Well, I bought this Huskee 22 ton (what was left of it) on March 5th, and today was finally the maiden voyage in her new configuration...pretty happy with it, only had a couple minor issues...couple fittings need tightened up a bit more, that kind of thing. Another one was that the hose between the auxiliary and the main hydraulic oil tanks was not gravity flowing enough oil to keep up... overflowed the tank...but nothing a rubber expansion plug didn't fix. That allows the auxiliary tank to get pressurized, then the hose tying the two together keeps up fine. The main tank is still vented, and that's all that's really needed anyways. The cylinder cycle time calculator that I used showed a theoretical cycle time of 8.2 seconds round trip (assuming 100% pump efficiency) but I knew it wouldn't be quite that fast...so anything under 9 seconds was my actual goal, which was met, it came in 8.8 seconds (and the oil was still cool too!) not bad since you'd spend a minimum of $4k to get into a commercial splitter that would be that fast! The 8HP 301cc Predator doesn't even grunt when I hold it against the relief valve...I really think a 6.5HP 212cc would have done the job...which is good, because that means that the "5HP" electric motor that it will wear most of the time is even more likely to have enough butt to do the job...I was a little worried because it is only a 16 amp motor, which is more like 4 HP realistically (its an air compressor motor, they are notorious for "over rating" those) when comparing electric to gas, most people say that its takes 1.5X to 2X the rated gasoline engine horsepower to accomplish the same work. (electric has more torque) I did back the relief valve setting down a bit, it was set at 3300 PSI (surprisingly) and I took it down to about 2500, which is what the hoses my neighbor made for me are rated at for working pressure (I thought they'd be at least 3000, but I forgot to verify with him before he made them) oh well, 99% of the time you never even get over 1500 PSI with most wood anyways...I "cut" (sideways) an 8" ash log in half with it today and never saw over 2000 PSI! But I was mostly splitting cherry today, and those rounds barely even made the 0-5000 PSI gauge come off zero before they popped. Speaking of the hoses, I went to see the neighbor to pick up a piece of return hose today and asked him if he had my bill for all this figured up yet, he says "how about going over my bike for me, and maybe putting a new rear tire on?" Barter...I like it! Ok, enough yackin, time for some pics! Just rolled up, lift support leg dropped onto the splitter foot. Cable attached, ready to go. I don't have any big stuff on site currently, but you get the idea. Ready for action. And the results...made a couple videos of it running, but I don't have a YT account, so I guess no way to post them up here?
Thanks! Stock height for a Huskee 22ton... sorry, I didn't measure it...it could probably be a couple inches taller for me, but it's not terrible, I'll just park it on some blocks if it's an issue...
Thank you! Yes sir, just add this to the inlet side of the control valve. 5602-12-12-12 Tee Hydraulic Fitting, 3/4" NPT x FP x FP, Pipe Adapter | eBay Then get a 0-3000, or 4000 PSI gauge. I bought a 0-5000, but really won't need that high, it works fine, just harder to read small changes with one that high. 2.5" LIQUID FILLED PRESSURE GAUGE 0 - 4000 PSI, STAINLESS STEEL CASE LOWER MOUNT | eBay
You'll have to make sure that you can use a 3/4" tee like that Wood Wolverine but you should have the same Energy control valve that I have...even if you have 1/2" lines (probably do) you'd just move the bushing/adapter from the valve to the tee... Here is a lil closer pic...
I'm not sure why you think that it took so long........I bought the motor for my electric conversion probably over 5 years ago!
Thank you. Well, I guess it just took a lot longer than I imagined it would...and once I sold my Champion to my boss this summer, I knew I had to get this done sooner rather than later...otherwise my "too be split" piles would quickly get out of control, at least by springtime anyways! Plus, I still don't have the electric motor wired up yet either...that's next! I'm off next week, we'll see what happens...
