In our third video in this series, we're modifying a RuggedMade RS-322 log splitter in search of a 5-second cycle time. In the first video, we increased the pump and engine sizes, and in the second video, we upgraded the hydraulic hose size to match. But we haven't quite gotten the results we're looking for.
This time, we made a big change to the cylinder rod by increasing the outer diameter to a much bigger 3 inches, but we kept the inner diameter the same. We also moved to a larger, 12-gallon tank. Did our changes give us that magic number? Watch and see!
Does Cylinder Rod Size Affect Cycle Time?
Our cylinder modification aims to speed up the retracting stroke when operating the log splitter. The quicker the rod retracts, the quicker you will be ready to position the next round for splitting.
By increasing the rod end's outside diameter (OD) from 2.25 inches to 3 inches, the pump will have to push a lot less volume of fluid. Thus, the 3" rod will retract faster than the 2.25" rod.
The Modifications
We started with an RS-322 RuggedMade log splitter and then made the following modifications:
- Engine: We replaced the standard 212cc (6.5hp) engine with a 420cc (15hp) engine.
- Hydraulic Pump: We replaced the standard 13 GPM pump with a 28 GPM pump.
- Rod OD: We upgraded from a 2.25" OD rod to a 3" OD rod.
- Hydraulic Fluid Tank: We switched from an 8-gallon tank to a 12-gallon tank.
With all these modifications, watch the video to see how close we get to a 5-second cycle time!
