Harbor Freight 3-point log splitter

[ayelvington]

Well, I decided to take a chance and bought the HF 3-point splitter for my little Kubota BX-24. I'm going to document how things go so that you folks have something to work from.

I use a quick hitch for most everything, and it buys me an additional 4" of clearance between the cylinder head and the PTO. The down-side is that the support arm doesn't swing into the hook. I'm thinking about replacing the HF arms with chain and shackles to give me the necessary flexibility. Here is a public link to my Facebook album:

Alan Yelvington's Photos - Log splitter | Facebook

Here are a few photos of interest:

Profile of BX-24 with splitter attached:

Unloading the crate from the trailer:

Top arm not meeting the quick hitch hook:

I'm picking up UDT and hoses in the next few days...

 

[ayelvington]

Well, I decided to take a chance and bought the HF 3-point splitter for my little Kubota BX-24. I'm going to document how things go so that you folks have something to work from.

I use a quick hitch for most everything, and it buys me an additional 4" of clearance between the cylinder head and the PTO. The down-side is that the support arm doesn't swing into the hook. I'm thinking about replacing the HF arms with chain and shackles to give me the necessary flexibility. Here is a public link to my Facebook album:

Alan Yelvington's Photos - Log splitter | Facebook



I'm picking up UDT and hoses in the next few days...

 

[radioman]

Thats a bummer that you bent the toplink. however a simple metal strips on each side with a bolt on the other end will work to connect to the top link of the QA. This will allow movement if the splitter hits a object when lowered to move without bending anything else.

 

[savageactor7]

Thanks for the photos Alan I'm looking forward to your review. Does the drive shaft have 2 U joints so you can lower the splitter real low to roll on the big rounds? Oh it's hydro so I guess you can lower it to the ground then.

 

[JIMBO II]

You could replace the two bolts in the upper hook with two pins, to make the hook adjustable up and down as needed for various implements. That's what I've done, I put one in from each direction so the D-handles don't get caught on each other. I believe they are 7/16" Dia. bolts. There is an adapter to replace the upper hook altogether, it's "Y" shaped & pins in where the upper (bent) link attaches. I can probablyget a part #, and costs about $8.50, I couldn't make one for that amount.

Its late & Im tired, what's a UDT ?

 

[ayelvington]

UDT (AKA: Super UDT) is what Kubota calls their hydraulic fluid. The ram drink 1.5 gallons that I'll have to replenish from the sump.

Thanks to all for the great ideas! I'll be sure to post more stuff after I get the top link repaired and the hoses hooked up.

 

[Diamondpilot]

You could replace the two bolts in the upper hook with two pins, to make the hook adjustable up and down as needed for various implements. That's what I've done, I put one in from each direction so the D-handles don't get caught on each other. I believe they are 7/16" Dia. bolts. There is an adapter to replace the upper hook altogether, it's "Y" shaped & pins in where the upper (bent) link attaches. I can probablyget a part #, and costs about $8.50, I couldn't make one for that amount.

Its late & Im tired, what's a UDT ?

That is what I did. I used 2 trailer hitch pins, the smaller size for class 1 & 2 hitches. Had to drill the holes a bit with a 1/2" drill bit. The color looks like a perfect match.

Chris

 

[ayelvington]

Well, I considered my time, talent, resources, and the fact that the barn is freezing, and opted to buy the intended part for my quick-hitch instead of fabricating something that would likely make me a long-term candidate for purgatory based on the amount of cussing involved.

The link adapter can be used instead of the hook, and the local Tractor Supply Company had one for sale! Problem solved!

Adapter is black Y-shaped doer on top of the quick hitch.

I picked up a replacement top link ($50+), and fluid (another $50), and went home to lick my wounds and give it a try. Success!

The splitter fits quite nicely on a BX24 IF (and only IF) you have a quick hitch installed to add the extra clearance from the back end of the tractor. This is not so obvious when the splitter is lowered, but it is VERY obvious when the splitter is raised to a "transport" level. It could go very badly if you did that without the extra clearance.

I'm resting the splitter on cinder blocks for the time being to take the load off of the 3-point when the tractor is shut down. I'll carry wood blocks in the bucket to use when working in the woods.

I'm picking up hoses and quick connects tomorrow and start working on connecting to the tractor remotes. I still have not found a local source for the adapters that I'll need to go from the 1/2" NPT hoses to the 1/4" connectors.

Stay tuned!

 

[Diamondpilot]

I would think 1/4" connectors will really slow down the flow of hydraulic fluid and in turn slow the splitter way down. Choking this off like this may also create a lot of heat in the system so keep a eye on it.

Chris

 

[ayelvington]

I would think 1/4" connectors will really slow down the flow of hydraulic fluid and in turn slow the splitter way down. Choking this off like this may also create a lot of heat in the system so keep a eye on it.

Chris

1/4" fittings and hoses are standard on the BX24. I'm only using the 1/4" connector, but adapting them to 1/2" hoses going to and from the splitter. This would represent no more resistance to flow than the pump to power-beyond jumper at the back of the tractor. I don't expect it to be fast, just faster than me with a maul!

Al