3-pt Hitch Log Splitter or Gas standalone?

[ovrszd]

I'm not familiar with your tractor model. How many GPM is the hydraulics?? Are you currently setup with a rear remote??

If your GPM is under 10 your cyle times will be pretty slow. But you'll also have that with a small/cheap gas splitter.

I've had both types.

I built my 3pt splitter using a PTO 22 gpm pump. It was pretty fast and worked great. It was horizontal so I could set it down to get big logs loaded. I thought it was the best until I got a trailer mounted splitter.

Now I realize how much more versatile the trailer mounted splitter is. More mobile as in leaving the home property. Frees up the tractor to handle trailer duties or pack wood to the splitter. Mine is very fast and will split anything you can feed it. But it was insanely expensive.

I would have said you were better served by a 3pt splitter until you talked about going to other locations to split wood and the added requirement of a trailer. Now I'm thinking you'd like a trailer mounted splitter better.

 

[cmhyland]

This is really hard to beat at the price. I own one and love it.... I paid 599.00 and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Powerhorse Horizontal Dual Split 3 Pt. Log Splitter — 13-Ton, 3in. x 18in. Cylinder | Log Splitters| Northern Tool + Equipment

Regards,
Chris

 

[Gordon Gould]

Good thread. Pros and cons both ways. All you guys know splitters. I don't have a splitter yet but when I do it will probably be standalone but I'm not sure. I have a question. When I go to TSC or Home Despot etc and see all the splitters out front on display the vertical/horizontal models all seem to have the splitting beam work area mounted right above the trailer tires. Is that a problem ?? It looks to me like the wheels would really get in the way when you were trying to work. I am wondering if it would be better to give up the vertical feature in favor of having a more open work area away from the tires.
What are your experiences ?? Thanks

gg

 

[crazyal]

Years ago I borrowed a Cub Cadet splitter that was very similar to those sold at HD and Lowes. The difference was the axle was much wider. The wheel did seam to get in the way. With the ones sold at HD/ Lowes they are not as wide and you stand with your left foot behind the wheel and your right one next to it. That makes it easy to operate the valve and position the log. Rarely does the wheel get in the way. The only time I can think of is when I put the splitter so close to the pile of rounds to be split there's no room for either foot. The problem is more when towing. The light weight, no suspension, and narrow axle means you need to be real careful. I personally never tow mine more than a few miles at low speeds. Anything further and I'll load it into the back of my truck.

 

[PhysAssist]

Years ago I borrowed a Cub Cadet splitter that was very similar to those sold at HD and Lowes. The difference was the axle was much wider. The wheel did seam to get in the way. With the ones sold at HD/ Lowes they are not as wide and you stand with your left foot behind the wheel and your right one next to it. That makes it easy to operate the valve and position the log. Rarely does the wheel get in the way. The only time I can think of is when I put the splitter so close to the pile of rounds to be split there's no room for either foot. The problem is more when towing. The light weight, no suspension, and narrow axle means you need to be real careful. I personally never tow mine more than a few miles at low speeds. Anything further and I'll load it into the back of my truck.

What Al said!

But having said that, I removed my log "cradles", cut off the splitter ends and redrilled them to flatten them out, then mounted 3/4" plywood log tables to them to make work better to catch and re-position pieces that need to be re-split.

I still have some more mods to make, because I made them extend too close to the beam, and bigger logs can catch on them, so I'm going to trim them back a bit and then [I think] add a raised metal rim to keep logs from vibrating off of them onto my feet.

Probably the thing I'm least happy about on my Troy-Bilt from Lowes is the actual cylinder design. It's got a pair of round studs projecting from the sides [like old cannons had to serve as an axis of rotation to adjust the muzzle up and down] that serve to connect the cylinder to the beam unit. I have not seem many cylinders so equipped, so I don't know how hard it will be to replace it eventually.

You can see the round ends of the studs at the junction between the red log remover and the cylinder. The log remover being the piece that locks the cylinder from being pulled back out toward the stationary "foot" of the splitter on the ground [as seen between the wheels on the picture at right]- in fact, that was where the cylinder was when it was shipped [decreasing the shipping size].

Though I hope to be dead and long gone before the need to replace the cylinder arises.

Thomas

 

[PhysAssist]

This is really hard to beat at the price. I own one and love it.... I paid 599.00 and would do it again in a heartbeat.

Powerhorse Horizontal Dual Split 3 Pt. Log Splitter 13-Ton, 3in. x 18in. Cylinder | Log Splitters| Northern Tool + Equipment

Regards,
Chris

...And now it's on sale for $499!

