I just bought a epic impulse buy, a diesel powered tow behind road construction arrow sign. It's a very solid pinhole hitch trailer with a double ended arrow light sign. The sign is powered by the coolest little diesel I've seen. The only thing the diesel engine does is turn a alternator. I didn't have a clue what the heck I could do with this small engine, but just had to have it. I've been thinking that a diesel powered log splitter would be the perfect build for the diesel sign trailer. The engine is only 4 bhp, which form my research is 4 HP. Now most log splitters have higher HP gas engines. But in general diesel engine make more tq. I was hoping to find some insight or experience on diesel log splitter builds on the web, but haven't found a single thing. Is this small engine going to have enough power to power a log splitter?

Log splitter would be a common 28 ton build with 16 GPM and a 4" cylinder with a 24" throw

 

I didn't know what that was had to google it. Does it look like this?



I would say too that gas small engines turn more RPM probably to so you would need to know your pump target rpm so you can adjust via pulley size for the right RPM range.

 

Yes, it turns @ 2500 rmp I haven't looked Into the adjustment to turn it up but I plan on using a pulley and v belt to turn the hydraulic pump @3600 rpm

 

Is the shaft on the little British bugger metric?

 

Bad pic of it just one i sent to a buddy.

 

Haven't checked, I would assume that it is, was going to machine the pulley to the correct size. This is a generally easy build of a simple machine. The biggest problem is will the small HP diesel do the job. I have a few gas engines that would definitely work great, but cost of building a log splitter vs. buying makes no sense of building one. The diesel engine on a log splitter is 100% bad @$$, so a proper cycle time and adequate power powered by a diesel is the goal, not so much saving money/fuel (this engine consumption is .1 gal per hour) or simply owning a log splitter, it's 100% main goal to have the coolest log splitter, but must work on par with store bought.

 

Yes it looks similar to the picture

 

can you find a broken old broken splitter that someone is willing to part with and use that?
Maybe you know someone who will let you bolt your engine on there splitter to test it?

 

The problem with the test drive the motor on a splitter is that all the hydraulic pump are mounted on the engine with a bracket and direct drive. Where as I have to use a v belt and pulleys