3-Point Hitch 3 pt. log splitter

[LD1]

Actually, with 13.9 gpm, a 4" cylinder would be pretty quick. Rough calculation makes me guess about 4 inches/second which is faster than I would want a splitter to run. The real world is a little slower but with a real 13.9 gpm available, a splitter with a 5" or even a 6" cylinder would run OK.

Not fast enough for me. My splitter, which I consider about right for me, is about 7"/sec extend and about 9"/sec retract

Yes, you're right it is a 4" cylinder with a 2" bore... the model I picked up takes up to a 36" log and travel is 2-3" per second. It is a good old splitter and glides through the birch, ash and maple I've fed it. Pretty happy with the speed on the downstroke, just could feed it faster if it had automatic and/or accelerated return.

Longer stroke indeed slowds down the overall cycle. Do you actually split wood 36" long (over the normal 24") cause if not, its really slowing you down.

And 2"-3"/sec, you aint got 13.9GPM. either you arent running the tractor at rated RPM, or you you spec is wrong? Reverse figuring the 2-3" per second has you flowing somewhere around 6.5-9.7 GPM. Which would seem about right for some misleading specs. Alot of tractors have two pumps, one for hydraulics, one for powersteering, but list a "total flow" for the spec. Take off 4-6GPM for powersteering and what is left is for the 3PH, remotes, loader, etc.

Dad has a standalone splitter with 11-gpm 2-stage and a 4.5" cylinder. Puts it ~2.7"/second. I cannot stand how slow it is.

 

[bironacad]

My splitter is a Wallenstein, nice size saddle on it.

 

[varmint]

I considered a three point splitter for a time, but wound up borrowing the neighbor's 35 T gas powered stand alone. It's an old splitter, but I gotta say the B & S motor starts first or second pull every time, after sitting under a trap for months. You'd think the gas would be a problem, but we run it until it dies after shutting off the fuel cock. It isn't very quick, but you can throw a gnarly 24" crotch log under it, and it pops it open without strain. Doesn't have auto return, which I wish it did, and the stroke is too long, so you have to pay attention to the ram or you waste time bringing it back to working height. Works best with the wife "manning" the valve, and me hustling the wood. BTW, I have read/heard good things about the Dirty Hands brand splitters, and seen them a Lowes from time to time.

I now think if I were to go with a 3-point, I'd get a PTO pump and make some considered choices about what and where I installed- like stroke only as long as needed, handy location for the valve, so forth. Our tractor isn't used so much that having a splitter on the back would be an issue.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I absolutely love my 3 point splitter,

It's plenty fast, and has fantastic power!

It will easily push everything through it's 4-way wedge,

AND it makes short work, of a wagon load of rounds!

SR

 

[bironacad]

Nice Sawyer!

 

[crystallake]

Sawyer ? PTO PUMP

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yes, it has a pto pump, that's the only way to get any speed out of a pto splitter, IF it has a cylinder big enough to split big crotches...

SR

BTW, my wife LOVES to run it! lol

 

[dodge man]

I looked at a 3 point for my Bx and it would have cost me more than a stand alone. If you already have rear remotes, thats probably not the case. Another reason is I pull my end loader bucket near the splitter, throw the split wood in the bucket and then haul it to my wood pile.

 

[Farmer495]

Splitfire here, goes both ways!

 

[bellweather]

I considered a 3pt splitter as well as a stand-alone unit, but decided against it because it would only be used once or twice a season. I found lots of guys in my area with stand-alone units on /craigslist, who rent their splitters as a way to offset the cost of owning a splitter that mostly sits idle. For about $100 the owner delivers the splitter to my yard on a Friday then picks it up on a Monday. No storage, no maintenance, just gas.