

I would imagine you could find a used 3pth hydraulic splitter for a pretty reasonable price if you look around long enough. Especially in this economy there are likely people who "got in over their heads" having to liquidate some toys to cover other financial obligations.

You don't need to split many cords of wood to get a payback on a splitter. Funny thing is this past winter I found that a maul/ax combination had me splitting wood as fast as using the splitter. The rounds split pretty easy when they are frozen, and ash splits if you just look at it!