Log Splitters: 3ph or gas? Hydraulic or PTO?

[RichNJKubota]

I get the point about splitter speed. However the stand-alone splitter I have has a 11GPM pump (at 3600 RPM) and I run it at about 1800 RPM which I guess would correlate to about 5.5GPM. It's fast enough for me but I would not want it any slower.
My Kubota L4310 claims to have an "implement pump" capacity of 7.8 GPM (with the engine at 540 PTO speed?). I would want to run the tractor engine say at about 1/2 speed, 1300 RPM which would be about 3.9GPM. That would be way to slow on the 3pt splitter.
Does anyone have any other ways to do the math? Are my assumptions of RPM/GPM in the ballpark?

Rich

 

[OkieG]

rs 191,
As with many posters on this thread, I decided to go with a "stand alone" splitter (33 tons, HomeDepot). Roadworthiness is a benefit not mentioned so far. I have towed mine to a friend's house to help him split his pile of firewood. It's good to have a few favors in the bank!

OkieG

 

[hockeyhead]

Stand alone is the way to go, your tractor is more useful to drag and haul, but make sure it pivets to the vertical position much less labor than a horizonal, most new ones do pivet, I used to rent splitters once or twice a year and they would pivet up vertical, I bought a used homemade horizonal and thou it has done very well the verticals are alot easier .

 

[avclay]

Rich,
Got me on the math. If the implement pump is part of the hydraulics, I don't think the PTO RPM matters as much as normal operating RPM where your bucket and other implements would be working to full capacity. On my tractor I seem to hit this way before the RPM range to have the PTO at 540. Just a guess.....
As mentioned travel is a big bonus to gas, so is the ability to rent (if your comfortable) or loan it to friends in exchange for other things. If you live in my area though this is like being the guy with the pickup truck on moving day /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[RoyBrooks]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Stand alone is the way to go, your tractor is more useful to drag and haul, but make sure it pivets to the vertical position much less labor than a horizonal, most new ones do pivet, I used to rent splitters once or twice a year and they would pivet up vertical, I bought a used homemade horizonal and thou it has done very well the verticals are alot easier . )</font>

I was thinking the vertical was the way to go too, but was using a verticle powered by my B6200 4 g/min and decided it was too much work. I think the horizontal would be better as you could split them right in to the trailer to tow back and stack. That way you're only lifting to splitt and then stack and don't have to keep clearing base of the verticle splitter. Check out timberwolfcorp seem to have some great ideas for splitters. timberwolf wood splitters

 

[rbargeron]

My 2 cents - I agree self-contained is the way to go. I built my own horizontal splitter. It has three features the commercial ones didn't offer at the time - it is up at bench height so the working position is comfortable. It has side tables where a large half can wait while the first half gets further split, and the axle is shaped like a bell crank so the whole rig can squat down to the ground if needed for rolling on the big ones.

I park the splitter by the open shed where the split wood will be tossed - and use the FEL to bring stacks of stove-length pieces to the splitter. Very effective. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[jackd]

Rich:

I had the same dilemma this year, and bought a gas unit from Northern Tool...Horizontal & vertical...I've only split about 2 cords with it, but am very satisfied. Has started on the first "pull" every time I've used it!

Jack

 

[Old_Hickory]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Stand alone is the way to go, your tractor is more useful to drag and haul )</font>

Amen to that !!!

 

[BSims66173]

I have just finished building my own three point hitch splitter. It is powered by the tractors hydraulics. It will split either horizontial or vertical. It has a 4 inch cylinder with a 24 inch stroke. My tractors hydraulic system is around 8 gpm. Cycle time is 30 seconds at idle. I know that is a little slow but I am in no hurry as I only use wood to heat my shop. I have only split a few logs but am well pleased at the ease at which the splitter works. I am in the process of building a stand to sit it on and I had the hoses made long so all I will have to do is park the tractor next to it and plug in the hoses and start splitting. If I need the tractor for something else I just unhook the hoses and away I go. Granted, if I want to loan it or take it some where else I will have to take the tractor or let someone that has a tractor borrow it, but I don't see that happening very often. Anyway, just my thoughts.

 

[Hoosier_Daddy]

Some things to think about. Get one with a big enough pump and engine that you are not wasting your time waiting for the thing to return to the start position. Get one that has a rail low or high enough from the ground to suit you.

Splitters are wonderful but you can get a sore back using one.

Get a splitter that has a valve with a auto return detent. A wonderful feature and a time saver.

Get on the Nothern web page and buy a set of log tongs. A nice tractor with a nice FEL with a nice chain with a nice log tong will save your back.

Of course, getting someone else to split for you is always better and easier on the back.

Good Luck, Be safe, have fun.

Tom