Huskee 3PT log splitter It's great!!

[gordon21]

I read posts about log splitters for several months and finally bought one this month. It is the Huskee 3PT model from TSC. $645 not including hoses. They did not give a rating for output since the factory does not know what tractor it will be hooked up to. It performs far better (faster) than expected. My little JD 790 has an advertised pump rating of 5.4GPM at 2600 RPM. I have been using the splitter at about 1500 RPM.

So many people here on TBN have dwelled on cycle times. They are really irrelevent unless you run the ram the maximum possible distance. I lay the log down, start the wedge into the log and typically within 2" of travel into the log, the log splits open neatly with a cool sounding loud crack. I have been splitting mainly 8-14" diameter oak about 18-22" long that was cut 2-3 months ago. Only 10% of the pieces have required running the wedge 6" or more and they were not oak. You then immediately reverse the wedge once the log splits and run it backwards 4-7" and leave yourself enough space to lay the next log. Repeat the cycle. A typical log can be laid on the beam, split and the ram run back to the starting point in under 15 seconds.

If the log is 10" or less, you can also take the two halves with the cut edges touching, rotate them 90 degrees and then run the wedge again and get the log quartered. My splitter does not have the four way wedge, but that would be a great thing to add for you welders out there.

So for those of you who have been on the fence about splitters, a 5.4GPM pump running at half speed can split wood faster than you can load it and move the split pieces out of the way. It is actaully scary to think how fast a big hydraulic pump running at 2600 RPM could move that wedge. I don't want my hand around a wedge that moves 5-8" inches per second. In less than 2 seconds it could move over a foot. My rate of 2" per second is plenty fast and SAFE.

When you unhook the hoses from the power beyond when you are done splitting, wear gloves or have a rag handy. The quick connect fittings get hot!!

 

[Onthesauk]

Good review Gordon!

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Thanks for the comments. This is useful information to lots of us. Out of curiosity, how big is the diameter of the cylinder?

Cliff

 

[gordon21]

4"x24"

 

[Skaning]

You made a good point about cycle time. With your 3 PT hitch system you essentially have a single stage system. A lot of the self contained versions have 2 stage pumps which gives fast cycle times with a lower power requirement. Impressive but scary.

Built a self contained one something like 30 years ago. Still running. When we built it, 2 stage pumps were not available. It's got an old 12 horse Techumseh on it and it will will definately out work one man, will put two people into a sweat. When you finally get three people feeding splitting and clearing it, things move down to a reasonable pace.

by the way, oak isn't a fair judge for splitting performance. Get a piece of sweet gum or elm and then tell us how far you have to stroke the ram.

 

[gordon21]

Let me split about 10 cords of oak and another 10 of pine and THEN I will start on the crappy wood.

The majority of it is about 30' lower in elevation than the site by the house. After I cut the trees down, I cut them up and then haul the firewood size chunks to the top of the hill. I will do all the splitting at the top of the hill.

 

[ovrszd]

Let me split about 10 cords of oak and another 10 of pine and THEN I will start on the crappy wood.

The majority of it is about 30' lower in elevation than the site by the house. After I cut the trees down, I cut them up and then haul the firewood size chunks to the top of the hill. I will do all the splitting at the top of the hill.

I'll use the wrong terminology here, but will your control valve stay in the retracting position by itself until the cylinder hits bottom and kicks it off??? That's the only thing I would want more than what you have described. I'm definitely going with a 3pt splitter.

 

[gordon21]

I will have to go check tomorrow. The splitter is kept 15 miles away. I started developing my own safety system where one hand is always on the control lever and the other steadying the log. OR, the ram is stationary and both my hands are on the log. The owners manual says it has an auto-return valve, but I have not used that feature. ????

 

[ovrszd]

I will have to go check tomorrow. The splitter is kept 15 miles away. I started developing my own safety system where one hand is always on the control lever and the other steadying the log. OR, the ram is stationary and both my hands are on the log. The owners manual says it has an auto-return valve, but I have not used that feature. ????

Yep, it is so equipped then. Next time you are retracting the cylinder push the valve lever until it latches open. When the cylinder hits the full retracted position it will automatically return the valve to center. This is handy when you want to go get the next log while the cylinder is retracting. When you start splitting wood that works your splitter, you will really like this feature. You don't have to stand there holding the valve lever while the cylinder retracts. Great feature.