Self propelled log splitter

If you got some ideas together and could build it cheaper than a timberwolf you could have something.

 

A kid on AS built one, but the thread has no pics.....

I did find his youtube vid:


search mechnut on AS

 

Now that is cool!

 

Very clever and well thought out. I'll bet this young guy has a bright future... prolly no end to the stuff he could come up with using farm equipment with hydraulics...

 

I've been looking into it a little more. Budget wise a set of atv tires/rims off craigslist make sense. But atv rims almost all have a metric bolt pattern. And I can only find hydraulic motor hubs with a 4" or 4.5" bolt pattern.

 

Similar concept to what I have in mind, but I want to make it as compact as possible and of course be horizontal only with a log lift.

 

I'm not building a box store splitter. I want a 30" cylinder, 28gpm, log lift, auto cycle and 6 way or maybe a box wedge. If I can find a 25-30hp engine I might go with a single stage pump. Hope to keep it under 3500...

 

Wonder if you could find a worn out Toro commercial walk behind mower. Take the old 52" deck off and add a beam, etc. Could use the same motor for hydraulics... just use the mower engage system to fire up your pump. If you wanted to just move along your stack easily, I'd think this would do it.

 

The wife would kill me if I bought an old truck or jeep and turned it into a splitter...too red neck... Though I've thought about it I would like the splitter to fit through the double doors in my basement. So max width of 48" would be ideal.

I have been looking at cl for beat up zero turns. Though some of the walk behinds use gear drives. And some of the homeowner grades use funky transaxle housing for the wheel drives. If I could find one with direct drive motors it might make sense money wise as I'd have tires, hydraulics and an engine to salvage.

I know I could use chain drive but the fabrication would be simple with a couple of these and the right hubs.

 

Take it from someone who has a 6 and 4 way wedge...
6 ways make a damm mess.. They're more for show than anything...
But I use the heck out of the 4 way... Think along the lines of a hydraulically operated 4 way that you can drop out of the way for nasties with just an extra lever and valve. You can then also move the wings up and down to center it up on larger and smaller rounds....

 

I've heard that a lot... But I have a gasification boiler that likes small splits mixed in. And I start a fire at least once a day so some extra kindling would be fine... And I get all the wood I burn dropped off for free so a little waste isn't the end of the world. But I will also make a four way (hydraulically adjustable).

 

I run a 6 way, have been thinking if making an 8 way.
Only time I use the 4 way is for customers than want big splits.

 

Harbor freight now has a gas powered 20 ton splitter for 699.99. Might not be the greatest but you could use that for a while and maybe build off of it. By the looks of it it splits both ways I have not checked on line yet.

 

Here is a thread from AS but the pics are gone. It was a cool setup. http://www.arboristsite.com/communi...drivable-splitter-with-conveyor.193026/page-2

 

I already have a splitter... Just want to build my 'dream' splitter.

 

So my latest idea is a front axle out of a 20-30hp four wheel drive tractor -- could be driving and steering with only one hydraulic motor and cylinder.

 

Or maybe a rear axle out of a vintage lawn tractor (with dual tires)...just need to watch craigslist