HF 5 ton Electric review - 06/14 update

From a Troy Built splitter manual:

Use an approved hydraulic fluid. Approved fluids
include Dexron® III / Mercon® III automatic transmission
fluid, a 10 Weight AW hydraulic oil or Pro-Mix™
AW-32 Hydraulic Oil




FWIW, Harbor Freight says you can use AW-32 or Dextron, but not to mix them. AW-32 is cheaper at Home Depot, and it is already in the HF unit, so I just bought an additional gallon. Should out last me and the splitter.

Jags said:

I now feel confident that I can split up my splitting block and hang up my axe.

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I've been having a moral debate with myself over this very issue. I'm proud of the very good aim I've re-developed (for probably the third time in my life) with my maul and sledge over the last couple of years. I was actually getting to the point where I was starting to get picky about where the splits would land after whacking them off the round, always finding new challenges to add to the game.

I'm sure my skill has deteriorated in the year since I bought a hydro splitter, and knowing this I'm often filled with the urge to get out the maul and go at a few rounds. Unfortunately my schedule and my bad shoulder (which actually wasn't bad before I got back into wood heating...) usually keep those sessions with the maul very short.

spent the day out back Sat cutting up some of the many trees down from past winter storms. My son and I ran a load thru the splitter in just over an hour. My back is loving this thing more and more

Two modifications on the horizon, gonna modify it and put a lift kit on it, and make a new longer handle

I bought the HF 5-ton about 6 weeks ago. It was adequate for what I wanted to split but it suddenly developed an oil leak from the actuator lever. I got 1/2 cord split before it leaked. So now I'm waiting to see if my local HF gets one in with this weeks shipment. I got it for $209 + tax after using a 25% coupon. Thankfully, I'm within the 90 day warranty. If they offer me the extended warranty I may bite although an employee told me their warranties are only good if they're on the original receipt. They used to offer them up to 30 days after the sale, but I'm outside that anyway.

Before it failed it ran pretty well. I split some wet beach and ash up to 10" x 18" without any issues until I got to a crotch etc. Then it takes some extra planning. Having a small axe handy helped keep things moving. When it comes to larger rounds it helps to split it down a side or 2 first and then it has no problem splitting the rest down the middle. Before it started leaking I was actually considering making or buying a 4-way blade. My thinking was, once it starts to split it should have no problem starting 2 smaller splits if the blades are set back a little. Now I'm thinking maybe I don't want to try pushing it.

I too specifically chose the HF model over the other similar brands because of it's 1-handed operation. I don't like the idea of not having my hand on or guarding the log in case it starts to slip. The log shelves may seem light duty at first but I found them to be quite adequate for the size logs this is meant to handle. If you drop a huge log on it, and it bends, well then I guess you should be glad it saved your foot from getting the full force of something too big for it.

I think the speed it just fine for what it is. You're not going to break any records unless you consider how much weight is left in your wallet. I didn't see anything that came close to $209 new.

This little electric splitter makes me less weary about spending more money on a larger electric splitter next time (or this time if they offer a refund instead of replacement). I really wouldn't mind having a Ramsplitter HV16-4 converted to 220v. Then I wouldn't even have to lift the larger rounds off the ground.

I have split all my wood for the last 3 years with my 7 Ton, , HF 2 speed, going to put on a foot switch , for power button very soon

Well that 5 ton has some decent sized wings on it

HDRock said:

I have split all my wood for the last 3 years with my 7 Ton, , HF 2 speed, going to put on a foot switch , for power button very soon


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Just wanted to say 'cool'. Apparently, I've reached some sort of limit on likes? Odd, since I tend to be too antisocial to reach limits in those types of areas.

WriteNoob said:

Just wanted to say 'cool'. Apparently, I've reached some sort of limit on likes? Odd, since I tend to be too antisocial to reach limits in those types of areas.

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Yeah , I dislike the like limit thing
Came up with a very Simple solution for the momentary Splitter switch.

Pic 1, squeeze the trigger for clamp pressure twice, motor is on, runs continuous , Pic 2, squeeze the release lever once, motor is off , clamp stays put

HDRock said:

Yeah , I dislike the like limit thing
Came up with a very Simple solution for the Splitter switch.

