Nother woodsplitter build

[toxicjeeper]

Starting this thread to keep my thoughts in one place and to get much needed info..The plan so far is to use a 15HP motor with a 16gpm pump, 3.5 inch diameter 2 foot hyd cylinder with the hopes of achiving high 6sec low 7 sec cycle times..My father inlaws splitter is set up like this and is very FAST..after using i dont wann use anything else and i find the store bought splitter not only slow but very cheaply build in their components...

Any comment, posts or pictures of other splitters are welcome as well as ideas and i will have questions..This build isnt going to happen over night but rather over winter..

First question will this hydrolic tank work even tho the in and out are inline? Looks like it will hold enough fluid and it is cheap... Thanks

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I've heard that the general rule of thumb for a reservoir is that it should be the same capacity as your pump GPM. I.e. a 16 GPM pump should have a 16 gallon reservoir. How big is this tank? If it's big enough and will hold fluid, I don't think the inlets and outlets are a concern.

A concern... 15 hp will likely not power a 16 GPM pump at 2000 psi. A 16 gpm pump at 2,000 psi requires a 18.7 hp engine not counting any transmission losses.

Horsepower = GPM X PSI/1714.

 

[6sunset6]

I've heard that the general rule of thumb for a reservoir is that it should be the same capacity as your pump GPM. I.e. a 16 GPM pump should have a 16 gallon reservoir. How big is this tank? If it's big enough and will hold fluid, I don't think the inlets and outlets are a concern.

A concern... 15 hp will likely not power a 16 GPM pump at 2000 psi. A 16 gpm pump at 2,000 psi requires a 18.7 hp engine not counting any transmission losses.

Horsepower = GPM X PSI/1714.

Don't forget 2 stage pump 450 psi at 16gpm 4hp little over
then 4 gpm at 2000psi 4.66
That's why I use a 2hp electric motor on a 2 stage pump 11 gpm . I am seriously considering building a new one at 3hp 16gpm with a 5 x 20 cylinder and a box wedge . 4 x 4 off the bottom

 

[toxicjeeper]

6sunset6 is correct.. my pump is a 2 stage and will be 16gpm on low pressure side and 4 gpm on the high pressure side. I think 15 HP may be over kill but it is cheap and leaves room for improvement later on down the road if so desired

what is your splitter's cycle time 6sunset6?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

6sunset6 is correct.. my pump is a 2 stage and will be 16gpm on low pressure side and 4 gpm on the high pressure side. I think 15 HP may be over kill but it is cheap and leaves room for improvement later on down the road if so desired

what is your splitter's cycle time 6sunset6?

Ahhh... That makes sense. You're probably right that 15 hp is over kill, but who ever complained of having too much horsepower?

 

[toxicjeeper]

Ahhh... That makes sense. You're probably right that 15 hp is over kill, but who ever complained of having too much horsepower?

Definitly right on that one Iplayfarmer

 

[toxicjeeper]

Alright..got me a beam w8 35..1/2 thick..should i brace the top more?

Now its 8 foot long but what are the normal lengths for woodsplitters..i am assuming 4 feet + is required for the ram ( 24 inch) but i am thinking it should be cut a bit longer than need be?

 

[6sunset6]

6sunset6 is correct.. my pump is a 2 stage and will be 16gpm on low pressure side and 4 gpm on the high pressure side. I think 15 HP may be over kill but it is cheap and leaves room for improvement later on down the road if so desired

what is your splitter's cycle time 6sunset6?

Good question I never measured it. I have an auto return on it and I am always hustling to stop it before it fully retracts. 24" cylinder and I use 16" wood. I should bolt a stop on the beam. at 18"
I will time it tomorrow. 3.5" diam cylinder.

 

[J_J]

6sunset6 is correct.. my pump is a 2 stage and will be 16gpm on low pressure side and 4 gpm on the high pressure side. I think 15 HP may be over kill but it is cheap and leaves room for improvement later on down the road if so desired

what is your splitter's cycle time 6sunset6?

The 16 GPM two stage pump can develop 3000 psi.

