Splitter Rebuild

[bugboy]

I recently acquired a home-built splitter and am looking to rebuild it. I was hoping to get advice. The cylinder measures 40” long and is 4” across, with a ram that is about 1.5”.

It currently has an old BS 5hp and a hydraulic pump/valve that has “Energy” and “AP 12 A” on it.
The engine bogs down and dies if it meets too much resistance in splitting. My guess is that it is due to an engine that needs work and what I’m guessing is a single stage pump.

I’m considering two different options on a rebuild.
OPTION 1 - I may have a source for a 3-5 hp electric motor to swap out the existing gas engine but still utilizing the same pump and valve set up.
I have a place near 220/240V that I can do my splitting. Will this be enough power? Would this be too slow? What are the “plus and minus” of going this route?

OPTION 2 - Buy a 6.5 BS Intek, 11gpm pump, and splitter valve.
I know I’d be better off with a Honda but I don’t live very close to a town that would carry Hondas and I’m trying to keep this project affordable. Do you see any problems/drawbacks with this option (other than engine choice)? Which option would you choose?

This is just for home use here on the “farm”. Probably would just be doing 3-4 cords a year.

Either way, I think I will move the wedge a little closer to the cylinder as I can’t see the need to split wood that is 30"-36" long.



Couple of pics attached to show what I currently have.

Thanks,
Kurt

 

[mga]

I recently acquired a home-built splitter and am looking to rebuild it. I was hoping to get advice. The cylinder measures 40” long and is 4” across, with a ram that is about 1.5”.

It currently has an old BS 5hp and a hydraulic pump/valve that has “Energy” and “AP 12 A” on it.
The engine bogs down and dies if it meets too much resistance in splitting. My guess is that it is due to an engine that needs work and what I’m guessing is a single stage pump.

probably because that little engine is trying to push that long cylinder.

I’m considering two different options on a rebuild.
OPTION 1 - I may have a source for a 3-5 hp electric motor to swap out the existing gas engine but still utilizing the same pump and valve set up.
I have a place near 220/240V that I can do my splitting. Will this be enough power? Would this be too slow? What are the “plus and minus” of going this route?

you have to match the electric motor HP to that of a gas engine, and it has to have the RPM's as a gas engine. if you got all that, electric wouldn't be bad. a couple of guys here use electric. it's gotta be much quieter than gas, but, would the cost of using electric be the same as using gas?

besides, with electric not too many people can borrow it.

OPTION 2 - Buy a 6.5 BS Intek, 11gpm pump, and splitter valve.
I know I’d be better off with a Honda but I don’t live very close to a town that would carry Hondas and I’m trying to keep this project affordable. Do you see any problems/drawbacks with this option (other than engine choice)? Which option would you choose?

if you are going to buy all that, go for it.

This is just for home use here on the “farm”. Probably would just be doing 3-4 cords a year.

Either way, I think I will move the wedge a little closer to the cylinder as I can’t see the need to split wood that is 30"-36" long.

you said you had a 40" cylinder....is that just the cylinder or the total length when extended?

what size wood do you need? 18"? 20"? 24"?

 

[Mike Van]

Most splitter rods are 2" dia, boy that 1 1/2" looks small! If you go to a 2 stage pump and the splitting force they have, I see that rod bending , especially with 30"+ extended. Rather than move the wedge, I'd think about getting a 4x24 ram & selling that one. If your electric is 3450 rpm, and a true 3 or more hp [not developed hp] it should run a 11 gpm pump [wired 220 volt]. If it's 1725 rpm, don't bother, you'll be really dissapointed. If you search 'splitter' on the forum here, you'll get about a weeks worth of reading.

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

There's a feller here who just got a new splitter with an electric motor. It might be worth your time to read about his choices:

http://www.arboristsite.com/showthread.php?t=66167


There are quite a few other threads on the subject, too, just search on "splitter electric motor" and you'll get a bunch of reading.