Diesel log splitter?

And that's a reason I asked. just because operating at 100% capacity 90% of the time seems like a short lived machine.

No way! I know the cummins in the Dodge I drive will run 73 @ 2500 rpm in 3rd gear. I only use it to climb a hill if I'm losing altitude pulling a trailer in OD, and if its a hill of any distance I back down to 2000 revs. I try to apply this principle to any machine. Though I realize the engines are governed with conservative nature, why risk it and blow an $8,000 engine.

Likewise, it's one thing to blow a hose or discover a hydraulic leak at preset limits. But max pressure can really let the fluid and steel fly , and has a greater potential to do so. It's not just a breakdown but a serious safety hazard.

Nonetheless, I'm kindof PO'd learning that splitters are marketed on what they CAN do but sold differently. The food we buy is required to not only list the ingredients, but whether they are derived from GMO plant products. But that's a soapbox for the Ash Can. And my mother warned me about that place.

Well, I put a low ball bid in on a new Speeco 16gpm 2 stage pump on Ebay yesterday, and never thought it would come to anything. Today I won the bid at $102.50 plus $15 shipping. So it looks like Catersplitter will be sporting a new Speeco 16gpm pump some time next week.

Quick question: I got the splitter back from the forklift repair guy last week and he installed new hoses on the suction side. He took the old filter off the suction side and installed a new filter and hoses on the other side between the relief valve and the cylinder. He said that's where they are located on forklifts. Is that OK on a log splitter?

The relief valve kicks in at about 1600lbs pressure. Its supposedly adjustable but the knob is so tight I'm concerned about breaking the valve trying to adjust it. I'm thinking about just replacing the separate pressure relief valve and hydraulic control valve with a modern hydraulic log splitter control with detent and internal pressure relief valve.

With the 11gpm pump total cycle time out and back 16 seconds. I received the 16gpm pump from eBay and it will go on next week.

1600 is awfully low. Need to find the lowest rated component in the system and go from there.

Your idea of the new valve sounds good. Gonna go big and set up for auto extend/retract?

Filter should be in the suction where it was or in the return line running from the valve to the tank. Otherwise it will be exposed to high pressure, not sure if yours is rated for that? I've never seen a filter on the high pressure side for a splitter.... or on any open center hyd. system for that matter. Always in the return or suction lines. Closed center usually in the suction line.