Harbor Freight 3-point log splitter

[ayelvington]

I could, but right now the hoses are just long enough to let me hook up without being attached to the tractor. I'd have to deal with two pythons when it was connected to the 3-point if I made them longer.

What I will do is consider making some extension hoses so that I could do this, and then put the extensions aside when using the 3-point.

Thanks for the idea!

Al

If you make the hydro hoses a little longer you could split wood in front of the FEL and make things as easy as a stand alone splitter.

 

[ayelvington]

Here are some photos of the 8" wheels attached. I didn't want to tie up a hand truck for moving it around, so I attached wheels to the cross arms and can dolly it around the barn now.

I got the solid wheels from TSC on clearance, but Harbor Freight is also a good source, and usually cheaper. Get 8" wheels to ensure that you get enough clearance below the main splitter rail.

Each wheel assembly is held in place by four (4), grade-8, 3" x 1/4" bolts, fastened into Unistrut (AKA: Super Strut) channel that I got at Home Depot. You need about a foot of channel for each wheel, and four 1/4" fastener clips (they have the threaded holes in them.) I also put some washers in to size the bolts to the span.

The neighborhood is having a "cutting-bee" tomorrow for a neighbor that broke his leg in the woods and is out of firewood. I'll be out there with tractor, splitter, and chainsaw to give it all a test under fire!

 

[jinman]

Looks like you are set. I've been burning wood for a couple of weeks that I split with my new splitter. It's from trees that have been "standing firewood" for several years and don't require drying. It sure is nice to have your own splitter. I like your wheels. Since they are on the tractor end, you can still extend yor toplink and get the splitting saddle low enough to make loading big round easier.

 

[ayelvington]

The splitter got a trial by fire on Saturday at a "splitting bee" for a neighbor. It really proved it worth since I could take the splitter to the tree, instead of having us having to drag large rollers to the splitter. You're right about having it low being easier too; some of the rollers to two sets of hands, and it was nice not to have to lift them high.

Hoses got warm, but nothing got hot. It was around 20 all day, so plenting of cooling. I'm not sure that I would work it that hard in the summer, but I don't plan to make wood in the summer. I'm a happy camper!

The wheels are working well. They don't touch ground when the 3-point is fully lowered, so they don't get in the way. I put a roller or wood block under the far end for support for when we drop a large piece on the splitter.

I lower the back end even further by lifting the front end by raising the front end with the FEL. That way I can just roll the splitter up to the hitch and hook it up. I comes right up when I raise the FEL and drop the front end. The BX looked so tiny compared to all the Ag tractors at the splitting bee, but she did what she was supposed to, and that's all that mattered.

 

[jambx]

This maybe a stupid question but how does one determine what hose (from the BH) is the supply and which one is the return?....

I am getting hoses made tomorrow and wanted them to be as short as possible - one of them is at least 18 inches longer than the other so I want to make sure I dont mix the lenghs up.

Any help would be great!

 

[ayelvington]

I have the manuals for my tractor, so I just looked it up... If you don't have a reference to tell you, then I recommend you call your dealer. This is my first tractor, so I'd be afraid to speculate about any standard that Kubota may have.

Note: If you have three connections in back (supply, tank, and power-beyond), you want to hook up to supply and power-beyond. Going straight to the tank will deny you being able to use the 3-pt to raise and lower the splitter.

 

[DrewL]

I watched that YouTube video. Did anybody watch the Rico splitter video? Holy crap is that thing fast.

 

[Scrounger]

That was one fast splitter. I dont think it is available in the USA however. Bummer.

 

[gaberelli]

Stupid question. What do you do with the tractor rear hydraulic lever in order to be able to control the hydraulics with the splitter? On my Bobcat CT225, my rear hydraulics lock in the detent position for either direction of hydraulic flow.

 

[bigdaddybx]

I have a BX23 and am thinking about buying the Harbor Freight splitter. How do you like the splitter by now? Any problems? Thanks