Ramsplitter 3 point log splitter

[955er]

For the past 3 years I have borrowed a friend's 32 ton Huskee stand alone splitter, so this year I was forced to buy my own. My main concerns with the 3 point models were cycle time and force. I have a 955 with a power beyond kit (Thanks to KennyD on that one) that puts out 7.2 gpm at 2500psi. After running the numbers on the charts provided in a previous thread, I knew that any unit with a 4 inch cylinder would give me long cycle times, and a force that would not exceed 17 tons on a good day.

After looking at various units, I decided to purchase a ramsplitter 16 ton unit. I had it modified to sit perpendicular on the back. With hoses, taxes and shipping it was less than the 22 ton TSC model, and with a 3.5 inch cylinder I hoped the cycle time would be better.

I have since split over 2 full cords with this splitter. It was very easy to hook up on the hitch. I did it alone in less than 5 minutes. It has split everything I have thrown at it; Cherry, Oak, Ash and Maple. At 1800rpm the splitter runs at a perfect cycle time for me working alone. If I move it to 2400rpm I can barely keep up. For those worried about cycle time, at 7.2 gpm all is good. I cannot say it would be worth it at 5.6gpm. The sound of the tractor is way quieter than that of the stand alone I used in the past.

Overall, I am happy with my purchase and I hope this helps those looking at a splitter who have the same concerns I did.

 

[Mr Super Hunky]

I also purchased a 16 ton logsplitter from Ramsplitter. The owner is a bit unorganized but he is also willing to work with you.

My splitter will split anything that I throw at it including hard Gamble oak. I'm not sure why people spend the extra $$ to get these giant splitters as a friend of mine has a 4 ton Ryobi Home Depot special which also splits just about everything (albeit much slower).

I really don't think you can beat the Ramsplitter for the money. I've compared virtually every known brand out there and if you are looking for the best "bang for the buck" and just use it for personal use, the Ramsplitter cannot be beat.

 

[rjkobbeman]

I have a question. Do you use the rear remote control valves on the tractor to control the splitter, or do you use the control valve on the splitter? Seems to me both valves would have to be open to operate. How does that work?

I have wanted to get a 3pt splitter but am not sure how it would work. I have rear remotes to connect the splitter to, but all of the splitters I see have a control valve. Is everyone rigging their rear remote lever to the open position and useing the splitter control valve lever to control the splitter?

 

[rus_geek]

rjkobbeman -

Some folks bungee or tie their remote valve open. Some (myself included) have a detent on the remote valve so it stays open on its own. Others have an unvalved loop they tie into on the back, so there is no remote valve to deal with.

-rus-

 

[rjkobbeman]

rjkobbeman -

Some folks bungee or tie their remote valve open. Some (myself included) have a detent on the remote valve so it stays open on its own. Others have an unvalved loop they tie into on the back, so there is no remote valve to deal with.

-rus-

Gotcha. I figured I was thinking too hard.

One of my valves is self canceling and the lever will stay open in one direction. Do you ever see that valve poping closed on its own or does the calceling feature of the splitter valve kick in before the tractor's valve?

 

[soulasphil]

I bungee the lever on my 3rd SCV (in fact I use a small metal chain) to keep the valve open then use the splitter's valve normally. I usually run the tractor just above idle to keep noise and smoke to a minimum. The splitter seems to be rather slow, but working alone or with a second person, I can barely keep up with the machine. There seems to be a lot of overkill with the enormous pressures announced. My 13 ton splitter has split anything I have tried so far.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks for the info 955er. I was thinking along the same lines but was reluctant to try it. What do you figure you get for tonnage - 10 or 12 ton ?
Did RamSplitter do the mounting mod or did you have someone local do it.
I like it sideways, but do the tires get in the way when you pick up your chunks?

gg

 

[JDGreenGrass]

Thanks for the info 955er. I was thinking along the same lines but was reluctant to try it. What do you figure you get for tonnage - 10 or 12 ton ?
Did RamSplitter do the mounting mod or did you have someone local do it.
I like it sideways, but do the tires get in the way when you pick up your chunks?

gg

I was wondering the same sort of thing. But, in his second picture, he has the splitter in a vertical position.

