Upgradeing a log splitter

[Twowithone]

What would I need to upgrade a 13 ton splitter into a 30 ton splitter. what size pump and cylinder should I be looking into with engine. Come across some 20" rounds it struggled with. Has a Tecumsah 5 hp on it now.Thx for any replies.

 

[ChoppyChoppy]

Is the beam and everything else sized to handle 20 tons? 13 tons should be plenty. My processor is "only" about 15 tons and it splits with a 6 way just fine. Very rare I jame it up... like maybe 3 or 4 blocks in 300+ cords a year.

 

[Wood Hound]

Get rid of this little splitter,Bite the bullet and get a real machine with a decent out-feed tray-If you intend to split big rounds,you need the tray-your little 13 ton will not be engineered to handle the 4in cyl.....

 

[homemade]

Perhaps you have pump or cylinder ware that is causing you loss in power. Can you give us some specs as to I-beam size. And pump size, engine size. It’s also helpful if you know the system operating pressure. A 0-5000psi gauge and tee fitting is cheap to install on the input side of the control valve.

Could be as simple as turning up the relief valve.

 

[Twowithone]

Perhaps you have pump or cylinder ware that is causing you loss in power. Can you give us some specs as to I-beam size. And pump size, engine size. It’s also helpful if you know the system operating pressure. A 0-5000psi gauge and tee fitting is cheap to install on the input side of the control valve.

Could be as simple as turning up the relief valve.

Perhaps you have pump or cylinder ware that is causing you loss in power. Can you give us some specs as to I-beam size. And pump size, engine size. It’s also helpful if you know the system operating pressure. A 0-5000psi gauge and tee fitting is cheap to install on the input side of the control valve.

Could be as simple as turning up the relief valve.

Is the beam and everything else sized to handle 20 tons? 13 tons should be plenty. My processor is "only" about 15 tons and it splits with a 6 way just fine. Very rare I jame it up... like maybe 3 or 4 blocks in 300+ cords a year.

 

[Twowithone]

Thanks for all the replys on this. Im out in my back yard with a sledge hammer smacking the snot out of this 20" maple rounds that are stuck in the wedge. From what I can tell its a Northern Hydraulics splitter. It has a Tecumsah 5 hp engine the number on the pump suggest its a 11GPM pump. I replaced the directional pump it was leaking hydraulic fluid bad. When you folks talk about the I beam its 7' long thats all I know about the beam. Thx again for the replys.

 

[homemade]

https://northernhydraulics.net/cata...-splitter/15-ton-speeco-log-splitter-514.html

Assuming this is what you have. It should handle 20” maple unless it’s ugly crotches your trying to split.

What exactly is the “directional pump” you’re referring to. The hydraulic pump that is attached to the engine? Or the directional valve that is on top of the cylinder.

 

[Twowithone]

https://northernhydraulics.net/cata...-splitter/15-ton-speeco-log-splitter-514.html

Assuming this is what you have. It should handle 20” maple unless it’s ugly crotches your trying to split.

What exactly is the “directional pump” you’re referring to. The hydraulic pump that is attached to the engine? Or the directional valve that is on top of the cylinder.

 

[Twowithone]

I wish I had that model. My splitter was built in 1988. Im sorry I meant to say directional valve its a Prince directional valve. the rounds were just say typical rounds when Im splitting if it looks ugly it goes to the outside fire pit.

 

[kevin j]

need pressure gauge and test.
Otherwise it’s all guessing.

 

[muddstopper]

To increase the tonnage, you either need to increase pressure or go to a bigger bore cyl. As already suggested, check the pressure and see if it can be adjusted to around 3000psi. If you installed a new CV, it was probably pre-adjusted from the factory and not be at max relief setting. Your 5hp motor is the minimum requirement for the 11gpm 2stage pump, but should be rated for 3000psi. Your prince control valve may only be rated for 2750 maxpsi, but is probably preset at 2250psi. That 500psi difference will give you a lot more tonnage for splitting. Any other modification to increase tonnage or speed would probably cost more than just selling that splitter and buying one that will do what you need it to.. If you dont have a pressure guage and cant borrow one, I would just screw the relief screw in until it kills the engine under load and back it off about a full turn.