PTO driven log splitter

TNhobbyfarmer · Mar 24, 2019

There is a PTO driven log splitter on CL for $250. I burn some wood in a wood stove at my hunting cabin, none at my primary residence. At that price I'm thinking about picking it up.

I have never used a tractor driven log splitter. I'm guessing that it won't cycle as fast as a small engine driven splitter, but that's not a problem no more than I will use it. Looking for some feedback from those that have used such a splitter. Also, does the price sound reasonable?

ruffdog · Mar 24, 2019

A pump running off of 540rpm will work but is slow without a rpm increasing gear box. Lots of tractor running a slow splitter.

TNhobbyfarmer · Mar 24, 2019

ruffdog said:
A pump running off of 540rpm will work but is slow without a rpm increasing gear box. Lots of tractor running a slow splitter.

I expect it to be slow compared to small engine splitters. Will power suffer as well?

Sawyer Rob · Mar 24, 2019

It's probably powered by the tractors remotes, do you have remotes on your tractor?

It will be slow, but it still will have power...

SR

ruffdog · Mar 24, 2019

Power? It all depends on the set-up. Pump type, pump size, cyl size, internal leaks.

ericm979 · Mar 25, 2019

For $250 it probably does not have a pump but uses the tractor hydraulics. If you know your tractor's flow and the splitter's cylinder and rod sizes you can calculate the cycle time. Most likely it'll be slower than a dedicated splitter with a two speed pump. But for $250 maybe that's ok. Most tractor hydraulics will hit around 2100 psi. The low volume high pressure speed of a log splitter pump is often around 3000 psi. So you'll have about 2/3 the splitting force. If it's got a larger cylinder to compensate it'll be even more slower than a dedicated splitter.

But it's $250.

Industrial Toys · Mar 25, 2019

Unless you own a gas mask, make sure you have an upswept exhaust.

The price kind of means little. Is it a cobbled together piece of junk? Is it well designed? Are the cylinder seals good?

TNhobbyfarmer · Mar 25, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
Unless you own a gas mask, make sure you have an upswept exhaust.

The price kind of means little. Is it a cobbled together piece of junk? Is it well designed? Are the cylinder seals good?

Please tell me what an upswept exhaust is and how I determine if this machine has one. Sounds like it keeps exhaust away from your face. I wasn't aware that exhaust was a problem with a PTO driven splitter.

Quebecguy · Mar 25, 2019

Why don't you ask the seller to demonstrate the splitter in action?

Industrial Toys · Mar 25, 2019

Does the exhaust go to the back? We once bought a tractor and had the dealer put the rear exhaust on. So, it wouldn't get ripped off on trees, but man, what a treat, working with the 3ph with the engine running! My eyes are watering just thinking about it.

TNhobbyfarmer · Mar 25, 2019

Quebecguy said:
Why don't you ask the seller to demonstrate the splitter in action?

The seller told me he has never used it and doesn't have a tractor to use for a demonstration. Apparently he got it for a good price at a auction and just bought it for resale, consequently the low price. I usually see these for sale in the $500-800 range.

I know this purchase could be a crap shoot. I figure that if the hoses look reasonable, the worst case scenario would be a cylinder rebuild or maybe a new cylinder. If it doesn't sell soon, I may go take a look and make a decision.

Industrial Toys · Mar 25, 2019

Too bad you don't have some pictures. Guys here would tell you a lot, whether you wanted to hear it or not. You would get good and confused, if nothing else.

Jstpssng · Mar 25, 2019

I had a lightweight unit which my father had made years ago, that I ran off my backhoe pto pump. It worked great when hooked up to my 8N, but not very well behind the Kubota. I don't remember exactly why but it had something to do with the difference in governors, and possibly because I don't tend to run the RPM's very high.

Sawyer Rob · Mar 25, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
Does the exhaust go to the back? We once bought a tractor and had the dealer put the rear exhaust on. So, it wouldn't get ripped off on trees, but man, what a treat, working with the 3ph with the engine running! My eyes are watering just thinking about it.

You mean you didn't figure out that a cheapo piece of flex pipe shoved over the tail pipe and turned side way takes care of the problem???

SR

Industrial Toys · Mar 25, 2019

I mean, I never had to split wood back there. And using that would not have been practical to do for short duration. We did use to get a kick out of pulling back the throttle when someone was back there hooking up a chain or such.

Hiptfarms · Mar 25, 2019

I run a 3ph wood splitter on my tractor (M6800) that is powered off the rear remotes. It is actually faster than the small engine driven splitters I have used. I love mine. The young guy who helps me during the summers said he sure wished his dad would get one like mine instead of the B&S driven one they have. Mine is much faster than his.

I've owned mine for around 10 years and I dont miss having to futz around with a carburetor. Bonus is not having every Tom, dick, and harry in the neighborhood trying to borrow it because they don't have the setup to run it.

Industrial Toys · Mar 25, 2019

Even if people could use my hydraulic implements. I don't share needles or mix oil! Sorry!

Hiptfarms · Mar 25, 2019

Good practice. Plus I hate needles!

TNhobbyfarmer · Mar 25, 2019

Industrial Toys said:
Too bad you don't have some pictures. Guys here would tell you a lot, whether you wanted to hear it or not. You would get good and confused, if nothing else.

Just a clarification first of all. I don't know why I've been calling the splitter PTO driven. It's driven by the tractor hydraulics through read remotes. Brain fart I guess.

If you want to see a picture of it, go to the Nashville CL and search log splitter. I'm not great at linking so I'll just defer to you on that.

John_Mc · Mar 26, 2019

I'm guessing that this is the one you are talking about:

3pt HD Log Plitter - $250 (Nashville)

Hard to get an idea of the cylinder size on that. Just remember that it will have about 2/3 the splitting force of a splitter with its own engine and a similar diameter cylinder (assuming your tractor hydraulics are around 2100 PSI, and a typical splitter is closer to 3000 PSI). Cycle time will almost certainly be slower: A small splitter typically uses an 11 GPM pump. Compact tractor hydraulic flow at the rear remotes is typically less than that (though there may be exceptions if you have a bigger compact tractor). Remember also that your tractor's hydraulic flow rate is likely rated with the engine running at PTO speed - so you are going to have to crank things up to get the rated flow rate. The pump on that self-powered splitter is likely 2-stage, so it only gets that 11 GPM when not under load. It may have a similar (or even lower) flow rate than your tractor when it kicks into low gear under load.

You could address the speed issue by adding a PTO pump and hydraulic tank, but if you have to buy those, you've probably spent as much as you would have spent on a better splitter. (A new PTO pump is probably in the $500 range.) Most PTO pumps I've seen have the same output pressure as a typical tractor, so unless you find something special, it won't address the power issue (which may be a good thing: can that old cylinder and the hoses handle more pressure?)

Having said all that: I started out with a 16 ton splitter (RamSplitter electric - the piggest one that would run off a normal 120 VAC outlet), Not a lot of power, but it handled most of what I needed and it had a decent cycle time. Using the proper techniques I got through a fair amount of tougher stuff. The really gnarly stuff that it couldn't handle I just used for bonfire wood. I've since sold that splitter for a larger gas-powered one, but the guy I sold it to is quite happy with it. You don't really need a 37 ton rated behemoth for typical home firewood use.