For those of you who might be contemplating the purchase of a Powerhorse wood splitter, I thought I would share my
story. I was looking for a splitter and first tried to go the used route. Here in Maine, there is a magazine available
weekly that lists items for sale. For several months earlier this year, I bought this magazine and when someone had a
splitter for sale, I would give them a call if the ad looked like something I wanted. Every call I made was too late.
Splitter has been sold. Some of these calls were made as soon as mag hit the stores. I finally gave up and started to
search the internet. After several weeks doing research, I settled on the 13 ton Powerhorse from Northern Tool. Price
was right, splitter was size I needed and reviews I found were positive. (Most were on the Northern Tool website.) I
ordered and received it in early May of this year. I was in no hurry to assemble it since with snow still in the woods, I
had no trees to cut and split. I spent about a week in spare time putting it together. One of last steps is hooking up 2
low pressure hoses but they had packed 2 hoses for larger model. I called and told them and they said they would send
them asap. I received them in less than a week and installed. So far, so good. Last step is fill gas tank. Ready to start. I
turned engine switch to on and opened fuel petcock. Five seconds later, fuel is pouring out of carburetor float bowl.
Needless to say, I was very dissapointed. Here I have a brand new splitter which I had assembled and it is dead on
arrival. I will add that the assembly is not a major job, just bolting on some parts, add hoses and wheels and a few other
things and you are done. Engine is already attached and completely assembled. I called Northern Tool and explained
where I was. They told me that they had a network of repair centers and I had to take splitter to one for repairs. I am
now less happy as I had not even got started. It was dead on arrival as I said. They gave me a phone number of a shop
about 35 miles away. I called this place and after explaining what I had, I was told that they did not know that they
were a member of the so called Northern Tool dealer repair network for Powerhorse splitters. I then called NT back
and told them what was said by their "dealer". This left them somewhat speechless. I also said that since I had made
this purchase with my American Express card and since Amex gurantees that I am happy with purchases made on
said card and since I had not even received the bill and since unit was DOA, I would not pay for it until they sent me a
new carburetor. They will call me back. A day later, they are sending me a carb. I see order on their web site. This is
on May 19th. Two weeks later and no carb, I decide to tear down carb and see if I can see a problem. I did so and did
not see anything obviously wrong. I reassembled carb and reattached to motor. Turned petcock on and no fuel leak. I
am now happy so I decided to split some wood. Several hours later, leak reappeared. Weeks go by and in early July, I
call Northern Tool to inquire about carb that was ordered and two months late. I was informed that since I did not pay
for unit, They were sending truck to pick up? They expected me to pay for unit that was DOA? At this point, I was just
happy to get rid of it. Good splitter, lousy engine. Before truck arrived, I drained fuel from tank and then tried to start
engine to burn off what little fuel that might be in carb. Pulled start cord and it came all the way back as if it was
disconnected inside? As I said, lousy engine. Several days ago, went to Tractor Supply and bought 22 ton unit already
assembled. Towed it home and split some wood. It works like a charm. I have no gripe with people I talked with at NT.
They were all apoligetic and nice but splitter wasn't. Beware of Powerhorse.
story. I was looking for a splitter and first tried to go the used route. Here in Maine, there is a magazine available
weekly that lists items for sale. For several months earlier this year, I bought this magazine and when someone had a
splitter for sale, I would give them a call if the ad looked like something I wanted. Every call I made was too late.
Splitter has been sold. Some of these calls were made as soon as mag hit the stores. I finally gave up and started to
search the internet. After several weeks doing research, I settled on the 13 ton Powerhorse from Northern Tool. Price
was right, splitter was size I needed and reviews I found were positive. (Most were on the Northern Tool website.) I
ordered and received it in early May of this year. I was in no hurry to assemble it since with snow still in the woods, I
had no trees to cut and split. I spent about a week in spare time putting it together. One of last steps is hooking up 2
low pressure hoses but they had packed 2 hoses for larger model. I called and told them and they said they would send
them asap. I received them in less than a week and installed. So far, so good. Last step is fill gas tank. Ready to start. I
turned engine switch to on and opened fuel petcock. Five seconds later, fuel is pouring out of carburetor float bowl.
Needless to say, I was very dissapointed. Here I have a brand new splitter which I had assembled and it is dead on
arrival. I will add that the assembly is not a major job, just bolting on some parts, add hoses and wheels and a few other
things and you are done. Engine is already attached and completely assembled. I called Northern Tool and explained
where I was. They told me that they had a network of repair centers and I had to take splitter to one for repairs. I am
now less happy as I had not even got started. It was dead on arrival as I said. They gave me a phone number of a shop
about 35 miles away. I called this place and after explaining what I had, I was told that they did not know that they
were a member of the so called Northern Tool dealer repair network for Powerhorse splitters. I then called NT back
and told them what was said by their "dealer". This left them somewhat speechless. I also said that since I had made
this purchase with my American Express card and since Amex gurantees that I am happy with purchases made on
said card and since I had not even received the bill and since unit was DOA, I would not pay for it until they sent me a
new carburetor. They will call me back. A day later, they are sending me a carb. I see order on their web site. This is
on May 19th. Two weeks later and no carb, I decide to tear down carb and see if I can see a problem. I did so and did
not see anything obviously wrong. I reassembled carb and reattached to motor. Turned petcock on and no fuel leak. I
am now happy so I decided to split some wood. Several hours later, leak reappeared. Weeks go by and in early July, I
call Northern Tool to inquire about carb that was ordered and two months late. I was informed that since I did not pay
for unit, They were sending truck to pick up? They expected me to pay for unit that was DOA? At this point, I was just
happy to get rid of it. Good splitter, lousy engine. Before truck arrived, I drained fuel from tank and then tried to start
engine to burn off what little fuel that might be in carb. Pulled start cord and it came all the way back as if it was
disconnected inside? As I said, lousy engine. Several days ago, went to Tractor Supply and bought 22 ton unit already
assembled. Towed it home and split some wood. It works like a charm. I have no gripe with people I talked with at NT.
They were all apoligetic and nice but splitter wasn't. Beware of Powerhorse.
