Log splitter powers exaggerated?

[spandit]

My log splitter ram is leaking and so I've been measuring it so I can order the new seals. It looks like a home made one and although it works pretty well, I didn't know what tonnage it was supposed to be.

 

Assuming my tractor still puts out 2,500psi (which is unlikely seeing as it's old), for a bore of 2.5", maximum power comes out at 5.57 tonnes - seems quite feeble.

 

Did a little table:

For 2500psi:
Dia: 2.00in (50.80mm) Piston area = 3.14in² = 7853.98 pounds (3.56 tonnes)
Dia: 2.25in (57.15mm) Piston area = 3.98in² = 9940.20 pounds (4.51 tonnes)
Dia: 2.50in (63.50mm) Piston area = 4.91in² = 12271.85 pounds (5.57 tonnes)
Dia: 2.75in (69.85mm) Piston area = 5.94in² = 14848.93 pounds (6.74 tonnes)
Dia: 3.00in (76.20mm) Piston area = 7.07in² = 17671.46 pounds (8.02 tonnes)
Dia: 3.25in (82.55mm) Piston area = 8.30in² = 20739.42 pounds (9.41 tonnes)
Dia: 3.50in (88.90mm) Piston area = 9.62in² = 24052.82 pounds (10.91 tonnes)
Dia: 3.75in (95.25mm) Piston area = 11.04in² = 27611.65 pounds (12.52 tonnes)
Dia: 4.00in (101.60mm) Piston area = 12.57in² = 31415.93 pounds (14.25 tonnes)
Dia: 4.25in (107.95mm) Piston area = 14.19in² = 35465.64 pounds (16.09 tonnes)
Dia: 4.50in (114.30mm) Piston area = 15.90in² = 39760.78 pounds (18.04 tonnes)
Dia: 4.75in (120.65mm) Piston area = 17.72in² = 44301.37 pounds (20.09 tonnes)
Dia: 5.00in (127.00mm) Piston area = 19.63in² = 49087.39 pounds (22.27 tonnes)
Dia: 5.25in (133.35mm) Piston area = 21.65in² = 54118.84 pounds (24.55 tonnes)
Dia: 5.50in (139.70mm) Piston area = 23.76in² = 59395.74 pounds (26.94 tonnes)
Dia: 5.75in (146.05mm) Piston area = 25.97in² = 64918.07 pounds (29.45 tonnes)
Dia: 6.00in (152.40mm) Piston area = 28.27in² = 70685.83 pounds (32.06 tonnes)

 

A brief search on eBay finds people advertising 20 tonne splitters. The bore does not look like 4.75in (120mm) - although they seldom publish the dimensions of the cylinders. I wonder if they're calculated using the maximum (Oxdale TM400 has a max pressure of 4780psi)?

 

Just worth bearing in mind if you think you are buying something that is unstoppable as mine certainly isn't.

[Woodworks]

Think there are European tonnes and Chinese tonnes 😆

 

My little Farmi processor is only rated for 7 tonnes but it gets through most things.

[spandit]

From taking it apart this afternoon, which took an extreme amount of force (attach one end to the tractor, the other end to the Hilux and drive off 😁 - after replacing the first snapped tow rope*) I can see the wiper seal is a John Deere part, which explains the remnants of green paint in places. Can't find it in the UK at the moment but hopefully there's an equivalent I can find without having to order it from the USA (U10296)

 

Fortunately my new 1/2" impact driver got the end nut off without too much trouble. Hoping I can replace the other seals too.

 

 

* and yes, I had taken the inner snap rings out

Edited February 24, 2021 by spandit

[trigger_andy]

From taking it apart this afternoon, which took an extreme amount of force (attach one end to the tractor, the other end to the Hilux and drive off [emoji16] - after replacing the first snapped tow rope*) I can see the wiper seal is a John Deere part, which explains the remnants of green paint in places. Can't find it in the UK at the moment but hopefully there's an equivalent I can find without having to order it from the USA (U10296)
 
Fortunately my new 1/2" impact driver got the end nut off without too much trouble. Hoping I can replace the other seals too.
 

 
* and yes, I had taken the inner snap rings out

I have the Rock 22t splitter. It has a fairly beefy cylinder but I’m not sure of the ID of it though. Even with a wee 6.5hp Briggs it can fairly split a log. And what it does not split it smooshes apart.

[Rac man]

My rock 22tonne just keeps Splitting every thing I put on it it's awsome

[Justme]

High tonnage split is great but without fast cycle times you wont produce much volume.

 

[trigger_andy]

High tonnage split is great but without fast cycle times you wont produce much volume.
 

Define fast cycle time. My Splitter does not have the fastest return but I find that by the time I’ve picked the next log with the Hookeroon it’s back to where I want. You can also make an adjustable stop so the auto return not return the full travel.

I’m not splitting to sell but if I can split and fill a 1.25 cub bag an hour I’m happy enough.

[Justme]

3 hours ago, trigger_andy said:

 

Define fast cycle time. My Splitter does not have the fastest return but I find that by the time I’ve picked the next log with the Hookeroon it’s back to where I want. You can also make an adjustable stop so the auto return not return the full travel.

I’m not splitting to sell but if I can split and fill a 1.25 cub bag an hour I’m happy enough.

 

That makes all the difference. Doing it domestically removes the need for performance. 1.25m3 per hour would not be viable commercially.

[trigger_andy]

1 hour ago, Justme said:

That makes all the difference. Doing it domestically removes the need for performance. 1.25m3 per hour would not be viable commercially.

Thats me on my own, not with any help. But yes, not viable for a business and to be fair, I can see many businesses using a Splitter to make money when there is Processors out there for that very reason. 

[Justme]

1 hour ago, trigger_andy said:

Thats me on my own, not with any help. But yes, not viable for a business and to be fair, I can see many businesses using a Splitter to make money when there is Processors out there for that very reason. 

There area lot of sellers using splitters as for some wood its the best way.