Eeeeeek!! Problems with my splitter, HELP!

[FerrisDiesel]

Ok, so here's the deal. I was jonsing for my own logsplitter. So with the help of my grandfather, and all the wonderful stuff he has in his garage, like pistons, pumps, hoses steel etc......We built my monster of a splitter. The thing was running sweet......I have a 22 gpm barnes pump, and was running a 8 hp honda, with a 3 in piston........the cycle time was respectable at 6-7 seconds, but the honda was screaming......
I got my hands on a fairly new Kohler 22 hp, it came out of a john deere Z trax......wiring harness and all, we put it on the splitter in place of the Honda.....You would think all would be cool, but it's not.
Here is my dilema, and hopefully some one can help. The Kohler runs alot lower RPM's , which is what I wanted so I didn't have to overwork the Honda. However, the cycle time went way up to like 10 seconds and also It seems like it doesn't have as much power as it had before. I am also getting like a screeching sound from around the pump......Any ideas?

What can I do to make it fast again? Any clue on what the noise is? Do you think I might be cavitating the pump?
HELP!

 

[Sawmill]

I would go to the Kohler website and find your engine and see what the specs are. It should give the RPMs that it should be running at. Maybe whatever the engine came out could not be run at a higher RPM so they set the engine at a lower RPM.

 

[Wirenut2266]

Rotation wrong?

 

[wkpoor]

You stated the Kohler runs much lower RPM's. Well....... RPM's is a direct correlation to pump displacement. If you were running 7 and now its 10 with slower motor I don't see what the problem is. Also I think you will see a power difference with lower volume available. I have mentioned this in other threads that a high displacement pump seems to have more power even under less pressure which might be what you are experiencing.

 

[drmiller100]

almost all small air cooled engines run 3400 rpm or so.

intersting you found a honda that ran faster.

after that, more horsepowre with same pump means same speed same usable power on hte splitter.

for the screeching, a big kohler has a different bolt pattern then a small honda. you probably don't have the pump centered to teh crankshaft, and are chewing the bearings.

 

[ray benson]

A 2 stage 22gpm pump needs at least 12 hp.So the Honda was undersized. Some Hondas are rated to 3900rpm. What is the Kohlers specs?

 

[mga]

I would go to the Kohler website and find your engine and see what the specs are. It should give the RPMs that it should be running at. Maybe whatever the engine came out could not be run at a higher RPM so they set the engine at a lower RPM.

good call. sometimes they adjust the govenor for the application that the engine is going on. maybe a simple govenor spring setting would give higher RPM's.

i went from an 18HP briggs to a 12.5 kohler without a problem, but both came off garden tractors. however, the same 18hp briggs on a generator or a welder has a different govenor setting.

 

[Mike Van]

Just guessing you have a Lovejoy type coupler between the engine & pump? Maybe just disconnect the pump, see if the noise is still there. ?

 

[FerrisDiesel]

Found the noise

Ok we pin pointed the noise to the two way valve that we are using for the log lifter.......when it is under pressure it does not make the noise, when it's not, you can hear the screeching noise.........I don't know much about hydraulic valves, but I do know about Fire Fighting valves and pumps and it almost sounds like a relief valve, maybe.....or a lack of flow.... wadda ya think?
As for the RPM on the motor I think you guys might be right.......For some reason the Honda I had on there revved up really high, and this Kohler not so much....I think I will check out the governer spring and see what happens then...
Thanks for the help, keep the advice flowing!
Alan

 

[wkpoor]

A lot of flow through a small valve can make a hydraulic screech. My control valve does that when I dead end the ram and it bypasses the through the relief. Is that 2spool valve rated for the flow of your pump?

 

[kevin j]

Is the valve a closed center spool? Then when in neutral it would block flow and send it across relief all the time. Does it load the engine and heat up oil quickly?


k

 

[FerrisDiesel]

Hmmmmmmm

Is the valve a closed center spool? Then when in neutral it would block flow and send it across relief all the time. Does it load the engine and heat up oil quickly?


k

It does heat up the oil quickly, that was my other concern.....The valve is a 2 valve off of an old Loader my grandfather had in the back yard...So that would explain the screeching, how do I go about fixing this problem with out buying a new valve??

 

[drmiller100]

, how do I go about fixing this problem with out buying a new valve??

you could buy the correct pressure sensing pump.........

 

[turnkey4099]

It does heat up the oil quickly, that was my other concern.....The valve is a 2 valve off of an old Loader my grandfather had in the back yard...So that would explain the screeching, how do I go about fixing this problem with out buying a new valve??[/QUOT]

Single spool valves aren't all that expensive. You could also shop at the junkyards. Lots of hydraulic equipment gets stripped off of incoming stuff.

Harry K

 

[Mike Van]

About 75.00 at Northern Tool - Detent valve that'l run trouble free for years.

 

[FerrisDiesel]

Sounds like I am going to get another detent valve............Here's my thing though, I want to have the 2 valves in one, because I am going to add a piston to my wedge to make it adjustable.......So what Kind of 2 way valve am I going to be looking for??? A spool, open, closed?

 

[kevin j]

If it is off a farm tractor loader, it is likely already an open center and it may not be the source of noise.

Remove In & Out hoses. blow air through the inlet port. With spools centered, does air come freely out the outlet? then it is open center and ok. If no connection in to out, valve is closed center and forcing your flow across relief in center condition.

A little tougher to find a two spool valve with one section detented on return. I don't know of any retail (cheap) sources. May have to order a sectional valve built up of stock parts but assembled to order.

Assuming the current one is not correct, I would get a new detented one spool valve for now because they are cheap and sold in high volumes. Then later when you actually do the wedge cylinder, add a one spool 'power beyond' valve, with relief valve, ahead of the detented split valve.

k