Which 3 pt hitch woodsplitter?

[Lineman North Florida]

I am fixing to purchase a 3 pt hitch woodsplitter to go on the back of my Farmtrac 360 and have narrowed it down to the Countyline from Tractor Supply which generates up to 22 tons of force depending on implement pump output and will split horizontally or vertically, or the 16 ton Ramsplitter which also splits horizontally and vertically, the Ramsplitter just looks stouter from looking at the pictures, anyone have any experience with either one? Opinions. Thank's in advance for any info.

 

[955er]

The ramsplitter works good for me. I have 7.2gpm at 2500psi and cycle time is good. Has a 3.5 inch cylinder. Probably only getting 13 tons out of it, but it splits everything. Doug is a little on the flaky side, but the product came as advertised and I am very happy with it.

There are also many threads on this subject. Search the forums for "3 point splitter"

 

[greg_g]

I have the TSC splitter, which is actually a SpeeCo. I seriously doubt their 22 ton claim though. Regardless, it works just fine for me. I paid just under $600 for mine, hoses not included. Either they've jacked the price up considerably, or they're providing hoses and connectors now for $700. Regardless - assuming you've already got hydraulic remotes on your tractor - it's a bargain compared to the gasoline or PTO powered competition.

//greg//

 

[simonds]

I bought the SpeeCo at TSC also, $695.00. No hoses. I have no complaint at all. The first thing I did was weld up a small table with some scrap angle iron and bolted it to two existing holes in the beam. When splitting a large chunk of wood the back half will roll off on to the table, out of the way. Hold on to the near piece and split again if necessary. I don't half to bend over and pick any of them off the ground. I have been splitting up to about 24" dia. Cherry, and Ash. Nothing has even slowed it down. I run my tractor 4200 J.D. at 1500 R.P.M.s I bought the hoses at local N.A.P.A each 5' long. But had to get the quick couplers at John Deere dealer to match the ones on the tractor.
Good Luck
Clayton

 

[korydz]

Be sure to check out the Split-Fire splitters.
Manufacturers of high quality, custom engineered wood splitters, log splitters and wood chippers. | Split-Fire Sales Inc. Quality Built. High Performance. | Split-Fire - Your Best Choice
I've had one for a couple of years now and love it. Very powerful and the double splitting with no wasted motion means high productivity. I have a BX2660 with limited hydraulic flow and can still split a cord an hour no problem.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Thank's for the reply's guys the Countyline from TSC is 699.00 and the Ramsplitter is 799.00 neither comes with the hoses but it does'nt sound like I can go wrong with either one, nothing against the Splitfire from Canada but I don't know about getting one shipped way down here where I'm at I think the hydraulics on my tractor are open center so would the valve on the wood splitter need to be closed center or am I thinking about this wrong? Hydraulics aint my specialty any help appreciated.

 

[955er]

Be sure to check out the Split-Fire splitters.
Manufacturers of high quality, custom engineered wood splitters, log splitters and wood chippers. | Split-Fire Sales Inc. Quality Built. High Performance. | Split-Fire - Your Best Choice
I've had one for a couple of years now and love it. Very powerful and the double splitting with no wasted motion means high productivity. I have a BX2660 with limited hydraulic flow and can still split a cord an hour no problem.

these have been on ebay for a while. 3.5 inch cylinder split fire. They are more, but worth it. I would have liked one. Maybe he will come down...

New Split-Fire 3203 3pt Log Splitter - eBay (item 230536756595 end time Feb-07-11 11:50:07 PST)

 

[955er]

Thank's for the reply's guys the Countyline from TSC is 699.00 and the Ramsplitter is 799.00 neither comes with the hoses but it does'nt sound like I can go wrong with either one, nothing against the Splitfire from Canada but I don't know about getting one shipped way down here where I'm at I think the hydraulics on my tractor are open center so would the valve on the wood splitter need to be closed center or am I thinking about this wrong? Hydraulics aint my specialty any help appreciated.

Double-check that it is not the 20 ton. I paid $675 delivered for my ramsplitter last August and it came with hoses.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Double-check that it is not the 20 ton. I paid $675 delivered for my ramsplitter last August and it came with hoses.

Where did you get yours from? The price I got was from woodsplitter direct I believe, when I looked at Ramsplitter's website I did'nt see any prices and saw a place to click and find a dealer.

 

[kennyd]

I think the hydraulics on my tractor are open center so would the valve on the wood splitter need to be closed center or am I thinking about this wrong? Hydraulics aint my specialty any help appreciated.

Yes, they are OC. You can figure the force and speed easliy if you know the cylinder size one the splitter, and the GPM and PSI specs of you tractor by using these calculators: Baum Hydraulics Corp :: Spec Calculator

 

[Nightrain1]

My TSC had lines pre made and they had the ends also. You might consider getting longer lines so you can work the splitter seperated from the 3ph.
Works great and I am glad I have it.
The only cons I see is the weak leg base, more so the 2 bolts that hold each leg on. Otherwise, built like a tank. You will also start adding some hours on the tractor, but that's why I bought it, to use it. I just can't help but thinking a gas powered splitter might of been more economical to run.

 

[955er]

Where did you get yours from? The price I got was from woodsplitter direct I believe, when I looked at Ramsplitter's website I did'nt see any prices and saw a place to click and find a dealer.

Call the 800 number on the website and ask for Doug Davidson. He sells the horizontal-only on ebay all day long for $575 buy it now.

