Log Splitter

[billbill1]

I have owned two of the trailer type splitters and have had very good luck with them both. The first one I bought was a 5 hp 22 ton and the one I have now is a 30 ton 8 hp. A friend had the 8 hp and had trouble keeping it running, he brought it to me several times to get it going and got tired of fighting with it. He told me that if anybody would give him $150 for it, he would sell it. I bought it and have used it for 3 years. It burns oil like crazy but always starts and runs. I cut wood away from home too much to have a 3 point one but I'm sure they would be fine if I only cut close to the house.

 

[Rara Avis]

The other advantage of a standalone unit is when there is more than one peson in the game...The tractor can be bringing the logs in while the other is splitting...

 

[dmccarty]

I have a the 3PH splitter from TSC. Works just fine.

One of the reasons I bought it was because the splitting is done standing up as opposed to bending over a trailer mounted splitter like the Troy built I was looking at buying.

My 48 HP tractor engine is burning around 1/2 GPH when splitting wood. It burns 1 GPH when running PTO RPMS. I have a 17 HP Kawasaki engine on the DR that burns about 1 GPH. I figured the engine mounted splitter would burn 1GPH as well thus the tractor burns less or maybe the same GPH. Its one less engine to maintain if the splitter is for the 3PH.

The tractor has 730ish hours and its seven years old. 400ish hours where in the first two years. IF I put 100 hours on the tractor per year now a days and IF the engine needs a rebuild at 3,000 hours, that is 20+ years from now. I bought the tractor to use it not have it sit. It looks like it takes 6 hours or so to split a cord, 4x4x8. I use 4-5 cords per seaon so I might put 30 hours on the engine splitting wood.

I stage my work with the tractor anyway and splitting wood is no exception. I bring the logs to where they are cut, split and then stacked. The logs are put in a big pile that sits on ceder trees to keep the wood off the ground. Behind the pile have put down 12-15 pallets. The logs are cut into rounds which are stacked on the pallets. When it is splitting time the splitter is hooked up and I split the wood from the pallets and then place the firewood on more pallets. This way I don't have to switch out attachments. Its just takes a bit of planning ahead.

Later,
Dan

 

[xlr82v2]

My 5hp Briggs powered splitter will run about 3 1/2 to 4 hours on a tankful of fuel... and the tank holds I think about 3/4 of a gallon...

That's not running full throttle... I only run it at just over 1/2 to 2/3 throttle while splitting... that's all you need for oak and hickory which is mostly what I split. If I get into some really tough stringy elm or similar, I'll bump up the throttle some, maybe... but I never run it at full throttle.

I try to split as much as I can out in the woods... that way I only handle and stack the wood once. If I need to get the wood out in a hurry, like when trying to get it out before deer season, I'll haul it home to split, but I'd rather split out in the woods. I've got a trailer made from an old Chevy heavy half p/u truck bed... I hook that to the tractor, then hook the splitter to the bumper of the trailer. If I'm on fairly solid ground with no big hills to go up or down, I've also got a 2nd trailer made from a p/u truck.. I'll hook that behind the first p/u trailer, then the splitter behind that. That's a pretty good load for my old 8N... haven't had a chance to do it yet with my new Mahindra, but I'm sure it will outperform ol' Henry!

And, I have to say, Chevrolet makes a darned fine trailer! (now where's that pic of my Ford Ranger pulling my Chevy trailer???)

 

[Ford850]

Thanks for all the replies. I liked the suggestions about the trailer models, and for me I think a stand alone splitter will fit my needs better than the 3ph model afterall. After looking at the TSC models again, I noticed the one 22ton unit I originally looked at was gone and replaced with this year's stock. So now after considering my needs and getting a closer look at the splitters I think I'll get the larger 35 ton trailer model. That uses a larger, heavier beam, and still uses the rolled top rails that the splitter wedge rides in. These rails extend out past the edges of the beam width creating a nice bed to hold the log. They have a 27 ton unit which uses a much lighter and narrower beam and components, and has a 5 hp Honda, but uses a little 11gpm pump (18 second cycle time). The 22 ton model has welded angle rails rather than the rolled style, and also uses a narrower and lighter beam. Since the angles are welded on the sides of the beam, the log rail is much narrower and it looks like a large log could roll off easily.
In my opinion, the 22 ton looks "ok" but they made it lighter and narrower now, making the top rail difficult to hold a log like the heavier beam. The 27 ton model is trying to take advantage of those wanting a Honda engine. I think that model is under powered and uses a small pump making it slow. For alittle more money I will go with the much beefier beam and splitter wedge sled on the 35 ton model. That comes with the 16gpm pump, fenders, front tongue jack, almost double the fluid tank size, wire wrapped hose, and a 12.5 hp industrial Briggs engine.
Overall I think they are pretty nice splitters. The worse thing about them is that old Husky name.

