pump issue

[jasonhydraulic]

i built a loader for my vintage 12 hp garden tractor using an 11 gpm 2 stage wood splitter hydraulic pump and it worked great this year i decided to add power steering using a priority diverter valve set at 3 gpm to the steering so the problem i'm having is the steering works as it should but the loader is now insanely slow so the question is do i just need a bigger pump or is there something else i can do to speed up the loader

 

[ptsg]

You're using the wrong pump for that application. The 2 stage pump is most likely kicking out to low flow/high pressure when the flow divider is installed.

 

[jasonhydraulic]

what would you recomend for a pump it's only a 12 horse power tractor

 

[ptsg]

what would you recomend for a pump it's only a 12 horse power tractor

I would say something around the 0.3ci to 0.4ci. It will never be as fast as it was with the 2 stage pump, but it should match the hp of the engine. About 5 GPM at 2000 PSI. Some of that will go to the steering though-

 

[jasonhydraulic]

ok thanks i think i'm going to try a little bigger pump and repower it with a 20 hp engine if i have to

 

[ptsg]

ok thanks i think i'm going to try a little bigger pump and repower it with a 20 hp engine if i have to

That would be a better option.

You can use this calculator to help you out: Hydraulic Calculations | Fluid Power | Advanced Fluid Systems - Click on Hydraulic pump and motor formulas.

Keep in mind that you'll need HP to move the tractor as well, so don't size the pump based on the engine full HP. Leave a little margin.