splitting wood with a B

rockyridgefarm

Well-known Member
Bought this splitter 10 years ago. Yesterday I re-engineered it.

I think I'm gonna have to cut two inches off the wedge as I had a hard time pushing through 24" pin oak rounds. They'd just stop it cold. I'm also considering putting a hydraulic cylinder on the hoist. That, or build a log lift.


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You will probably run into issue splitting any large oak with the pressures the B can make. I have a very similar splitter with a 14HP onan and a single stage pump that my dad built. I will replace the engine and the pump with a 2 stage once the engine craps out.
 
I like it, I wish I could find a pto driven pump like that I would
build something similar for my 70. Right now I barrow my
uncles splitter and tow it with my $300 C. The only reason I own an Allis is I couldn't pass up the price for a running tractor.
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(quoted from post at 21:21:34 01/15/15) You will probably run into issue splitting any large oak with the pressures the B can make. I have a very similar splitter with a 14HP onan and a single stage pump that my dad built. I will replace the engine and the pump with a 2 stage once the engine craps out.

I wouldn't get any wood split with this B's hydraulics - Powerlift only. Splitter is driven off a PTO pump.


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I wouldn't think the PTO driven hyd pump would have that much output at 540 rpm. When you think about it most gas engine powered spiltters pumps run around 3500 rpm. Just a thought, DAve
 
I'm sure your not stalling the b bigger cylinder maybe but
diffenitly need a 2 stage pump
 
I would concur with the other poster who suggested
a bigger diameter cylinder. If the surface area
of the cylinder is doubled, the total force is
effectively doubled.
 
That clears up a lot.

I have seen two stage wedges with a small one on the bottom and larger one on the top to get it started. My wedge is identical to yours, if I can get it started it will split.
 
(quoted from post at 05:41:13 01/16/15) I wouldn't think the PTO driven hyd pump would have that much output at 540 rpm. When you think about it most gas engine powered spiltters pumps run around 3500 rpm. Just a thought, DAve

This PTO pump is made for 540 pto. Look up "Prince PTO pump". It has 11.4 GPM at 540 rpm. They also make a 22 gpm pump, which would be nice to have.
 
(quoted from post at 06:40:58 01/16/15) That clears up a lot.

I have seen two stage wedges with a small one on the bottom and larger one on the top to get it started. My wedge is identical to yours, if I can get it started it will split.

I've seen those too, might go that route. Or I might try to find a bigger bore cylinder, but that would make it even slower. Thanks.
 
From many years experience those B's may produce 600-700 P.S.I. and will life about 400-500 lbs at the lift. Not saying the log splitter will not work but you will be very limited. Please have plenty of patience and light wood.
 
And now I get to repair or replace the radiator! The fan came loose and ground into the radiator while splitting. The radiator is just about perfect otherwise, I may try brazing it. Not really interested in putting a $300 core in a $900 tractor... :-(
 

i don't have the service bulletin handy but iirc a B can go 900psi or so without damaging anything.
In all likely hood that B isn't making even factory rated hydraulic pressure. Why not obtain a pressure gauge and shim the relief valve back up to spec. Before purchasing pumps etc.
 
(quoted from post at 06:01:57 01/17/15)
i don't have the service bulletin handy but iirc a B can go 900psi or so without damaging anything.
In all likely hood that B isn't making even factory rated hydraulic pressure. Why not obtain a pressure gauge and shim the relief valve back up to spec. Before purchasing pumps etc.

Pay attention, B&D. You're such a huge fan of reading manuals and such, but you don't carefully read through the posts... The splitter I bought ALREADY HAD A PTO PUMP. The B DOESN'T HAVE POWERTROL, though it may soon. I just took an early powertrol off a parts tractor, and plan on mounting it in place of the power lift.
 
Actually a 4" cylinder has quite a bit more than double the
force of a 2" cylinder. That's how the math works.
- I've never seen a wood splitter with anything smaller than a
4" & most are 5".
 
(quoted from post at 09:10:19 01/17/15)
(quoted from post at 06:01:57 01/17/15)
i don't have the service bulletin handy but iirc a B can go 900psi or so without damaging anything.
In all likely hood that B isn't making even factory rated hydraulic pressure. Why not obtain a pressure gauge and shim the relief valve back up to spec. Before purchasing pumps etc.

Pay attention, B&D. You're such a huge fan of reading manuals and such, but you don't carefully read through the posts... The splitter I bought ALREADY HAD A PTO PUMP. The B DOESN'T HAVE POWERTROL, though it may soon. I just took an early powertrol off a parts tractor, and plan on mounting it in place of the power lift.

With over 27000 post he just can not take time to read.
 
(quoted from post at 06:29:31 01/17/15) Actually a 4" cylinder has quite a bit more than double the
force of a 2" cylinder. That's how the math works.
- I've never seen a wood splitter with anything smaller than a
4" & most are 5".

It is a 4" bore cylinder.... It's already slow, bigger would make it slower.

It is 20" stroke and I moved the mount back 7 1/2", so the throat is 7.5" longer than the cylinder's stroke. Most wood splits fine, except stringy stuff like elm. Then a 6X8 wood block comes into play. I'd prefer a full stroke, but don't want to buy another cylinder.

I took it out yesterday and tried splitting the wood by lifting the wood off the table so only the top of the wedge went in. It did a lot better, so the 2 stage wedge is the way to go. It even split 24" red elm. Stringy, nasty crap.
 

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