The Daily Firewood Picture Thread

[upnut]

Neighbor said "I'm done cutting, come get what you want..."  After a couple days of rain and thaw decided to break out the lighter footprint unit. Five trailer loads so far of mostly hard maple...



 

Cleaning up tops is not fun, still makes BTU's.

Scott B.

[cutterboy]

upnut, that's a good neighbor you have.
I know that cleaning up tops is time consuming and a general pain, but as you say, it does produce firewood.

[711ac]

One rack at a time. 

Moved the old timberking off to the side and now it's the firewood building. Sloppy muddy mess out there. 


Pulled out what's hopefully at least 6 cord before the snow came. Well it's come and gone and so is what frost was in the ground. 😫
This was the heaviest load, wasn't sure if the tires were going to make it up to the firewood area. Good old govt. Goodyear custom extra grip that are at least 25 years old!


 

[Walnut Beast]

Nice log trailer! 

[711ac]

$300 side of the road deal... a good 20 years ago. Retired USMC and I built the bunks. Been very handy. 

[Walnut Beast]

Are those some storage drawers on that trailer. Looks like you have plenty of toys to keep you busy 😂

[newoodguy78]

Just me or is that a wooden pole on the wagon? Nice load of wood good way to keep it clean. 

[barbender]

It was around -5°F here this morning, I make a shroud with cardboard and a canvas tarp and direct heat into it to warm up the engine, pump, and hydraulic reservoir. It's all just part of getting stuff rolling in the cold.

[711ac]

Are those some storage drawers on that trailer. Looks like you have plenty of toys to keep you busy 😂

Yes, drawers. I think it has something to do with aircraft support on the runway. 
Guy78 I think your looking at the tongue, yeah I put a 4" pipe 10' long on it for moving long poles on a short trailer. 

[711ac]

It was around -5°F here this morning, I make a shroud with cardboard and a canvas tarp and direct heat into it to warm up the engine, pump, and hydraulic reservoir. It's all just part of getting stuff rolling in the cold.

We need some of your temperatures, just some 😆

[barbender]

Yes I know some of you would pay money for a few -5° nights. It turns your mud into concrete! Just make sure to have everything smoothed out as much as possible before she sets😬

[thecfarm]

upnut, the time is in the tops. But there is wood in them tops!!!

[Al_Smith]

Unlike most when the frost is on the pumpkin ,like colder than a polar bears nose I don't cut because I hate cold weather. The older I get the less I like it .
However cutting mostly downed trees I have to deal with dirt and thus I get a lot of file time in .Try as one might you will hit the dirt .It's only about 5 minutes to touch up a 20" loop so to me it's not a big deal .I use strictly chisel chain ,Stihl or Oregon .The only semi chisel or chipper is on the 50 plus year old antiques .Those saws are just a hobby as I seldom use them .

[trapper]

Why don't factories put a clutch  before the pump on hydraulic splitters to make them easier to start in cold weather?

[thecfarm]

I have a wood splitter that a 5 year old could start in July. Then that same wood splitter a 60 year old man has to pull and pull to get it to start when it's in the 30's.
I put a magnetic heater on the oil pan and cover it with a moving blanket.
Not quite like July starting but close.
Only takes about 5-10 pulls to get it going.

[beenthere]

Why don't factories put a clutch  before the pump on hydraulic splitters to make them easier to start in cold weather?

I'd guess because of the expense to add the clutch. However, anyone could add a clutch for that easier winter start.
Maybe centrifugal, or go with an electrical clutch. Maybe like a fan clutch on an auto. Might need a belt or chain drive.
Electric clutch installation for small hydraulic pumps - YouTube

[Hilltop366]

I wonder if anyone makes a love joy coupler that has a dog clutch?

Not a dog clutch but I see that there are these. 

http://www.maxtorque.com/coupling.php

[woodroe]

Only takes about 5-10 pulls to get it going.

Must not be a Honda. Guess I got lucky when i picked up that used Troybuilt splitter 
last summer . Has a 160 cc Honda engine, 2 pulls at 30* . 

[thecfarm]

No it's a briggs.
Start great in July,just an easy pull and it's a going.
Come Dec it's a bear.

[Big_eddy]

I have a wood splitter that a 5 year old could start in July. Then that same wood splitter a 60 year old man has to pull and pull to get it to start when it's in the 30's.
I put a magnetic heater on the oil pan and cover it with a moving blanket.
Not quite like July starting but close.
Only takes about 5-10 pulls to get it going.

I have the same problem. My splitter has a 13hp electric start, and at cold temperatures the starter can't spin it (and the pump) fast enough to catch. I need to pull the cord to start it until the hydraulic oil warms up.
I have found that putting the magnetic heater on the oil tank by the outlet works better than putting it on the engine "oil pan". I believe it is the thick hydraulic oil that is slowing the engine down - not the engine oil. Warming the hydraulic oil helps a lot.

[Big_eddy]

Why don't factories put a clutch  before the pump on hydraulic splitters to make them easier to start in cold weather?

I'd guess because of the expense to add the clutch. However, anyone could add a clutch for that easier winter start.
Maybe centrifugal, or go with an electrical clutch. Maybe like a fan clutch on an auto. Might need a belt or chain drive.
Electric clutch installation for small hydraulic pumps - YouTube

Typical hydraulic pumps designed for log splitters are not designed for axial loads (chain or belt drive) They are only designed for direct connection to the engine. You could solve that easily enough with an intermediate shaft and some pillow block bearings, but it makes me wonder if anyone makes an "inline" electric clutch assembly that you could mount on the engine shaft and connect to the pump with a lovejoy.

[Hilltop366]

If you are using a electric clutch then you need a battery and charging system which would not be practical on a lot of splitters.

I think the most practical would be a inline dog clutch, sure it is going to clunk when you engage it but no worse than a outboard motor and like a outboard the work is being done in liquid so the would be no great shock load when engaging.

[garyfg]

On my homemade splitter with a 5 hp briggs if I move the valve handle in and out and let the pressure off of the cylinder it starts alot easer

[barbender]

 I'm working on getting a cone of wood put up with logs that have been sitting for a year. Not dry, but not green. Burnable, for the people that will run out of wood in about a month. Then I will swing around and start another pile of the green wood I just got in.

  

[Al_Smith]

I don't have any problem starting my splitter with an 11 HP  IC industrial Briggs engine .That's most likely because it has an electric starter .