Gas log splitter or 3PH?

[Lineman North Florida]

I am ready to upgrade from maul and small electric log splitter to something better, I'm leaning towards a hydraulic log splitter that will hook up to my 3ph on the back of my tractor although I have never used one and don't know anyone around here that has one, I have'nt ruled out a gas powered log splitter, so I was hoping that some of you all could give me some advice on what you like and why, pros and cons, any info appreciated.

 

[Opti-Mist]

The gas engine powered log splitter is always ready to go even if the tractor is needed elsewhere, lower fuel cost, etc. It can be towed into softer wetter places with an atv where you wouldn't want to bring the tractor, at least up here in the spring around breakup, and it can get into tighter places than the tractor. Just my .02 based on the conditions I have to deal with.

 

[groundcover]

Most 3pt splitters are pretty slow unless you get a pto pump. Sure don't need to run a tractor to split logs , I went with a super split : Log Splitter, Wood Splitter - Super Split(R)
nice height so you don't have to bend over all the time and boy is it fast ! Love it.

 

[mcd176]

I personally love my 3pt hitch log splitter by speeco, I only have to run my machine at 1500 rpm and it has just as fast of a cycle time as my dads 30 ton gas unit, according to pump specs from SpeeCo my machine makes the splitter push 20 tons, I like the 3 pt because when I go into the woods I can still tow my trailer behind the tractor, that way as I split I throw it in the trailer and haul it away plus it makes a nice counter weight!

Just my .02 worth

-Mike

 

[nickel plate]

We only heat the house with wood so I bought a 3-PT hydraulic splitter about 20 cords ago. I do like to be able to raise/lower the table depending on the size of the round and the ever changing condition of my back. It's a very simple tool without the investment in another engine to feed and take care of.

 

[wampum]

I have both,they both have advantages. You can easily transport the 3 point just about anywhere,and you can raise and lower it. The big disadvantages are it uses more fuel,and runs the hours up on a pretty expensive piece of equipment,and runs slower. The gas powered splitter is cheaper to run and can be positioned at a good spot and height,for comfort and accessibility,to bring the rounds to it. If you have a FEL you can lift several rounds to the hight of the splitter,split them and then simply put them back on the FEL and take them where you want. I used the 3 point for years,but have not used it since I got my stand alone. It simply splits more wood in less time and is easier to use. If I do have engine trouble,I can replace the engine(if need be) for about $300.00 dollars. tractor repairs tend to run higher. I can run about 4 to 6 hours on a gallon of gas,it is simple to fill and easy to run. I can leave other attachments hooked to the three point,like a blade or forks. With forks I can bring logs to the splitting point,cut them to length on the forks and take them away with the FEL, split and ready to dump or stack. I can also move that stand alone with any machine with a 2 " ball. Truck,ATV or Tractor. Being able to tow it with a truck allows me to get a load of wood cut and split miles away. Loading a truck is always easier when the wood is split and the mess stays where you split it.

 

[greg_g]

I've already got two generators, two push mowers, a lawn tractor, string trimmer, a chain saw, and three trailers. My 45 hp tractor tractor is already is already equipped with hydraulic remotes and hydraulic toplink, the 35hp with a front loader. I saw no sense in buying yet one more small engine to feed and maintain. The tow behind type basically represents yet another trailer to maintain as well. Plus a TPH type typically costs less than a similarly rated self-powered type. So I went with a horizontal/vertical SpeeCo TPH splitter - and will never regret the decision.

Fuel consumption and cycle speed are non-issues to me. The 45hp diesel running ~1100 RPM splits everything and everything I've thrown at it. Until you reach pump capacity, cylinder cycle speed is dictated by tractor engine RPM. In my case, the splitter cycle speed at 1100 tractor RPM is quite acceptable. It's a 2650 rpm diesel, so idling along at 1100 rpm only racks up 1 hour on the meter for every 2.4 hours of actual splitting. And during that time, I might go through a gallon of fuel. I have no empirical evidence to support this, but I'll speculate that's less than a self-powered splitter would consume in the same amount of time..

But if your tractor is not already equipped with hydraulic remotes, the price advantage and portability of a TPH type goes out the window. They're not cheap to install. Had I not already owned a remote-equipped tractor, a decision to go self-powered splitter would have been a no-brainer.

//greg//

 

[FredH]

I have had 2 stand alone splitters . First I sold to a brother , since at that time I had replaced wood stove with a pellet type . Second is a Harbor Freight 24 ton model that was purchased 4 maybe 5 years ago for $850 .

Had considered a 3 point , but did not want to tie up the tractor , since we use the FEL to move the split wood . Not sure about the 3 points , but my stand alone is a horizontal / vertical model . When you get into big wood , just flop the round in front of the splitter and go for it . We actually split all our wood in the vertical position , saves my 50 year old back a lot .


Fred H.

 

[/pine]

I can't imagine lifting every piece wood to put on a splitter...vertical is the only way I can use one...

 

[gwdixon]

It's a 2650 rpm diesel, so idling along at 1100 rpm only racks up 1 hour on the meter for every 2.4 hours of actual splitting.

//greg//

Whaaat? Are you sure about that. Although Einstein proved that time is relative, I'm not so sure that tractor hours are computed that way.

