Firewood processor build thread

[kiotiken]

Grey primer looks very good! Hopefully you have your keeway issue resolved by now... Wether you have used a center punch or a drift punch... I have used both successfully in the past. Princess Auto is not allways the cheepest price wise, but for quality stuff, your chances are best at afformentioned bearing shops.
Ken, we are all excited to see your endeavours starting to pay off! We are all eyes for it, and ears, if you show us a video!!
Best of luck in the coming days.

Thanks woodchipper. Yes, the keyway issue was resolved a while ago. With the motor installed on the processor, I was able to clamp on to the key with a set of vice grips and gently hammer it out. That was actually before the suggestions of using a punch, I'll know for the next time. No doubt a video is coming soon...

 

[kiotiken]

DOOOOOONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNEEEEEEEEE:cool2::dance1::drink::cool2:

This picture was taken at 1am last night..., errrr, this morning.


Thanks for the suggestions for breaking the chain, worked like a charm, but the pin was still hard to knock out, a lot harder than I would have guessed anyway.

Proof the rollers are actually black!


The chain is on!


I also added two more trailer jacks to support the weight of the logs sitting on the in-feed rack.


Because we got snow last night, I'm not sure I'll have time to clean it all up and pull the processor out of the garage tonight. With my tractor raising and lowering the processor, I can install the splitting head again and then have the log deck to re-attach. Since it's all right outside the kids bedroom windows, I'd have to get it all done before they go to bed. I'll post video of some of the process since the processor will be running to install the splitting head and then video of the first couple logs this weekend. Thanks to all those who stuck with this very long drawn out thread!

 

[mikefromnh]

:drink:

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

WOO HOO!

 

[kiotiken]

Well, I took it out of the garage after work last night. After giving it a quick test to make sure there were no new leaks and that the roller system and new pusher system works, I tried to take it to the back to set it up beside the wood pile. That's when I dropped it

As I mentioned yesterday, it snowed and I had to clean that up before moving the processor. Since I had the zamboni on the tractor, I had to either put the blower back on (really good ballast) or take the easy route and throw the scraper blade on (which does a nicer job with small amounts of snow). Not thinking about moving the processor afterwards, I chose the blade. So when I went to move the processor, I didn't have nearly enough ballast.

It was a lot worse sitting in the seat than it shows in the video. The snow bank broke the processors fall so it didn't damage the legs and stopped the tractor from going over. The only damage I can tell is the handle of the new jack I installed was destroyed.

 

[kiotiken]

I left my phone in the tractor and it didn't do the best job filming the first test. The vibrations of the processors engine caused the camera's stabilization to make a mess of it. It was also getting pretty close to dark, so it's a little tough to see much.

I'm a little disappointed that the cylinder isn't a lot faster. I was hoping 28 gpm would give me really good cycle times. I don't think the 1/2" ports on the cylinder are big enough to take advantage of the full flow from the pump. Oh well, with a 6 way wedge, it's automatically 3 times faster than my log splitter with a 2 way.









Better video to come this weekend.

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

So are you all prepped to test that puppy out tomorrow? We are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring and it all hinges on you having a successful run so your car can get back in the garage just in time for it to warm up. :laughing:

Fingers crossed for ya buddy!

 

[kiotiken]

So are you all prepped to test that puppy out tomorrow? We are all eagerly awaiting the arrival of spring and it all hinges on you having a successful run so your car can get back in the garage just in time for it to warm up. :laughing:

Fingers crossed for ya buddy!

LOL, I levelled the processor out using the 6 jacks after work today and set the log deck in place so I'm ready to go tomorrow! Yup, I'm excited to give it a try tomorrow, I'll post a video however it goes!

 

[Wild Bill the 2nd]

Looking forward to seeing it also. No offense but I'm hoping that our build goes a little more smoothly.
You just never know though...

I imagine that I'll have a better idea in a couple months.

 

[grsthegreat]

Man, nice job. Hope all goes well under load.

 

[kiotiken]

Man, nice job. Hope all goes well under load.

It did! I was very happy with my first test. My wife took a good video, I'll try and upload it when I get home tonight.

 

[kiotiken]

Here's video from the first logs. I cut the 16' logs in half for the test, but i think it'll handle the full 16' log, even without my extension in place. I was very happy with the results. There's a little learning curve though since using the rollers stop the pusher plate from retracting. Sometimes it just pauses and continues back when I'm done with the rollers, sometimes it kicks off the logsplitter valve. As long as the pusher plate isn't in the way, the rounds fall into the lower trough nicely.

I have two small hydraulic leaks to take care of and I need to build the out shoot ramp. Almost there...

 

[Todd727]

Keep this in mind: Even with some small issues having to reposition logs occasionally and having a slower than expected cycle time, this is considerably faster and less work than using a normal splitter and having to handle each and every piece by hand. Very nice job. It took a lot of effort, but you learned a lot and can be very proud of your handiwork!

