My 3rd and hopefully last log splitter

[LD1]

Very nice build.

 

[Scooby074]

Nice splitter!

I could have picked up one of those old stock Kawi LC at PA when I built mine for half the price of the Subaru Robin I put on my splitter. I should have went with the Kawi, good choice. Electric start has its benefits.

FYI, you likely will have to tweak the autocycle valve kickoffs. Last year I finally got mine to stay on for the whole cycle 95% of the time. Im pretty happy with them now, but it took a lot of frustration to get here. When they are working they are awesome.

 

[andy1981]

Do you have or need the power beyond plug in your auto cycle valves ?

 

[mikefromnh]

Do you have or need the power beyond plug in your auto cycle valves ?

You need the power beyond plug in the first valve bank. In my case I have the plug in the log lift/wedge valve. And have the auto cycle second. You can do it either way.

If the auto cycle valve is first then while it is in use there is no fluid available for the log lift. So you have to wait for the splitting cylinder to extend and retract before lifting the next log into place. By placing the auto cycle valve after the PB plug you can adjust the wedge and lift the log any time you want... The splitting cylinder just pauses while the other cylinders are in use and then continues its cycle.

 

[mikefromnh]

Nice splitter!

I could have picked up one of those old stock Kawi LC at PA when I built mine for half the price of the Subaru Robin I put on my splitter. I should have went with the Kawi, good choice. Electric start has its benefits.

FYI, you likely will have to tweak the autocycle valve kickoffs. Last year I finally got mine to stay on for the whole cycle 95% of the time. Im pretty happy with them now, but it took a lot of frustration to get here. When they are working they are awesome.

I've yet to have a Subaru robin engine on anything.. Right now I have 3 kawasaki engines and more than a few Hondas kicking around. I like them enough to never go back to kohler or Briggs. I'd rather test my luck with a Chonda.

This is the second auto cycle I've had. My first one didn't start working right for 30-40 cycles. The instructions said to leave it alone until the air worked its way out of the system. After that it was flawless. Though I did choose to adjust the pressure that it returns at up to 2000 psi from the factory 1500.

This new auto cycle has been perfect so far...

 

[mikefromnh]

Very nice build.

Thanks,

I did end up changing the geometry of the log lift cylinder. Hard to see in this pic but I now have the cylinder attached to the beam instead of the 45 side table. With it attached to table I was only using 4" of the cylinder stroke to go from the ground to slightly above level. Even with flow restricted to 3.6gpm the table moved way to fast.

With the cylinder mounted to the beam I now use the full 10" of stroke to go the same distance... Still a little to fast so I've ordered a 1gpm restrictor.

 

[94BULLITT]

The splitter looks good. It should be the last splitter you will need.

 

[mikefromnh]

So I found the weak spot on my splitter. To hold the push plate down I bolted a piece of 3/4" square stock to the side of the pusher . I used 5 1/4" grade 8 bolts on each side. I tried to split a twisted piece of pine and as it slid up the wedge 9 of the 10 bolts sheared off

I'm planning on doubling the bolts and going up in size to 5/16 or 3/8"...

 

[ultrarunner]

On mine I have a wider flange and use 1/2" vertical through bolts to clamp the assembly together and so far so good...

 

[CDN Farm Boy]

Yup, that would be a weak spot. ;-)

Doubling them and upping the grade/size will help but you still will be working with them in their weakest orientation. Shear strength of a bolt is only something like 10% of its tensile strength.