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PTO powered splitter

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aztractor
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 16 Northern Arizona
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2011-04-26          178182


Anybody use one? How do you like it?




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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2011-04-27          178186


They're fine if you have a lot of hefty wood in remote locations. Otherwise, they're costly compared with a small electric for around $200. (For another few hundred you could get an inverter that would let you run it off your battery.) ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2011-04-27          178191


An AC powered log splitter typically requires a 15 to 20 amp source, which represents a nominal 1800 to 2400 watt surge load. The OE alternator on a JM204 is only rated at 200 watts. It couldn't recharge the tractor battery fast enough to support much work out of an electric log splitter.

And yes, PTO powered log splitters are more expensive than those that simply plug into existing hydraulic remotes - which is a feature that I doubt you'll find on many JM204s. As such, I'll speculate that adding an open-centered hydraulic remote system to a JM204 would cost more than the typical splitter you'd actually plug into it. That's when the "more expensive" PTO powered splitters starts lookin' a whole lot more sensible.

//greg//

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Link:   PTO powered splitter (example)

 

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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2011-04-27          178195


Yes, I couldn't believe the cost of hydraulic remote outlets. (One compact that comes with them is the Kioti.) For instance, I could have borrowed a rear-mount stump grinder (free) but it was way cheaper to rent a gasoline grinder and hire a couple of guys to operate it.

But I paid just a hundred and change for a mail-order 2000-peak-watt inverter that I mounted on the tractor and hard-wired to the battery. I'm sure it wouldn't split logs all day, but for intermittent use I plug in my corded leaf blower, pole and hand-held chainsaw, rotary trimmer, and drills (like low-speed and percussion) that don't have a self-contained battery.

(And I hardwired an outside connecter so I can easily attach my automatic trickle-charger to maintain the battery if it's cold or if I've been using the inverter and the tractor's going to sit for a while.) ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2011-04-27          178197


I hear your argument, and note with emphasis your use of the phrase "intermittent use". Note also:
leaf blower <12 amps
pruner <9 amps
trimmer <5 amps
And I even though I don't know what you categorize as a "specialty drill", the most powerful 1/2" I've seen still won't draw any more than your leaf blower.

Now with those tools, I understand "intermittent use". But reflecting on all the splitting I've done over the years, I can't quite grasp the concept of intermittent log splitting. I'm more inclined to classify electric log splitters as novelty items.

//greg// ....


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richwaugh
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 96
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2011-04-27          178198


Considering that it takes a 5-10 hp electric motor to drive a decent hydraulic pump for a log splitter, I'm baffled as to how one could be had for $200. For that kind of money I'd think you might get something that would split kindling into smaller kindling (and do it slowly). $200 is less than the cost of a relatively small hydraulic pump alone, not to mention the cylinder, control valve, plumbing and framework.

My 304 Jinma has full rear remotes so my choice would be a hydraulic splitter to run off the tractor pump. If I didn't have the remotes I'd opt for either a PTO-driven splitter or one with its own gas engine. Just doesn't make sense to me to burn fuel to generate DC electricity that you have to invert to AC to run a motor to turn a pump. Seems like it would be a very low-efficiency system, compared to running the pump with fuel to start with.

The real low-budget splitter is a maul. :-) ....


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Murf
Join Date: Dec 1999
Posts: 7249 Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
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2011-04-27          178199


The small ~$200 wood splitters have no hydraulics, they gear reduce a 120 volt motor to spin an Acme threaded rod, the splitting wedge travels on that thread.

Best of luck. ....


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aztractor
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 16 Northern Arizona
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2011-04-27          178210


Thanks for all the info.
I think I should have been more specific in my questions though (sorry).
What is your opinion of a PTO splitter that I would connect to the PTO from my tractor directly to a hyd pump, or even some home-made setup?
Does the PTO shaft spin fast enough to turn a HYD pump?
....


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richwaugh
Join Date: Mar 2010
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2011-04-27          178211


Okay, that defines the question better. You can run a hydraulic pump directly off the PTO, but it has to be a PTO-type pump. Those have their own gear train to step up the PTO speed from 540 to about 2000 rpm to spin the pump to full volume.

I'm not sure about the 204 tractors, but my 304 Jinma has a provision for hooking a Chinese CBN series hydraulic pump to an engine output shaft that is behind a plate just above the PTO. That shaft runs at engine speed, not PTO speed.

