Skid loader splitter on farm tractor

[jim swyers]

How do I adapt a skid loader mounted log splitter to use on my Ls tractor using my hydraulics from front end loader???

 

[CoyPatton]

How do I adapt a skid loader mounted log splitter to use on my Ls tractor using my hydraulics from front end loader???

Consider the flow rates of a skid steer to most tractors (you did not mention what LS tractor you have. Bigger tractors have more flow rate, but still usually much lower than SS units) you will have depending on the splitter very slow response to not enough flow to work the splitter.
A pto pump might get you near the flow rate you need.
You need to know your tractors rate flow rate and the min flow rate for the splitter. If these numbers are not close, you need a different hydraulic source.

 

[Jchonline]

You most likely don't as Coy mentioned...skid steer hydraulics are often much more powerful than a tractor. Mine is 16 gpm off the front and is pretty high for a tractor. Lots of high flow skid steers push 40 gpm.

Lets start with the flow rate required for the implement. Once you have that, we look at the flow rate of your machine. You need to also double check psi requirements on the implement and your machine just to be sure they work. I do all hydraulics on the loader from my 3rd function valves and am not certain they are the same as the loader valves but maybe someone else can comment once you provide more specifics.

 

[1 of U]

you shouldnt have any trouble with the hydraulic cyclinder .
my LS3025 with a splitter off of the remote is athe same as with a 10 hp briggs and a 16 gpm pump . i run my splitter off a bobcat / tractor /or a 10 hp motor it mounts with the quick attach to a T trailer

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You most likely don't as Coy mentioned...skid steer hydraulics are often much more powerful than a tractor. Mine is 16 gpm off the front and is pretty high for a tractor. Lots of high flow skid steers push 40 gpm.

Flow rate has NOTHING to do with "power"...

Flow rate has to do with speed, the little tractor will have just as much power on the hydraulics as the bigger tractor, as long as the two have near the same psi output.

SR

 

[Jchonline]

Flow rate has NOTHING to do with "power"...

Flow rate has to do with speed, the little tractor will have just as much power on the hydraulics as the bigger tractor, as long as the two have near the same psi output.

SR

I mean power to do work. Surely you can agree that higher flow will allow you to do more work with an implement meant for said flow rate.

 

[4570Man]

I mean power to do work. Surely you can agree that higher flow will allow you to do more work with an implement meant for said flow rate.

The skid steer is probably going to have more psi than the tractor possibly a lot more which would equal more power. But he’s right flow rate and pressure are completely different.

 

[Wyobuckaroo]

Like said in a combination of the other posts..

My experience with home builds has been to work backwards a bit.. First you look up a cylinder size to find what gpm it requires to have an average cycle time.. Then you match that to the gpm available over and above what is required to run the tractor..

If a tractor has X gpm total flow, it will only have a fraction of X available for the splitter.. This figure from your owners manual or tractordata.com .....

Several hydraulic parts suppliers will have a chart for gpm requirements for cylinders..

Pictures of your final assembly....

 

[cstamm81]

Note your gpm and pressure and I’ll give you my two cents, I’ve built a tractor splitter in the past. There are requirements or else you’re going to have an expensive paperweight on your hands.

 

[nyone]

Dont put hours on your expensive tractor when you could spend $200-300 more on a normal log splitter with a cheap gas engine. In some cases these hydraulic splitters cost more than a big box store splitter with a gas engine.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Dont put hours on your expensive tractor when you could spend $200-300 more on a normal log splitter with a cheap gas engine. In some cases these hydraulic splitters cost more than a big box store splitter with a gas engine.

Why do you think that? Did you buy a low quality tractor that won't hold up to putting a few hours on it??

A hundred hours is a LOT of splitting!!

SR

 

[cstamm81]

Generally, one uses skid steer splitters to simply cut huge rounds down to a manageable size, to then be split smaller by a stand alone splitter. I have yet to see a quick attach splitter that would be useful for making wood stove sized splits. If you have an outdoor boiler that takes big pieces, no further splitting will be necessary.

For a tractor, a splitter that is parallel to the front tires is much preferred versus a splitter that sticks straight out, just so you can see what you're doing. Example: Log Splitter 30 Ton Sideways
Here's the best video I have ever seen of a skid steer splitter on a tractor, sticking straight out:

Eastonmade's beam and wedge design is amazing IMO, this style of beam and wedge mounted parallel to the wheels would make a nice tractor splitter. In my experience, you want a big push plate and tall wedge to a splitter like this, as it's hard to position the beam over the rounds at times from the tractor seat.

 

[nyone]

Why do you think that? Did you buy a low quality tractor that won't hold up to putting a few hours on it??

