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ditchrider
Burning Hunk
Sniff, sniff, ssssnniff. Do I smell some conversion out here? Or is it just a persuasion. You know guys, as disappointing is it may sound, maybe we could use a realist in our club to keep us from getting TOO far off track, and maybe even injured. It's only one vote. What do you think? Even if he IS outvoted he may provide realistic(although unbearable) reasoning to our discussions.
Sniff, sniff, ssssnniff. Do I smell some conversion out here? Or is it just a persuasion. You know guys, as disappointing is it may sound, maybe we could use a realist in our club to keep us from getting TOO far off track, and maybe even injured. It's only one vote. What do you think? Even if he IS outvoted he may provide realistic(although unbearable) reasoning to our discussions.
My opinions, tho not always popular, are rooted in the reality of dirty wrenches, stained uniforms, and bloody knuckles. And sometimes an empty wallet....
ditchrider
Burning Hunk
Yes, and your point is...? (acceptance or rejection, circle one)My opinions, tho not always popular, are rooted in the reality of dirty wrenches, stained uniforms, and bloody knuckles. And sometimes an empty wallet....
The rest of us in the circle all have one fault the others can ridicule (no really, there's only one. It's a requirement.) Realism, though difficult to swallow, may (like I said) be the one salvation that could keep the rest of us out the hospital, jail or even the mortuary in the midst of our adventures.
C'mon Mech. What do you say? Unless you have a badge somewhere in your underwear. No lawdogs allowed.
....
..hmmmm
Unless you are CIA. It might be cool building a high tech firewood processor to defeat the Russians.
ditchrider
Burning Hunk
Such a realist. The rest of us live in such a conundrum we don't have opinions, just far fetched thoughts we believe to be facts. Um.... til we break something in the processMy opinions, tho not always popular, are rooted in the reality of dirty wrenches, stained uniforms, and bloody knuckles. And sometimes an empty wallet....
.
I wish I could be that humble at times.
ditchrider
Burning Hunk
Sarcasm, BBart, its only SARCASM. I'm not related to "coldsmoke" in any way and I've never even been to Alaska.
I didn't even highlight in RED.
I didn't even highlight in RED.
I'm gonna go on record here as the Doubting Thomas. $700.00 for a used, home made splitter when you could easily find a newer brand name model fo not much more money. If we are having this kind of discussion about whether you should buy it or not, what will it be like if/when you try to sell it in a few years?
naw.....not me Rich. I'm gonna venture to say that in a couple years when we are all paying 25.00 a gallon for gasoline, Brian will be running his own mix of biodiesel in that machine and splitting his wood for next to nothing....
I've been looking at splitters online for some time now. I did not find much worth buying in this price range.
I ended up paying $575 for it and brought it home. It has a 9hp Yanmar diesel motor that starts easily every time, a 5" cylinder, and an 11gpm 2 stage pump. It needs the suction hoses and filter replaced, which I'm currently having done. I'll probably upgrade the pump to 16gpm. Yes, its home made, but its built like a tank, and its easy to service/repair.
If I decide to sell it sometime in the future, I really don't think I'll have trouble selling a diesel powered log splitter with that set of components, do you? I might not as readily sell it to someone on CL, but in communities like this one, who understand what makes for a good splitter, I don't think it will be a problem.
On the other hand, I don't expect to be selling it any time soon either.
ditchrider
Burning Hunk
My best guestimate is that its a 29 ton splitter. MasterMech will tell you better what it IS. He knows better what the pressures typically are which is the influential variable that we don't know.
I've looked around for 25-34 ton splitters. In four months there has been 3 ads on CL and they didn't last a week. In our neck of the woods 25-34 ton splitters run 1259-2399 depending on size and Speeco to I&O.
Brian got that thing for $575 and some elbow grease. Even if it needs a new pump it's about half the cost of a Speeco.
But Brian doesn't have a Speeco. He's got a CATERSPLITTER!
