3Pt log splitters

[dixiedrifter]

As an owner of a TSC log splitter I can tell you my experiences with it.

Cons:

1. The legs are very flimsy and easy to shear off the bolts that are holding them on.

2. Tilting the splitter into horizontal mode and back again is a PITA.

3. If you overextend the knife, it will cause your hydraulics dentent to kick out on the tractor thus causing you to stop what your doing and go re-set it.

4. Takes a lot of hydraulic flow capacity. Not too much of a problem, my Kubota M9000 flows I believe at 17GPM. I have a decent cycle time when fast idling about 1500RPM so revving up my engine is not really an issue.

Pros:

1. No separate motor to mess with.

2. Will split anything I can put into the cradle.


Things I would change:

First thing to go would be the entire hitch system. It sucks.

I would take a piece of square tubing, weld it on the bottom of the splitter and then attach a peice of round tubing on the end with a hole drilled thru it. The hitch would look like a 3pt hay spike hitch, with another piece of tubing on it. When the splitter is hooked up, all it would take is removing a pin and the whole splitter could be turned upside down. That would be tremendously easier than lifting logs, as all the operator would have to do then is to set the splitter on top of the log. Alternatively a bucket hook up could be done too with remote controle valves.

Considerations for smaller tractors:

Get a decent high output PTO pump, that way you can enjoy fast cycle times, and not have to rev up your motor. Saves wear and tear not to mention fuel.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Your tractor needs to pump out AT LEAST 12-15 GPM for a minimal efficiency,otherwise you will need a costly PTO driven pump. )</font>

So does this mean that a lower flow will be slower, or that it will not split tough wood or that it won't work at all? If I'm not in a hurry ( or not splitting that much wood at a time) will a 3pt splitter using tractor hydraulics still work even though I only have 5GPM flow? Seems to me it would be too slow for most people (or people who need to split many cords of wood at a time.), but it would still work.

Cliff

 

[DieselnHooters]

it will work on 5 GPM,would still work on a lower cycle but painfully slow. You could use it on your tougher logs while splitting those easier ones with an axe, it will leave you plenty of time between cycles.

 

[EdKing]

My hydraulic flow rate is around 9gpm, and while the splitter isn't the fastest, it has split anything I have put on it, including some very knotty apple. It sure beats the heck out of splitting by hand, and is much faster.

 

[jim_wilson]

This may not be exactly what you are looking for but the best log splitter I have ever used was a Super Split. My father bought one of these about twenty years ago when he spent one summer in the firewood business. Very simple, very reliable, and very fast. You can keep two people working all day long on one of these things. They come in gasoline and electric versions. I am sure somebody who was ingenious could adapt it to PTO power. It might not be quite what you are looking for but if you are doing a lot of splitting it is the thing to have.

Super Split Page

 

[centell]

I agree with John. I run a log splitter on my 3pt. 3010 kubota. No problems. You don't have to run at high rpm's. I run tractor engine at 15 to 18 hundred rpm's. Ran it eight hrs. last year in one day and it took only $4.00 diesel fuel.