2 Stroke engine on a splitter?

[lowroadacres]

So I am at the physiotherapist's this morning and he tells me that when he moved to his home he "inherited" a wood splitter. He claims it has a 2 stroke or 2 Cycle engine on it?

I suspect that it is a homebuilt job but if I can I will get pictures.

 

[ANeat]

Who knows, there is no good reason. The main benefit of a 2 stroke is the light weight and on a splitter thats not an issue. Most pumps need to run in the 3k rpm range and for a 2 stroke I would imagine it would need to be geared down to get the motor up in the power band and still provide the correct rpm for the pump

 

[Highbeam]

He may have meant 2 cylinder like the old wisconsins.

 

[lowroadacres]

He made it pretty clear that the engine is "like a chainsaw engine" and that it doesn't work very well.

I am going to have a look and see what it might be. If it is as simple as re-powering it with a simple b and s or other small 4 cycle engine to get it working properly I might be able to own "half-shares" in a wood splitter within 2 miles of my house.

Or... I might be able to tell him to put it on craigslist and to get rid of it and to get himself a real splitter.

 

[Highbeam]

100$ for those 6HP engines at HF. People seem to love them.

 

[Frostbit]

You most definitely could not direct couple a small 2 stroke engine to the hydraulic pump, it would have to be done with either a gearbox or a set of pulleys and belt. In a splitter application, one is much better off with a 4 stroke engine.

 

[mtarbert]

Maybe he is Nuts......could be a 2 stage pump

 

[EatenByLimestone]

I couldn't imagine standing next to an old 2 cycle puttering away burning something like an 8:1 oil mixture.

Matt

 

[Highbeam]

You most definitely could not direct couple a small 2 stroke engine to the hydraulic pump, it would have to be done with either a gearbox or a set of pulleys and belt. In a splitter application, one is much better off with a 4 stroke engine.

Oh come on now, you certainly could do it. It wouldn't be the best way to go but you certainly could run a 2-stroke engine to power a splitter. Remeber that there are lawnmowers powered by 2 stroke engines. If there's enough HP to run a lawn mower then it could run a splitter too.

 

[oldspark]

I agree, no reason why the 2 stroke would not power a log splitter, and if it was a good one there would be plenty of power, like the 400 that was on my CR husky I used to race.

 

[Frostbit]

Hehe, I didn't say you couldn't use a 2 stroke engine on a log splitter, its just that its hard to beat the single cylinder 4 stroke engine currently used.

Heck, a guy could take an engine out of an old snowmobile I suppose and make it work...but it would be a lot of work. For $300 you can buy a brand new Honda engine that gives you long life, no oil burning, quiet, very fuel efficient and super reliable.

I own many pieces of equipment with 2 stroke and 4 stroke engines. In some applications, 2 strokes rule, such as chainsaws. But in most others, 4 strokes are the way to go.

 

[flewism]

The engine could have come off an old Lawn boy mower.

 

[Highbeam]

That's the lawn mower I was thinking of. People loved those 2stroke mowers. Must have been light weight or something.

 

[OhioBurner©]

A fellow I work with has a homebuilt 2-stroke splitter (he didnt build it, and doesnt really care for it).

Highbeam - the splitter dad and I used for almost 20 years was an old wisconsin powered homebuilt one... I dont think I have ever come across as big of splitter since.

 

[Cowboy Billy]

When I was a kid there were still quite a few horizontal shaft 2 stroke engines around. I had one on my mini bike and it was a 3hp Clinton. Here's a link to a form talking about the mix ratio for them. (broken link removed to http://www.smokstak.com/forum/showthread.php?t=20986)

Billy

 

[lowroadacres]

So today I finally got to see the splitter and for the record, it is a neat looking little unit. The owner cannot get it to run properly much of the time. I suspect one of the issues will be that it is underpowered. The other issue may well be using regular gasoline with ethanol in it.

Either way, here are the photos as promised. Sorry for the poor quality but the sun was at its peak and the splitter was right beside a white shed so the camera went nuts.

Ironically, I was near my friend's house to pick up the first of 5 or six half ton loads of box elder as a free scrounge. While I was there I was offered a very well built old splitter, powered by a huge old B and S auger motor. The splitter I was offered is built strong and is all there.

The only drawback is the owner told me he wants a thousand bucks for it. I can get a brand new homebuilt almost identical to this one for 1150 and once again, I can rent the splitfire for 75 for a weekend and take it back when it needs oil/tire/hydraulic repair etc, etc. If the guy offered it to me for half of his price I might consider it.

I already have too many things that I am paying for and if I have an extra thousand right now it would be going towards an insert for our fireplace. It was frustrating though to know that it is sitting in this guy's backyard doing nothing when I have 7 or more cords that I will split in a marathon weekend coming soon.

 

[firefighterjake]

$1,000 for this splitter? Definitely not worth it . . . give him some time and he may eventually come down on price.

 

[lowroadacres]

FFJake.... You are absolutely right. The little green splitter isn't for sale at all nor is it worth more than a couple of hundred dollars. It is one I was maybe going to help a friend improve with a better power source but the way it is built it is pretty much set to stay the way it is without a complete"torch to metal bring out the welder to build a new structure and add a new engine" procedure.

The splitter that is for sale a few houses over from my friends for a thousand is a huge unit with at least a 12 horse briggs and stratton and a 24 inch stroke. It is actually a very well built home made unit that would have the capacity to pound through a pile of wood....... But..... As I have stated in other posts, our household is very tight on cash flow and as such we are "renters" when it comes to a wood splitter.

Long story short I can rent a well serviced splitfire with the fourway wedge for $75 for a weekend, go like a mad-man with the kids, my wife and the in laws being my helpers and then on the Monday morning I return it. Would I love to have my own splitter? Absolutely. Not going to happen for a long time unless money falls out of the sky and then when hockey/football/choirs/bills/food/vehicle upkeep/ etc etc are paid for then.... Then I buy an insert for my fireplace.... and then maybe, just maybe, I will tie up a thousand dollars for more in a splitter.