3PH Wood Splitter

[dmp437]

I've got a TSC splitter also and am very happy with it. You can run the splitter off the tractor with no problem, you just have to be more careful as it becomes more top heavy. The TSC unit has a 4" cylinder so power depends on the pressure of your tractor's hydraulic pump. My 4310's pump pops off at 2750 PSI and it splits anything I put into it (hardwood only). I paid $539 for the TSC unit after hassling the manager about a couple of rust spots on it. I'm also going to put together a "four-way" wedge for it to speed up splitting in the future.

 

[Ductape]

I'm going to offer an opposing opinion (and prepare to take a beating with a garden hose). I bought a new splitter last year at the Depot. The MTD 27 ton with the Honda engine. I was able to get it during a 10% off sale, so i save somewhere around $130 or so. Granted, it is an extra motor to maintain, but the flip side is....... you are using up an easily replaceable (and comparatively inexpensive) motor instead of putting all those hours on your tractor motor. I only split wood for my own home, but it still adds up the hours during splitting season. I only have two seasons worth of splitting on my machine, so i can't give an idea of its lifespan, but i'm sure i'm nowhere near the end. I will also add that i have split some BIG elm with mine, and have yet to come across anything to put under it that it won't split. I have never owned a 3point splitter, so i can't compare the two...... but i will say i'm plenty satisfied with my stand alone splitter.

 

[dmccarty]

DMP437,

How long are your hoses to go from your Power Beyond to the splitter?

From the TSC picture, which stinks, I really wish they would do some work on that site, the splitter legs look kinda small. When I first looked at them I did not realize they where legs. Gordon set me right though. I can apply the difference between TSC's splitter and the Iron Oak towards a welder to fix them legs if I need too.

Later,
Dan

 

[RoyK]

I'm going to offer an opposing opinion (and prepare to take a beating with a garden hose). I bought a new splitter last year at the Depot. The MTD 27 ton with the Honda engine. I was able to get it during a 10% off sale, so i save somewhere around $130 or so. Granted, it is an extra motor to maintain, but the flip side is....... you are using up an easily replaceable (and comparatively inexpensive) motor instead of putting all those hours on your tractor motor. I only split wood for my own home, but it still adds up the hours during splitting season. I only have two seasons worth of splitting on my machine, so i can't give an idea of its lifespan, but i'm sure i'm nowhere near the end. I will also add that i have split some BIG elm with mine, and have yet to come across anything to put under it that it won't split. I have never owned a 3point splitter, so i can't compare the two...... but i will say i'm plenty satisfied with my stand alone splitter.

Looking at all the gas powered "antique" tractors from the 30's through 50's that are ***still in active use*** (particularly the Ford 9N, 8N and Jubilee), I'd say my diesel NH will out-live me, so I'm not too worried about engine hours.

 

[slowrev]

On the 3 point splitters that run off tractor hydraulics. Don't you have to bungee down your remote valve/shuttle to run em? Unless of course you have a detent valve.
I got a stand alone splitter 20 ton that will do verticle or horizontal splitting. I fugure it is cheaper to put the wear on the little $150 hydraulic pump than on my $700 tractor pump. Just me though, and yes I haan extra motor to maintain, but it is about $300 to re[place too
Ben

 

[Jim_Fisher]

I'm in a quandry or at least I have a new one to add the list.

I need a log splitter to replace the old Mark I Manual Wood Splitter. Me.

The choices I'm down to are a Troybilt 5.5 HP Honda powered splitter at Lowes for $1300ish.

Or an Iron and Oak 3PH hydraulic splitter for $1300 from a local guy I have never delt with and who has to order the equipment.

I like the Iron and Oak for a couple of reasons. It has legs and according to the manufactuer will operate just find OFF the 3ph. All I would have to do is drive up close and hook up the hydraulic hoses. Then its wood splitting time. I would use my Power Beyond Ports for the splitter so I keep my other implements hooked up to the tractor, with the exception of the backhoe, and still use the splitter.

Using the Iron and Oak splitter also means I have one less engine to worry about. I figure I would only use the splitter for a few weeks/months out of the year so this keeps the Honda engine from just sitting doing nothing.

I have to go to a third party to get the hoses made up to connect the tractor and splitter. For some reason this bothers me. I guess its just one thing than can go wrong.

Anyone use and Iron and Oak Splitter?

For those with splitters, how much time do you spend spltting 4-5 cords?

If you use a tractor splitter would you rather have a standalone splitter?