An hour is recorded on the meter for each hour the tractor is running regardless of the RPM.

 

[newbury]

Whaaat? Are you sure about that. Although Einstein proved that time is relative, I'm not so sure that tractor hours are computed that way.

An hour is recorded on the meter for each hour the tractor is running regardless of the RPM.

Not on my ride.

 

[R_Walter]

It depends on just how much wood you really split. If you're splitting a lot of wood, having a dedicated gas engined splitter makes better sense to me. I cut on my land and neighboring ranches and always bring the rounds to the woodpile and then split right off my trailer or whatever I haul the wood with. That way I don't have to lift it up again from ground level. The key is to touch each stick as few times as possible.

I've got a Timberwolf with the 24hp Honda engine and one of those Home Depot 27 ton splitters with a 5.5hp Honda engine. I keep them both out at my woodpile. Every year I cut 50 to 75 cords. I burn about 4 - 5 cords and sell the rest.

So again, it depends.... If you're a weekend warrior cutting a cord or two a year, get whatever makes you happy.

 

[fdmars]

I agree with R Walter I would wonder how much wood you split and how big. I have the powerhorse 13 ton 3 pt log splitter and it works great. I do not split more the 2 to 3 cords of wood a year. I will put on a power beyond kit so I can run the splitter and load the wood in the bucket or just stack near where I split. I like to try and keep things simple and having fewer motors to maintain would be a plus for me. guess it depends on size of operation.

 

[gwdixon]

Not on my ride.

This is probably thread hijacking but....you are saying that 3 hours idling at 1000 RPM comes up as 1 hour, 3 hours at 2000 RPM comes up 2 hours, while 3 hours running at 3000 RPM comes up 3 hours - or something to that effect.

That would make the hour meter run like an odometer and would make the voltage to it variable somehow based on engine RPM. Convincing me of that will take more evidence than presented herein.

RPM is not being counted as a factor in the equation. Rather engine run time is being kept track of as an isolated value. Otherwise the hour meter would visibly record at different rates depending on the job being done. Take a watch the next time on your tractor and see.

Perceptions can be distorted.

 

[Jeepnford]

I use a Speeco 3 pt I purchased last fall. It's not as fast as a stand alone but it also cost about 50-75% less. As already stated,one less engine to maintain. I like being able to set it at any height horizontally or stand it vertically. I don't worry too much about tractor hours,if that was my concern I'd leave it parked in the garage. I had already installed remotes for other uses so that was a non-issue too.

 

[greg_g]

Whaaat? Are you sure about that.

Yup. On both my tractors anyway. If Kubota uses those cheap voltage on/voltage off hour counters, I'd be VERY surprised. That's a sophisticated enough device (with the possible exception of SCUTs and lawn tractors) to where the absence of a counting trigger would be surprising. Record the hours and tenths your your meter, start the tractor, let it idle for two hours, come back and check the meter.

My hour counters are regulated by trigger voltage from the tachometer. The slower the RPMs, the slower the hour count. When the tach is registering revs consistent with PTO operation (about 2200 on mine), the trigger voltage causes the the hour meter to count on a full 1:1 basis. That is, every chronological hour of PTO speed work is registered as 60 minutes on the hour meter. When working at lower RPMs, trigger voltage from the tach causes the hour meter to turn over slower. Don't know about full throttle (2650), but I only rev that high infrequently on paved roads. But I'm thinkin' that there's probably a logic circuit in there that considers 1:1 to be the maximum ratio, since RPMs above working speed are typically associated with no-load travel. But I've never clocked it, so I have no empirical evidence to back up the high speed/no load aspect.

//greg//

 

[Diamondpilot]

This is a no win fight. I personally made my own 3 point splitter that goes horizontal and vertical. Hours are nothing. I maybe use it 10 hours tops in one year. Big deal, its a tractor. Even if used at this rate for the next 25 years 250 hours is nothing on a tractor..


Chris

 

[greg_g]

This is a no win fight.

Well, the silly business about hour meters is certainly a diversion. It's just one Kubota guy who was immediately contradicted by another Kubota guy. But I don't think we're at a "no win" stage regarding whether the OP should go for a TPH or a standalone splitter.

//greg//

 

[sixgun]

It's all in the staging for me. I don't do a lot of cutting on the property, but rather get 7-8 cords of log length delivered every year or two. I cut it into rounds and let them stay right where they fall. Then I drive the tractor/3pt splitter around the pile converting the rounds into splits. After that's done I unhook the splitter and use the tractor bucket to transport and stack it.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Well, the silly business about hour meters is certainly a diversion. It's just one Kubota guy who was immediately contradicted by another Kubota guy. But I don't think we're at a "no win" stage regarding whether the OP should go for a TPH or a standalone splitter.

//greg//

I was not referring to the hour meter. Mine works just like yours and my tractor will split anything I can throw at it at 1200 RPM. I was talking about the fight over 3 point or stand alone. Its kind of like a Ford vs Chevy fight or a R1's vs R4's. We all know Ford stomps Chevy and R1's are hands down the best.

As for staging I cut my logs into 8' lengths then load them with my Forks onto a trailer. Dump them on site then split and stack right at one spot. Later I bring a rick at a time to the garage using the bucket or even my 10 CU YD cart behind a little Craftsman mower.

Chris