 

[JerryK]

Make sure your stand alone unit will operate in a verticle mode. Once you split some horizontally, try using it vertically...sit on a unsplit piece or something like an milk crate. Either back up to a pile of unsplit wood, or roll a bunch of the bigger ones over to your splitter on one side. Sit on the crate and drag/roll/slide/lift/whatever the wood over and split it, then toss the split wood into a pile on the other side. It will be easier on your back in the long run. I've split a lot of wood this way, some it too big to even think about lifting onto a horizontal splitter.

 

[Highbeam]

Make sure your stand alone unit will operate in a verticle mode. Once you split some horizontally, try using it vertically...sit on a unsplit piece or something like an milk crate. Either back up to a pile of unsplit wood, or roll a bunch of the bigger ones over to your splitter on one side. Sit on the crate and drag/roll/slide/lift/whatever the wood over and split it, then toss the split wood into a pile on the other side. It will be easier on your back in the long run. I've split a lot of wood this way, some it too big to even think about lifting onto a horizontal splitter.

I don't even bother splitting horizontally. I do like Jerry except my knees are good enough that I can actually kneel down and do it. After a long day I end up finding a nice round to sit on while splitting.

As a kid one of my jobs was part of a three person splitting team. One of us teenagers on each side of the sitting operator. Feeding him rounds and pitching the splits into a huge stack. 8 to 9 cords in a day.

 

[curly]

And, I have to say, Chevrolet makes a darned fine trailer! (now where's that pic of my Ford Ranger pulling my Chevy trailer???)

That would be a site to see...please take a pic next time you hook it all together

 

[xlr82v2]

850,

I'm not telling you that you shouldn't get the high HP splitter, but don't think in any way that a 5hp 11gpm 22 ton splitter is in any way "underpowered". 5hp will split any piece of wood that you can muscle up to it.

The bigger, more powerful splitters are bait for the "Tim Taylor" crowd... and that's straight from the mouth of a commercial splitter manufacturer rep!

Now, if you start talking about 4-way wedges and stuff like that, then, yeah, you might need a little more power... but aside from that, 5hp will do everything that 15hp will do, and do it a lot cheaper. And, unless you have a multi-person team operating the splitter, cycle time really isn't a factor in my experience... my 5hp splitter is waiting on me MUCH more than I'm waiting on it.

Just my experience, your mileage may vary

 

[xlr82v2]

That would be a site to see...please take a pic next time you hook it all together

Hahaha, Yep, I'll have to take a pic of it!

The trailer is really nothing to look at, but I think it would look even worse if I did try to paint it.

 

[xlr82v2]

Make sure your stand alone unit will operate in a verticle mode. Once you split some horizontally, try using it vertically...sit on a unsplit piece or something like an milk crate. Either back up to a pile of unsplit wood, or roll a bunch of the bigger ones over to your splitter on one side. Sit on the crate and drag/roll/slide/lift/whatever the wood over and split it, then toss the split wood into a pile on the other side. It will be easier on your back in the long run. I've split a lot of wood this way, some it too big to even think about lifting onto a horizontal splitter.

I'm just the opposite... I really hate using the vertical mode, to me it just isn't comfortable (really, it's uncomfortable for me, too much bending over!) but I will if the piece is too big to comfortably lift up. I'll leave all the big stuff off to the side, go to vertical mode, and bust up the big pieces into more manageable sizes, then go back to horizontal, and finish up the job. But, that's just me

 

[billbill1]

My 8 hp splitter is an older TSC Husky and is horizontal or verticle. About waist high horizontal and that's how I use it the most. With the 5 hp or the 8 hp splitters, I've never tried it on anything that they wouldn't split. I burn lots of hedge, it's very twisted and gnarly but good wood, burns very hot. Here is the 8hp, not a very good picture (sorry)

 

[Ford850]

850,

I'm not telling you that you shouldn't get the high HP splitter, but don't think in any way that a 5hp 11gpm 22 ton splitter is in any way "underpowered". 5hp will split any piece of wood that you can muscle up to it.

