Hydraulic log splitter on a 3-point hitch work well?

[Johnbro]

I have a vertical one I run on my 22 HP Kubota; I've had it close to 20 years. Works fine--cycle time is a bit slow but the key is not to run the ram too high when it comes out of the round and it doesn't need to go more than few inches into the round to split most wood (fir, hemlock, alder and big leaf maple here). I have to run the tractor at about 2500 rpm to get good speed and the ram gets plenty hot with use. I have no idea how many tons it is but I've split maple rounds over 3 feet in diameter so it must be pretty significant.

I would never ever go back to a horizontal splitter again.

My neighbor and I both use this splitter and probably do 8 cords per season total.

 

[Dead Horse]

I am very happy with my American TMS. (4 inch cylinder with a 30 inch throw).

It is generally mounted on a 3710 delivering 15 ton psi splitting capacity. As to working height, I can set it up to be on the ground, or at hand height just with the lift controls. I often set the butt end on a log, to give it a solid base.Then even big rounds can be staged first on the log the splitter is braced on and then rolled onto the I beam.

I also find that setting the I beam on the ground makes rolling the rare really big rounds on to the splitter easy enough for me to manage.

I run the 3710 at 1500 rpm and it will split all day long.......with no problems. I have put up over 70 cord of firewood the last 3 heating seasons with this set up and am very happy with it.

I too skid my logs to a landing which happens to be where I do my bucking and splitting and the wood pile is right there, too, so I have managed to reduce the handling as much as possible.

 

[MarkV]

Dead Horse, Love the bit I can see of your place! Your wood storage is impressive.

MarkV

 

[GlennaR]

I like your set up n finger safety attitude.

 

[GlennaR]

I like your set up n finger safety attitude..........

 

[Stonehaller]

I found an old Kelley 3 point splitter on Craiglist. It has a 3.5 inch cylinder and I am impressed with its splitting capability. I run my Kubota L39 about 1800 RPM and the splitter is plenty fast enough for me. At 1800 RPM, the L39 has about 7.3 GPM of flow. The tractor has about 2800 psi which gives me close to 13.5 tons on the splitter. I have split some nasty twisted oak that seems to shred apart rather than split without stalling the splitter. I like that you can use the three point to adjust the work height. I can set it on the ground to roll on larger rounds as you can see in the attached grainy cell phone pictures. As others have said, I would not go larger than a 3.5 inch cylinder unless you have more flow on your tractor or a lot of patience.

A note to Kubota L39/L45/L59 owners that want to run 3 point splitters with the backhoe hydraulics. I use the main backhoe hydraulic connection to run the splitter. You need to put the selector lever for the main pump in the backhoe position to run the splitter. Be sure to leave the selector lever for the swing pump in the 3 point position so you do not dead head the swing pump. When you need to use the three point to raise the splitter, you can move the main pump selector lever to the three point position, however, the main backhoe quick disconnect is still in the circuit and oil will be dumped through the splitter so you will not have pressure to raise the three point. You need to either disconnect supply hose to the splitter, or what I do is use a bungee to hold the splitter valve in the extended position. Once the cylinder is fully extended, flow through the splitter is blocked and you will have pressure to raise the three point. You can leave the bungee on as the three point valve will dump oil when the lift gets to position so you are not dead heading the pump.