3-Point Log Splitters?

[Wilverine]

Good afternoon all:
We recently purchased a New Holland Boomer 50 tractor and, amongst other things, I'm looking to buy a log splitter that will run off the on board hydraulics. Please offer any suggestions y'all would consider helpful.
Thanks!
Will

 

[sea2summit]

You're average home depot log splitter has a 7-9 HP engine that makes an 11 GPM hydraulic flow.

You're wanting to use a 50HP tractor with a 8.2 GPM hydraulic flow.

The reason splitters on tractors aren't more popular is they are SLOOOOOOOWWWWW by comparison and not much cheaper, if not more expensive, to buy.

 

[Jims1025R]

I built my own, and am very happy with it. There are certainly choices for purchase.

Before buying, consider the hydraulic hook up. If you're using the third function valve, that's fine, but know that you won't have the detent return feature, you'll have to lever it to split, and to retract. Be cautious about using log splitted type detent valves on the tractor system (you click past a detent, and the splitter returns on its own). I started out with a detent type log splitter valve as a third function valve on my JD650. It worked, except for one problem: There was a combination of motions where at the top of the lift stroke for the loader, the third function valve would sense and release pressure, and drop the loader like you'd just floated it it - super dangerous at all, but worse when it was high. I contacted the valve manufacturer, and they said that was not a usable valve on that type of hydraulic system, use a regular valve, and lever it both ways. So I did, and it works.

Also, if you use a valve which is not from the tractor manufacturer, it may have a built in pressure relief, set lower than the system pressure on the tractor, so you don't get the muscle you expect. I spent a frustrating winter sorta splitting, to then connect a dump trailer which would not pump. When I figured out the problem, and reset the pressure relief in the third function valve, the dump trailer became a slingshot, and the log splitter would now do the really hard knotty maple no problem....

My new JD1025R has the factory third function valve, and it works a charm - for the $$$$!

 

[Wilverine]

You're average home depot log splitter has a 7-9 HP engine that makes an 11 GPM hydraulic flow.

You're wanting to use a 50HP tractor with a 8.2 GPM hydraulic flow.

The reason splitters on tractors aren't more popular is they are SLOOOOOOOWWWWW by comparison and not much cheaper, if not more expensive, to buy.

Thank you.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I split alot of wood every year as I heat not only a my place but an outdoor pool boiler as well all season to 90f... my experience is that when I had a rear 3pt splitter it had a slow cycle rate and added over 200 hours of use to the tractor a year. I figure lifetime operating and replacement cost for my tractors at $25/hr so $5,000 per year.

Now I use 1) a 25 ton gas portable unit for 18" rnds with B&S gas engine and I figure it has a lifetime operating and replacement cost of <$4/hr. Probably same speed as my old tractor mounted unit and 2) my bigger Wallwnstein wood processor that I run up to 50' long logs through it and up a conveyor leg at < $15/hr. and hourly throughput is much greater at slightly more than 1 cord/hour for 1 operator (1.7 cords with 2 people) which is many fold quicker than tractor or standalone unit.

all these numbers exclude the labour costs as my labour is free (fuel, repair, depreciation) but reasonable in what I am getting.

if you are bent on a 3pt unit consider one that splits on both directions of cyl throw which almost doubles your cycle times. I've never had one but understand its advantages!

cheers and good luck


Bidirectional 3pt splitter

1,280 × 720

 

[mike0000]

My three point hitch splitter uses its own pump connected to the PTO drive of my tractor (not connected to tractor hydraulics), I don’t have any experience with any other type of splitter, (I inherited it from my dad, I’ve been using it since the 1980’s), but I wouldn’t consider it to have a slow cycle rate.
One benefit of a three point splitter is I don’t have another engine (gas splitter) to maintain. I have a hitch on the back of the splitter which allows me to tow my trailer. I would say that if I needed to transport my splitter off my property (which I don’t) a three point splitter wouldn’t be ideal.

Mike

 

[3Ts]

I have a 3ph log splitter with a 4" cylinder that I run off my JD 50Hp tractor. It splits everything including cutting some cross grain stuff. The splitter hydraulics run off of the power beyond from a bank of valves mounted on my fender (meaning my hydraulic system is somewhat modified from as built) and runs 11 gpm @ 2700 psi. The splitter has the detent valve, but when it is hooked up it bypasses the 3pt hitch controls which pretty much means that the tractor is only used as a hydraulic power pack at that point.

I do not do much firewood and have about a cord out back which will last more than a year so I don't want another engine that will sit for a long time between uses.

 

[Wilverine]

I built my own, and am very happy with it. There are certainly choices for purchase.

Before buying, consider the hydraulic hook up. If you're using the third function valve, that's fine, but know that you won't have the detent return feature, you'll have to lever it to split, and to retract. Be cautious about using log splitted type detent valves on the tractor system (you click past a detent, and the splitter returns on its own). I started out with a detent type log splitter valve as a third function valve on my JD650. It worked, except for one problem: There was a combination of motions where at the top of the lift stroke for the loader, the third function valve would sense and release pressure, and drop the loader like you'd just floated it it - super dangerous at all, but worse when it was high. I contacted the valve manufacturer, and they said that was not a usable valve on that type of hydraulic system, use a regular valve, and lever it both ways. So I did, and it works.

Also, if you use a valve which is not from the tractor manufacturer, it may have a built in pressure relief, set lower than the system pressure on the tractor, so you don't get the muscle you expect. I spent a frustrating winter sorta splitting, to then connect a dump trailer which would not pump. When I figured out the problem, and reset the pressure relief in the third function valve, the dump trailer became a slingshot, and the log splitter would now do the really hard knotty maple no problem....

My new JD1025R has the factory third function valve, and it works a charm - for the $$$$!

Thank you for the kind and comprehensive response.

 

[Wilverine]

I have a 3ph log splitter with a 4" cylinder that I run off my JD 50Hp tractor. It splits everything including cutting some cross grain stuff. The splitter hydraulics run off of the power beyond from a bank of valves mounted on my fender (meaning my hydraulic system is somewhat modified from as built) and runs 11 gpm @ 2700 psi. The splitter has the detent valve, but when it is hooked up it bypasses the 3pt hitch controls which pretty much means that the tractor is only used as a hydraulic power pack at that point.

I do not do much firewood and have about a cord out back which will last more than a year so I don't want another engine that will sit for a long time between uses.

Thank you! Exactly my situation it seems.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I run a separate gas powered splitter. I only have the one tractor, and I wouldn't want it tied up running the splitter when I need the bucket and loader to bring over the rounds for splitting, and the forks for carrying trees and large branches. A small gas engine takes very little maintenance, I think all I've done with mine in the 5 years I've owned it was to run the gas out of it at the end of each season, and put gas back in it at the start of the next. It usually starts on the first pull and has been pretty flawless so far. It's just a "homeowner" grade splitter, but I'm not using much wood here either. Maybe half a cord a year.