The bigger, more powerful splitters are bait for the "Tim Taylor" crowd... and that's straight from the mouth of a commercial splitter manufacturer rep!

Now, if you start talking about 4-way wedges and stuff like that, then, yeah, you might need a little more power... but aside from that, 5hp will do everything that 15hp will do, and do it a lot cheaper. And, unless you have a multi-person team operating the splitter, cycle time really isn't a factor in my experience... my 5hp splitter is waiting on me MUCH more than I'm waiting on it.

Just my experience, your mileage may vary

xlr82v2,
I planned to get the 6.5hp, 11gpm, 22 ton with 4" cylinder (14 second cycle). The original one I saw had a decent sized beam and wider 'log cradle/wedge channel'. The new 22 ton has a much lighter beam with narrow welded angle iron for a wedge channel. Even my wife thought it looked flimsy.
The next step up is the 5hp Honda, slightly better 'rolled edge' creating the channel which makes for a wider log cradle, 11gpm pump, 27 ton 4 1/2" cylinder. It's the pump to cylinder ratio (18 second cycle time) that makes me call it under powered. "Slow" would be a better description I guess, since it is 30% slower than the smaller model. This model is several hundred dollars more than the 22 ton and you have to sacrifice too much speed (IMO). It's not the better GX engine either, just a plain Honda series.
Then there's the 35 ton unit. The frame and beam are built similar to how I have come to expect a log splitter to be built. Much thicker steel, wider beam with rolled edges creating the channel and a wider log frame, etc. It's actually built similar to the first 22 ton model I saw on their lot before it was sold. The larger engine and cylinder aren't needed, I agree. But if you have the larger cylinder, there better be a larger pump to supply it, and there is (5" cylinder and 16gpm pump).
I met a gentleman who saw me comparing the models at TSC. He said he bought a 22 ton unit 5 years ago, it works great, "for the same price as they sell them today". Then he said, "Oh, mine is much heavier though, like that" as he pointed to the 35 ton model. That's when I started comparing how they were built. I'm guessing they had to lighten them up a lot to keep them at the critical price point of $999.00. I'll look them all over again when I go to buy one. Who know, maybe I'll opt for a lighter one. I thought about shopping around the other TSC's in my area looking for an older 22 ton model, but I'm not sure I want one that has been sitting in the rain ans snow for a year on their lot. I might be better off picking a fresh one.

 

[xlr82v2]

850,

I see what you're saying.

Here's the splitter that I have: Brave Products 22 Ton Splitter

Mine's 5 or 6 years old now, but I have had absolutely no trouble with it, and it has split everything that I could get up to it, even some of the knottiest, stringiest elm that I've ever seen... it just powers through. There's lots of splitter mfgr's out there, and lots of them put out a better splitter than Husky... (I think that's what you've been looking at)... I especially don't like the belt driven pump. It probably works fine, but I just don't like it.

Maybe there's somewhere other than TSC within driving distance that you can shop for different brand splitters? On the Brave Products website, they don't have a dealer locator, but they say send them an email and they'll point you to the nearest dealer... I highly recommend them.

Just don't settle for something you don't really want... and don't spend more $$$'s than you need to! The bad thing is that it's getting into wood cutting season, so there probably won't be any good deals on splitters until late Spring next year . I was just looking at the prices on the website... their MSRP is high... I got mine from Buchheit's, which is the local farm supply store just like TSC or Rural King (they have I think 6 stores within a 100 mile radius, that's the extent of their company) but I paid about $775 for mine back then... I was just there the other day, and I think the 22 ton that I have is now in the $1100 range IIRC... shows how much steel prices have gone up! What the hey, you might even be able to deal with Brave Products or another manufacturer that you like over the phone! You'll have to pay shipping, but you probably won't have to pay sales tax! And, shipping is inclulded in the price at the retail store anyway.

Well, enough of me babbling, I need to get to work Good luck on your Log Splitter quest!

