3PH log splitter or standalone?

[tkappeler]

I can see a several hundred dollar price difference between a 3PH log splitter and a standalone, gas powered splitter. What are pros and cons of the 3PH variety?

I have a TYM 293 with rear remotes.

 

[crazyal]

I went with a stand alone because I use the loader to put the really big rounds on the splitter. Mine does stand up to split them on the ground but I find it much easier to just roll several into the bucket and split them up.

 

[big lar]

I gave it a lot of thought when I was considering buying a splitter. I settled on a Ariens 45 T with a suburu gas engine, from Home Depot at $2000, then used one of their 10% off coupons.

As the earlier post stated, it frees up a tractor to load logs, or do other things, I move my splitter around with my UTV, and its easy to manuever around and can get into tight spots where a tractor cannot. It is also easier to move the wheeled splitter around a shed or barn when storing, whereas a 3pth you have to hook it up again.

These were my advatanges for a pull-type, but others may have different situations

 

[MikeInEburg]

One more in favor of stand-alone. Like many, I didn't want another engine to maintain. Yet, having tractor available to lift the rounds made the decision easy. Now, some three years later, I know that I made the right decision for me.

 

[tkappeler]

I sense a theme here. :laughing:

 

[TripleR]

Having used both, our 3 point hasn't been used in years; need to sell it.

 

[94BULLITT]

Your tractor is 5.2 gpm. Unless you got a splitter with a small cylinder it would be slow. If you had a small cylinder you may have a hard time splitting some tougher wood. I think a pto driven splitter would be nice, not a bark buster but one that has a pto driven pump but the are real expensive and make a standalone look more attractive. I think a splitter is a good way to rack up hours on your tractor doing pretty much nothing. I like the looks of this gravely.

 

[greg_g]

I personally prefer the TPH splitter, it's one less gasoline engine to maintain (2 generators, pressure washer, push mower, riding mower, brush cutter, chain saw). That said, I also feel that SCUT owners should stick with standalone splitters.

//greg//

 

[tkappeler]

Your tractor is 5.2 gpm. Unless you got a splitter with a small cylinder it would be slow. If you had a small cylinder you may have a hard time splitting some tougher wood. I think a pto driven splitter would be nice, not a bark buster but one that has a pto driven pump but the are real expensive and make a standalone look more attractive. I think a splitter is a good way to rack up hours on your tractor doing pretty much nothing. I like the looks of this gravely.

Excellent points that I had not considered. I think the decision has been made. Save for the stand alone.

 

[94BULLITT]

I don't know how they rate these wood spiltters but some seem to be way over rated. Here is a Hydraulic calculator that you can use to see what it will do. Here is one to check the cylce time. I do not recommend a briggs and straton engine on a splitter or anything,they just will not hold up. Honda engine seem to do really well and seem to not stink a as bad as a briggs does when it is running. When you look a at a splitter check out the way it is layed out. Where is the muffler pointed, is going to blow on the operator or they hydraulic reservoir? When you spilt a piece of wood is it going to fall on the engine or the hydraulic filter? Are the controls positioned good? I have seen some that when you put them into the vertical position the hoses will get caught on the part where it rests in the horizontal position. I think you can split about anything with a 20 ton. I like the looks of these two from what I can see online, they both have a commercial grade honda engine. The bigger one has idle control which will save wear on the engine and pump, and save on gas too.

Here are some other splitters but they are only horizontal.
Log Splitter, Wood Splitter - Super Split(R)Manufacturers of high quality, custom engineered wood splitters, log splitters and wood chippers. | Split-Fire Sales Inc. Quality Built. High Performance. | Split-Fire - Your Best Choice

You can find tons of wood splitter videos on youtube.

 

[txdon]

I had a 3pt, and after not using it for 3 years sold it. It was not stable unless you build something for it to sit on or connect it to your tractor, which, in my case, would be to take off the BH off which seem to be more trouble than it was worth for the amount of wood I use. Most of my Post Oak trees will fit into my WB stove without splitting anyway. Another thing to consider is that you put the hours on your tractor and the hourly maintenance cost is more for the tractor than a stand alone.

