Didier splitters

[david_fillman]

Heat will be main issue, larger hose will help in that a bit but the constriction of 1/2" ports on the ram will be the main culprit. Speed- larger hose won't affect that again because of the ram ports. If the valve is all 1/2" also just money down drain with step up and step down adapters. Eons ago I rebuilt my splitter ( after bending mutiple areas including the 2" thick foot plate) my valve is 3/4" ports and hoses also but the ram ports are 1/2" my speed didn't change that i noticed but the unit runs much cooler. If my pump goes or the ram then I will jump to 16gpm ( 11 gpm now) and a ram with 3/4" ports. ( finding 3/4" ported ram is more dollars than the 1/2") Iirc the 16 gpm pump is still a 1/2 output port just at higher pressure.

I am happy with cutting my splitting time by more than half. I am not going to spend $100 in hoses chasing 2 seconds. The valve has 3/4" NPT in and out ports but the cylinder and valve work ports are 1/2" NPT. The real restriction are the 6 JIC -8 fittings at .39" inside diameter. -12 fittings would get 1/2" NPT up to .53" ID and 3/4" NPT up to .61" ID.

 

[triptester]

While there are industry standards for external thread and taper diamensions the internal diamensions vary greatly.
This pic shows the same size and style of fitting but different manufacturer.

 

[david_fillman]

While there are industry standards for external thread and taper dimensions the internal dimensions vary greatly.
This pic shows the same size and style of fitting but different manufacturer.

I only use JIC 37°, military spec MS51500 hydraulic fittings on my race cars, tractor hydraulics and log splitter. I worked for a pipe fitting manufacturer for 8 years as a mechanical engineer. I specialized in fluid dynamics testing of US, Canuck naval ship set and nuke plant pipe fittings.

The US military does not allow dimensional variations.

I agree that non MS spec stuff is all over the place.

https://landandmaritimeapps.dla.mil/Downloads/MilSpec/Docs/MIL-DTL-18866/ms51500.pdf

 

[david_fillman]

The stock CROSS valves on the Didier's with steel hard lines, are like most I've seen.
If you change out valve to another, that either pulls or pushes the spool, will change port output.

I had to use flex hoses to use the new valve (NOT CROSS) I installed, or if you reuse the solid steel lines, will work backwards.
Like your 2nd. picture shows.

It depends if the pivot on the valve handle pushes or pulls the spool.
The CROSS valve pulls spool out when moving forward. (pivots on bottom), my new valve PUSHES the spool in, (pivots on top)

Since I installed the new pump that cut the cycle time in more than half I decided to try and figure out why the Cross valve advances automatically when splitting wood. I always thought that was dangerous but now it is obviously dangerous.

After researching the Cross manuals I realized that the valve has a double detent spool (#28) that holds in both forward and retract directions. Cross calls for a single detent spool (#32) that only holds on retract and kicks out when the ram gets all the way back.

I swapped out the double detent spool (#28) for a single detent on retract spool (#32). I also had to flip the handle pivot bracket (#10) so the link (#4) is now on the top and swapped the "A" and "B" hoses per the Cross manual.

Only took half a century but now the valve works correctly.

 

[david_fillman]

I am finally done updating my old Didier. This was never going to be a fancy restoration. Functionality and reliability were the goals.
I replaced the Freon bottle tank that I installed back in the 1980s with a spiffy new 2.8 gallon hydraulic tank.
I replaced the original 7 GPM 2 stage pump with a shiny new 16 GPM 2 stage pump which took the full cycle time from 19 seconds down to 9 seconds.
I updated the original Cross valve per the Cross log splitter manual to make it much safer.
The Cross instructions required new hoses since the "A" and "B" ports are now reversed.
I added a filter, magnetic drain and fill plugs on the engine and hydraulics. After 3 hydraulic fluid flushes I am still getting a little metal on every plug.
New kill switch button and air filter also installed.

Before:

After:

 

[kennyg@home]

Forgot to add: We paid around $150US for it about 8 yrs. ago with an iffy engine and leaky cylinder. Ran it that way the first year then put a new (5.5hp?) BS engine on it at a cost of around $185. Last year rebuilt the seals on the cylinder ($70) and in spring of this year replaced 2 hyd. hoses & spyder ($25). Total investment around $430US with repairs/replacements done but it has been in use those 8 yrs. also running around 12-15 cord of wood through it.

I looked at the repair costs as minimal considering the cost of a new splitter.

Would I sell it for $430US? To each his own but it is worth more than that to me.

Shari

I know its 10 years later, but I am hoping Shari is still around and could send me a copy of the manual. I have a Didier Hydra Split that suddenly lost power. I have taken the gear pump (200-2243) apart and cleaned it, and need to know if there is a hydraulic filter somewhere (the oil is cloudy and foamy and needs to be replaced.

 

[david_fillman]

I know its 10 years later, but I am hoping Shari is still around and could send me a copy of the manual. I have a Didier Hydra Split that suddenly lost power. I have taken the gear pump (200-2243) apart and cleaned it, and need to know if there is a hydraulic filter somewhere (the oil is cloudy and foamy and needs to be replaced.

I have the manual. My e-mail address is [email protected]

Send me an e-mail and I will get it right out to you.

 

[MoEngineer]

My father in law had this sitting in his shed for the past 20years or so since the original engine died and he quit burning wood for heat. He asked if I would like it since it was taking up space and I decided to turn it into a project for me and my boys (7&4yo). As per usual what started as a plan to replace the engine and hoses became a complete tear down . New predator 212, new hoses, complete strip and repaint of every component, added filter system and re-milled the guides. I have a 5gal compressor tank that I'll add at some point, but the original will work for now. Last part is getting tubes in the old tires which my FIL offered to do today. I attached the coupler to my drill and primed the system and cycled the ram a few times. The boys love stickers and found a cummins one from a recent filter order that they insisted go on the cylinder to make it match dads big truck. I don't split a ton of wood, but enough to make it worth it and teaching my kids was the main reason anyway.