Log splitter questions

[urhstry]

How can I make my log splitter work faster? It is an animal of a machine but cylinder travel is very slow. Bigger pump?

What GPM pump works well on a 35ton splitter?

And how exactly does a two-stage pump work on a splitter? I'm not real familiar with hydraulics.

Thanks guys.

 

[Evanrude]

Yes, a bigger pump will increase cycle time. You match the gpm of the pump up to the HP of the motor. General rule is 2gpm/1hp. Example; 8 HP motor/16 GPM pump.

Not sure on the 2 stage pump, someone else will have to answer that.

 

[nickblaze466]

two stage pump basically lets you run a smaller motor while still taking advantage of higher cycle times.

i forget the actual pressure the second stage kicks in, but basically runs lets say 11gpm until you need more power, and then it drops into another gear down at around 2gpm but at a higher psi to push through the log, then shifts back up when the pressure is no longer needed.

basically.

 

[drmiller100]

whnat they said, except the general rule is 1/2 gpm per horsepower.

UNLESS you run the 2 stage pumps, in which case you can usually go 2 gpm per horsepower.

think of the 2 stage as having a tranmision. she stays in high gear unless the wood gets really tough, in which case she automatically shifts down to low gear to get through the tough stuff.

 

[Junkfxr]

A two stage pump is actually two pumps in one. Under low pressure, both sides are pumping for high volume and low pressure, say under 700 psi. When the pressure demand increases to above 700 psi, the low pressure side quits and only the low volume / high pressure side pumps. That's not exact but basically how it works.

 

[urhstry]

So do you have a pump dealer on the boards here? Or where is everyone buying their pumps?

 

[Junkfxr]

I have got some off of ebay. Northern Tool and Surplus Center are two popular places on the net to get them.

 

[dustytools]

I bought my pump at Tractor Supply. 16GPM pump= $200.

 

[SWI Don]

Get yourself an 18hp engine and 28 gpm two stage pump. Upgrade the valve and hoses to something rated for the flow. Pressure hoses of at least 3/4".

With a 5" cylinder you will get ~5 sec each direction. A 6" cylinder will be somewhat slower.

It is not a cheap upgrade but it will speed things up a bunch.

Have fun.

Don

 

[gink595]

I bought my pump at Tractor Supply. 16GPM pump= $200.

Wow, I bought one at Rural King, another farm store like TSC, they have Haldex 16 gpm 2 stage for 74.99, I thought it was a price screw up so I bought it, but then I thought well maybe it isn't a 16/2 so I call haldex and their engineer confirms that it is. I went back and sure enough they new stock that is there is priced the same. Maybe I should buy them all and sell on E-bay.

 

[urhstry]

Group purchase??

 

[nickblaze466]

74 is an awesome price.

i've gotten mine off ebay lately, sure as hell beats TSC prices

 

[milkie62]

16 gpm pump for $74 ???????????? Buy all of them and resell.Northern generally has most anything you will need for a splitter build.

 

[gink595]

Group purchase??

I half wonder, I've heard this store buys surplus where ever they can, you can never depend on them having the same stuff in stock when it's gone it's gone, even their control valves are 50 bucks cheaper than TSC. For all I know this might have been some old stock from a log splitter manufacturer that they bought up, For one they have no boxes just a plastic bag and all have a 90* bend on the suction side like it was purpose built for a particuliar use.