I'm using my tractors for other things right now (haying and sawmill) so I can't go out and time the ram for you right now...
I roll my cut firewood right off my trailer onto the splitter, so the log lift wouldn't be of much use for me, and the wedge lift would have been a waste of money too.... The table grate is a HUGE plus though...
SR
That's ok. On you tube the video shows tractor at 2000rpms and about 10 second cycle.
I timed my splits tonight with my dr kinetic splitter and for 3 splits, 4 pieces, I was averaging about 8 seconds. This was from the time I started the first split, until I threw the last piece in pile. For 5 splits, 6 pieces, I was averaging about 15 seconds same procedure.
The tw3hd and tw5 have a stated 10 second cycle time. That's 5 seconds to split and 5 seconds back by way video shows. The 5 seconds back doesn't mean much as this is when the operator will be either throwing the pieces on the truck or getting the next block for splitting. So with a 6 way wedge on the timber wolfs, it should be noticeably faster, easier, safer, and have more of a "flow" to the process then the dr rapud fire kinetic splitter at its 3 second, single wedge.
As far as the log lift, I am unsure about the usefulness of it compared to its extra cost. It is nice to have a table at times and those bigger blocks get heavy lifting off ground at times, but the log lift will cost extra and at times be in the way of operation and positioning the splitter I think. Operator should be on side of splitter wher the blocks are to load and operate splitter. Truck is on the opposite side for opeaator to throw split pieces into. The log lift would mess up this process and style of positioning of equipment. Would slow operation down.
And the hyd wedge lift. I have always had mixed thoughts on this as it can be nice to center wedge on larger blocks, but is an extra step/lever to move to do it. It is nice to just split and push the wood through and throw and not interupt with another movement= positioning the wedge. Just split baby! Also, after watching timber wolf video on you tube for 100th time, I noticed a potential flaw with hyd wedge lift that makes it kinda useless like rob said. If you raise wedge up to split larger block and split, pieces stay in edge split until next block is pushed through, or operator can pry them out from under wedge which I consider a waste of extra effort. Any way those pieces if left in the wedge until next block is pushed through will hinder the wedge from lowering if your next block is smaller. So I am kinda agreeing with rob that the hyd wedge lift is useless. If you do get splits left over that are to big and need resplit, I would think you would want them at the top of wedge to easily grap and run back through. And this is where they would be if the wedge just stayed low, so hyd wedge lift may not be worth it. (Itcomes standard on tw5 though, but is option on tw3hd)
Now onto costs. I guestimated after dickering prices, approximate final costs might be $4000 for tw3hd and $8000 for tw5. And after playing with numbers in a way that is so complicated I don't want to go into detail tonight, the costs to run each splitter is about the same per face cord. $3.50 for tw3hd and $3.75 for tw5, at the above buy up costs, with maintenance, fuel, ins, over 10 years at 400 face cord per year. The tw3hd has less of a buy up cost, but more of a to run cost due to it requiring a 24k tractor to run it. The tw5 has more of a buy up cost, but less of a to run cost. So over long time the tw5 might be better choice, but I am seeing some better options with the tw3hd being run off the tractor. The extra $2000 for the extra second it saves per split and extra 3 ton splitting power of the tw6, kinda takes this one out of the picture. So between the tw3hd on tractor, or the self contained tw5, or go into real logging and get better acess to straight pole wood and buy a processor, or a auto block splitter like kiwibro mentioned and start buying just blocks of firewood from others. Many options here. As for now I like the timber wolfs splitters with 6 way wedge, or else a nap on a comfy couch. Sorry for the long winded posts.