New 3 point Logsplitter, Can't say enough

[Firefighter Kubota]

Good luck Chris...

I'm sure 1/4 will work but it'll be slower and if you are not doing large volumes then no problem...

BTW do you have a BH? Even on the bx series I thought the dealer told me, lines running to the rear for a BH were 3/8. If thats the case how did you get 1/4 for your rear remotes? Just curious.

keep us posted.

 

[korydz]

I'm far from an expert on this, and firefighter kubota and kennyd can answer this better, but I don't think you want to connect to your rear remotes. Your rear remotes are valved. What you want to do is connect to your power beyond circuit. The lines on your tractor for this will likely be 3/8" and you'll need to make a loop that you can break and tap in to.

 

[CHDinCT]

I'm far from an expert on this, and firefighter kubota and kennyd can answer this better, but I don't think you want to connect to your rear remotes. Your rear remotes are valved. What you want to do is connect to your power beyond circuit. The lines on your tractor for this will likely be 3/8" and you'll need to make a loop that you can break and tap in to.

Thanks - yes the remotes are valved but I planned on bungieing the valve open and use the splitter valve to operate the log splitter. I will look at the PB circuit again, but they looked 1/4" to me when I looked. Maybe a call to a dealer service department would answer for sure.

I did call Norther Tool, but not much help. I got a customer service rep that had to put me on hold and find and engineer. She said the engineer stated I needed to follow the manual (thanks a lot) and if I used smaller hoses, it would cause a flow drop (agree) and a pressure spike (disagree). This did not address the limitation of the native hydraulics on the tractor being less than 1/2". I'm pretty sure you would be looking at an L series or larger to have 1/2" native lines and why would you use a 3GPM splitter with an L series (not that you couldn't)?

So, I checked the return policy and it's 30 days, so I think I'll just hook it up and see if the cycle time is acceptable. If not, I'll send it back (and eat the shipping both ways )

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

I'm far from an expert on this, and firefighter kubota and kennyd can answer this better, but I don't think you want to connect to your rear remotes. Your rear remotes are valved. What you want to do is connect to your power beyond circuit. The lines on your tractor for this will likely be 3/8" and you'll need to make a loop that you can break and tap in to.

Absolultly. You can do the valve bungee trick but if you have a PB on your rear remote valve that is the way to go... but if they are being fed with 1/4 lines you are not really gaining anything.

Like I said I fed my rears with 3/8 and used the PB w/ 3/8 All the implements off the rear remotes are 1/4 (grapple , plow, and hyd toplink) but 3/8 else where....

I think for your use you'll be able to get away with the 1/4 but not ideal...

 

[CHDinCT]

Well, I called my dealer service department and they were 90% sure the lines are 3/8", not 1/4". I think I made that assumption from the quick connects which I believe are 1/4" (from memory - I'm at work now), so maybe I'm OK. I will try hooking to the remotes first and see, and if that proves too slow, I can modify it by hooking directly into the PB circuit to avoid the restrictions of the QC's. Thanks all.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

Well, I called my dealer service department and they were 90% sure the lines are 3/8", not 1/4". I think I made that assumption from the quick connects which I believe are 1/4" (from memory - I'm at work now), so maybe I'm OK. I will try hooking to the remotes first and see, and if that proves too slow, I can modify it by hooking directly into the PB circuit to avoid the restrictions of the QC's. Thanks all.

You will still have QC's if you use the PB they will just be for 3/8 and not 1/4...

you will have no problem w/ 3/8 to the splitter

 

[CHDinCT]

Had some time this weekend to put the splitter together and mount it on my BX so I could measure for hoses which I'll be ordering tomorrow. Everything went pretty well except getting the in and out port blanks off of the valve. They look to require a very large hex or allen wrench - bigger than any I have or even the local hardware store. Tried a half in socket drive but it wouldn't fit, it was close though. Finally figured out I could use the head of a proper size hex bolt and some vice grips to turn it.

What's also interesting is that while the instructions call for 1/2" hoses from the tractor to the valve, the hoses supplied going from the valve to the cylinder are 1/4", so I'm not sure why 1/2" would be needed for the valve supply / return. I will be getting 3/8" as Firefighter suggested.

They also instruct to orient that fitting Firerfighter got the 45* elbow for straight back vs down, which may help with clearance, but I'm going to get a 45* elbow just in case. Here's a few pic's.

 

[Jrrcorp]

I bought the 3 pt. log splitter from NT in May. Work fine but, I really wanted the 20 ton unit with the 24" capacity. This is now available! The 19" unit will split most of the logs I have but the longer capacity and additional power is worth the extra $150.00 IMO.

 

[Northland]

I too think it would be worth the extra $150 but it also weighs twice what the smaller unit does making it harder to handle with one man only.

 

[Firefighter Kubota]

It took just about 4 hours of total splitting time to do this pile and that which is already stacked 2 logs deep in the backround...(stacking time not included)

I've got no complaints with this splitter. Since a 20" log can be tight in my stove th 18" is perfect.

Occasionally a large oak or maple 20" or so, can be difficult to split, but if you just take a slice off the side of the log it "breaks" the seal and then you can split down the middle...I only run at 1500 rpms, maybe bump it up for a stiff log, but thats it...

Here are some updated pics of the new hoses on the rear remotes..