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So I've begged, borrowed, and rented log splitters in the past, but now with the kids right behind us and a bit of extra woods to harvest from, I've decided to buy one. I have my own thoughts on good/bad gasoline engines, but thought I might get some opinions from the peanut gallery...anybody want to wade in with their :twocents. Thx.
I have one with a b&s on it, has split literally thousands of ricks of wood! Funny story, last fall we were splitting wood and the cap rattled off the gas tank. Couldn't find the gasket for gas cap, screwed it back on split some more wood, stopped for a cold beverage, motor backfired and we had a fire from the gas tank!! Grabbed fire extinguisher put it out. Finished out beer, pulled the cord, she started right up and worked all day. One note gasket actually has a purpose!!LOL
Redge:
I have a number of "tools" w/ b/s engines, and really haven't had any issues with them. I see there are some 22 ton units out there, one with a Kohler and one with a b/s. Lowes also has a 27 ton unit w/ a honda. All are the horiz/vert models pretty much with the same auto return valves, etc.
Good thing your "incident" didn't get out of hand and you had plenty of beer to cool things off.
Were it me, I would opt for the Honda engine unless cost is out of line. The other 2 are both good engines and they all have about same power. On B&S watch for the tag that says cast iron cyl. If it doesn't have that I would stay away.
Either one will work for you. I have split a lot of wood, & wore out a few B&S engines. Never had a Honda. I have a home made heavy duty splitter That I put a 12 hp Kohler on about 25 years ago. It works great at 1/3 throttle. The small 5-8 hp engines run at full throttle for big wood.
I have found out that as you get older, your back will complain more so if one of the units you are looking at has a tilt, or is a vertical splitter would be a plus.
Don,
I sold wood for many years and have had my fair share of splitters. From hand built ones to store bought models. The current one I use is the best I have ever had (hands down). I purchased it from "farm and home" about 6 years ago. It is a speeCo model 22ton and only has a 6hp motor on it but a high output pump. I couldn't tell you the engine make (probably a rebrand) but I can tell you that I can turn it up full blast and run it for 5 hours on less than 1/2 gallon of fuel. This unit has split everything from standard 10 inch rounds to a 64 inch round I had from a maple tree. I have never bogged it down, found a piece I could not split or physically stopped the motor from a log that would not split.
Besides the operation of the spliter (automatic retraction of the ram) ease of use, low gas use, and verticle/horizatal ram position, there is one key feature that a lot of guys over look that makes this one better than others I have used. This is something most people don't think about....... The hydraulic control lever is on the driver's side of the unit while the engine is on the passenger side. You say "why does that matter". Well, most of us are right handed and our right arm is naturally stronger than our left. With this setup, your left arm is controlling the lever while your right are is positioning the wood. Next time your at the store, look at the models on the floor (tractor supply). Most of them have this in reverse. Lever on the passenger side, engine on the drivers side. Imagine using your left arm to wrestle the round while your right arm (stronger arm in most cases) works the lever.
Also, spend the extra money (if it doesn't come with it) and buy the side extensions that cradle both sides of the ram. This way, when you half a round, or quarter a round, the piece doesn't fall to the groung, you are not resting one end on your leg, or trying to juggle the round that is about to fall to the ground on the oposite side of the splitter. Lastley, look at the exaust manafold. Some of them point straight back (directly where you are about to put the round on the splitter or pickup a piece from the ground) so go off the outside, some point towards the operator.
Verticle splitting is nice however I only used it for extremely heavy or cumbersome pieces. Kneeling on the ground, wrestling the round to get it in position and bending over all day sucks. I used to quarter the big pieces I had and then operate horizontal. One more thing, IF you do find yourself splitting vertical alot, consider adding an additional (wider and longer) piece of steel to the butt plate. The current buttplates are fine for horizontal operation but when operated verticle, a large round will tilt away from the ram as the steel is over 1 inch think and acts as a fulcrom. You are usually forced to hold the round towards the ram with your knee or put something under the back edge of the round.
Hopefully this gives you some information you are looking for and some additional things to consider.
One more thing: most of them today say they are 5 gallon Hydro tanks..... They are not. They are six gallons including the lines and filter. Save yourself from the start and buy a 5 gallon hydro bucket and a 1 gallon additional jug when purchasing. Unless you get lucky and it comes with it. Also, the newer motors have oil level sensors. In the woods, you can be off level and the engine might turn off. Just remember this and ensure you always have your oil topped off.
Hows that for help!!
I just had 4 trees taken down this past Friday, was going to keep the wood and do the splitting thing but decided to pay and have it all removed
Few years back I bought a new garden tiller with a BS motor on it, had issues with the governor and had them try to fix it, called back and they told me to bring it back and pick up a new tiller with a Honda motor on it , could not believe the day and night difference.
I would pay extra and buy one with a Honda motor
Rich
You always give great help, good read!!
Great info Rich. Some things in there that I would not have considered. Thx. I was just in the Farm and Home here in Holland yesterday after work looking at the Speedco. They only had a 28 ton in there for $1399. The kids want to split the cost so I might just have to look at that one once more.
Jimmy, I had several large tree dropped late last summer that I have to section and split. I am going to have several more standing off the corner of the barn dropped in June while I have the trailer up at crappie camp. The trees are just making a mess of the roof on the trailer and I can't stand it anymore...they gotta go.
Don, might get a good deal on one here pretty quick. I think their main selling timeframe is late summer/early fall. I would assume the 28ton to be a little better unit only because of the bigger ram and more output. I also believe that the main company that makes speedco, also makes and rebrands it in about 20 other names and configurations. Huskey is another name that comes to mine which I beleive is made by the speedco company (or their parent).
So last week Lowes dropped their price by $150 so I pulled the trigger and bought a 22 ton splitter. Now I'm fabricating the table that they want $79 for. Using up my rustoleum paint. Who know what color the table will end up being. Sophi says pink...sorry...not.
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Nice. Good for you. Now you will have more wood than you know what to do with.
And for what it is worth.. almost everything I fabricate anymore is either Pink... or suggested as such!!
looks like a nice rig hope it works well for you
make it PINK nobody will brorrow it :dono