Later,
Dan

Dan,

I have the cheapest splitter that Northern Tool makes. Fit and finish is not the best. I had to rework the slide to smooth up the edges so that it didn't gall the beam and had to reinforce the bars that connect to the top link. I ended up with about $575.00 in the splitter including shipping, hoses, couplings, and fittings. Current price is about $70.00 more for the splitter. I'm sure that the price of fuel has driven the shipping up and the hoses, since they contain rubber.

That said, I much prefer the three point splitter over the standalone unit that I used to own. With the three point unit, I can lower the splitter to the ground, roll a heavy log onto the splitter, then lift it to split. I piped the return back to the three point hitch rather than to the sump (where the return from the backhoe goes) so that I don't lose the functionality of the three point while I'm splitting.

I looked at the Speeco unit at TSC before I bought but I didn't like the transverse mounting scheme. I usually work alone and try to split across the splitter into the bucket of my 3010. I didn't get to see the Speeco hooked up but it appeared to me that it would be pretty close to the rear tire when mounted on the tractor. Not sure how it would work when it's set up to split vertically, but I suspect that with 16" logs, I would spend a lot of time bent over.

I never timed how long it takes to split a cord. I try not to be in a hurry when I'm using a splitter or chain saw. After having them for 56 years, I find that I have become rather fond of my appendages and would prefer to keep them .

 

[dmccarty]

I finally bought the TSC log splitter. The two nearest stores have been out for weeks as has the wharehouse. They finally got in this week and I ran down on Friday afternoon and bought it. Then I ran off to the JD dealer to make up some hoses. Gotta praise the dealer since they stayed open an extra 30 minutes to make me some hoses.

The splitter is still in the crate. I had to put on the pallet forks to get the splitter off the truck. And while I have the forks on there was another chore I have been waiting to do. Then I had the back hoe on the tractor so that had to come off and put on the 3PH. Finally I got to the splitter but by then the sun was going to sleep so that was the end of the day. I wish I had lights out by the "barn" I would have been out there last night working.

I'll add what I think about the splitter once I get it to work.

For those with JD tractors and Power Beyond Ports, which port is the pressure side? I THINK I know but the manual is not quite clear. I have a 4700. From what I can tell there is a difference on the 4500 to 4700 tractors vs the 4300 and under tractors.

Later,
Dan

 

[mrpoppy58]

Sir,
I have a 3ph splitter from TSC. My 2810 Mahindra has a backhoe. I dont remove the backhoe to use the splitter. I set it beside one of the support posts at my tractor shed. I put a chain around the splitter for safety. It has split everything I have put on it so far. A person cant go wrong with TSC.
mrpoppy

 

[hayden]

I highly recommend the Split-fire 3PH splitter. See Split-Fire Sales Inc. :: Welcome :: Quality Built. High Performance. Split-Fire - Your Best Choice

Unlike any other splitter I've seen, the splitting wedge is bi-directional. You can split running the cylinder in one direction, then instead of waiting for the cylinder to retract before splitting again, you can place wood on the back side and split again on the reverse stroke.

For a 3PH splitter, this makes a big difference in productivity since the hydraulic flow from a tractor is typically a lot less than a dedicated splitter with a two stage pump. I've got the SS-234 model and am quite happy with it. As best I can remember, it cost about $1000.

 

[dmccarty]

For those with JD tractors and Power Beyond Ports, which port is the pressure side? I THINK I know but the manual is not quite clear. I have a 4700. From what I can tell there is a difference on the 4500 to 4700 tractors vs the 4300 and under tractors.

To answer my own question its the lower port that has the male connector according to my dealer.

The assembly was pretty easy to do. The hardest part was putting the splitter on the stand. I kept the splitter in the crate, picked up said crate with pallet forks and moved it to the assembled stand. Then I took off the tie downs on the splitter and attached the stand and splitter. Thank goodness for the pallet forks...

I ran the splitter for an hour and it worked well. I split the toughest pieces that I had and it worked well and fast. The splitter at waste high is real nice. Right there its a big bonus over the engine splitters. I ran the RPM at 2000 and had more than enough power and speed.

On "normal" rounds I can split by hand just as fast as the splitter. BUT, I'm working pretty hard. This is easy work with the splitter. Where the log splitter seems to shine is doing the tough pieces and lowering the work effort which will allow me to work longer. By hand I would usually stop after 2 or 2.5 hours. I think with the splitter I can go a lot longer.

For you guys with the TSC splitter Does pulling the lever towards the splitting wedge make the cylinder go out(left) or close(right)?

Mine seems the opposite of the way it should work. Lever Right split log. Lever Left move cylinder right.

Later,
Dan