 

[Ford850]

xlr82v2,
I looked into both the Brave and the Swisher models someone mentioned. Your 'belt" comment had me puzzled. The Husky models are direct drive to the pumps. They are "made" by SpeeCo who makes many models, some with vertical shaft engines and some horizontal. All the Huskys have the vertical. I'm not sure why that makes any difference. I think the older TSC models were made by Swisher, and they do mention some sort of clutch engagement (belt?). The current TSC models look a little better built than the Swishers. Those Brave splitters are nice, but none are sold close to me. And by the time I add the dislodger and log cradle, the price starts to climb out of my range. I did notice a recall on the Brave site, so take a look in case your splitter is affected.
I started my search weeks ago, at the local saw shop. They don't carry splitters any more, and told me how most of the small manufacturers we had in this area stopped making them due to MTD and TSC models. They directed me to TSC for the most bang for my buck. I thought "no way I'll buy a Husky", but looked at them closer one day and was surprised at the quality appearance and features. So here I am, full cirlce, looking to buy a Husky. And thanks to all the comments on here, maybe it will be the 22 ton to save some money. I'll just have to paint over that Husky name I guess.

 

[xlr82v2]

850,

The splitters at the TSC nearest me must be old stock Swisher's then... they had the belt drive pump. I guess I haven't seen the new ones. Honestly, I have't been to TSC probably since last winter... it's a little bit of a drive from here and I don't make it there too often. We've got Buchheit's and Rural Kings around here that fill the need...

Thanks for the tip on the recall, I didn't notice that on the website. I don't think that mine's covered in the recall, I think mine's too old, but I've got the serial numbers written down and I'll check that this morning.

My Dad has an old Speeco brand log splitter from about 1974, 5hp, 20 ton, horizontal only. It has split a LOT of wood... a LOT of wood! The wedge on it is so worn down that it is almost due to be replaced... and it's razor sharp At last count, he's on the 5th or 6th engine for it and the 2nd hydraulic pump. He finally replaced the original valve for a new one with the auto return detent a few years ago. The cylinder needs to be rebuilt I'm sure, as it just doesn't have the "push" that it used to, too much blow by. I've spent a lot of hours pushing the lever on that old splitter when I was a little kid... we could split some wood with 2 people on it! That was my main job when I was little... we'd split wood until my feet got cold, then we'd take a break and go at it again when I was warmed up. I wish I could even guess as to how much wood that thing has split... thousands of cords! I do know that what usually killed the engine was that the carburetor would break in half, about an inch from where it would bolt onto the block. I know that's what got the first couple of engines... but they had a LOT of hours on them when that happened. Dad cuts wood all year round, and sells firewood in the fall and winter. He's finally starting to slow down some since he ain't no spring chicken anymore, but he's still out there doing it, just not as much.

 

[Rara Avis]

Vertical for the BIG pieces...

Horizontal for the EXERCISE...

 

[xlr82v2]

Vertical for the BIG pieces...

Horizontal for the EXERCISE...

YEP!!

 

[turnkey4099]

Dunno if this has been mentioned but...

Push power on a splitter comes almost solely from the size of the cylinder. Almost all (all that I have seen) have the pressure limits set to 2,500-2,700 PSI regardless of size of pump, motor, or cylinder.

Bigger pump gets you more speed (for same size cylinder) but no more power.

Thus a big motor, should have a bigger pump and perhaps a bigger cylinder.

Bottom line is that you can't (normally) get more power without upping the size of the cylinder.

Harry K

 

[Ford850]

I finally got back to TSC to pick up a splitter. Thanks to all the advice on here, I saved some money. I bought the SpeeCo made Huskee, 22 ton, 11gpm, 6.5hp briggs, 4" cylinder, 14 second cycle time. They had just received a slightly different model with a wider beam and log cradle and didn't even have a price tag on it yet. But the model number was the same as the other 22 ton models on the lot so the price was the same. The paint was still tacky in one area, so it must be fresh from the factory. I put it to use right away. Started easily, ran reasonably quiet, and the speed was much better than I hoped for. Even the larger beam width that I was happy to get and thought I would need probably doesn't matter. It split every knot and crotched log I could find, and popped the straight logs like they were nothing. It actually works better than I thought the largest model would work. Thanks again for all the input on this. While I'm a little disappointed I didn't get to add to my tractor attachments (technically), I did add a ball to my drawbar to haul it when needed. And the $700 I saved by buying the smallest model splitter will now go towards a quick attach snow blade for my FEL.