 

[Carl_NH]

I agree with 955er - I bought directly from Doug 4 years ago and he made some mods to the basic 3 PT set up..

1. Legs that bolt on the 3 PT pins
2. Tripod that pins on the front
3. 15' Hyd Hoses to attach to the BH connection

The legs and tripod make it easy to use and store in the barn and the tripod can be unpinned and using the loader lower to the ground.

I put a loop thru the top link and hook onto the front of my B21, pin up the BH, hook up the hoses and I am splitting in 5 min...

THe spliiter works really well - not speedy but at a speed that I like, and the tractor runs about 1200 RPM - just above idle..

 

[JakesDad1]

I have a 20 HP Nortrac from Northern. Two years ago I bought their smaller hydraulic 3pt splitter. As I remember cost me $600 plus $75 shipping, but cost me another $150 for hoses and connectors. I think it's rated for 13 tons. Since I have a small stove, my logs are only 13-16" long, and it works great. The beauty of that splitter is that it splits forward and then in reverse. Saves time waiting for the ram to retract. I also appreciate the 3pt hitch, can adjust the height of the spitter to my height instead of the reverse!

 

[LD1]

Some food for thought:

The tsc splitter uses a 4" cylinder. you would need 3500psi to get the claimed 22Tons.

Since you probabally only make 2200psi, you will be looking at a MAX of ~14T. And a total cycle time of 16.9 seconds.

The ramsplitter w/3.5" cylinder will only give you about 10.5T of force but increase the cycle time to 13.5 seconds.

So really you have to decide what is most important to you. If you plan on splittinh some ugly, knarly, knotted peices: get the TSC one.

If you only plan on splitting smaller straight-grained stuff, I'd opt for speed.

 

[grsthegreat]

if you have a welder and some time...you can make your own. i made mine for a couple hundred in scrap steel, a surplus ram and some new hoses and valve. it took all of one day to weld up the thing. The hoses and valves took a week to get in the mail. i got the wedge and ram shackle from northern equipment. if i remember right, i got the 6 foot piece of i channel for scrap steel cost at a scrap yard i split mainly fir and tamarack here, and have never bound it up. I could have bought one....but i sure like making my own stuff. only problem is....if it doesn't work, i'm the only idiot i can blame. Also, as far as cycle time is concerned, i found that by adding a small v shaped wedge to the cutting bar, and since my logs are all 16" long, i usually only have to push into the wood 4-6 inches to split the wood, so i don't have to cycle the ram the entire way. it only takes a few seconds between splits. i only wish i had the energy to keep up with my splitter.

 

[wampum]

I used a Farm and Country 3 point splitter for years. It worked good. I now have a stand alone Split Fire,there really is no comparison,the stand alone is better.Most small tractors do not put out enough pressure to operate a splitter at its peak power. If I ever went back to a 3 point it would have a PTO drive pump. Then it would have all the power needed like a Timber Wolf 3 Point. They run around $1800.00 the last I checked(about 3 years ago) but are so much better.
But if you are only splitting a few cords a year the regular 3 point will do,its just a lot slower,and will not split everything. I understand the price is your final judge,so you will have to live with the slow speed like I did until I could buy one that was faster. Also noodling those un-splittable rounds works well.
I know folks will argue,but that 3 point also runs up the hours on your tractor and uses more fuel. With a stand alone you use less fuel and if you have a bucket on your tractor,you can move it right from the splitter to the bucket. Also heavy rounds can be brought to your splitter with your bucket acting as a log table. Just some thoughts from a guy that has used both,good luck.

 

[grsthegreat]

I used a Farm and Country 3 point splitter for years. It worked good. I now have a stand alone Split Fire,there really is no comparison,the stand alone is better.Most small tractors do not put out enough pressure to operate a splitter at its peak power. If I ever went back to a 3 point it would have a PTO drive pump. Then it would have all the power needed like a Timber Wolf 3 Point. They run around $1800.00 the last I checked(about 3 years ago) but are so much better.
But if you are only splitting a few cords a year the regular 3 point will do,its just a lot slower,and will not split everything. I understand the price is your final judge,so you will have to live with the slow speed like I did until I could buy one that was faster. Also noodling those un-splittable rounds works well.
I know folks will argue,but that 3 point also runs up the hours on your tractor and uses more fuel. With a stand alone you use less fuel and if you have a bucket on your tractor,you can move it right from the splitter to the bucket. Also heavy rounds can be brought to your splitter with your bucket acting as a log table. Just some thoughts from a guy that has used both,good luck.

well your right on the hours thing...but i really dont log many hours per year as alot of you here do. i like my 3 point cause i can drive the splitter to my down trees, when i haven't used to horses to skid them out for fun, and i can split theme where they fall. then i get kids to load and haul them in the dump bed golf cart i have. seems to work for me.

 

[Lineman North Florida]

Thank's for all the information and advice I decided on the splitter from TSC they gave me 10% off the regular price and after buying two 7' 1/2" hydraulic hoses and all the related fittings it was about $50.00 more than what the Ramsplitter was with hoses delivered to your door, without the 10% off the Speedco from TSC would have been about $120.00 more, I don't believe that there is that much difference in the two, I hope I made the right decision.

 

[955er]

It'll work. Someone posted a thread a couple weeks ago showing how they beefed up the legs on that TSC/Speeco Splitter with some angle iron.

Anyone got a link?