Wood splitter using one way cylinder.

[Joe Hillmann]

Has anyone built a wood splitter using a one way cylinder or a pair of one way cylinders?  I just got a tractor up and running that has one way hydraulics and I have a pair of one way rams off a loader that I think could make a good tractor mounted wood splitter.  I am thinking of maybe using a garage door spring to pull the cylinder back after it splits each chunk of wood.

[r.man]

The cheap electric splitters are one way spring return. They don't even have a valve, just run the motor and pump to split, shut it off to return.

[Ivan49]

What kind of a tractor has one way hydraulics? Do you have 2 lines going out of it

[beenthere]

Something like an 8N Ford or TO-30 Fergy comes to mind.

[Dave Shepard]

A Farmall H or M would have single direction hydraulics if it was non-live hydraulics, although some of them had a two way valve that was available.

[Joe Hillmann]

It's an Allis WD.  I could easily put two way hydraulics on it but the parts would cost more than the tractor.

[beenthere]

But Joe, you are investing in a splitter... not the tractor.  ;)

Could run a hyd. pump off the tractor PTO too.
And the spring might work (not sure about which garage door spring you have in mind.

[r.man]

If money is more important than time, as with me, and you are not bound by convention I think you should consider this one. It mentions the overhead door springs at the 2 minute mark. I love the look and whole idea of this rig. www.youtube.com/watch?v=kIAWfzcTc8o

[Joe Hillmann]

Right now I have just about everything I need except for the spring and a male quick connect to build a splitter that would be powered off the tractors hydraulics. 

At the moment the only pto pumps I can find for cheap don't have any valves  with them so going that route would become just as expensive as putting two way hydraulics on the tractor.

I had looked at the car axle splitter, it is neat but since I don't have a rear axle sitting around that would be more expensive than going hydraulic.

I am thinking of using a piece of railroad rail for the beam and railroad tie plates for just about everything else.

[OH logger]

my old Lickity Log Splitter used garage door springs for the return.  very fast and very effective. one heck of a set up on an awesome splitter. the springs last long and are strong. mine had three springs on it. that splitter is older than me and split a  boat load of wood and is still getting used

[r.man]

OH, I will be more or less impressed depending on your age. If you are 100 I am really impressed.

[OH logger]

close only 33, but that is pretty good considering the roughnecks I bought the splitter from. if I worked for them as long as the splitter I would be broke in two by now!

[r.man]

I'm impressed.

[hacknchop]

Friend of mine used coil springs out of a car it scared me a little till i got use to it,came back really fast and no stopping it when you brought the lever to center bang back she came!! ready to split another block.