brandoro
Platinum Member
I built a splitter with metal that I had available. With that and the hydraulic cylinder, spool and hoses that I bought and running it with the tractor hydraulics it cost about $300. I used a 4" cylinder, figuring 2000psi from the tractor my little black book tells me that it is about 13 ton of force. So far that has been ample. Most of what I have to split is only 8-10" diameter, the biggest was about 18". It has walked through everything with barely a notice from the tractor. I run the tractor about 1400 RPM, it runs nice there, uses very little fuel and supplies enough oil that I seldom wait on the cylinder to retract.
I looked at one someone else had built and immediately saw two things I didn't care for, the cylinder moved so fast that I felt the need to count my fingers afterwards and it didn't have enough power so he might have to reposition and hit the same block a few times. Too small a cylinder=too fast +not enough power.
Mine moves slowly enough that I don't feel like my hands are at risk and it doesn't ever refuse to split. So far.
I mounted it on a 3pt carry all that I made and can have the splitter sticking out the back or cross ways and operate it in both positions. I split the wood at the tree, stack it into the carry all and when that is full I drive the tractor back to the shop and stack the wood onto the pile. For the little bit of wear and tear on the tractor I prefer to use it rather than having another engine to maintain and store. If I live long enough to wear out this tractor I will go buy another one.
I looked at one someone else had built and immediately saw two things I didn't care for, the cylinder moved so fast that I felt the need to count my fingers afterwards and it didn't have enough power so he might have to reposition and hit the same block a few times. Too small a cylinder=too fast +not enough power.
Mine moves slowly enough that I don't feel like my hands are at risk and it doesn't ever refuse to split. So far.
I mounted it on a 3pt carry all that I made and can have the splitter sticking out the back or cross ways and operate it in both positions. I split the wood at the tree, stack it into the carry all and when that is full I drive the tractor back to the shop and stack the wood onto the pile. For the little bit of wear and tear on the tractor I prefer to use it rather than having another engine to maintain and store. If I live long enough to wear out this tractor I will go buy another one.
