Wood splitter hydraulic fluid ?

[ajmaxham]

I am building a 16gpm wood splitter with 4 1/2'' x 24'' cylinder and a log lift. Should I use Traveller Universal Tractor Hydraulic Fluid $39.99 or X-treme Tractor Hydraulic Fluid 32.99?

View attachment 308518

 

[2458n]

My log splitter has ran 20 years on the cheapest universal TSC sold back then. Might not be the right thing to do but just changed the can type filter every couple of years.

 

[Soundguy]

utf is way better than plain hyd oil.. i think the 32$ utf would be fine. i run alot of it and plenty of walmart fluid too.

nothing I have has suffered lube related failures...

 

[Oliver1655]

I use the universal hydraulic fluid, same as my tractor. I have an auxiliary valve on my splitter with quick disconnects I can use use to operate hydraulic cylinders such as the lift cylinder on an implement I am working on without having to have my tractor tied. This way there is no mixing of different types of hydraulic fluids. Also in a pinch I could borrow a cylinder from the splitter to use in an emergency on something else. (4x24", 3x10", 2x10" cylinders)

 

[ajmaxham]

Photo of the wood splitter


Trying to attach photos

 

[davedj1]

AJ it looks good!
One thing I found out right off is the table needs to be down below the beam a couple of inches, some odd shaped wood caught it right off, I had to remodel it lower. What is the table made out of anyway, looks like some pretty stout material.
dave

 

[murphy1244]

looks real good AJ

 

[pizzaguy]

Could you post some pics of how you plumbed your valves for your log lift? I want to add a lift to mine and have a second valve but not sure of the best way to plumb them. Did you use a flow restrictor on the lift cylinder? Nice work!

 

[RandyBell]

AJ that looks good!:thumbsup: I am building on basically the same design to, I am using a tilt cylinder from a 980C Cat Wheel Loader for the ram, it has a 5" piston and has a 24" stroke. Yes I would use the Travelers from TSC to. I agree with davej1 the table looks like it could cause a log to catch. I like the design on the log lift, that has been where I was stuck for a while, I have been getting some big red oak lately and can't pick it up to split on my old splitter. I have an old Onan 16hp twin to power mine, I am tired of pull starting! I was thinking of going with a 22gpm pump but haven't got to that yet. I hope you get to try it out soon as it looks good!

Randy

 

[ajmaxham]

The table is 1/8'' metal from the side of an old manure spreader with 3/4'' square tube 1/8'' wall around the outside of the outfeed table. The outfeed table is lower than the woodsplitter beam (about 1/2''). I should be OK if I split with the outside curve of the wood on the beam but I might weld on ramps to the side of the splitter beam so it can't catch the outfeed table. I would like to try and keep the outfeed table at the present height to make it easy to move 1/2 rounds back to the log lift. I got more photos than I expected still learning how to post pictures.The outfeed table is the first photo.

 

[pizzaguy]

Thanks for the pics. Looks like you did it right the first time with the dual valve. I will be using two separate valves and was looking to see how to plumb from one to the other or use a tee from the pump. If anybody has the answer I would appreciate the help. I was hoping I could "stack" the valves using the 1" pipe nipple but don't know if that will work.

 

[ajmaxham]

I used the Prince RD522CCEA5A4B1 2 spool Detent valve. I had to mount it hydraulic ports down to get the detent valve on the right hand side. If your valve has a power beyond port you will be able to connect to the inlet of the second valve for your log lift. I did install a flow restrictor needle valve. I think I will use more as a saftey than a control valve. I can control the speed with the log lift valve. With the needle set to limit the maximum speed if I forget and push the log lift valve to full open.

 

[tetomas]

Pizzaguy, I used seperate valves on my lift. I plumbed from the pump into the inlet of the splitting cylinder valve , out the return into the inlet of the lift cylinder valve, out the return and back to the tank. This setup works fine for me, i am sure someone will tell me it is wrong, and it would be better with a valve with a power beyond port. The only difference is if I run both cylinders at the same time they are slower, but still move. I did have to put a restricter in the line on the log lift, the first test with no restriction almost launched the log over my head. My restricter is a 3/8 rod that will slide into the fitting on the end of the hose, it has a 1/16 inch hole drilled through it, you might need to do some trial and error to get yours right.

 

[pizzaguy]

Thanks tetomas.

 

[Oliver1655]

PizzaGuy, I used 4 valves in series. The first valve from the pump which is plugged in the picture will have quick disconnects added to allow me to use the splitter as a stand alone hydraulic station. The second valve goes to the wheeled hydraulic jack stand. The 3rd is for the log lift & the last is for the splitter valve. Placing the splitter valve last is the recommend place according to "Energy" brand of valves. I also put a longer nipple between teh middle valves to group them making it easier to identify them. I started off using a restrictor valve for the log lift but it was too slow. I then drilled a larger hole in it but it was still too slow. I removed the restrictor valve per my daughter's request & just use light pressure on the handle - it works great.

 

[pizzaguy]

Thanks for the help and pics Oliver. Your pics and description was what I wanted to do with the second valve. Glad to know it will work for me. Now I'm just waiting for warmer weather to the work on it outside.