That is a wonderful log splitter you designed. Certainly if you created Blue Prints and specifications I believe you would have not problem retailing them...Well done!!
Nice job sir. I'm going to incorporate the log lift slide vs hard mount to mine. I love the safty aspect of the cylinder not being attached. I work with hydraulics daily and fully aware of the danger/power. I'm not a safty nanny but that's just a good idea. Thank you for sharing.
It was not only the safety issue especially with multiple people working around the splitter but I noticed that on splitters with a non floating log lift the operator would have a hard time getting the lift flush with the ground without going too far and rocking the splitter. The floating lift also allows the use of the auto down feature.
Beautiful job my friend. I’m getting ready to make a log lift. I’m not gonna spend the time to make it look like factory because my home made splitter is probably 30 years old and no paint to be found on it anywhere. It will work but won’t look as good as yours. Thanks for sharing. ✌️👍🇺🇸
That is a awesome machine! I was wondering if you could do another video of explaining how the log works and how it is hooked up because I noticed how it works without holding the lever by itself. Thanks 🙏
This splitter will outlast us all! Nice job. My only question is why not try to keep the controls on the same side as the log lift that way you don't have to walk around? I'm assuming you usually split with 2 people.
This was well thought out, very nice job. 28" splits are big! I too have a homemade splitter that a friend of mine made out of parts from an old dozer. Nothing as nice as this though.
This video is the exact way I would like to build my splitter. Couple of questions I have are what horsepower is your motor? Also, is there a Way you could put parts list together in the description? Such as the type of manifolds you’ve purchased or what brand and model of pump you used? It looks like you have an enormous amount of knowledge in the world of hydraulics. I’m just getting into it but you built the exact thing I want to build. Way to go, that was awesome!
B&S no longer rates their engines by horsepower but I'd say it's about 15hp. I don't have a parts list per say, I started with one but many of the parts got substituted as I went along partly because my thoughts changed and partly because of what was available. The valves are Prince for the most part. The small cylinders are Wolverine. The main ram I ordered from Brute force mainly because they had the size I wanted otherwise I would have had to have it custom built. I used an oversize tank, 25 gallons I think, mainly to keep oil temps down. The pump is a 22 GPM splitter pump. The "dump" valve is made by Sun, my notes list it as a 'HCM' body and 'CKGB' valve. They tend to be very pricy but I kept checking around and found people that were getting rid of them (still new). If I had had an unlimited budget I would have upped the engine to a v twin around 22 hp then upped the pump to a 28GPM. I'm sorry I didn't use a 2 inch lift cylinder mainly because that would have resulted in a little bit better fine control. So far, however, the 1 1/2 inch one has picked up any log I can get to the splitter. Hope that helps! Thanks
Fantastic machine the only thing I don't have is the auto cycle and shorter ram, I have a loading boom which I can pick up 4 feet on the right side and 3 feet on the left side, plus two years ago I took my dead axle out and put a ge o tracker front live axle, now I drive it where I want to go and steers, no block I can't lift or split cheaper than these brand name machine.
Nice home built unit you have here. I too was wondering about adding a flow control valve before splitter valves thinking it would be nice to have some control during splitting but hindsight with the speed I have it’s not needed. For secondary controls I chose to use a front end loader 4way valve with float like yours(detent) the float is nice to let log lift down without holding it. Not sure why big mfgs don’t do this also. I do like your stroke limiting idea. Much better than relying on a positive stop for the push plate.
I'm not sure I understand your comment correctly. The flow valve doesn't control the split speed , it controls the log lift and wedge speed. The point of this layout is to be able to use the wedge lift or log lift while splitting or retracting the splitting cylinder. When the log lift valve is "after" the main valve it will only get whatever oil is not being used by the main ram.
@@Billygoat1953 correct. I thought about plumbing like you did having control valves in parallel instead of series, but after seeing how fast my splitter turned out I feel it was not needed.
Your Hard Work and Ingenuity Shines Bright Can I Ask You the Horse Power of the Engine And The Brand and Flow Rate of the Pump At Max RPM’s . As I am building a Diesel Unit of my Own Too !!
Thank you. Briggs no longer rates their smaller engines by horsepower but it's a 420 cc engine, probably 14.5 to 15 hp. I don;t remember the pump brand but it's a dual stage pump, 22 GPM, made for splitters and they're made by a number of companies. It was mostly a financial decision to stay with a single cylinder engine, there is room for a twin of around 18 to 20 hp which could power a 28 GPM pump but would have also involved a separate fuel tank and a bit more involved exhaust.
Good work. Anything else you would have done different besides the lift cylinder size? box wedge instead of 4 way etc? Your design is very similar to what I'm planning on building. I've got most of the main parts and some of the metal gathered up and hope to get started soon.
No, not really other than adding a lift side control handle. As far as wedges, mine is easily removable but the wood I get varies so much in size that the 4 way works well
Brute Force splitter co. I had met the owner at a lumbermans fair a few years before I built mine. They were using a cylinder that was pretty much everything I wanted...5" x 30" with the oversized ports. They had them built somewhere local to them. My alternative was to have one made at a cylinder shop here. They are really a great bunch of folks there. To me the cylinder is the heart of the splitter and I would rather cheap out somewhere else. You can have a big engine and pump but if the cylinder only has one small port that's what's going to limit the speed of the ram.
Absolutely beautiful, my son and I are wanting to build one ourselves. Any way I could get your contact info to maybe ask you some questions wile building outs. This is exactly what we want! Thanks from Indiana!
I originally estimated it would cost me, out of pocket, $2600 but it probably ended up more like $3500 and I either had or got for free much of the steel and the wheels and axle.
