Firefighter Kubota Said:
I still love my powerhorse splitter, but the biggest draw back is lack of auto return etc...
Because of the bi directional splitting you are stuck there holding the valve...it slows things down when you need to get the next piece ready to go...
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I ended up choosing the 20 ton stand alone PowerHoarse. Originally I intended to get the 3 Point Hitch model and power it with my Kub until I made a pros n cons list between the both.
At my age I prefer to not bend over when ever possible (one of the bigger reasons to purchase the stand alone model) so I removed the wire rack on the engine side than built a large 2 foot by 6 foot long shelf on the same side of the splitter. This way I could lift the rounds or logs up with the Kub's loader bucket in the woods, drive over to the wood shed, than just lower the bucket on the shelf n work right out of the bucket n shelf combination.
AnyWay
My reason to post is this that at first I too was considering buying a return valve for my PowerHoarse until I realized I could just slow down the RPMs of my small bore gas engine to just over an idle (I still have plenty of splitting power due to the governor the engine has). This way as the bi directional ram is splitting in either direction I have just a little more time to reach over with my left hand n move the next log or round almost into position to split. This way I am doing two things at the same time n because of the bi directional capabilities I am not waiting for the ram to re position. So less is more in the end.
Works great for me, I don't bend over AT ALL n pick up anything, the little gas engine does not eat to much fuel nor make as much noise along with the wooden part of the angle iron shelf shields my ears from the muffler too and I am never waiting for the ram to reposition. ALSO, operating the splitter this way always keeps BOTH hands n all ten fingars far away from danger of being pinched......
If I can remember, tomorrow I will take a better foto of my PowerHoarse and add it here to better show the shelf modification. Me thinks no dam reason to be lifting anything or stooping over when U have a Kub with a loader to do the lifting work...
Next Day
OK, I remembered, below should be four additional walk around fotos of the work table I added to my bi directional splitter so I can work out of the Kub's loader bucket.
Also, from time to time I use the work table to stock pile a few rounds on so I have some work to do out of the rain during rainy days like today (ifin I feel like it - I did not feel like it today, got the lazes , oh well).....
