Question on Husky Splitter

[papossefan]

Hello everyone I am new here so I just wanted to take the time and say hello to everyone. About 2 years ago I purchased a Husky splitter from Tractor Supply Company. It is a 27 ton splitter with a 5.5H.P. honda engine and the hydraulic pump is somewhere between 11 and 16 GPM. I am pleased with its porformence so far (I can't find anything it won't split). The only I and wondering is if there is anything I can do to speed up the cycle time? Will changing the pump or valve help me at all or am I pretty much stuck with what I have???

 

[Patrick62]

Need more info

5.5 Honda isn't a whole lot of power. I am going to assume that it has a 11 gpm pump on it, as anything larger would stall the engine.

Size of cylinder? I am going to have to say large as you are complaining the cycle is slow. Also because they claimed 27 tons.... It is gonna have to be either a 4 1/2 or a 5 inch cylinder.

I am running a 5 inch cylinder with a 16gpm pump and it is no speed demon.

Can you see where this is going?

Change the pump to larger size, and you don't have the power to turn it.
Swap to a larger engine to turn the pump and you got something.

How much money you want to spend? How fast you want it to go?

You could figure out which pump is on there by timing the foreward stroke once you know the bore of the cylinder. Oh, engine at 3600.....

Is that enough food for thought?
-pat

 

[papossefan]

Thanks patrick, thats kinda what I figured, just thought I would ask since I know pretty much nothing about hydraulic systems. Looks like if I really want more speed I need more power and a larger pump. That sucks.

 

[70t351w]

I also have a husky from TS. It is about five years old, split well over 100 cords of oak. What I do for speed is have my wood stacked towards me. I feed the spitter left to right and as it splits I pull it apart with my hands, my son throws it into the pile, I grab another round and feed it back in before it can complete a cycle. We can usually split a cord in an hour.

 

[papossefan]

I use a method very similar to what you are describing, and once you get onto it things go alot faster if you don't have to wait for that thing to cycle the whole way back everytime.

 

[hammer0419]

I purchased a 27 Ton Troy-Built with a 5.5 Honda from Lowes last year. It too is no speed demon but serves me well and then some. I put GIANT OAK in it and it never fails. I also just about never return the wedge to the top while splitting so it doesn't have as far to travel which speeds it up. More than I will ever need. When you have doubts about your splitter, go into your shed and "peak at the AXE". Damn that splitter is fast!!!!