My home built splitter

[jags]

I have been a long time lurker of this site, so I thought I would get involved by posting a few pics of my home built. Kinda proud of it. Notice the unique log lift design (4 bolts will remove the entire log lift). It has a 9" x 6" I beam, with a 5" ram, powered by an electric start 8hp briggs backed up to a 2 stage 16 gpm pump. The lift is run by a $50 power in/out electric winch from Harbor Freight. I have had me and a buddy stand on it (about 475 pounds) and it picked us right off our feet. The ram doesn't have the fastest cycle times (about 20 sec. for full stoke), but heck, this is for personal use. Nothing has even made this baby grunt (yet). I have run it for 3 splitting seasons, with probably around 28 cord thru it. It has powered thru everything from hickory, oak, maple, american elm, osage, you name it. It works flawlessly.

 

[jags]

Thanks Treeco. I was trying to figure out a way to get the lift so it was an easy on/off design. The hydraulic rams that I have access to weren't the right length, plus I would have to buy a twin valve body to run it with. This works even better (IMO) because I have a 6 foot power cord that I can walk around with when loading those big buggers.

 

[RoosterBoy]

real nice job and love the electric lift how long dose the battery last when your using it do you charge it when you get home.

thanks
Jason

 

[jags]

I use a deep cycle battery (a retired one from my boat) and have never been able to wear it out in a day. The key is, it only takes 3 sec. to lift. There are alot of 3 second bursts in a 12 volt battery. I am probably not as diligent as I should be in recharging the battery. It pretty much gets recharged when I remember to

 

[jags]

This 8hp is minus the charging system, so it doesn't actually recharge the battery, but if it DID have a charging system, I am sure that it would not have a problem keeping up with the battery. The log lift really doesn't even make the winch work hard = less amp draw = less re-charge time.

 

[Butch(OH)]

For my old aching back I'da rasied the beam up a tad but not nit picking, looks like a dandy splitter there. Now if that winch for your lifter gives out here is a low buck way to put it back into comission, use the ram. I saw one somewhere where the lifter raised with a cable hooked under the push block and a pulley or two. Pusher ahead, lifter goes down, pusher retract,lifter gooes up. Also had a simple latch so it could be left up all the time (The lifter makes a nice work table) and you could unhook the cable so it stayed down. Damn ingenious if you ask me.

 

[Butch(OH)]

Oh yeah, where at in N ILL? We are going to be in Davis a a couple weeks for a show.

 

[jags]

Butch, I'm not sure about the beam height. I am 6' tall, and the beam is pretty close to my finger tips. I stand upright to hold and split. Never really thought what a few more inches in rise might do. Hmmm, I will have to pay more attention the next time I use it. I am about 1 hour from Davis.

 

[jags]

Butch, ya got my curiosity up with the beam height. I went back to look at the pictures. I think those pics might be giving off an optical illusion. The round that is in the splitter is almost 34". How high is a typical beam?
Oh - what kinda show is in Davis?

 

[Butch(OH)]

Dont worry too much about me squaking about your beam. Half of my back is fused and the other half is arthritic so I dont bend too good. When I built this splitter I put the beam at a comfortable height and had the boys tack some temp legs to hold it there while I built down to the floor, LOL Mine isn't here where I can get a measurement but here is a pic. Lifters are on both sides with common cylinder. The show in Davis is an Allis Chalmers show, my hobby.

<IMG SRC=http://www.tractorshed.com/gallery/iphotos/i2939.jpg>

 

[Sawdust7]

ButchOH wrote:

The show in Davis is an Allis Chalmers show, my hobby.

So then, can we see some pics of that too??? I was gonna ask why you left the tractor out of the pic. I mean, we ALL like tractors Butch.:hmm3grin2orange: I've got a couple of old Fergy 30s here along with an old Bolens G-274. Love the creep on that booger.
Ya'll gotta have a CDL to pull them splitters? LOL

 

[jags]

Yeah Butch, where's the drive to that PTO splitter? Gotta be hooked to something! I have a couple of old school Case tractors. Actually, I mow with a 1940 VC case with a 5 ft deck, and have an old DC that is fun to play with also.:biggrinbounce2:

 

[jags]

Oh - Sawdust7, my splitter is less than 26,000 pounds (not by much ) so I don't need a CDL to tow it.

 

[mga]

not bad!!! in fact, very nice.

feels good building your own then watching it work, don't it?

i'm 90% done with mine and already people have been buddying up to borrow it. no one offers to help design it.....they just want to use it. lol