Splitters and Wood, show your pics!

[ericm979]

Tractordata lists that models' total flow at 11.4gpm. Modern tractors that size usually have two pumps, one for steering (and sometimes the PTO clutch) and one for loader, 3pt and accessories. The steering pump is usually around 5gpm. That leaves about 6 or 7 gpm.

Your typical mid size log splitter like the Oregon "28 ton" splitter I have has a two speed pump that provides around 16 gpm at the high speed and with a 4.5" cylinder has about a 12 second cycle time. With about half the flow and the same size cylinder you'd have twice the cycle time, about 24 seconds. That's pretty long. You might be ok with that or it might drive you nuts. Many splitters use a 4" cylinder which would be a little quicker but not provide as much force. Also I think many splitters' relief valves allow a higher pressure than the usual tractor 2200 psi, which would also reduce the splitting force. Depending on the wood you split that may or may not matter.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Hello all,

I have a Kioti CK3510HST SE, with rear hydraulics. would anyone know if I would have acceptable performance with a 3pt log splitter? I would love one of those timber wolfs! by acceptable, I mean similar to my old troy bilt log splitter. its a 27 ton model.

thank you all for your input

Running a splitter off your remotes, is going to be painfully slow...

Get the Timber Wolf that has it's own hydraulic pump, that you slide on your tractors pto. It's fast and will split anything you put on it.

We love our Timberwolf 3HD!

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Split some more wood today,

I had a bunch of "limb" wood that I didn't have to split, so that was nice

But, there was still plenty of bigger pieces to split too,

I'll go back and pick up that "kindling" later...

SR

 

[KeithT]

Thank you! very helpful

 

[John_Mc]

Running a splitter off your remotes, is going to be painfully slow...

Get the Timber Wolf that has it's own hydraulic pump, that you slide on your tractors pto. It's fast and will split anything you put on it.

We love our Timberwolf 3HD!

SR

If I were running off the tractor, that is how I would do it, Faster than my little tractor's own hydraulics, and also keeps my tractor hydraulics isolated from the splitter.

As it is, my splitter is a stand alone, powered by a Honda GX engine. Since I have only one tractor, and it's set up for log handling, I don't want to tie it up on the splitter when I'm working (Especially during one of our community work days for our firewood donation program. Often, I'm shuffling logs or rounds around to the various work stations we have going.)

 

[shooterdon]

The way SR does it will work IF you can/wish to tie up your tractor.

I need the grapple to move logs and forks to move totes of wood once they are stacked with splits. A PTO powered splitter is not my choice as the tractor is used for these other functions. Plus, using a 35 HP tractor to power a splitter does not "feel right". Would rather put the wear on a "cheap" gas engine. I do not process nearly the amount of wood SR does and I do not buck my logs into a trailer. I would review his set up and evaluate it with how you process wood.

There is no "right" way for everyone, but there is a right way for your needs. For example, this year I plan to process 32 loggers cords (27 cords of splits) from delivered logs. Renting a processor for $600 will get it done in 3 days without having to start my saw to buck a log, or move rounds to the splitter. For my needs (6-7 cords a year) I will process a 4 year supply of fire/campfire wood for $150/year with the only "effort" being stacking wood. It is not the cheapest way to get firewood. $1900 for the logs, $600 for processor and $100 for fuel puts me at $2600 for 27 cords - $650/year...under $100/cord. Propane here would cost $2000 so it still saves quite a bit for the minimal effort with this method. FYI, when I looked at replacing my crappy DR splitter with a "good" one I could not justify either the investment or the work of splitting the traditional way due to my age. At 69, I needed a 15 year "solution"....at best. 15 years at $150/year worked out to $2250...and that was half the price of the splitter I wanted...and 3-4 days a year of "hard" work vs less than 1 day a year of "easy" work for the two of us.

 

[goeduck]

These are the blocks from main branches that I skyhooked into my truck last weekend. I need to split them up this weekend for kindling.

 

[wngsprd]

Just had some time to catch up on this thread. I never get as tired looking at other folks' firewood work as I do doing my own.

Here's a load I split earlier this month from a friend's 116 year old oak. I towed my splitter over to his property and got a lot of help from him and my wife. Still many rounds left...was waiting for another cold day to go back and finish, but now delayed due to the virus.

 

[Scut 4 Big Bucks]

Just had some time to catch up on this thread. I never get as tired looking at other folks' firewood work as I do doing my own.

Here's a load I split earlier this month from a friend's 116 year old oak. I towed my splitter over to his property and got a lot of help from him and my wife. Still many rounds left...was waiting for another cold day to go back and finish, but now delayed due to the virus.

I burned ash all year. I sure miss the smell of that freshly split oak..

 

[Gordon Gould]

Just had some time to catch up on this thread. I never get as tired looking at other folks' firewood work as I do doing my own.

Here's a load I split earlier this month from a friend's 116 year old oak. I towed my splitter over to his property and got a lot of help from him and my wife. Still many rounds left...was waiting for another cold day to go back and finish, but now delayed due to the virus.

That is a nice looking load of wood. 116 year old oak... Must have been a good sized one.

gg