Pretty much done cutting, working on splitting now

Thanks for the input. I have 3 responses.

1. I tried running WOT and it did help it heat up slightly faster. Heat in a hydraulic system is created by restrictions to flow and resistance. Everything in the hydraulic system was sized to minimize this and it works, i.e. less heat is generated. However the result of WOT was not dramatic.

2. A ducted cooling system on a garden tractor should be run at WOT for optimum cooling and most have a fan on the hydro that is also turned at the same time. The GX390 on my splitter is not hot when running, I can touch the crankcase when shutting it off, it is not real hot.

3. The ultimate reason for not running WOT is the the literature from Honda itself. The motor makes max torque at around the speed I am running it at, the recommended range is between 2,000 & 3,500RPM. Here take a look. This is not what someone thinks, it is from Honda itself and torque/horsepower curves for GX 340/390.
Honda Engines | GX340 4-Stroke Engine | Features, Specs, and Model Info

When the machine is running WOT it just wastes fuel and it much louder and it is just sitting there hammering away doing nothing half the time since I am by myself.

As I said, it is probably nothing running cooler than ideal, it is just there is a gauge for return pressure and it drives me nuts seeing this in the red for the 1st 5 min. of splitting. (I let it run a good 5 min. before starting too)

This pic was taken in Summer on startup when it was cold. Once it is warm in the Summer pressure barely even registers. Right now in the Winter it will be in the red the first 5 min.

 

That is one of the nicest splitters I've even seen. I really like the idea of the push through style. The tall push plate and wedge are a big plus. Very nice!
Brad

 

It's got a few other features that are not real obvious too. I waited 3 years for the builder to make this, after seeing his work, there was no other one I considered except Eastonmade . The welding is off the chart excellent. I had an Iron & Oak Commercial before this. Some of the not so obvious features:
1. Has a 30" stroke on the cylinder, but that will greatly increase cycle time. So a stroke limiter which is adjustable in 2" increments is built in. I have it set for 21". See first pic.

2. Folding tongue, saves 18" in OAL

3. Folding work table, saves 24" OAL Pic #2

4. Suspension and tires rated for interstate speeds

5. There are 3 baffles in the hydro tank. Hot oil rises but to get to the next chamber it must pass UNDER the baffle. I checked with the laser thermometer and this is true, it is warmer on the top of the tank

6. Top plate and the wedges are made of AR400 steel with a very sharp edge milled and a two step main knife Pic #4. Note the how the powder coat has worn off, this gives you a real good idea of how a wedge splits. IMHO, it means sharp wedges cut and split, blunt wedges just take a lot more power to push through and put more stress on things. Also there is now 80 hours on the wedge, look how well it has held up. There is a very slight nick on the right hand wing of the 4 way.

7. The hydro lines are sized according to function and have flow restrictors. Obviously nothing restrictive on main cylinder, but the log lift and 4 way lines run way higher pressure, 1500#s to move the 4 way wedge. This makes movements very smooth and precise. If you didn't have this, it could launch a round over your head with the log lift. For perspective, most splitting is way under 500#s pressure.

8.. The final thing is something I made, very crude but very effective, A glove dryer. Wet gloves from the snow are dry in about 10 min. when it is running Pic #3

 

And look at the size of that ram!

 

Not to nitpick but that is actually referred to as the rod. The size is important to resist stress, but another benefit of a large rod size is much faster retraction. I am going to make up a number. It takes around 5 gallons to fully extend the cylinder, but only about 2 gallons to push the fluid back out because of the size of the ram. The pump is 22 GPM. On the return stroke it is probably running close to 50GPM back to the reservoir so a dump valve is utilized so half of the fluid has another path back to the tank rather than going through the spool valves that are rated at 25GPM. When the cylinder is retracting, I see the level of the hydraulic change a good 1/2" in the sight glass. Pretty unreal how much fluid goes in quickly.

https://www.powermotiontech.com/tec...cle/21882647/engineering-essentials-cylinders

Anybody with a better understanding, feel free to jump in as I am just a user and not in any way shape or form knowledgeable about systems. Just parroting what the builder told me.

 

I understand completely.

But there is no way I was going to post what I did but using the word rod instead of ram!

No sir.

Not with this crowd!

 

Haaaa something I would do

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Very wise!

 

What!?...no coffee warmer??? Impressive operation and splitter FB!

 

Quite the operation Bandit, very impressed at how organized it is. Maybe I missed it but how many cords do you try to process a year and how much do you sell?

 

I have seen the engine exhaust rerouted loosely with steel flex pipe to blow on the hydraulic reservoir in bitter cold temperatures on equipment. Nothing fancy. Just a 3-4 inch flexible pipe made of metal from exhaust pipe/muffler to side of reservoir.


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Admiring your method way 2 go!

 

That -is- one hellava splitter you got there.

 

By the time I go out to split, I have drank a pot and have had plenty. Then it is break about every 90 min to get rid of said coffee and get some cookies. BTW, the wife just made me a double batch of Macadamia nut cookies that are in the freezer, 4 gallon zip lock bag full.

I don't drink much soda. The other day I grabbed a Coke Zero and it was slush by the time I got to the end.

 

I shoot for 28 cord. The stacks when complete are 4'4" high, 4 rows deep and 150' long. Might be 3 or 4 short. I just got a new place for wood that has enough for a years worth my logger buddies just finished. There is 6-8 cord right next to the road that the owner wants gone and I told them I have enough to do right now. I need this done because apple tree pruning starts in about 3 weeks.

Another pastime right now is welding up plant stands.

The 2nd to last pic is a sign I made for a buddy who nickname is pound for pound, aka #4#. It weighs about 80#s. The last pic are firewood racks.

 

Can't believe no one dropped a that's what she said yet...

Very cool projects and execution!

 

I completely forgot about that little ditty.

 

Yeah one dilemma of drinking coffee, water etc and working outside...when nature calls. Maybe at least a cup holder? I have one for my 261
Cookies sound good...youre a lucky man sir!

 

How long is your typical splitting session?

 

Generally about 2.5-3 hours. Have never run out of gas.

I find if ones hobby becomes a vocation, it ceases to be enjoyable.

My mantra in retirement is, "Happiness is doing what you want, and never doing anything you don't want to do".

Some might disagree, but hey, it works for me.