Pto or Stand alone Splitter

[Obejuan64]

I know this subject gets beat around a lot, but I can't make up my mine, for yrs I've used a stand alone northern hydraulic splitter till the engine ceased, now I'm in the market for new one, I burn only 3 cords max a yr, but I have a ton of trees down from sandy, thinking of splitting all (ash, walnut) for firewood, with the stand alone every year it got harder to start the engine since I only use 3x a yr, just worried that my tractor will have enough hp to run a pto log splitter at full power n speed, don't want a slow splitter just like getting it done fast, I think I'm bi polar one min I want the pto next the stand alone, pto I like are the tw3 hd, iron n oak and american cls, there's a lot choices for stand alone and cheaper, if my tractor L3240 can't run a pto splitter full speed, it's not option.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Do some math - you will get your answer.
Your tractor provides 8.3 gal/min hydraulic flow. Max psi is 2500.

Area of cylinder is = 3.14 X R squared
Force in lbs = Area in square inches X 2500 psi........ (devide by 2000 to get tons)
Ram speed in inch per second = [3.85 X 8.3 Gal/Min] devided by Area of cylinder in square inches


So for a splitter on your tractor, independent of what the splitter is rated for, you will get the following based on the cylinder size.

3" cylinder gives 8.8 tons at 4.5 inches per second
4" cylinder gives 15.5 tons at 2.5 inches per second
5" cylinder gives 24.5 tons at 1.6 inches per second

So there is your answer. They work great but are not fast or overly powerful on the average CUT.

 

[DieselnHooters]

If your main concern against a standalone is the hassle of maintaining yet another motor, starter and battery or worse _ hand cranking it ...then a splitter with its own pump powered by your tractor PTO is a good option. They are fast, reliable, pretty much maintenance free and they always start if your tractor does.

 

[Obejuan64]

Gordon, I'm not planning on running it from my tractor hydraulics, using a pto pump, no one tells you true facts about the pto hp to the one stage pump, I just want to know if I can run the pto power splitter to it max speed with 25 hp@pto, is there a formula a 10/21 gpm 1 stage ?

 

[dbaer78]

I think timberwolfs tw3 can be run to capacity with as little as 16hp.

 

[jmoneil]

Running a TW-3 on a L3800. Far exceeded my expectations. I was using my neighbors 10 ton stand alone for the previous 5 years. Really like the 4 way wedge and table. Single stage pump does make for quick splitting cycles.

 

[Obejuan64]

Running a TW-3 on a L3800. Far exceeded my expectations. I was using my neighbors 10 ton stand alone for the previous 5 years. Really like the 4 way wedge and table. Single stage pump does make for quick splitting cycles.

What kinda wood are u splitting, what is ur cycle time? Tw-3 video saids 6 sec cycle depending on ur tractor.

 

[jmoneil]

All hardwood. Oak, Hickory, Ash. My cycle time averages about 8 seconds. Forward and back, but my rounds are short. 12 to 18 inches in length. I have a small stove. I'm not utilizing the full stroke of the cylinder and running the PTO around 500 rpm. The nice thing though is that you are getting the 20 ton all the time regardless of what you put in it. Single stage pump versus 2 stage. I'm also using the 4 way wedge all the time I'm splitting.

 

[2458n]

Look at someones trash riding lawn mower. I have a ranch king with a 16 horse power briggs vertical shaft motor. It caught my eye as I had just pulled the starter rope handle off the 5hp briggs horitzontal shaft splitter motor. Man the idea of a battery starter has me wishing. You are going to be using the tractor and splitter in different locations someday. Stick with the stand alone and two stage pump.

 

[pinetree10]

I probably would have gone with the tractor-mounted splitter if my tractor's hydraulics could have provided sufficient flow to make it practical. Unfortunately the Wallenstein unit I wanted called for a minimum of 10 GPM and my tractor's system splits 10.5 for the steering so the splitter would have moved way too slow for me. I ended up with a stand-alone Wallenstein splitter that has a 7 second cycle time and I haven't regretted it. The Honda engine is great and I just pull it into the woods behind the tractor. I see your point about having another engine around because I use mine about as often as you do. I've had good luck with gasoline additive over the years. The only time I've ever had fuel issues is with my two-cycle tiller because it got used only twice a year. I won't vote against the PTO splitter because I've never used one but I do like my stand-alone.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon, I'm not planning on running it from my tractor hydraulics, using a pto pump, no one tells you true facts about the pto hp to the one stage pump, I just want to know if I can run the pto power splitter to it max speed with 25 hp@pto, is there a formula a 10/21 gpm 1 stage ?

aah - Now I understand your question. Watched the TW3 video. Very nice. Wouldn't mind having one of those but I prefer the stand alone splitter. I like having the tractor free to use around the work area or elsewhere.

 

[plumbstraight]

Stand alone gets my vote as it leaves the tractor free to move wood-logs. When using a gas engine just be sure to run it till the carb is dry when finished. I built a splitter that used the pto but didn't like running the tractor full rpm all the time. Put a resevoir on the splitter and a honda engine. It is overbuilt but sure takes care of a woodpile.

 

[RBA50]

If the only thing wrong with the old splitter is a bad engine, I'd go to Harbor Freight and get a new engine. But then, I'm cheap! I replaced a friend's dead 5 hp B&S in about an hour (including the time it took to run to the store for longer bolts for the weird pump mount). Literally started on the first pull. He's 86, and not in the best of health, and uses it all the time with no problem. 6.5 hp engine was $98 at the parking lot sale, now it's on sale for $100. I wasn't sure about that engine at first, but once it was installed and running, I was impressed with it. I was trying to think of a project that needed an engine, so I could get one for myself!

