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Plow Hydraulics Turned Log Splitter

Discussion in 'Builds and Fabricators Forum' started by ITLKSEZ, Aug 8, 2021.

  1. Aug 8, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    I’m finally at a point in my life where splitting wood by hand is no longer fun. Maybe “fun” is the wrong word, it was never fun, but now it feels like work.

    I decided to try to see if I could make the plow hydraulics on the 3b work for splitting at least the most monotonous of the woods I burn. Dry lodgepole pine is actually so easy to split, it’s hard. If you hit it too hard, it blows apart and cartwheels down the hillside.

    I made the platform for the wood to sit on out of 3 1/2” square tube, and it fits into the brackets on the frame for the plow with two hitch pins, and two chain supports link onto the A-frame.

    My first attempt was a failure. The cylinder just doesn’t have enough force on the downstroke to do the job.

    [​IMG]

    So, I moved the cylinder to the back side of the A-frame and modified the arm to work as a cantilever. If my math is correct, the “push” has 46% greater force than the “pull”.

    [​IMG]

    After this pic, I swapped the lines at the valve so the controls weren’t backwards, and I re-routed the hoses so they weren’t kinked.

    I ran some more linkages through the grill with a handle so I can operate it from out front.

    [​IMG]

     
  2. Aug 8, 2021
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
    Joined:
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    That's awesome. :lol:
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  3. Aug 8, 2021
    Twin2

    Twin2 not him 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Virginia Beach, VA
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    all this is still running off PS pump
     
    ITLKSEZ likes this.
  4. Aug 8, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Yup
     
  5. Aug 9, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
    Aug 13, 2015
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    I used this for about an hour this morning and got all my wood split. I love it.

    [​IMG]

    I could see how harder woods will give it fits, but for $90 I can get a direct replacement cylinder that replaces this 2” bore with a 3” bore that would increase the force by 125%. At 2000 psi, a 2” bore should apply 6280 pounds at the shaft, and a 3” bore should apply 14,130 pounds. This is reduced some by the arm being longer on the wedge side; lengths I don’t have at the moment to do the math.

    The downside is, it would be slower by about the same factor. I do like the speed.
     
    Alan28, Fireball and 73 cj5 like this.
  6. Aug 9, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Aug 3, 2003
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    But as you note, slower. No free lunches. Cycle time is a big factor for me, it adds up when doing large quantities. For years I kept using a hand maul because it was so much faster than hydraulic splitters.

    I suspect increasing the power might also mean upgrading other areas, such as the suspension chains, etc.

    Cool project. :)
     
    Alan28 and ITLKSEZ like this.
  7. Aug 9, 2021
    Dave B

    Dave B Frankenjeep '67

    Northern Minnesota
    Joined:
    Nov 10, 2009
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    650
    Great innovation! Looks like a match to your fairly straight-grained lodgepole pine.

    If you get into gnarly, tight-grain stuff a flaring, wider wedge & a means to pull a occasion stubborn piece off the wedge may be necessary! I have a 22-ton hydraulic splitter that gets challenged on occasion by cut-to-18"-length gnarly hardwoods.
     
    Alan28 and ITLKSEZ like this.
  8. Aug 9, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    Yeah, this thing would have no chance back east. :D
     
    Ol Fogie likes this.
  9. Aug 9, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    The 3b chasing someone with the axe cycling would make for a good low budget horror movie.
     
    wheelie, jeepermc, Alan28 and 6 others like this.
  10. Aug 9, 2021
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    Always on the spot :)

    I'M always happy when i need the jeep to make some work :)
     
    Ol Fogie and Alan28 like this.
  11. Aug 9, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Someone has to remind our jeeps that life isn't all fun and games!
     
    Alan28 likes this.
  12. Aug 9, 2021
    johneyboy03

    johneyboy03 The green beast

    Quebec, Canada
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    For me it's always fun even more if i need to use the jeep to work :p
     
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  13. Aug 21, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    I took the kids in the blue jeep up into the woods yesterday to get one last load of wood. This massive Grand Fir was too convenient to pass up. It was pushing 36” at the base, and it shook the ground pretty good when it landed. I could only fit the middle 2/3 on the trailer. I’ll go get the rest next spring with the truck.

    [​IMG]

    With wheels this big, the support chains weren’t allowing me to split where I wanted, so I made a trip to Ace for some bigger chain and clevises. I capped the tubing, mounted the chain to the ends, and welded new tabs onto the cage.

    [​IMG]

    Now it should be able to handle anything I can throw at it.

    [​IMG]
     
  14. Aug 21, 2021
    73 cj5

    73 cj5 Not ready for the junkyard yet

    Clinton, Mississippi
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    Wonder how the pto winch will fit up there. :confused:
     
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  15. Aug 21, 2021
    Alan28

    Alan28 Well-Known Member 2022 Sponsor

    Châtillon en...
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    You cannot stop.breaking wood since you have this tool. Deforestation risk.
     
    73 cj5, Twin2, Fireball and 1 other person like this.
  16. Aug 21, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
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    :rofl:
     
    Alan28 likes this.
  17. Sep 2, 2021
    ITLKSEZ

    ITLKSEZ Hope for the best, prepare for the worst

    Liberty Lake, WA
    Joined:
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    Well, this thing just became even more useful. I made an attachment that bolts onto the wedge…

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    For popping beads! :bananatool:
    I got 8 tires done in just about 15 minutes.

    [​IMG]
     
    Lilbuff63, blalp!, dozerjim and 7 others like this.
  18. Sep 2, 2021
    Fireball

    Fireball Well-Known Member 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Pullman, WA
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    Awesome!
     
  19. Sep 2, 2021
    neohic

    neohic Gentleman Jeepist

    Woodland Park, CO
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    Genius, this guy! :clap:
     
  20. Sep 2, 2021
    PeteL

    PeteL If it wasn't for physics, and law enforcement... 2024 Sponsor 2023 Sponsor 2022 Sponsor

    Hills of NH
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    Now you're talkin' !!!
     
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