For ease of use, however, I'd probably go for the PTO pump so it could stay with the splitter when it wasn't hoked to the tractor. No need to open the hydraulic plumbing that way - just take the pump off the PTO and unhook the stay chain and away you go. ....


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richwaugh
Join Date: Mar 2010
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2011-04-27          178212


Quote:
Originally Posted by Murf | view 178199
The small ~$200 wood splitters have no hydraulics, they gear reduce a 120 volt motor to spin an Acme threaded rod, the splitting wedge travels on that thread.Best of luck.


Aha! So they're using a linear actuator to push a wedge. I suppose you could develop sufficient force for low bucks that way, if you were patient. They'd have to gear the thing way down to get much driving force, I'd guess. Thanks for that info. Living in the tropics, I need a log splitter like a frog needs a Ferrari. :-) ....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2011-04-27          178216


Quote:
Originally Posted by aztractor | view 178210
What is your opinion of a PTO splitter that I would connect to the PTO from my tractor directly to a hyd pump, or even some home-made setup?Does the PTO shaft spin fast enough to turn a HYD pump?
Still unclear what you're asking, as it still could pertain to two different type splitters. A true PTO splitter is a device with self-contained hydraulics (tank/pump/valves/hoses). The only external requirement is connecting its PTO shaft to a tractor. What Rich described involves physically installing a second pump on your tractor - one driven by the auxiliary PTO shaft - then just connecting a conventional three point hitch splitter to it.

//greg// ....


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aztractor
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 16 Northern Arizona
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2011-04-27          178217


Sorry for my not being able to make my question clear ( I tend to do that) :(
What I mean is
I would like to be able to attach a splitter to my tractor, but the only power that is derived from my tractor is the rotating PTO shaft, turning the hyd pump that in-turn moves the splitting ram.
Do they make such a thing?
I assume it would be held up the same as my rear blade?
I also assume that the entire setup would be held up by my tractor.
horizontal ram/cylinder that I would put the wood up on.
Not a pull behind splitter.
I want to thank you again for all your help.
....


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greg_g
Join Date: Jan 2004
Posts: 1816 Western Kentucky
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2011-04-28          178220


Quote:
Originally Posted by aztractor | view 178217
Do they make such a thing?
Well, that's what my last post was all about; the two different types of PTO-powered log splitters. Go back to my very first response (post 178191). Click the link I provided. That is a complete unit that attaches to your three point hitch (TPH). It comes with a pump that you slide over the exposed PTO shaft behind your seat. This type is usually limited to 20 tons and smaller because of pump size limitations. When you're done splitting - you have to (a) remove the pump from the PTO stub, then (b) remove the splitter from the TPH. At 20 tons of force and 500 pounds of weight, I'd call that a medium duty splitter. Your front loader should be an effective counterbalance though.

The other kind I described - the completely self contained unit that is powered by a driveshaft connected to your tractor PTO stub - is towed behind on wheels. With that design - when you're done splitting - you simply unhook the splitter from the tractor tow bar and park it. This type is generally well into heavy duty territory because a much larger capacity hydraulic pump can be used. Might be too much pump for your JM204

But having said that, I just ran across a TPH type that does appear to use a driveshaft. At 15 tons however, its heading toward light duty territory. And maybe it's just the picture, but I don't see a hydraulic fluid tank either. So I'm a little dubious about that one. Click below for an otherwise uninformative link to it

//greg// ....


Link:   15 ton PTO splitter

 

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aztractor
Join Date: Apr 2011
Posts: 16 Northern Arizona
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2011-04-29          178228


You Sir have went above and beyond the call of duty to explain this stuff to a FNG.
Thanks for all your knowledge, but an even bigger thanks for giving it away
I value your opinion!

....


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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2011-04-29          178236


Greg, the last link you gave has some interesting splitters. As you mentioned on the tank it is either hid or the beam has to be it. How about the splitter that looks a lot like this one but is manual jack? Well that is what it looks like to me in picture.

Aztractor, realize this is not what you asked but there has been many post here about how little you could buy a used self contained splitter for and not have your expensive tractor running for such work. Of course that will vary by region on the price and availability of used splitters. ....


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