Skid loader splitter on farm tractor

[Sawyer Rob]

Dont put hours on your expensive tractor when you could spend $200-300 more on a normal log splitter with a cheap gas engine. In some cases these hydraulic splitters cost more than a big box store splitter with a gas engine.

Why do you think that? Did you buy a low quality tractor that won't hold up to putting a few hours on it??

A hundred hours is a LOT of splitting!!

SR

 

[cstamm81]

Generally, one uses skid steer splitters to simply cut huge rounds down to a manageable size, to then be split smaller by a stand alone splitter. I have yet to see a quick attach splitter that would be useful for making wood stove sized splits. If you have an outdoor boiler that takes big pieces, no further splitting will be necessary.

For a tractor, a splitter that is parallel to the front tires is much preferred versus a splitter that sticks straight out, just so you can see what you're doing. Example: Log Splitter 30 Ton Sideways
Here's the best video I have ever seen of a skid steer splitter on a tractor, sticking straight out:

Eastonmade's beam and wedge design is amazing IMO, this style of beam and wedge mounted parallel to the wheels would make a nice tractor splitter. In my experience, you want a big push plate and tall wedge to a splitter like this, as it's hard to position the beam over the rounds at times from the tractor seat.

 

[nyone]

Why do you think that? Did you buy a low quality tractor that won't hold up to putting a few hours on it??

A hundred hours is a LOT of splitting!!

SR

No one said anything about not being able to handle it. I specifically stated that generaly the hours on your expensive tractor cost more than a cheap gas engine. Hell two service intervals on a tractor could cost more than a whole new engine for a gas splitter.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

No one said anything about not being able to handle it. I specifically stated that generaly the hours on your expensive tractor cost more than a cheap gas engine. Hell two service intervals on a tractor could cost more than a whole new engine for a gas splitter.

IF, all I did was run my splitter with my tractor, then yes the service per hour would be quite high. BUT, what little hours a splitter puts on a tractor, the cost of the service "running the splitter" sure isn't much and it's easily out weighed by the advantages of using a tractor.

Plus, I don't have to screw around with a "cheap gas engine", my tractor is always ready to go and will out live me.

SR

 

[4570Man]

IF, all I did was run my splitter with my tractor, then yes the service per hour would be quite high. BUT, what little hours a splitter puts on a tractor, the cost of the service "running the splitter" sure isn't much and it's easily out weighed by the advantages of using a tractor.

Plus, I don't have to screw around with a "cheap gas engine", my tractor is always ready to go and will out live me.

SR

The key part you’re not mentioning is you need 2 tractors to make it work and you need a pto pump setup. Tying up your only tractor to split wood when you need it to move wood or hooking it to your rear remote at a snails pace is far from optimal.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You do NOT need two tractors or a pto pump... That's complete BS

You can stage your rounds on a trailer/wagon or a table and roll them right onto the splitters beam, I do it all the time.

I split with a splitter without a pto pump for a long time, before I bought one with a pto pump. Speed of the cylinder is REALLY all about how much wood you split, the more you split, the more you want a faster speed.

SR

 

[cstamm81]

You do NOT need two tractors or a pto pump... That's complete BS

You can stage your rounds on a trailer/wagon or a table and roll them right onto the splitters beam, I do it all the time.

I split with a splitter without a pto pump for a long time, before I bought one with a pto pump. Speed of the cylinder is REALLY all about how much wood you split, the more you split, the more you want a faster speed.

SR

agreed, most tractors 50hp and up seem to put out 10 gpm per minute, at 2600 plus psi. The tractors pump is single stage. Compare that to most box store splitters, 11gpm 2 stage (shifts down to about 3 gpm when the splitting gets tough). Your actual cycle speed may very well be quicker with the tractor, as it never has to shift down to the lower stage to complete the split. The biggest potential issue IMO, you need to know what psi you're tractor makes. 2,300psi vs 2,600psi makes a huge difference when splitting wood.

 

[4570Man]

You do NOT need two tractors or a pto pump... That's complete BS

You can stage your rounds on a trailer/wagon or a table and roll them right onto the splitters beam, I do it all the time.

I split with a splitter without a pto pump for a long time, before I bought one with a pto pump. Speed of the cylinder is REALLY all about how much wood you split, the more you split, the more you want a faster speed.

SR

You don’t NEED 2 tractors and a pto pump setup but not having that is a lot less desirable option. I don’t know how you go about splitting wood but I like to have a helper split while I cut. Not having the tractor free would ruin that. Going back to rear remotes would cut your speed to minimum in half if not 1/3.

 

[ptsg]

I run my splitter of my tractor remotes with the engine somewhere between 1200 to 1500 RPM. Gives me plenty of speed and a LOT less noise. Heck, probably will use less fuel than the screamer gas engine. The splitter has its own valve, so no going back and forth there. I do run a smaller cylinder (90 mm bore) than most, but still will split whatever I throw at it.

Most people here who buy splitters, it will have it's own speed increaser and pump. Some will have two gear pumps and a 2 stage valve.

For the ones who split wood to sell for basically a living, they usually buy a cheap and old tractor, like a 2WD David Brown, Ford or MF, that spends the entire time sitting in the same spot, at the same RPM, just running the splitter all week long. Some will even buy tractors with a broken transmission as long as the PTO works, it's fine and it was a cheap investment.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The key part you’re not mentioning is you need 2 tractors to make it work and you need a pto pump setup. Tying up your only tractor to split wood when you need it to move wood or hooking it to your rear remote at a snails pace is far from optimal.

You don’t NEED 2 tractors and a pto pump setup but not having that is a lot less desirable option. I don’t know how you go about splitting wood but I like to have a helper split while I cut. Not having the tractor free would ruin that. Going back to rear remotes would cut your speed to minimum in half if not 1/3.

Well, first you said you NEED 2 tractors, then you said you don't NEED 2 tractors, you wanna go for three post, so we can take an average??? LOL LOL

SR