Diesel Super Split

[Whitbread]

Hello folks! I figured you guys might enjoy my recent creation. I built a massive 8"x36" hydraulic splitter with an 18hp twin 8 years ago, sold it when I moved to the city 4 years ago, and then moved to the woods in the middle of nowhere this spring. Knowing what I know now about the various types of splitters, I went the kinetic route this time around as I don't want to deal with 4+' rounds anymore. I ordered up a Supersplit HD without an engine as I had a 6.5hp Lister air cooled diesel sitting on my pallet rack waiting for a day of glory. It came out of a miltary torpedo heater trailer and only had 349 hours on it. I re-used the engine mounting rails from the military setup as they had some really nice isolator mounts and then used 2" square tube and angle to make the rest of the cradle. Whipped up a pulley in the lathe and had my waterjet shop shear/brake me a stainless fuel tank that I welded up. I gave it a little test yesterday and it wore 3 of us out in 30 mins on one pile. The Lister is supposed to make 12lb/ft at 2300rpm (where I have it set) and it bogged slightly and just powered through a few very nasty forks. I was impressed! Just need to make some brackets to make the rear leg swing and it's done for now. I'll eventually bend up a mechanical log lift when there's too much snow outside to go cutting.

My only real gripe with the SS is the wheels, for $2700 can I at least get some wheels with ball bearings instead of bushings? Tapered roller would be ideal, but I'd be happy with any kind of bearings over the cheesy bushings. I'll be towing mine out into the woods behind my atv and it's going to rack up quite a few trips where it's ~1/2 mile each way. I guess we'll see how they hold up.

 

[Whitbread]

First real run went great other than the snow!

Diesel Arctic cat, diesel splitter, diesel Jeep. I might have a problem haha.


Trailer is a 20' deck

 

[Full Chisel]

First real run went great other than the snow!

Diesel Arctic cat, diesel splitter, diesel Jeep. I might have a problem haha.


Trailer is a 20' deck

Looks like you have a solution to me!

 

[CaseyForrest]

Nice.

Are you above the bridge?

 

[sirbuildalot]

Neat concept! Your splitter is a good candidate for a log lift due to its lower center of gravity.

 

[Sandhill Crane]

That will put a smile on your face!

 

[Whitbread]

Nice.

Are you above the bridge?

Thanks! No, I' about 20 miles east of Gaylord.

Neat concept! Your splitter is a good candidate for a log lift due to its lower center of gravity.

Building a log lift is the plan for this winter once there's too much snow to split outside. I found a company that makes 400lb 12vdc linear actuators with strokes from 3" to 24" for $120-150, so that's what I'll use to lift the logs instead of a hydraulic ram. It will make a nice staging table as well.

 

[sam-tip]

Love it!

I think I have the same diesel addiction. Diesel hydro splitter,4 wheeler, second diesel jeep, truck, rv.

 

[Sandhill Crane]

It will make a nice staging table as well.

Your not done until it has four wheel drive... high and low...
Edit: ...and a folding conveyor...

 

[Whitbread]

Heres's 2 afternoons worth of splitting and stacking. Math says just a little over 5 cords. Only had one oak crotch that required 2 hits and I bet if my belts were tighter, it would've powered through. When the ram stalled, the engine barely bogged, so I guess the new belts stretched a touch. Otherwise it ran faster than I could feed it! Checked the fuel tank and I used just over 1/2 gallon of diesel to split the 5 and change cords with a good bit of time sitting running while I brought logs over.

 

[Hinerman]

Heres's 2 afternoons worth of splitting and stacking. Math says just a little over 5 cords. Only had one oak crotch that required 2 hits and I bet if my belts were tighter, it would've powered through. When the ram stalled, the engine barely bogged, so I guess the new belts stretched a touch. Otherwise it ran faster than I could feed it!

We need a video.

 

[naturelover]

Is there some kind of belt guard for it? My safety moment for the day..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[sam-tip]

Is the motor gear reduction for final drive? Plus how is the balance? Do still have a leg under the beam when splitting?

 

[Ryan'smilling]

1/2 gallon to split five cords is just incredible. Laughable, really. Nice work!

I suppose that's a diesel rabbit truck in the picture too (or it's gonna be soon...). I've spent a bunch time in a few of those. Did a 2000 mile road trip with a buddy, and later my wife owned one. Great mileage! Terrible ride! Another buddy has one with a Jetta turbo diesel and 5 speed. That one was very fun.

 

[BigDBoots]

Following, this is thought prevoking. How would you compare your happiness with the SS compared to a verticle stroke?

 

[Whitbread]

We need a video.

I'll get on that next week, I've got a stack of rounds up the driveway a little bit that are wet.

Is there some kind of belt guard for it? My safety moment for the day..

Nahhh, I run the darwin safety system over here .

Joking aside, I'll make something eventually, getting it running to split before the snow showed up was #1 priority. When I make the guard, I'll also make two jack screws to push the engine back for tightening the belts.

Is the motor gear reduction for final drive? Plus how is the balance? Do still have a leg under the beam when splitting?

No gear reduction on the motor. It's set to run about 2200rpm which is the tq peak for the Lister. Balance ended up being about 10 lbs heavy on the table end which couldn't have been more perfect if I tried. Very easy to pick the tongue up and move it around. I cut the factory leg about 1/3 way down from the top just so I could get it out to the woods and start splitting. I'm going to hinge the leg when I get it back in the shop after Christmas vacation.

1/2 gallon to split five cords is just incredible. Laughable, really. Nice work!

I suppose that's a diesel rabbit truck in the picture too (or it's gonna be soon...). I've spent a bunch time in a few of those. Did a 2000 mile road trip with a buddy, and later my wife owned one. Great mileage! Terrible ride! Another buddy has one with a Jetta turbo diesel and 5 speed. That one was very fun.

I was expecting at least a gallon for the 5 and change cords, but I'll take half that! Gotta love diesel efficiency! It's not the quietest engine knocking away, but it's still probably quieter than a little 6hp gasser roaring away at 3000-3600rpm.

Yup, that's my shop beater truck. It has a mechanical converted direct injection turbo diesel from a 1997 passat that's running about 160hp/290lbft. Considering the rabbit originally had 45hp, it's a freaking hoot to drive. Does a wicked rolling burnout in 1st and 2nd .

 

[bryanr2]

We need a video of that splitter in action.

 

[Ryan'smilling]

Yup, that's my shop beater truck. It has a mechanical converted direct injection turbo diesel from a 1997 passat that's running about 160hp/290lbft. Considering the rabbit originally had 45hp, it's a freaking hoot to drive. Does a wicked rolling burnout in 1st and 2nd .

Nice! I think that's the same turbo diesel my friend had in his. Very fun little diesel-deathtrap-go-kart! I loaded some wood into the one my wife owned. It was just terrible. I couldn't tell which part I was abusing more, the suspension or the tires. I didn't even have as much as in your picture, though it was probably pretty wet.


Sharp looking truck, that's for sure.

 

[Whitbread]

Got a free trailer load of mostly maple with a few poplar and pine logs that were already cut and stacked for 2 years. Good excuse to pull the splitter out for the first time of the new year!

 

[sawfun]

We need a video of that splitter in action.

+1