3pt woodsplitter vs Gasoline powered

[Mousefield]

I like having my gas powered splitter, got it before the tractor. Still would get the stand alone, for me using a PTO splitter would make it very difficult to use the backhoe to lift those big heavy rounds.

 

[LD1]

Not fact, sorry. Not universal fact anyway. What about the tractors (mine) that already put out their rated 2500 PSI at 1100-1200 RPM? Bypass, that's what! Once the bypassing starts, GPM - and therefore splitter cycle speed - becomes a constant.

//greg//

You have a grave mis-understanding of how the hydraulics work then.

The PRV valve does NOT open until you reach that 2500 PSI. And if the pump were 100% efficient, you would make 2500PSI even a 1 rpm.

So the fact that you make max PSI @ 1100rpm is irrelivent. That doesnt mean your PRV is open. It is actually closed and making very little PSI because it is returning via the valve being in neutral. (open center).

And once you start splitting wood, unitl you have a peice tough enough to just about stop you cold, the PRV is STILL closed. Once it is open, USUALLY ALL of the fluild will bypass. Path of least resistance thing. If your PRV is open just because you have reached 1100rpm, you woudnt split anything.

Um, I'm pretty sure that's what I wrote. Except you're taking "load" out of context. Given that experienced tractor owners know that the hand throttle is there to produce sufficient RPMs to handle the load they're placing on the engine, I was simply relating RPMs relative to engine load. By the way, are you aware that very few - if any - new tractors use a tach cable anymore? I'll admit to never even having seen one, although I've seen a few that use oil pressure as an hour meter trigger. Others (like mine) employ magnetic sensors that count turns at the ring gear. On diesels anyway. What few gasoline tractors are being sold anymore, pick up revs at the distributor.

Lighten up.

//greg//

I thought that is what you meant. But the way it is worded, "load" and "rpm" cannot be interchanged and mean the same thing.

A reving tractor @ WOT has almost NO load, but a lot of RPM's.

A tractor @ 1200rpm's running a post hole digger has a lot of load, but not many RPM's.

And tractors may well indeed NOT have tach cables. My point was that the hours are based on the tach. IOW, hours is a direct relation to how many revolutions the engine has made. and NOT how many hours it has actually ran.

PS, my 3400 does indeed have a tach cable. As well as the 2800, 3700, and I also believe the newer 3200/3800's.

And I am being light. I just dont like inaccurate or mis-represented information, so I thought I would clarify.:thumbsup:

 

[peterc38]

I have a stand alone splitter. I like this setup cause I can use the tractor for other things like moving more or larger rounds to the splitter if needed. :thumbsup:

 

[KennyG]

A stand-alone may be best for the majority of people, but some of us like the 3ph models for valid reasons. Just to clarify a few of the statements that are not universally true:

I don't run the tractor wide open. Testing has shown me that my splitter runs at max speed at about 2000 rpm and higher speed doesn't increase the stroke speed. Whether this is a feature of the tractor hydraulic or the design of the splitter, I don't know, but that's how it works.

Since I have a two way splitter, stroke time (and full cycle time) is about 10 seconds. That may be too slow for some people, but I wouldn't want it any faster.

I can't imagine worrying about tractor wear when you are running a diesel and hydraulic pump at a constant 2000 rpm with the tractor stationary. Like a lot of people, I only use the tractor 100 hours a year or so, and I expect it to outlive me.

If you need to move wood and split at the same time, you can always buy another tractor. (Try that one out on the wife. :thumbsup

 

[grsthegreat]

Ya, i only use the tractor for 4-6 hrs a year with the log splitter attached. Over the life of the tractor it doesnt amount to much. In the same context you could argue that you should buy a riding mower instead of a midmount tractor mower to mow your place to save the wear and tear on the tractor. You should buy a self propelled snowblower instead of a tractor mounted blower...etc. Where doed it end.

Now if i had to split wood miles from my property then thats a different matter, but i have 20 acres in trees.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Ya, i only use the tractor for 4-6 hrs a year with the log splitter attached. Over the life of the tractor it doesnt amount to much. In the same context you could argue that you should buy a riding mower instead of a midmount tractor mower to mow your place to save the wear and tear on the tractor. You should buy a self propelled snowblower instead of a tractor mounted blower...etc. Where doed it end.

Now if i had to split wood miles from my property then thats a different matter, but i have 20 acres in trees.

You hit the nail on the head, some people like using their tractor for as many chores as they can, as I stated in an earlier post if speed is important don't go with the 3pt hitch, if not it will work just fine.

 

[LD1]

In the same context you could argue that you should buy a riding mower instead of a midmount tractor mower to mow your place to save the wear and tear on the tractor. You should buy a self propelled snowblower instead of a tractor mounted blower...etc. Where doed it end.

.

I disagree.

A MMM for a tractor us typically larger and will mow a good bit faster than the convention riding mower. THAT is the benefit.

A front or rear mount blower is also typically larger and will move more snow faster. Plus you are sitting down instead of walking behind the unit.

BUT a 3PH vs tow log splitter is completely opposite. In this case, the tractor unit is inferior instead of superior.

Now if the 3PH unit were faster and stronger (like the blower and mower example), I would probabally have a different opinion.

 

[grsthegreat]

I disagree.

A MMM for a tractor us typically larger and will mow a good bit faster than the convention riding mower. THAT is the benefit.

A front or rear mount blower is also typically larger and will move more snow faster. Plus you are sitting down instead of walking behind the unit.

BUT a 3PH vs tow log splitter is completely opposite. In this case, the tractor unit is inferior instead of superior.

Now if the 3PH unit were faster and stronger (like the blower and mower example), I would probabally have a different opinion.

wasnt saying one is better or worse. just stating that if hours used on the tractor was a concern, adding 60-80 hours to a tractor over 10 years isnt a real issue.

 

[LD1]

wasnt saying one is better or worse. just stating that if hours used on the tractor was a concern, adding 60-80 hours to a tractor over 10 years isnt a real issue.

Point taken.

But I just guess, IMO, a 3PH splitter isnt a real smart decision. But I know some people must think it is, because they make em and sell em everyday.

But for me, It would probabally be closer to the 25-30 additional hours per year. Since we cut about 20 cord, and that takes ~15-20 hrs with a stand alone splitter. And since my machine is only 5 years old @ 300hrs, I am only putting on 60/year on average. If I had been using it to split all this time, I would have a 450hr machine instead of a 300hr machine. Big difference for me.

So for me, $700 for a 3PH that is slower, less powerful, and racking up 25-30 hrs per year, or......

an extra $300-400 for a faster, more powerful stand-alone unit.

Plus, when we cut, there is usually more than one of us. And there are far better uses for a tractor when cutting than just sitting there splitting.

But like I said, this is just my opinion. I am an advocate of a stand-alone unit given the small price difference. So whenever anyone asks, I am going to suggest it. I feel the benefits out weigh the small price increase BIG TIME.

 

[KennyG]

This thread is a good example of why one size doesn't fit all. If I was splitting 20 cords a year and had help, I'd have a stand alone splitter. But I split a couple of cords a year and seldom have anyone working with me.

But it's not about the logic. I just like to hear that little diesel hum along.