preventec47
ArboristSite Operative
I've had my Northern Tools 20 ton for 15 years and never a hicup in operation
except when I've tried some too tough stuff to split. The ole Briggs I/C engine
I feel is better than what they sell today.
Anyway I always thought there is a lot or fuel wasted and excess heat dissapated
because between wedge movement the motor is running faster than needed.
Sometimes you know you have to run off and fetch some wood or move it
all around to get the next piece to split and I think the engine ought to go down
to minimum idle until you lay your hand on the up down valve lever.
I guess the governors really cannot handle that much of a change in rpms so
I was thinking something like a motorcycle twist grip on the valve lever or
something even easier ... maybe electric with a solenoid so that when you
touch the lever it goes to hi throttle and then backs down when the
splitter wedge is sitting still.
I do all my splitting while sitting in front of the splitter in the vertical position
and was even thinking maybe I could rig up a foot pedal accelerator.
Just thinking out loud.
Also, considering my 20 ton stalls on some tough stuff, I have pondered the
idea where I could weld an extra heavy duty steel shelf somewhere near
the bottom of the cylinder so that when the wedge stalls out, I could grab
my trusty 20 ton bottle jack and insert it under the shelf and on top of
the stalled wedge for a little assistance.
... Maybe even fix the bottle jack on some kind of swivel
so it would swing up out of the way when not needed.
Right now if I need to assist my splitter , I have two steel wedges
and the head off a 16 pounds sledge hammer. Holding the sledge head
with both hands while seated I can hammer the wedge into the round
that is stalling the splitter. Action similar to a caveman splitting open
a coconut with a rock. I found accidentally it works better without the
handle after I broke the handle... I say works better only in the sense I
dont have to get off my stool to split the wood.
Of course I can deliver much large blows with handled sledge with
a great big swing and for that I can grab my other 8 pound sledge.
( with handle)
except when I've tried some too tough stuff to split. The ole Briggs I/C engine
I feel is better than what they sell today.
Anyway I always thought there is a lot or fuel wasted and excess heat dissapated
because between wedge movement the motor is running faster than needed.
Sometimes you know you have to run off and fetch some wood or move it
all around to get the next piece to split and I think the engine ought to go down
to minimum idle until you lay your hand on the up down valve lever.
I guess the governors really cannot handle that much of a change in rpms so
I was thinking something like a motorcycle twist grip on the valve lever or
something even easier ... maybe electric with a solenoid so that when you
touch the lever it goes to hi throttle and then backs down when the
splitter wedge is sitting still.
I do all my splitting while sitting in front of the splitter in the vertical position
and was even thinking maybe I could rig up a foot pedal accelerator.
Just thinking out loud.
Also, considering my 20 ton stalls on some tough stuff, I have pondered the
idea where I could weld an extra heavy duty steel shelf somewhere near
the bottom of the cylinder so that when the wedge stalls out, I could grab
my trusty 20 ton bottle jack and insert it under the shelf and on top of
the stalled wedge for a little assistance.
... Maybe even fix the bottle jack on some kind of swivel
so it would swing up out of the way when not needed.
Right now if I need to assist my splitter , I have two steel wedges
and the head off a 16 pounds sledge hammer. Holding the sledge head
with both hands while seated I can hammer the wedge into the round
that is stalling the splitter. Action similar to a caveman splitting open
a coconut with a rock. I found accidentally it works better without the
handle after I broke the handle... I say works better only in the sense I
dont have to get off my stool to split the wood.
Of course I can deliver much large blows with handled sledge with
a great big swing and for that I can grab my other 8 pound sledge.
( with handle)