!!
Copy and paste the following into your Google search bar:
site:*.craigslist.org log splitter
It will give you all entries for log splitters anywhere in the Craigslist system nationwide.
That's how I do my searches for price comparison, then I search the statewide listings for something local. Its how I found my Carry-on dual axle trailer.
Prices are all over the place, but in general, its hard to find anything worth buying for less than $800.
At a typical 2750 psi pressure release, the real math proves out to be 54120 pounds or 27 tons. Being home built, the only way to know where it really is would be to put a gauge at the input of the push side of the cylinder (which I highly recommend you do to get it set properly).
Be aware - on home built units, some components don't always match (say 2000 psi hoses instead of a 3000 psi hose). Always set your pressure release to the lowest components ratings. It the whole "weak link" in the chain thing.
Thanks Jags. The forklift repair guy is going to check over all the high pressure hoses for me while he's working on it, if necessary I'll replace them too for peace of mind.
Have him test the pressure relief settings so that YOU know what they are. In 5 yrs you may pop a hose. You will want to know what pressure your system is running at. 2500 psi hoses are common. Splitter pressures can be higher than that (depending on the settings). Take a paint stick and write it on the pump, or somewhere else on the splitter for future ref.
ditchrider
Burning Hunk
I was using 3000 psi. I've seen some at 3500 and trying to be conservative. As for hose, Our NAPA and most tractor dealerships always carried 3000 psi. But now it's a good point I'll keep in mind. Just when you get used to the norm BANG and that'll teaching you to ask each time you have one built. Thanks Jags.
We talked about that. He is going to try to free up the adjustment knob on the pressure relief valve and check the pressures at load at different settings, and set it appropriately. He's a good old boy, and he's sharp and he knows hydraulics. I'll double check it when I get it back.
I sold a "toy" over the weekend, so I have enough $ in my "play money" account to order a 16gpm pump for the Catersplitter as well as a Timberline chainsaw sharpener, so I'll be ordering the replacement pump tomorrow.
Keep in mind that the typical Haldex and Speeco pumps have a MAX rating of 3000 psi output. Most relief valves (control valves) do NOT come from the factory set that high. 2750 is common, but it can be anywhere from 2250 - 2750 depending on brand, etc.
If you have ever witnessed a catastrophic failure of a hydraulic component, it will be ingrained in your brain.
ditchrider
Burning Hunk
So, I know I've seen 34 and 37 ton splitters. Details on them are pretty slim. Do they achieve those tonnages typically through pressure or a 6 inch 
cylinder?
cylinder?
So, I know I've seen 34 and 37 ton splitters. Details on them are pretty slim. Do they achieve those tonnages typically through pressure or a 6 inch
Marketing.
They will take the highest working pressure of any component and build their numbers from there. The 34 ton units that use a 5" ram would need to max out a 3500 psi system. There are components that can make that happen, but most of the pumps on those systems are running the 3000psi Haldex pumps. There are exceptions (such as the Barnes pumps, that can run 3500 psi)
This straight from the Northstar verbiage for their 37 ton model. I don't know where the "Peak" number comes from if the relief is set to the MAX at 3500 psi.
"Ram Force (Tons): 37, Max. Log Size L x W (in.): 25 x 16, Continuous Force (Tons): 34.3,"
The guy working on this said as much, which is why he said he was going to go over everything carefully. Which is also why I decided to let someone who knew what they are doing wrench on it.
He said if a hose blows under pressure next to the operator, even on a log splitter, it can be deadly.
ditchrider
Burning Hunk
Wait, are you telling me that advertisers stretch the truth
. I thought that was the reason politicians put campaign committees together because ad firms had scruples of honesty and turned down the work.
Wait, are you telling me that advertisers stretch the truth
Ohhhh Noooo....I would never say anything like that.
What I am saying is that without specialty components there is NO such thing as a 5" ram, 37 ton log splitter.
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