home-made hydraulics

[pineywoods]

I agree with JFarmer, 110/220 power is the best all around. If your pump doesn't work out, look at a log splitter pump. most pump for the money. It's actually 2 pumps plumbed in parallel in one housing. There is  an adjustable pop-off valve that bypasses the high volume  pump when the output pressure reaches a certain level, usually about 350 psi. Under a brass plug on the side of the pump body. If your motor ain't stout enough and stalls, backing off that adjustment may solve that problem.

Don't forget to plumb in a spin-on filter..

[plowboyswr]

Glad to see that you decided to go eletric paul, should save you in the long run. Curious to see the pictures if you wait to long I might just have to come see it in person!  :D

[paul case]

 

  

  

  

  

 

[paul case]

I have used the turner/clamp a couple days now, but I am stuck on 12'' logs and making 6'' boards so I am still using my manual clamp some. This thing is going to really shine on bigger logs since I was using a winch and it was slow.
I have actually gotten it to turn some of the small logs  90 degrees with only 1 run at it. 
PC

[pineywoods]

 8) 8) 8)  Hip hip hooray, looks good, If you haven't figured it out yet, you will probably need a high-tech ant-roll back device. Chunk of tapered 4X4 to lay on a bunk. Holds the log when you have to grab a second bite...Only needed for contrary logs  ;D

[customsawyer]

The more you use your hyd. the more you will find it will do. Great job on the build.

[bandmiller2]

Good job Paul,there is a learning curve with turner/clamps you need to work boath cylinders togather,that looks hard to do with your tractor setup.When you get the spool valves side by side near the mill where you can watch the log you'll get better results.Be sure to have relief valve in the circuit its too easy to bend things with hydraulics.Now that you have hydraulics its an easy matter to hook a hyd. motor to a drum and have power feed. Frank C.

[eastberkshirecustoms]

Nice work on the build! I was beginning to think this thing was folk lore, like the sasquatch  ;)

[paul case]

Actually.... Have you ever watched the trailer from the movie Cars? The one about Mater and the Ghost Light origionted from  the spooklight, which people sit along a road 1 mile south of the road I live on to ''see'' it.

PC

[eastberkshirecustoms]

Ahh, the ol' Hornet Spooklight legend. Can you shed light on this (pun intended)? Have you seen it yourself?

[paul case]

nope!

I sure get a lot of aggravating,unwanted side effects of it though.

PC

[paul case]

I am learning, but I am slow.
I have learned to use the ''anti roll back device''. As well I have learned that if it falls off the mill and gets under the clamp, you can lift the mill off the blocks with the clamp. I am not certian why it wasnt just under a hydraulic fitting, but it wasn't. NOTE TO SELF  Pick up block after every use. I did roll a sawed on 2 sides cant off onto the floor the other day, but that worked out ok, it landed on the side I wanted down and no one got hurt. I just had to use my other hydraulics(the forklift) to load it back on the mill. I also think I will take the leaf blower to the underside of the mill every couple of days to keep the sawdust and bark cleaned out from under the clamp/turner.
I will have some biguns next week to give it a real trying out, if the weather don't turn off too nasty. PC

[pineywoods]

Progress progress. Lifting the mill off the blocks is a new one. I haven't done that yet. But I have tried to saw the top off the clamp, several times.



 

I know one sawyer,not calling any names, who managed to toss a log over the top of the backstops.
Happy new year...

[paul case]

I got no plans on sawing into the clamp. since it is on the operators side on my mill I would really look like a dummie!  Well more so than normal. PC

[pineywoods]

Technical bulletin for pineywoods homemade hydraulics

Don't work very well when the temp gets down in the low 20's. 1 hp motor just not big enough to handle the cold tractor hydraulic fluid.  Temp fix until weather warms up a bit.



 

[eastberkshirecustoms]

Technical bulletin for pineywoods homemade hydraulics

Don't work very well when the temp gets down in the low 20's. 1 hp motor just not big enough to handle the cold tractor hydraulic fluid.  Temp fix until weather warms up a bit.



 

Wow, does it really get that cold down there? It is 4 degrees out right now, plus a nasty wind chill. It might take more than that little heater to get that fluid flowing. ;)

[paul case]

Did you ever think about running dextron or atf in that? A lot of fellas run that in their bale bed hydraulics and the cold don't seem to bother it.PC

[bandmiller2]

I would try synthetic Dexron fluid when its cold she flows. Frank C.

[pineywoods]

It appears that I forgot to include dimensions for the hydraulic toe roller. Here's some more pics and a little explanation



 



 



 

All the angle iron is 2X2. The 2 horizontal pieces are 8 inches log with a cutout for the roller. Vertical pieces are 12 inch and 18 inch. The 18 inch piece has a small 2X2 tab welded on the bottom to serve as a mount point for the bottom of the hydraulic cylinder. 12 inch long piece of pipe welded between the horizontal angles. The roller is a 12 inch long piece of 3 inch pipe (or whatever you have handy). Piece of scrap welded across each end with a 1 inch hole for the axle. Axle is a 15 inch long piece of 1 inch rod. The 2 pivot points are a short piece of the same rod, couple of 1/2 inch bolts would work just as well.  The hydraulic cylinder is 2 inch by 4 inch stroke.

   

[jrkimroxie]

Thanks for the info/specs. I hope to complete this phase of hyd. in the next week or so.  :P :P 8) 8)

[hunz]

So I was wondering if a hydraulic power pack like this would work for the turner. I am in a remote location with mill and would like to keep it completely portable. I dont want to bog down my 24hp honda by putting a pulley driven hydraulic pump on it so I figured this was the next best option. I would mount something like this to the tongue/front of mill. I will obviously be needing the set of spool valves and components for the turner itself, just looking to see if you guys think one like this would work. It says relief valve set to 900psi but apparently adjustable to 1600psi? I'm not sure what that means. Thanks in advance!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/HYDRAULIC-POWER-UNIT-Portable-7-GPM-900-PSI-5-Hp-Honda-5-6-Gallon-Tank-/140950819523?pt=Pneumatic_Hydraulic_Valves_Parts&hash=item20d152d2c3

[pineywoods]

Would it work, yes, but even 1600 psi is a bit low. Would I go that way ? No, It's nice but pricey.

[justallan1]

Great thread.
Thanks for all of the useful information. I'm thinking about a toe roller for each end of my track and you all have given me some good ideas.
Allan

[JByrd]

Can we revive the Homemade Hydraulics topic?  I have a 1985 Woodmizer LT40 with a hydraulic log loader and have decided to add the Piney Turner, but I have a few questions. 
1. My mill is the old design LT40 and it has a diagonal brace where the turner should be.  I can cut this out and weld in a new brace that should be equally strong, but wonder if anyone else has done this and how.
2. The present log turner uses a 12 VDC Haldex pump/reservoir unit.  The cylinders operate as single action, controlled by solenoids with no spool valve.  If I run the pressure side of this pump into a new set of spool valves, should it operate double acting cylinders ok?
3. It would take a lot of plumbing to put the valves up by the hitch, as shown in Piney's installation.  Has anyone used solenoid-type spool valves?  I would then just need to run a multiwire cable to a control box with switches.  I understand one issue might be that the solenoids are on/off, so it is hard to tease a hydraulic cylinder to the exact spot you want it, but will this matter for the turner/clamp?
I have been lurking on this site for a couple of months and enjoy all the stories, have learned a lot, and I will appreciate any advice you have.
Jim

[Ga Mtn Man]

Welcome to the forum Jim!

I can only answer the first question you asked...You just did.