Ariens log splitter--should'a kept my old log splitter!

[ultrarunner]

You still around?... Do you still have the DUERR.... Just picked up dead unit made around 1990... B&S is sort of dead and parts for 30 engine are about and much as new engine... Label on unit says 22 ton manual say 20 ton... Oh well...

Dale

Yes... and the log splitter now lives at my brother's Christmas Tree Farm where it gets rolled out a couple of times a year to split storm fall oak.

So far it has been a super performer for regular occasional use.

I did beef up the gibs on the ways... went to larger grade 8 through bolts.

That and a little Loctite on the socket head Allen screws for the hydraulic lever action valve... during the course of a day of cycling the screws would loosen up some.

When I bought it the replacement Briggs engine had about 10 hours on it... aside from being a little loud it runs just fine.

Being a novice at splitting... I quickly went to using it vertical... easier on my back and also visually looking for the optimal placement of the log to to follow grain or a check crack...

 

[Oaktree]

Being a novice at splitting... I quickly went to using it vertical... easier on my back and also visually looking for the optimal placement of the log to to follow grain or a check crack...

Just the opposite here, if I can lift a piece to put it on the beam, I'll run my splitter horizontally. Lot less bending over, and to me it's easier to deal with the split pieces.

 

[ultrarunner]

I've had on and off again back trouble... so I roll and toss rather than lift.

 

[stevewarner1957]

I’m a lazy splitter. I use my splitter vertically. First thing is cut a round that is a comfortable sitting height. I have un split rounds on one side and my big wire baskets on the other. I move them from one side to other and throw splits in the basket. When the basket is full I move it with my tractor pallet forks. It works for me for the last several years.

 

[ultrarunner]

I’m a lazy splitter. I use my splitter vertically. First thing is cut a round that is a comfortable sitting height. I have un split rounds on one side and my big wire baskets on the other. I move them from one side to other and throw splits in the basket. When the basket is full I move it with my tractor pallet forks. It works for me for the last several years.

Yep... very much the same...

I move/dump the rounds using the BX 23, split and then toss.

Some of the rounds are so big they are halved... old heritage storm toppled Live Oak makes great firewood.

There was a time in the 70's when everyone wanted firewood and to be your friend but that time has passed under auspicious of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.

 

[turnkey4099]

Just the opposite here, if I can lift a piece to put it on the beam, I'll run my splitter horizontally. Lot less bending over, and to me it's easier to deal with the split pieces.

Same here. I use vertical to split down to a size I can lift then it is back to hkorizontal. Much faster posistioning a chunk for additional splits up there where I have some control and leverage and WAY less bending.

 

[Deere Dude]

I've got an old Duer 22 ton unit made in Washington State...

Can honestly say the little Briggs Engine just keeps on chugging along and easy to start.

Simple design and vertical/horizontal.

My biggest problem is everyone wants to borrow it... and I'm not comfortable because not everyone is carefull... both safety wise and equipment wise.

I would like to know who makes something comparable today as two people I know have asked me what to buy...

I guess Northern is still the place with lots to choose from?

I bought a new Duerr 22 ton in 1989 give or take. Absolutely love it. The Briggs will start anytime with may 3 pulls on a cold start. First pull after in ran for a bit. I put clean oil on the ram every hour or so of splitting. The only thing that wore out were the two metal brackets to keep the slide centered... Some years I put stabilizer in if I remember. I split about 3 full cords now but previous to 3013 I split 4-5 yearly. But nobody else uses it and I store it inside to keep the Duer blue paint nice.

 

[ultrarunner]

I bought a new Duerr 22 ton in 1989 give or take. Absolutely love it. The Briggs will start anytime with may 3 pulls on a cold start. First pull after in ran for a bit. I put clean oil on the ram every hour or so of splitting. The only thing that wore out were the two metal brackets to keep the slide centered... Some years I put stabilizer in if I remember. I split about 3 full cords now but previous to 3013 I split 4-5 yearly. But nobody else uses it and I store it inside to keep the Duer blue paint nice.

Yep... Had to rework slides and I paint ways with grease when using... starts like a charm!

 

[stevewarner1957]

I just sold my 15 year old Brave splitter. It was a good unit that split lots of wood with no real issues. The 8HP Briggs always started easy but was getting tired. The Brave is the lower priced line of Iron & Oak, made in Illinois. I bought a 37 ton North Star with the GX270 Honda. I assembled it last Saturday and fired it up for the first time. This thing is a beast, I really like the auto idle feature. When the ram retracts, the engine goes to idle, much quieter and I'm sure saves fuel and wear on the engine. I can't wait for cooler weather to put it to work

 

[RedNeckGeek]

Coming back around with an update on my little 22 ton Ariens. It has sat unused in a storage trailer since 2015, when I finished splitting and palletizing about 10 cords of firewood. This year I got down to my last two, and decided it was time to wake it up again. I'd drained all the fuel before I put it away, so I rolled it up to the garage and put fresh in, set the choke and turned on the ignition, and it fired off after only three pulls. Let it run a bit to warm the oil, shut it down, and changed oil, oil filter, and air filter. Split another three cords and it hasn't skipped a beat. Man, I'm a happy camper!