A hundred hours is a LOT of splitting!!

SR

No one said anything about not being able to handle it. I specifically stated that generaly the hours on your expensive tractor cost more than a cheap gas engine. Hell two service intervals on a tractor could cost more than a whole new engine for a gas splitter.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

No one said anything about not being able to handle it. I specifically stated that generaly the hours on your expensive tractor cost more than a cheap gas engine. Hell two service intervals on a tractor could cost more than a whole new engine for a gas splitter.

IF, all I did was run my splitter with my tractor, then yes the service per hour would be quite high. BUT, what little hours a splitter puts on a tractor, the cost of the service "running the splitter" sure isn't much and it's easily out weighed by the advantages of using a tractor.

Plus, I don't have to screw around with a "cheap gas engine", my tractor is always ready to go and will out live me.

SR

 

[4570Man]

IF, all I did was run my splitter with my tractor, then yes the service per hour would be quite high. BUT, what little hours a splitter puts on a tractor, the cost of the service "running the splitter" sure isn't much and it's easily out weighed by the advantages of using a tractor.

Plus, I don't have to screw around with a "cheap gas engine", my tractor is always ready to go and will out live me.

SR

The key part you’re not mentioning is you need 2 tractors to make it work and you need a pto pump setup. Tying up your only tractor to split wood when you need it to move wood or hooking it to your rear remote at a snails pace is far from optimal.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You do NOT need two tractors or a pto pump... That's complete BS

You can stage your rounds on a trailer/wagon or a table and roll them right onto the splitters beam, I do it all the time.

I split with a splitter without a pto pump for a long time, before I bought one with a pto pump. Speed of the cylinder is REALLY all about how much wood you split, the more you split, the more you want a faster speed.

SR

 

[cstamm81]

You do NOT need two tractors or a pto pump... That's complete BS

You can stage your rounds on a trailer/wagon or a table and roll them right onto the splitters beam, I do it all the time.

I split with a splitter without a pto pump for a long time, before I bought one with a pto pump. Speed of the cylinder is REALLY all about how much wood you split, the more you split, the more you want a faster speed.

SR

agreed, most tractors 50hp and up seem to put out 10 gpm per minute, at 2600 plus psi. The tractors pump is single stage. Compare that to most box store splitters, 11gpm 2 stage (shifts down to about 3 gpm when the splitting gets tough). Your actual cycle speed may very well be quicker with the tractor, as it never has to shift down to the lower stage to complete the split. The biggest potential issue IMO, you need to know what psi you're tractor makes. 2,300psi vs 2,600psi makes a huge difference when splitting wood.

 

[4570Man]

You do NOT need two tractors or a pto pump... That's complete BS

You can stage your rounds on a trailer/wagon or a table and roll them right onto the splitters beam, I do it all the time.

I split with a splitter without a pto pump for a long time, before I bought one with a pto pump. Speed of the cylinder is REALLY all about how much wood you split, the more you split, the more you want a faster speed.

SR

You don’t NEED 2 tractors and a pto pump setup but not having that is a lot less desirable option. I don’t know how you go about splitting wood but I like to have a helper split while I cut. Not having the tractor free would ruin that. Going back to rear remotes would cut your speed to minimum in half if not 1/3.

 

[ptsg]

I run my splitter of my tractor remotes with the engine somewhere between 1200 to 1500 RPM. Gives me plenty of speed and a LOT less noise. Heck, probably will use less fuel than the screamer gas engine. The splitter has its own valve, so no going back and forth there. I do run a smaller cylinder (90 mm bore) than most, but still will split whatever I throw at it.

Most people here who buy splitters, it will have it's own speed increaser and pump. Some will have two gear pumps and a 2 stage valve.

For the ones who split wood to sell for basically a living, they usually buy a cheap and old tractor, like a 2WD David Brown, Ford or MF, that spends the entire time sitting in the same spot, at the same RPM, just running the splitter all week long. Some will even buy tractors with a broken transmission as long as the PTO works, it's fine and it was a cheap investment.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The key part you’re not mentioning is you need 2 tractors to make it work and you need a pto pump setup. Tying up your only tractor to split wood when you need it to move wood or hooking it to your rear remote at a snails pace is far from optimal.

You don’t NEED 2 tractors and a pto pump setup but not having that is a lot less desirable option. I don’t know how you go about splitting wood but I like to have a helper split while I cut. Not having the tractor free would ruin that. Going back to rear remotes would cut your speed to minimum in half if not 1/3.

Well, first you said you NEED 2 tractors, then you said you don't NEED 2 tractors, you wanna go for three post, so we can take an average??? LOL LOL

SR