3 Point Log Splitter

   / 3 Point Log Splitter #1  

KennyG

Elite Member
Joined
Jan 13, 2011
Messages
4,281
Location
SW Michigan
Tractor
John Deere 2320
The pros and cons of 3 point splitters have been discussed here already, but, having bought one, I thought I'd add a little information. I've got a PowerHorse 13 ton (Northern Tool) on a JD 2320 with Power Beyond and it seems to be a good match.

To get the downsides out of the way, it's not real cheap. By the time you buy it, pay shipping and have hoses made, you will have $750 to $800 invested, only a few hundred less than an equivalent pull behind. 13 tons is not much power, but all you can expect with less than 5 gpm available from a small tractor.

The upside is it works great for me. The speed seems to max out with the tractor running about 2300 rpm. That gives a stroke time of about 10 seconds. Since the wedge is two sided, you can make 4 or 5 splits a minute. The maximum log length is 19 inches, but my stove takes a maximum of 16 inch logs, so that works for me.

The power is significantly less on retraction compared to extending, but you can just make sure to make the first split while extending. I use mostly oak and started with all the old knotty pieces I had not been able to split by hand, and it split them with no problem. It's not going to do huge logs, but I'm not going to split anything I can't lift. :)

Yes, you're using the tractor instead of a cheap gas engine, but I hate using a splitter with a loud little gas engine. I think the wear on the diesel is negligible when it sits there and runs at a constant speed. I only use the tractor 100 hours a year or so anyway.

This is the first time I've had a splitter with a log table, and I can't imagine not having one now. Here's a couple of pictures and link to a short video. (After I get it scratched up, I think I'll paint it green.)

split1.jpg


split2.jpg


PowerHorse Splitter Video
 
   / 3 Point Log Splitter #2  
Okay. Good to hear you are happy with your purchase.
 
   / 3 Point Log Splitter #3  
Nice looking unit. The bi-directional splitting helps offset the slow cycle time you get with low volume tractor hydraulics.

The good thing about 3pt splitters is that you can adjust the splitter height to whatever is comfortable.

Not all tractor splitters use tractor hydraulics. The better ones are PTO driven and have their own pumps and reservoirs. The beginnings of my home built pull behind was a beam and cylinder off a 3ph splitter. It's a 20t and has about a 6-8 second cycle time.

Ian
 
 
 
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