Hydraulic options for 3 point log splitter

[Newbie7100HST]

Hey Folks,

Id like to get a log splitter attachment for my B7100. One of the splitters I'm looking at specs a minimum hydraulic flow of 4 gpm@2700psi I downloaded the shop manual and it looks like the pump on the B7100 does just hair under 4 gpm but only 1710psi.

What would be the simplest option to get a higher flow/psi? Id really like to be up around 8-10 gpm for a faster cycle time.

The PTO pumps I've seen are pretty expensive (could buy a used gas powered splitter for the same price)

Can I get a bigger pump to replace the stock pump?

Is it possible to mount a pump onto the stub at the front of the engine?

Would love to see some peoples set ups.

Thanks for any input you can provide.

 

[RNeumann]

You are into a much bigger project then it would be to buy a log splitter with its own motor.
But if you insist on using the tractor motor the "easiest" way is going to be to add a pump to the PTO. Then you will need to add a tank etc that is sized for the flow so you don't overheat things. Aftermarket higher flow pump that replace your existing pump don't really exist.
I looked into adding a pump etc so I could run a hydraulic snow blower. It didn't pencil..........
Good Luck

Btw at your current flow the splitter would be slow

 

[David_Kb7uns]

Self powered splitter, 8Hp 16GPM pump 34 ton force, and use BX to haul the rounds to the splitter and RTV hauls split wood.

David

 

[Dave M7040]

Hey Folks,

Id like to get a log splitter attachment for my B7100. One of the splitters I'm looking at specs a minimum hydraulic flow of 4 gpm@2700psi I downloaded the shop manual and it looks like the pump on the B7100 does just hair under 4 gpm but only 1710psi.

What would be the simplest option to get a higher flow/psi? Id really like to be up around 8-10 gpm for a faster cycle time.

The PTO pumps I've seen are pretty expensive (could buy a used gas powered splitter for the same price)

Can I get a bigger pump to replace the stock pump?

Is it possible to mount a pump onto the stub at the front of the engine?

Would love to see some peoples set ups.

Thanks for any input you can provide.[/QU


Why would you want to run up the hours on a great machine like a B7100 to split wood? Makes no sense! This from someone who did this on a 65 hp tractor.

First, if I am not mistaken the B7100 engine HP is 16 which means at the pto perhaps 12 or 13.

To drive your imaginary pump to produce 10 gpm at 2,500 psi:

GPM = 10
PSI = 2500
GPM X PSI X .0007 = 10 X 2500 X .0007 = 17.5 horsepower

I short you don't have the pto or even engine power to do what you want.

You have to buy almost everything except the gas engine to build your own splitter and, as you have realized, a pto pump from Princess Auto is $500 + taxes.
Connecting a pump to the front of the engine is great if you are a machinist otherwise you will be spending hundreds on hiring a machinist and buying couplings and hydraulic hoses and filters to connect everything together.

The pumps you get for the pto mount are not the two stage type which provide a high flow low pressure supply of oil until the pressure starts to build and then drop back to a high pressure, low flow configuration.

The cycle times for the gas engined two stage pump splitters will be so much faster and you will do double or triple the work that your B7100 machine will do.

Dave M7040

 

[boggen]

max hydrualic pressure = works out in some math to how much force the splitter can do.
the larger the diameter of the hydrualic cylinder. the more force it can produce to split a piece of wood.
the larger the diamter of the hydrualic cylinder, the slower it will move.
GPM (gallons per minute), the faster the GPM, the quicker the splitter responds, both in spitting the wood, and retracting.

TIP: goto google and type in...
wood splitter site:tractorbynet.com

the "site:tractorbynet.com" causes google only to search this site.

click up on images. there is a good amount of wood splitter threads and DIY setups. both mounted to FEL, and 3pt hitch, and various notations of folks using pallets and pallet forks on 3pt hitch to move split wood around, while leaving a pull behind splitter standing.

Surplus Center = good spot to find basic parts
grainger, northern tool, tractor supply, farm and fleet, farmking , and other local agriculture stores also a spot to find parts. if looking for DIY route.

 

[Newbie7100HST]

Thanks for the input folks.
I'm certainly not opposed to getting a gas powered splitter particularly if it's cheaper than the cost of upgrading my hydraulics.
That said I bought the tractor to do work with so it would be nice having one less engine to maintain, buy seperate fuel for.
I think I'll leave it up to fate to decide. If a decent gas powered splitter shows up for sale first in the online classifieds I'll go that route. If a 3point splitter with appropriately sized pto pump shows up I'll go that route.
From everyone's input I'll for sure rule out trying to install a front mount pump or an oversized pto pump.

 

[bellweather]

Another option is to rent a gas powered log splitter. Usually lots listed on Craigslist by folks who bought one then discovered it sits idle 90% of the time. I rented one for a weekend for $125 including pickup /delivery. I must have split 4+ cords of wood. Nice unit, but loud!

 

[Newbie7100HST]

Another option is to rent a gas powered log splitter. Usually lots listed on Craigslist by folks who bought one then discovered it sits idle 90% of the time. I rented one for a weekend for $125 including pickup /delivery. I must have split 4+ cords of wood. Nice unit, but loud!

Ya, I usually rent when I have a decent load bucked up. I like the idea of putting the hurt on someone else' equipment but its a pain to coordinate my time based on the availability of the splitter, go to the rental place (100km total to pick up and return) and then be under the gun to run it the whole time because I feel like I'm wasting money if its rented and not running. Plus after killing my self splitting all day I'd be looking at a giant pile to stack. I like the idea of going out for a couple of hours, splitting, stacking and cleaning up without feeling like I just ran a marathon.

I really like the Split-Fire splitter - double sided wedge is attached to the cylinder so it splits on both the foreword and back stroke. That way I'm not too concerned if its not super fast because its splitting twice as much each cycle. I'd be happy with a full one way stroke in 8-10 second.

 

[dodge man]

I looked at getting a splitter mounted on my BX. It seems like the splitter was almost as much money than a gas powered one and by the time I added in the cost for some rear remotes, it was a lot more than a stand alone splitter. Also like already said, its nice to have the tractor seperate for handling the wood.

 

[SDT]

Most folks are quickly dissatisfied with tractor driven log splitters for multiple reasons.

Operating a log splitter from the tractor pump will result in unsatisfactory cycle times. PTO driven pumps can rectify this problem to a degree but you will be using lots of fuel to provide engine RPM to produce GPM while running up engine hours to perform a task that is much better suited to a commercially available engine driven splitter.

Engine driven splitters have two stage pumps to produce high pressure and high volume and have small engines sized appropriately for the task.

SDT