You could also get an electric start engine if pull start bothers you, but then you have to maintain a battery for the few times a year you use it.

 

[7879fordman]

If the only thing wrong with the old splitter is a bad engine, I'd go to Harbor Freight and get a new engine. But then, I'm cheap! I replaced a friend's dead 5 hp B&S in about an hour (including the time it took to run to the store for longer bolts for the weird pump mount). Literally started on the first pull. He's 86, and not in the best of health, and uses it all the time with no problem. 6.5 hp engine was $98 at the parking lot sale, now it's on sale for $100. I wasn't sure about that engine at first, but once it was installed and running, I was impressed with it. I was trying to think of a project that needed an engine, so I could get one for myself!

You could also get an electric start engine if pull start bothers you, but then you have to maintain a battery for the few times a year you use it.

This is the answer right here . I have the harbor freight 6.5 on my wood splitter . Works great .

Way smarter to put the ware and tear hours on a cheap throw away motor than a higher dollar tractor motor and all its parts .

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[Jim Shooz]

I vote for the stand alone. On ours the original Honda engine threw a rod (they like to have oil in the sump) so it was replaced with a cheap Chinese 6hp Honda look-a-like. Just bolted straight on. I use the tractor FEL to lift up the wood for splitting. Grab to log, half a turn put it on the splitter. NO LIFTING.
I have never used a tractor driven splitter.

 

[Ken45101]

I have the Timberwolf TW3-HD. It will NOT run on smaller tractors. I tried it once on my B2710 (19 pto hp?) and it dead stalled the engine when it hit the end of the stroke (not even splitting.) Besides, it's too heavy for the B2710 to lift.

I normally use it on an M5040 (50 hp.) It works fine, but it's not tremendously fast at 2000 rpm. I hate the thought of running the tractor at WOT but even there, it would not be a speed demon. It is a power demon however.

It's sure nice to turn the key and have a reliable start. However, changing 3pt implements this heavy can be a challenge. It's nice only having to take the tractor to the wood pile. But if I were to do it over again, I would consider a self powered splitter....at least until I saw the price on the self contained Timberwolf

 

[Obejuan64]

I have the Timberwolf TW3-HD. It will NOT run on smaller tractors. I tried it once on my B2710 (19 pto hp?) and it dead stalled the engine when it hit the end of the stroke (not even splitting.) Besides, it's too heavy for the B2710 to lift.

I normally use it on an M5040 (50 hp.) It works fine, but it's not tremendously fast at 2000 rpm. I hate the thought of running the tractor at WOT but even there, it would not be a speed demon. It is a power demon however.

It's sure nice to turn the key and have a reliable start. However, changing 3pt implements this heavy can be a challenge. It's nice only having to take the tractor to the wood pile. But if I were to do it over again, I would consider a self powered splitter....at least until I saw the price on the self contained Timberwolf

Thanks for that info, my tractor has 7 more hp at the pto than your b2710, if ur 50 hp is slow it's not looking good for my tractor, at the price of tw-3 hd, you get a real nice stand alone, kinda leaning towards stand alone again, The only way I would go with a pto is to try it on my tractor first or see it werking on a similar tractor with hard wood.

 

[grsthegreat]

i ran a 4" x 24" travel home built splitter off of my 25HP Jd870 for 10 years...worked great.

I rented a portable splitter and while it was a bit faster, there wasnt much overall difference.

On mine, i made an adjustable stop bolt that throws the detend out after it reaches 17" so the ram doesnt have to travel the full 24". All my cuts are 16".

It moves very fast compared to my comfort level. After 14 years i stall have all my fingers. Personally i wouldnt want it any faster.

With the way i harvest firewood, i wanted to be able to haul the splitter to the site. I have 20 acres of trees and i didnt want to haul the trees to the splitter. I cut the tree while its resting on the forks of the tractor so i dont have to always bend over. Make a pile in the forest for later splitting.

Than on a select day i haul the splitter around to the piles and split the wood. The wife drives the golf cart/trailer around to collect the wood.

I could always also come by and load it in the bucket if i wanted to also.

For me, i have to maintain some 14 engines already...i didnt need another. Im not one of those guys that are afraid to add hours to the tractor. Those are engines that are MEANT to be run at full throttle (540 rpm) for extended periods of time. Thats what a diesel is designed for.

Oh, and just as a note. My new Kioti has nearly 2x the pto HP, but the splitter doesnt work much faster. I can run it at a lower RPM and it seems to split just as hard and as fast. Easier on my ears.

 

[Ken45101]

Thanks for that info, my tractor has 7 more hp at the pto than your b2710, if ur 50 hp is slow it's not looking good for my tractor, at the price of tw-3 hd, you get a real nice stand alone, kinda leaning towards stand alone again, The only way I would go with a pto is to try it on my tractor first or see it werking on a similar tractor with hard wood.

Once you have enough horsepower to run the pump, it doesn't matter if you have 50 hp or 150. Speed is a function of engine rpm. I don't really want to run my M5040 at full throttle. I'm sure the tractor would be fine, but the fuel consumption would certainly go up and it's high enough already. Operating alone, most of my time is not waiting on the splitter ram to cycle. In that mode, I hate to burn the extra fuel to pick up a couple of seconds of cycle time when 75% of my time is spent loading wood, loading splits, etc.

OTOH, if I had a three man crew, I would run the tractor at max rpm.

 

[7879fordman]

Here's my harbor freight motored homemade splitter . I didn't make it its ugly but works good . I traded two tires I had no use for for it . It needed a motor and a pump since the pump was miss'n a piece .












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