 

[Tags]

I've been following this build from the start and shared your frustration (probably not the same amount you were having) when things didn't go smoothly but I'm happy to see that your determination has really paid off with a very professional looking, good working processor!

 

[muddstopper]

I suspect the rollers stopping while splitter is retracting is because of one pump running thru all the valves. I forgot which engine you used to power the processor, but they do make a stub shaft that mounts to the flywheel side of the engine. you can rig up a small 2-3gpm pump on the front of the engine and plumb it to your rollers and that would allow you to do two functions at the same time.

 

[mikefromnh]

I suspect the rollers stopping while splitter is retracting is because of one pump running thru all the valves. I forgot which engine you used to power the processor, but they do make a stub shaft that mounts to the flywheel side of the engine. you can rig up a small 2-3gpm pump on the front of the engine and plumb it to your rollers and that would allow you to do two functions at the same time.

It could just be a bit of air needs to work its way out of the system. I know my auto cycle valve didn't work 100% right until 15-20 minutes of run time.

Or maybe turn the detent in on the splitter valve?

 

[kiotiken]

Keep this in mind: Even with some small issues having to reposition logs occasionally and having a slower than expected cycle time, this is considerably faster and less work than using a normal splitter and having to handle each and every piece by hand. Very nice job. It took a lot of effort, but you learned a lot and can be very proud of your handiwork!

I've learned a lot, especially about hydraulics. The cycle time is slower than I hoped, but I still find the machine incredibly quick when you see the pile of wood after only a couple minutes. I'm not (really) in the firewood business, so this is more than adequate for my purposes.

There is another processor recently put on YouTube that has a belt driven saw blade, I'm not sure how big an engine he's using. I originally wondered if that set up would work and I was very impressed with his set up. I was thinking of adding that as a feature next year, but now that I have mine running, I don't think I'd see enough benefit because my cycle time is too slow. To improve my cycle time, I'd need to take my hydraulic components to the next level and go from spending lots of money to really really big money for hydraulics.

I've been following this build from the start and shared your frustration (probably not the same amount you were having) when things didn't go smoothly but I'm happy to see that your determination has really paid off with a very professional looking, good working processor!

Thanks for sticking with the thread, I'm sure I lost lots of people along the way! It was a long process and the rebuild part was very difficult to stay motivated, but I'm very happy and proud of the end result. Thanks for the kind words.

I suspect the rollers stopping while splitter is retracting is because of one pump running thru all the valves. I forgot which engine you used to power the processor, but they do make a stub shaft that mounts to the flywheel side of the engine. you can rig up a small 2-3gpm pump on the front of the engine and plumb it to your rollers and that would allow you to do two functions at the same time.

Yes, this is exactly the problem. The power beyond valve obviously shuts down all flow to the power beyond circuit as soon as you open one of the 3 valves. I'm using a 15hp, Princess Auto branded engine. The 28/7 gpm pump is rated for a 16hp engine as a minimum and I seriously doubt my Chinese "Chonda" is putting out the full 15 hp to begin with.

I need to use this for a while to see how it performs, but a full hydraulic re-build may happen in a few years, especially if the engine doesn't last. A 30-40 hp engine with multi segment pumps, larger hydraulic reservoir, valves that will accommodate a higher flow... it all just takes $$$$

It could just be a bit of air needs to work its way out of the system. I know my auto cycle valve didn't work 100% right until 15-20 minutes of run time.

Or maybe turn the detent in on the splitter valve?

Because I'm using a 15hp engine and the pump calls for at least a 16hp engine, Hydraulic Surplus Center told me I may need to dial back the relief valve a little. So far so good, but I haven't tried any nasty stuff yet. I'm hoping the auto return works itself out. I don't mind if it pauses while I'm advancing the log, but when I don't notice that the valve kicks off without retracting fully, I end up dropping the next round on the pusher plate. It's also just a learning curve.

 

[kiotiken]

So I converted my old garden tractor dump trailer into an out shoot for the wood. I built a diverter flap and center divider so I could have it fill two bags without having to stop. I think I'll have to add a little extension to the end of it to really be able to fill two bags without stopping, but for now, I only have one frame and I just don't feel like building a second one right now.









Don't know if I'd posted how I store firewood in this thread.

 

[ajmaxham]

kiotiken;4070048]So I converted my old garden tractor dump trailer into an out shoot for the wood. I built a diverter flap and center divider so I could have it fill two bags without having to stop. I think I'll have to add a little extension to the end of it to really be able to fill two bags without stopping, but for now, I only have one frame and I just don't feel like building a second one right now.

I question the divider and diverting flap. Will the split wood log jam at the diverting flap then the next split start to destroy the diverting flap - center divider and out feed shoot???

Good job on the firewood processor build.

 

[kiotiken]

LOL, this whole project has been a bit of try it out and see! I made the flap as long as I can, with as gentle an angle as possible, but it may well do exactly what you say, we'll have to see. I don't think it would work if I used the full width of the old dump trailer, it's too wide and don't think wood would have been pushed up the full length and into the bag.