I would like to make a post splitter

[norbert77]

I'm trying to come up with a way of having the cylinder on the side, so I can have a nice 8' stroke. Maybe with a 5x8 rectangular tubing. Only 4" cylinder at 3000 pounds, idea being if I use a small 6" knife I just need to cut half the post I think it should split. Bad idea, go for 12"?

I'm also trying to figure out the power supply, I have a 24hp 18gpm pump, I think I would like to upgrade to a 2 stage. What is the largest horsepower 2 stage pump? I was on a hydraulic surplus page and seems they are all made for low horse engines

 

[Patrick62]

nutty idea, be careful.
to get long stroke, use heavy chains and double the travel of a 4 foot stroke cylinder. It will cut the force in half, but it would work.
You should be able to use a small cable for return stroke with pulleys.
You won't need a lotta flow, but the pressure could be fairly high on the cylinder. 2 stage pump would be fine, since you are doubling the travel speed, you don't want a high cylinder speed. 16gpm would be PLENTY!
The chains would have to be probably #80 or #100.
Fix one end put a sprocket on the end of the cylinder, and the ram on the other end.

This is how my manlift works. except they double it a few more times to get 30 feet of lift. but only rated for 300# in the cage.

 

[norbert77]

nutty idea, be careful.
to get long stroke, use heavy chains and double the travel of a 4 foot stroke cylinder. It will cut the force in half, but it would work.
You should be able to use a small cable for return stroke with pulleys.
You won't need a lotta flow, but the pressure could be fairly high on the cylinder. 2 stage pump would be fine, since you are doubling the travel speed, you don't want a high cylinder speed. 16gpm would be PLENTY!
The chains would have to be probably #80 or #100.
Fix one end put a sprocket on the end of the cylinder, and the ram on the other end.

This is how my manlift works. except they double it a few more times to get 30 feet of lift. but only rated for 300# in the cage.

Thanks, I was thinking this over thoroughly and the cylinder head will be mounted where most cylinder are hooked to, and the cylinder will extend rar out. I know what you saying about chains, I would rather avoid any failures... Long time ago a chain broke and I was almost neutered as a result. Hence the longer cylinder with more flow.