These are some figures for a 3.5 in cyl, 1.5 in shaft, and 3000 psi.

4 GPM , 24 in log,

Extend = 10.9 sec
Retract = 8.27 sec

16 GPM, 24 in log

Extend = 2.75 sec
Retract = 2.06 sec

Push force at 3000 psi = 14.4 T
Pull force at 3000 psi = 11.78 T

At 16 GPM, and 450 psi, you have a push force of about 2 T

As you split the log, the push force changes, and the cycle time changes.

The cycle time includes low pressure and high pressure.

It only takes about 8 HP to produce 4 GPM at 3000.

 

[toxicjeeper]

started working on the pusher plate..probably will use the ram mount brackets as the brace and not the little triangle...got hung up on drilling holes..dang drill press cant go slower than 460rpm which means drilling a big bit threw 1 inch plate is impossible..gotta slow it down or figure something out..even tryed reaming out a hole with my plasma cutter but it wasnt working as well as i remember when using cutting torches..i am starting to think i may have went too big on the steel..

 

[6sunset6]

Good question I never measured it. I have an auto return on it and I am always hustling to stop it before it fully retracts. 24" cylinder and I use 16" wood. I should bolt a stop on the beam. at 18"
I will time it tomorrow. 3.5" diam cylinder.

Well this is interesting 16 sec out 14 sec back. I do have a severely restricted 3/4 suction line. Kind of crushed where it goes around a corner.
This is an 11 gpm double stage pump running at 3600 rpm. Theoretically it should extend in 5.45 second. Big difference.
I am building a new splitter and have sold this one already not to be delivered until my new one is built but I think I will fix the suction line and see what happens.

 

[J_J]

Well this is interesting 16 sec out 14 sec back. I do have a severely restricted 3/4 suction line. Kind of crushed where it goes around a corner.
This is an 11 gpm double stage pump running at 3600 rpm. Theoretically it should extend in 5.45 second. Big difference.
I am building a new splitter and have sold this one already not to be delivered until my new one is built but I think I will fix the suction line and see what happens.

Your time factors suggest the pump is running at the 4 GPM rate, and high pressure. Can you verify that.

Do you have a hyd gage installed?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Your time factors suggest the pump is running at the 4 GPM rate, and high pressure. Can you verify that.

Do you have a hyd gage installed?

A kink in the line could be kicking the pump into the high pressure side.

 

[J_J]

Could also cause the pump to cavitate, and possibly damage the pump.

Does the pump make any noise other that the normal sound?

 

[toxicjeeper]

A kink in the line could be kicking the pump into the high pressure side.

+1 on this..the pump kicks to high gear with resistance/ pressure to the fluid..

 

[toxicjeeper]

little up date....manage to get my drill press geared down to around 200 rpm..works very well and i am impressed with the new found torque of this monster..almost looks factory!..Best part everything is still contained under the cover!..still cant drill 1/2 holes in one inch plate but it is a big inmprovement in thinner steel..

 

[toxicjeeper]

Splitter..Since my plasma is only rated for 5/8" the only way i could make the holes in the one inch plate was to burn threw with the plasma, flip and burn threw the other side..Turned out better than i thought it would but it is still an ugly hole..The washers should cover through..also broke out the welder..This is the first weld i have laid in over 6 months..took a bit to get back into the groove... .45 fluxcore wire, no gas, one pass...got some small air pockets..

 

[J_J]

+1 on this..the pump kicks to high gear with resistance/ pressure to the fluid..

You can easily check that with a hyd gage installed in a tee at the IN port of the log splitter valve. Use a hyd tee only.

If any hose is kinked, you may see pressure in the neutral mode, which you would not normally be seeing. .

 

[J_J]

Is that a ball bearing pulley you are using for the additional speeds.

If it is, where did you purchase it ?

 

[dixstir]

3.5 cylinder --I just got mine done 16-gpm 2 stage pump 8 horse it works real good on the smaller wood but I save the big chuncks for the big splitter 6 inch cylinder and 28 gph -2 stage 16 hp koehler lift table 4 way wedge it will split anything but is a little slower I built this one 35 years ago.