Powerhorse Horizontal Dual Split 3 Pt. Log Splitter 13-Ton, 3in. x 18in. CylinderWas $599.99

Sale $499.99
Order Today and Save $100.00

Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Powerhorse Horizontal Dual Split 3 Pt. Log Splitter 13-Ton, 3in. x 18in. Cylinder | Log Splitters| Northern Tool + Equipment


But it's also another $100 at least for delivery to my place, in addition to the hoses and rear remotes I don't have...

That's another reason why we have the Troy-Bilt stand alone.

Though I did consider buying one of these, and JJ basically did the math to help me understand that at least as regards running it on my lil B2320, it was not the machine for me.

Thanks again JJ!

Thomas

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I bought the 3pt hitch Speedco from Tractor Supply and it is not as fast as a stand alone but it is plenty fast enough for me. I run my tractor at about 1200 RPM's and it has split all the grainy live oak wood that I have put under it without so much as a grunt, but if I was in the firewood business and time was money I would go with the stand alone for the speed. Good luck. Charlie.

 

[crazyal]

What Al said!

But having said that, I removed my log "cradles", cut off the splitter ends and redrilled them to flatten them out, then mounted 3/4" plywood log tables to them to make work better to catch and re-position pieces that need to be re-split.

I still have some more mods to make, because I made them extend too close to the beam, and bigger logs can catch on them, so I'm going to trim them back a bit and then [I think] add a raised metal rim to keep logs from vibrating off of them onto my feet.
View attachment 309849View attachment 309847View attachment 309846View attachment 309848
Probably the thing I'm least happy about on my Troy-Bilt from Lowes is the actual cylinder design. It's got a pair of round studs projecting from the sides [like old cannons had to serve as an axis of rotation to adjust the muzzle up and down] that serve to connect the cylinder to the beam unit. I have not seem many cylinders so equipped, so I don't know how hard it will be to replace it eventually.

You can see the round ends of the studs at the junction between the red log remover and the cylinder. The log remover being the piece that locks the cylinder from being pulled back out toward the stationary "foot" of the splitter on the ground [as seen between the wheels on the picture at right]- in fact, that was where the cylinder was when it was shipped [decreasing the shipping size].

Though I hope to be dead and long gone before the need to replace the cylinder arises.

Thomas

I always store the splitter with the hydraulic cylinder in the retracted position so the rod doesn't have a chance to get pitted or damaged. I would rebuild the cylinder unless it was damaged in a way that forced me to replace it. I expect it would be cheaper. MTD isn't cheap when it comes to parts though.

 

[PhysAssist]

I always store the splitter with the hydraulic cylinder in the retracted position so the rod doesn't have a chance to get pitted or damaged. I would rebuild the cylinder unless it was damaged in a way that forced me to replace it. I expect it would be cheaper. MTD isn't cheap when it comes to parts though.

True, I do the same and with this splitter, as opposed to the Heathkit one it replced, I have had it since day one, and changed oil and hydro fluids, and their filters, exactly per spec, so I know its done right.

Thomas- happily tap tap tapping on my repaired Galaxy Tab

 

[cmhyland]

...And now it's on sale for $499!

Powerhorse Horizontal Dual Split 3 Pt. Log Splitter 13-Ton, 3in. x 18in. CylinderWas $599.99

Sale $499.99
Order Today and Save $100.00

Guaranteed Lowest Prices
Powerhorse Horizontal Dual Split 3 Pt. Log Splitter 13-Ton, 3in. x 18in. Cylinder | Log Splitters| Northern Tool + Equipment


But it's also another $100 at least for delivery to my place, in addition to the hoses and rear remotes I don't have...

That's another reason why we have the Troy-Bilt stand alone.

Though I did consider buying one of these, and JJ basically did the math to help me understand that at least as regards running it on my lil B2320, it was not the machine for me.

Thanks again JJ!

Thomas

When I ordered one of these powerhorse uints I didn't have the rear remotes. I looked into the price and found I could get the power beyond block for 75 bucks. I bought that and 2 24in hoses and quick connects. So while i don't have rear remotes with valves I have power beyond.

The shipping on the unit was a bit under 100 bucks and the hoses and fittings at tractor supply were about 60 bucks.
So in the end, for me I found it to be an excellent investment, but your milage may vary....

Cycle time for me from one end to the other is about 7 seconds running the tractor at 1200 rpm. Higher idle will make it faster but I don't want the noise....

Regards,
Chris