 

[955er]

Thanks for the info 955er. I was thinking along the same lines but was reluctant to try it. What do you figure you get for tonnage - 10 or 12 ton ?
Did RamSplitter do the mounting mod or did you have someone local do it.
I like it sideways, but do the tires get in the way when you pick up your chunks?

gg

I am getting the full 16 tons. The cylinder is rated at 2500psi, which is what my tractor puts out. The mount is the what they use on the 20 ton. They just modified it for the 16 ton is. If you just want a horizontal model, they sell them on ebay at a nice price.

 

[955er]

Sorry. Plenty of room to work with it in the vertical position.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I am getting the full 16 tons. The cylinder is rated at 2500psi, which is what my tractor puts out.

Thanks - It must be a 4" cylinder. For some reason I thought there 16 ton unit was a 3 1/2" cylinder. I would definitely want the horizontal / vertical unit like yours.

 

[TommyJD790]

955er,

I agree with you. I bought the 16T Ramsplitter last winter, and have had no issue with speed. My tractor is rated at 5.4 gpm and it still moves as fast as I want to go.

 

[Carl_NH]

Here is my ramsplitter setup for 3PT with legs Doug @ Ramsplitter made and the extra length hoses. Has the 4" cylinder as well.

Remove the front leg an lower to get the big ones. Very easy setup running off the BH hydralics, just pin the BH and hoook up the lines and split.

Carl

 

[955er]

Thanks - It must be a 4" cylinder. For some reason I thought there 16 ton unit was a 3 1/2" cylinder. I would definitely want the horizontal / vertical unit like yours.

No, it has a 3.5 inch cylinder.

 

[Gordon Gould]

No, it has a 3.5 inch cylinder.

Then you must be getting about 12 ton. Which is enough from what you are saying. That is very good to know. The 3 1/2" cylinder increases your cycle time but at the expense of tonnage. With a 1.75" radius your 3 1/2" cylinder
will have less tonnage than 4" cylinder with a 2" radius. Your tractor would have to put out 3327 PSI to get 16 ton on a 3 1/2" cylinder.

Force provided by a cylinder is the area of the piston in square inches times the Pressure applied in pounds per square inch.

Pi X R squared X PSI = 3.14 X 1.75" X 1.75" X 2500 psi = 24040 LBS
or 12 ton

The only thing that really matters is that it works great. Your trade off of
speed for tonnage seems like a good move.

 

[955er]

That is interesting. If the cylinder is rated for a maximum of 2500psi, is it capable of producing the full 16 tons?

 

[Gordon Gould]

It doesn't seem so. Could it be rated for 3500 psi ? That would make sense.
I could not find that rating in there web lititure.

In the post above I erroniously said the smaller cylinder would increase your cycle time. I ment to say decrease your cycle time. A smaller volume fills faster, thus the ram moves faster.

 

[J_J]

There is also a fast extend valve made by Prince ,that would reduce the cycle times and there is an automatic two lever valve.

 

[Gordon Gould]

Thanks J_J, your right. Those regenerative type valves can significantly decrease cycle times especially when the system is running with low pressure requirements like pre-travel, return, and easy splitting. But the point I was trying to make, and it is fair to say, that for any given valve a cylinder with a smaller diameter will extend faster and produce less tonnage than a cylinder with a larger diameter. And the maximum tonnage will always be the piston area times the pressure applied. Those regenerative valves will not increase the output tonnage. I know you were not saying that, I just wanted to make it clear to others.

 

[J_J]

You are right. One should get a log splitter based on the toughness of the wood they will be splitting most of the time. Larger cylinders cost more as well as larger engines.
Even some of the electric splitters would work for some people.