Once again, many thanks for the very helpful information you have given me on hydraulics in general, and applying them to a log splitter in particular. I now feel confident that I could go and buy the parts from Northern Tool to make a splitter, but as more than one person mentioned, that would raise the cost up to a significant fraction of the price of a new machine. My intention from the beginning has been to try to scavenge or scrounge as many parts as possible. So, a couple of followup questions:
1) I definitely see the advantages of the two-stage pumps, and if I have to buy a new one, I probably would go that direction. However, if I scrounge up a pump, it may not be a two stage job. I notice that, at least on NT's website, the non-two-stage pumps tend to be rated in cubic inches rather than gallon-per-minute. If I'm doing the math right, it looks like the cu. in. is the output per revolution, so that if one calculates RPM x cu. in., and divides by cu. in / gallon, one winds up with GPM. Yes? Or have I missed it?2) Any specific suggestions about where to look for suitable hydraulic parts that might be available for scrounge prices? I've checked one nearby salvage yard, but the only cylinders they had were off of forklifts -- they were about 5' long and had a 5' stroke, which I somehow think would be overkill for my logsplitter! Alternately, would one of the "wholesale hydraulics" web sites actually be that much cheaper than NT for equivalent parts? What about an agriculture supply outfit -- would they have what I need at a cheaper price?
3) If I find scrounge-quality parts, what are the chances of needing to rebuild them, and what is involved in doing so? What can't be economically rebuilt?4) This one may be a wild goose -- one of the links that I found via the replies I got from you all talked about a log splitter built quite some time back; it referred to the "original design" that used an old power steering pump as the hydraulic pump. It sounds like that worked, but produced relatively low pressure ( < 1000 psi). Any thoughts about this wild goose?
Once again, I look forward to your patient wisdom -- TIA!
Andy