Pic 1, squeeze the trigger for clamp pressure twice, motor is on, runs continuous , Pic 2, squeeze the release lever once, motor is off , clamp stays put

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I'm confused. My PowR'Kraft, which is very similar, has the green power button as well as a lever on the back end of the splitter. Moving the lever half way gives you half power, all the way gives you full power. The spring-loaded green button is either on or off. I'm not sure what you are referring to as the "trigger" and why pushing the green button twice does any more than turn the motor on and off twice. Are the two units that different?

Jags said:

There are a few variations of the same basic machine. Some have intermittent power switches that you have to hold down for the motor to run. Others are on/off switch. Yours is a one handed operation, the other style is a two handed operation (I would assume as a "safety" thing).

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Mine is two-handed. You must hold down the green button (which turns on the motor) with one hand and then, using your other hand, pull the lever on the back either half way or all the way to start the ram. Both are spring-loaded, so letting go of either stops the show. If I clamped my green button, then I'd have one hand free to hold the round, but I wouldn't want the motor running continuously, so I'd be clamping and unclamping the green button every split. Doesn't seem like much of a labor saver on mine, but maybe HDRock's is different.

In any event, I learned long ago that I'm way too stupid (inattentive?) to bypass safety devices. Sooner or later, I regret it if I do.

HDRock said:

Yeah , I dislike the like limit thing
Came up with a very Simple solution for the Splitter switch.

Pic 1, squeeze the trigger for clamp pressure twice, motor is on, runs continuous , Pic 2, squeeze the release lever once, motor is off , clamp stays put

Click to expand...

Well, that's one way to go. I like cheap/handy solutions.

DanCorcoran said:

I'm confused. My PowR'Kraft, which is very similar, has the green power button as well as a lever on the back end of the splitter. Moving the lever half way gives you half power, all the way gives you full power. The spring-loaded green button is either on or off. I'm not sure what you are referring to as the "trigger" and why pushing the green button twice does any more than turn the motor on and off twice. Are the two units that different?

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The trigger I am referring to is on the clamp, for clamping pressure

DanCorcoran said:

Mine is two-handed. You must hold down the green button (which turns on the motor) with one hand and then, using your other hand, pull the lever on the back either half way or all the way to start the ram. Both are spring-loaded, so letting go of either stops the show. If I clamped my green button, then I'd have one hand free to hold the round, but I wouldn't want the motor running continuously, so I'd be clamping and unclamping the green button every split. Doesn't seem like much of a labor saver on mine, but maybe HDRock's is different.

In any event, I learned long ago that I'm way too stupid (inattentive?) to bypass safety devices. Sooner or later, I regret it if I do.

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That momentary switch /button is just an added safety feature someone thinks I need.
The ram on mine will return with motor running.
I could tear it apart and replace the momentary switch With a regular on off switch But it wouldn't be snow and water resistant.
I could also wire it, always on, and plug the splitter into the 20 amp footswitch I have, but the clamp works, and oh so simple.

My lawn tractor had a safety switch that would not allow me to back up with the blades engaged.
First day, eliminated that

Jags said:

Ahhh - misunderstood. I was thinking yours had the on/off switch, not the momentary switch. Mine is of the one handed variety and I like it because it allows me to have a hand on the wood being split.

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Exactly what I'm talking about, a free hand to guide my wood

Jags, thanks for the review. Very helpful, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get one of these. Here's my question: I have some hickory, beach and fir to split. I'm pretty sure it will handle the fir no problem. I'm not confident it's going to handle the hickory. My maul just bounces off these rounds. What do you guys think? I gotta get this stuff spilt. I was going to rent a splitter, but if this HF splitter can handle it, I'd rather pay a little more and own a useful tool. What do you think? Thanks.

Thanks, Jags. I think I'll pull the trigger. If it sucks I'll send you some hate mail and negative feedback on your moderator status.

dafattkidd said:

Jags, thanks for the review. Very helpful, I'm pretty sure I'm going to get one of these. Here's my question: I have some hickory, beach and fir to split. I'm pretty sure it will handle the fir no problem. I'm not confident it's going to handle the hickory. My maul just bounces off these rounds. What do you guys think? I gotta get this stuff spilt. I was going to rent a splitter, but if this HF splitter can handle it, I'd rather pay a little more and own a useful tool. What do you think? Thanks.

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My 7 ton split the Hickory I had.
Having some kind of hydraulic splitter is much much better than having none

HDRock said:

Having some kind of hydraulic splitter is much much better than having none

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I'm starting to think that. Just got 1/2 cord of 18-24" hickory...12# maul and dirty, sludgy hydraulic oil in arms makes for slow going.