 

[crazyal]

My stand alone has a Honda 5.5hp lawn mower engine on it. All I've ever done to it in 7 years now is change the oil. Since it only takes a half quart and Autozone always has a 5 quarts and a filter special going on I always have a half full quart of oil around.

 

[Will_C]

I'll just reinforce what other posters have said-the stand alone will free your tractor for other uses-hauling split wood away, loading those 100+ lb. rounds onto your splitter, etc.

Will

 

[KennyG]

There have been several other extensive threads on this. It seems that for most people, having the tractor free, getting more power/speed than the tractor can supply, etc. leads them to a stand alone splitter.

However, there are a few of us that don't care about those factors and the smaller storage footprint, one less engine to maintain and the quieter operation makes the 3 point a better choice.

The "save wear on the tractor" argument doesn't make sense for most of us. When splitting you are only running the engine (at low load) and the hydraulic pump. Those of us who use the tractor about 100 hours per year aren't really worried about wearing the engine out.

 

[greg_g]

The "save wear on the tractor" argument doesn't make sense for most of us. When splitting you are only running the engine (at low load) and the hydraulic pump. Those of us who use the tractor about 100 hours per year aren't really worried about wearing the engine out.

x2

//greg//

 

[Marveltone]

There have been several other extensive threads on this. It seems that for most people, having the tractor free, getting more power/speed than the tractor can supply, etc. leads them to a stand alone splitter.

I kinda fall into this category.

However, there are a few of us that don't care about those factors and the smaller storage footprint, one less engine to maintain and the quieter operation makes the 3 point a better choice.

A very valid point, indeed. In fact, I'm leaning toward a PTO chipper/shredder for that very reason.

The "save wear on the tractor" argument doesn't make sense for most of us. When splitting you are only running the engine (at low load) and the hydraulic pump. Those of us who use the tractor about 100 hours per year aren't really worried about wearing the engine out.

If I was really worried about wear and tear, I'd never use my tractor. We bought our tractors to use, right?

Joe

 

[dodge man]

Yeah another vote for a stand alone. If you already had a tractor set up with rear remotes, it would help. I looked at a 3 point, it seemed like it cost as much as a standalone, plus I needed rear remotes. It seemed like the adding rear remotes would have cost me what I paid for my stand alone.

 

[DarkBlack]

The low tech, but important sway vote for many is that the price for a 3ph model is usualy more expensive than for the same spec'd one that comes with the same but with the addition of a free engine, wheels, filter, etc.. I suppose if you want to put hours on your tractor, you could still buy a complete gas splitter, and either tow it with the tractor, or carry it in the loader. I say the smart money says get the gas powerd splitter and use your tractor for other things.
Come time to sell, the gas splitter will sell to anyone who wants to split = more$ back to you. The 3ph model only sells to a small fraction who have a tractor and want that style. Also don't forget, you are making a big expensive 20 -50hp machine rack up hours doing the work a 7hp engine can do. Most of that time the cylinder is either retracting which takes about 1/2hp, or is sittting still, or is splitting which on most pieces of wood only takes 1-5hp. Same logic goes for pto gennies.

 

[txdon]

One other thing to consider on the 3pt. You are mixing the hydraulic fluid of the tractor with the hydraulic fluid of the log splitter. If you have a HST transmission you might want to put whatever you are using for the tractor in the splitter.

 

[KennyG]

One other thing to consider on the 3pt. You are mixing the hydraulic fluid of the tractor with the hydraulic fluid of the log splitter. If you have a HST transmission you might want to put whatever you are using for the tractor in the splitter.

Three point splitters don't have a reservoir and come "dry" (unless they have a PTO pump, in which case they don't connect to the tractor). The only way to put fluid into them is through the tractor.