Just spent a couple of days cutting and splitting a little over 2 cords of wood.
I have this log spitter that I bought years ago at auction from a local rental outfit.
As I shoved and tugged and jockeyed the thing into various different positions and locations, it occurred to me how tired I was getting of doing so. It is just a normal size 25 ton splitter, but they are unwieldy as hell on uneven or sloped ground. To move it any distance (from storage out to the rear property, for example) required hitching to the Wheel Horse.
So, I got to thinking: How hard would it be to fashion up some kind of drive mechanism to the wheels or even to make a slung carriage to set the front swing support in that could be powered by the hydraulic pump?
Certainly doesn't need to move faster than walking speed. Online, new small hydraulic motors are about $200, and I sure don't want to spend that much.
Any one have any ideas as to sources for used ones, aside from the scrap yard? I am also going to check around the local tractor dealers to see if they have something used for a reasonable price.
If I could get something for about $50 - $60, I'd be happy.
A pump, an open center spool or even a redirect valve to use the splitter spool, and one or more old lawn tractor wheels and I should be able to put something together.
What other applications use hydraulic motors? I am just not able to think of all the possible sources of used ones.
I am also checking on ebay. I think my best bet will be to find one sitting somewhere in a local shop and see what I can get it for.

 

a belt drive lawn tractor transaxle with a hydraulic motor driving it,you could have up to six travel speeds
I like my three point hitch mount,but everyoe don't have a tractor

 

all kinds of things have hydraulic motors skid steer loaders, track hoes , cable plows , mower decks , bucket trucks, i have even seen conveyor belts, winches run by them try to find an equipment junk yard they should have plenty of them in all sizes

 

Thanks for the ideas, folks. I just put the splitter in the shop as the engine is ready fo an overhaul anyway and I am done splitting until this time next year.
I'll post results as they develop. It is a back burner project, so nothing will happen in the immediate future, but that thing is going to come out of the shop under its own poer, that is for sure.

 

Go to Burden Sales Surplus Center - Hydraulics, Engines, Electrical and More
some good deals on hydraulic stuff there.

 

Picked up a reversable motor form Ebay cheap.
Rebuilding the engine now. Thing had hardly any compression, but still ran. Found the intake valve to be cracked and the exhaust valve warped. Cylinder was polished, so I deglazed it.
Everything is within specs, except for the rings, so new ones are going in.
Did experience a mechanics nightmare, though. Broke a head bolt. Then, worst case scenario: the drill bit broke when i was drilling it out.:
Finally got it out and put in a thread insert. When the valves get here, it'll go back together and we'll see how it holds.
Man, it has been years since I broke a bolt. I still don't know why the drill bit broke. The block was clamped to the drill press table and I was feeding it slow. The bit snapped at that instant when the cutting edge began to emerge from the bottom of the bolt. Thankfully, it was a through-hole, not a dead-end hole.
Makes ya feel like a dope when bring the double whammy of a broken bolt/broken bit.
Still seething a little bit over it.

 

Looks like I'm a bit late to help you, but in the future, therse guys can have some really good deals. Not always super prices, but worth checking.

Burden Sales Surplus Center - Hydraulics, Engines, Electrical and More

 

With cheap hydraulic motors from Northern Tools and gears from Graingers, you certainly could make a hydraulic drive for your splitter. It has crossed my mind a few times to make a 4 wheeler using hydraulic motors, not for speed, but, for pulling.

 

Better make it heavy- I tried converting an old retired Baretto hydraulic tiller for car-tug duties, and all it would do is dig a hole. 10hp Wisconsin, and a top speed just under the slowest I could walk, just nothing for traction. It weighed about 450lbs too.

 

I hear you. I just want this thing to move under its own power to get it our of storage and into the area of the yard that am working.
I think if its entire weight rests on the drive wheels, which will be located near the running wheels, it should move around OK.

 

I hitch my 25 ton to my ATV, and go wherever with it.... I think I am spoiled . We have some nasty jagged land here, so I actually built up a full cage for the lower pump area. I have to laugh that Troy Bilt thought a round tube would stop ANYTHING. It is now encased by steel stock and thick angle iron.

 

I would try a chain drive system instead of hydro. Ever move around a stump grinder? Top speed slower than I can walk. That why when I rent a splitter, I just tow it home, then hook it up to my 3pt hitch and go where ever I want to.

 

probably not what your looking to do but ive seen folks take a normal slipter and biult a 3piont hitch for them and hang'm off the back of small tractors. then when the small engine dont start they can run the spliter off the tractors hydralics

 

I'd love that. If only I had a compact tractor! Thanks for the idea, though.
I can easily pull it around with the old Wheel Horse. But, I'd need to fab a higher hitch point on the 'horse so it sits level during operation. And then have to unhitch to hitch the wagon to move the wood from where it fell or was unloaded to where it will be piled.
I really just got the bug to be able to make it inch it's way across the ground when I have to move it closer to the pile I am working through or further down the line of the tree I dropped.
I can roll it by hand, but it is do dang unwieldy over bumpy terrain.

The engine is almost back together after the overhaul, then I'll turn my attention to the rest of the project.
Thanks again for the idea, though.

PS, been trying to get some rep your way to make up for my overactive temper several weeks ago, but I have to spread it around more first. I have been spreading it around, but I guess I still have more to do.