Northern or TSC 3pt woodsplitter

stevenf · Nov 14, 2005

I realize that this question has been kicked around a lot but a year later It's wood cutting and splitting time again. I'm wondering of the folks that have either of the splitters have you had any problems with them and which do you think is better and why. The Northern one has the ability to be vertical or horizontal as does the TSC one but it sticks straight back giving you more room, it also has to be connected to the 3pt where the TSC is close to the tire mounted but with long enough hoses has its own stand and wouldn't have to be hooked up just plugged into the hydraulics. The TSC has no wings on the sides of the rail the Northern one does although someone in one of the post said the wings were made out of thin material and didn't hold up long before they were bent and useless. Anyone owning one of these units I'd sure appreciate you giving your review of its good points and bad. They are both around $600 it seems, I'd love to find one for an extra $50 with a larger/stronger cylinder but the price seems to jump a lot with brands other then the two I'm looking at plus I have a TSC and Northern both within a mile of my commute so no shipping cost. If you have other suggestions please feel free to throw them at me as well, I'm for sure going the 3pt route as I have no desire to maintain another small engine.
Steve

milkman · Nov 14, 2005

I don't know about the Northern splitter, but was at a fellows home and he was showing off his new TSC 3PH splitter and his first complaint was that it was so close to his rear tire, he was working on modifying it to get it further away so he'd have more working room, other than that he seemed pleased, but said something had to be done about the lack of room when working.

greg_g · Nov 14, 2005

( it was so close to his rear tire,)

Technically, that's related to the lower lift arm length - not to the implement - and is a measurement that should have been taken into consideration before purchasing the splitter. In contrast, my TSC splitter sits plenty far away from the rear tires of my 454.

And " lack of room when working " doesn't make sense, unless he was trying to work while standing between the lower lift arms. And standing there doesn't make sense at all, when splitting in vertical mode. Unless I'm missing something here, the designed working position is with the splitter BETWEEN the operator and the tractor.

I do think though, that Huskee could have put some sturdier legs under it. When mine's not mounted on the tractor, it's in the pasture under a 5x7 tarp. First time the wind knocks it over, I've got to come up with a different game plan.

//greg//

greg_g · Nov 14, 2005

( the TSC is close to the tire mounted but with long enough hoses has its own stand and wouldn't have to be hooked up just plugged into the hydraulics. The TSC has no wings on the sides of the rail )

The stand on the TSC Huskee isn't really study enough to be considered a standalone. It's really only good as a pivot point for switching from horizontal to vertical operation. But the reason there are no "wings" is the wide and deep splitting channel. The wood is still supported so it doesn't roll off, but just not with those obtrusive little metal bits you mentioned.

Before you consider a larger cylinder, you'd best appraise the pump and fluid capacity of the tractor that's going to run it. I found that even with my 454 throttle set way down at 1000 rpm, there's nothing yet it hasn't been able to split without affecting the tractor RPMs whatsoever. But if you're going to run it behind some little "estate tractor", a bigger cylinder might be thinking in the wrong direction.
//greg//

stevenf · Nov 14, 2005

greg, I'd be putting it on a M9000 90hp tractor with a 23.1 gpm hydraulic pump so bigger probably would be better but if a 4" cylinder works fine then maybe it'd be just throwing money away. I wasn't aware that you couldn't use the stand on the TSC one for standalone operation if thats the case I really don't know which is better I was leaning towards the TSC for that one reason. I guess either unit could be cobbled to sit on some type of sturdy stand so price may be the deciding factor I just got back from looking at the Northern one again and it looks pretty decent I thought they were chinese but the manufacturers sticker says its made in USA which is a plus in my book the vertical/horizontal one is $649.
Steve

mrpoppy58 · Nov 14, 2005

Stevenf, I have a tsc three point log splitter. I set it beside one of the uprights on my tractor shed and secure it with a chain. I attach the lines to my Mahindra 2810. I split wood for 30 years with a maul. I love this splitter. I think the tsc is your best bet. Anthing that T.S.C. sells for a tractor is good.
mrpoppy

tillerkiller · Nov 14, 2005

( But the reason there are no "wings" is the wide and deep splitting channel. The wood is still supported so it doesn't roll off, but just not with those obtrusive little metal bits you mentioned. )

They have changed the design to a system where the wedge wraps around the top of a plain I-Beam with no more splitting channel. I don't know why, but no more built in log holder. I don't have either one so I'm no help there....

I would however appreciate it if you would buy one of these and tell me if it is any good or not.
refurbished Harbor Freight log splitter
EDIT: HUH, would ya look at that.... no more of them left. I shoulda ordered one when I had the chance. He who hesitates saves his $600.

greg_g · Nov 14, 2005

( I don't have either one so I'm no help there.... )

Well I do have one, and it's got the log cradle (splitting channel) as I described above. And exactly like the one they're selling HERE. If you view the larger image, you can see the log channel clearly. Maybe your TSC store was selling some brand other than this Huskee.

//greg//

DavidVT · Nov 15, 2005

Closest TSC is three hours away. Is there any internet sites that will sell that husky directly? I always thought TSC did internet sales but now I see otherwise.. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

greg_g · Nov 15, 2005

( Closest TSC is three hours away. )

Well, consider that delivery will not likely leave you much change from a hundred dollar bill. I'm thinkin' your Dodge can make the trip for under $40.

//greg//