log splitters

[riverrat 88]

I am riverrat88, looking information which is better tractor mounted log splitter or a tow behind with vertical and horizontal position. I am new to this forum, but look forward to gaining new insights and ways of better caring for my equipment. I appreciate any and all help and hope to be good member. I am just an old country boy trying to survive in the world today.

Thanks riverrat88

 

[The kid]

:welcome: to TBN Free free to browse the forums to post your question. We have a very helpful group of people here.

 

[murphy1244]

:welcome:

 

[bironacad]

I am riverrat88, looking information which is better tractor mounted log splitter or a tow behind with vertical and horizontal position. I am new to this forum, but look forward to gaining new insights and ways of better caring for my equipment. I appreciate any and all help and hope to be good member. I am just an old country boy trying to survive in the world today.

Thanks riverrat88

Welcome!

I have had the splitter that works independent of the tractor and now own a Wallenstein three point splitter. There was some concern that the splitter attached to the tractor would have access problems but that has not been my experience. I like that I can lower the splitter right to ground level for the larger diameter logs to get them started then raise the splitter so I don't have to bend over while splitting, my back is not good lol. This does require a hydraulic top link for easy levelling though. My splitter also has a wide saddle that is an added bonus over my old splitter as it is easier to manipulate the wood on the splitter. You will find various threads about splitters here in TBN an for the most part good nature kidding and advice, so welcome aboard.

 

[MIKE R]

Welcome to the forum.

 

[JD 4520]

Show the pictures! Welcome to the forum.

 

[mguitas]

:welcome:aboard.

 

[sshaw]

I went with the tow-behind type, a Huskee 22-ton from Tractor Supply. It works well for my needs. I've got 30 acres, mostly wooded, with a decent interior access road. I heat the house with wood from the lot. I usually use the tractor to haul the logs to the splitter and split the wood at the woodpile near the house. If I've got a really big tree down, I'll tow the splitter to the logs and use the vertical setup. I keep the splitter in the garage and like that I can move it around by hand easily. I can also tow it around the property with the JD 750, the X540, or the SUV, so it's more flexible than the 3PH setup for me.

 

[grnspot110]

:welcome:

It depends on your needs. If you want to work faster, get the independent splitter. for me, a 3-pt splitter using the tractor hydraulics works fine!

I originally built mine for a 1958 JD 520, when I sold it, I added a control valve & longer hoses to the splitter & use it on my JD 790 CUT.





I hook to the loader bucket hyd. connections & tie off the joy stick with a tarp strap to the opposite fender. Not fast, but neither am I & I work by myself, so it keeps up with me. I have a total of around $500 invested in it, compared to $1000+ for a new self-contained model! ~~ grnspot

 

[xring100]

I am riverrat88, looking information which is better tractor mounted log splitter or a tow behind with vertical and horizontal position. I am new to this forum, but look forward to gaining new insights and ways of better caring for my equipment. I appreciate any and all help and hope to be good member. I am just an old country boy trying to survive in the world today.

Thanks riverrat88

Also new here long time reader though. I had a standalone Speeco Speed Pro Kinetic slitter which was amazingly fast when it worked right. I ultimately took it back Chinese made garbage TSC stopped carrying them and speeco took all the information off their site . I will say that a purely horizontal splitter sucks without a lift if you are splitting wood 24" or larger I've got some 32" rounds oak and maple i would have to lift in place with my loader because i couldn't lift a 200 plus pound log in place. What really sucked is that once split usually one or both halves would fall off and i had to place them back in place with the tractor

I've looked at Wallenstein splitters they are Canadian made. Splitfire also Canadian, Timber wolf USA made, DR, and the northern tool Powerhorse Probably made in China. The Powerhorse looks to be a cheaper copy of the the splitfire. In the end I called and talked to the guys at split fire because they mention they custom built splitters to order. After exchanging a few emails with Paul and Chris and a phone call to Paul, i decided that the support they give at splitfire is topnotch. I determined that i wanted at customer built 3403 with Log lift and the High flow kit. The high flow kit includes the bigger lines, hoses and fittings that are included in the 4203 and 4403. My Kubota M8540 is rated at 17.1 GPM at 2850 PSI at the valve or about 28 HP worth of splitting enjoyment. This means it should take about 4 seconds per stroke.

Split fire, DR, and Powerhorse are nice because they are a dual action splitter meaning they split in both directions.

If you know what your hydraulic flow rate is you can calculate the aproximate cycle time for any model your looking at

Hydraulic Cylinder* Speed Calculator