That's ashamed that they would build a product that's having that many problems. In your communications with Arien's are they willing to do anything about the units problems? My brother has an Arien's rear tine tiller and has worn out at least one set of tines if not more. I see that Arien's is still an independent Co.: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ariens
Buying a splitter, quick Q before I pull the trigger.
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I'm not sure what, if anything, they're going to do. After writing the COO, I got a phone message from their Tech Service Manager, just checking to see if the splitter was working OK for me now. Since I'll be working multiple 12 hour shifts early this coming week, I decided to respond by mail. Letter is enroute to them when my postal carrier picks it up tomorrow morning.
Edit to add: Another one of the reasons I went with Ariens was that their 22 ton unit is only 38" wide. The DHT 22 ton is 46", and the CountyLine 22 ton is 50". The 38" width is very handy when I'm wanting to store both my John Deere riding lawnmower + the splitter in my outside storage shed.
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TreePointer
Minister of Fire
I see what you mean by having most everything together in the Ariens instructions. My TSC/Huskee splitter had much more assembly.
I just started a thread on a 20 ton that I rented for the weekend. Even after making the throttle adjustment to max., a 20 ton had difficulty with enough big rounds that would make me never get anything less than 27 ton. I guess if you are tossing Y's and gnarly stuff into the brush heap, you might never have a problem with 20 or 22 ton but there are enough people who have had problems to make me want to go larger.
I've always thought that everyone's 22 ton's splitters are made equally the same. Maybe the pumps are different or something? I could take a log and shear it sideways in my 22 ton splitter. Sounds like some splitters aren't made equally as strong.
TreePointer
Minister of Fire
Modern 22-ton splitters with two stage pumps should be able to get through most pieces. Sometimes you just have to reposition a really tough round and try again.
Some older machines may have a single stage pump that will not be as effective. Also I wouldn't be surprised if a rental machine had a tired hydraulic cylinder in need of a rebuild or used some old/contaminated hydraulic fluid. I once used an ugly looking 25-ton rental that was noticeably weaker than the 22-ton machines I've operated.
Some older machines may have a single stage pump that will not be as effective. Also I wouldn't be surprised if a rental machine had a tired hydraulic cylinder in need of a rebuild or used some old/contaminated hydraulic fluid. I once used an ugly looking 25-ton rental that was noticeably weaker than the 22-ton machines I've operated.
Jazzberry
Minister of Fire
My neighbors Speeco 22 ton is going on 8 years old now. His two sons used it selling firewood for several years. Lots and lots of wood been through it. Ive cut maybe 25 cords of black oak and cedar with mine. Only difference I see was his has a Briggs and mine has a Kohler. Never had a wish for more power not one time. Never. Thats the same advice my neighbor gave me when I asked him. In fact when I asked the TSC sales guy what about the bigger splitter he told me get the 22. He said I would be much happier with it. The very few complaints that I have heard here and elsewhere I really suspect the source is a little slanted for some reason or other.
My dad and I have been using a 25 ton MTD Yard Machine for 20 years now. It has easily seen 100 cords through it and other than replacing some bolts on the wedge carrier and an oil filter here and there, it has worked pretty good. Yes, there are a knotty piece here and there that it struggles with, but we easily go through 36" oak and locust without a problem. We have split oak up to 60" wide. I run a Stihl 261 with an 18" bar and a Stihl 660 with a 25" bar and the splitter has pretty much handled whatever we can throw at it.
With that said, I will probably end up buying a Rugged Split Type II in the next month or so. My cheap self is still trying to break down and spend the $3,000 while the MTD is still working just fine. Only thing really holding me back is the fact that I have some firearms expenses planned in the near future too and those will take precedence since the ATF is thinking about changing the NFA trust regulations. The main reason for the Rugged Split is the log lift on it. Yes, my dad and I can split 60" rounds on the MTD, but it is a heck of a lot of work putting that splitter in the vertical position and maneuvering the round under the splitting plate. Hoping that a log lift will make life much, much easier. Will still have the MTD for the small jobs.
http://www.ruggedmade.com/log-splitters.html
Not too sure about the Lifan engine, but I e-mailed Ruggedmade about the compatibility of a Honda engine with the splitter and the bolt pattern they sent me allows a Honda to be used at a later date should I wish to do so. I was going to build a splitter like the Type II, but just the components themselves would have cost me more than this splitter costs. Only other concern was that it would only take 11 gallons of hydraulic fluid and there is no external reservoir, but again the Ruggedmade rep assured me that the way the splitter is designed with baffles in the reservoir, it would work just fine. Plus, the MTD and other lower end splitters have the same type of axle reservoir.
I really wanted something like the Timberwolf TW-6, but at $10,000 for that splitter, that was just not an option for the 10 or so cords of wood a year my dad and I are processing nowadays. Only way I could justify the Timberwolf is if I started selling firewood for a living, and I do something else for a living that will not justify the sale of firewood for a living unless I wanted to go big time on firewood sales. Plus, if the Ruggedmade gives me any trouble, I will just use the beam and parts from it to build something like the TW-6 with an exterior 20+ gallon reservoir and an axle with a suspension on it.
Only real downside is that there aren't many reviews about the Ruggedmade. The ones I have found have mostly been positive, with one bad review in several places by the same person, regarding the Type I.
With that said, I will probably end up buying a Rugged Split Type II in the next month or so. My cheap self is still trying to break down and spend the $3,000 while the MTD is still working just fine. Only thing really holding me back is the fact that I have some firearms expenses planned in the near future too and those will take precedence since the ATF is thinking about changing the NFA trust regulations. The main reason for the Rugged Split is the log lift on it. Yes, my dad and I can split 60" rounds on the MTD, but it is a heck of a lot of work putting that splitter in the vertical position and maneuvering the round under the splitting plate. Hoping that a log lift will make life much, much easier. Will still have the MTD for the small jobs.
http://www.ruggedmade.com/log-splitters.html
Not too sure about the Lifan engine, but I e-mailed Ruggedmade about the compatibility of a Honda engine with the splitter and the bolt pattern they sent me allows a Honda to be used at a later date should I wish to do so. I was going to build a splitter like the Type II, but just the components themselves would have cost me more than this splitter costs. Only other concern was that it would only take 11 gallons of hydraulic fluid and there is no external reservoir, but again the Ruggedmade rep assured me that the way the splitter is designed with baffles in the reservoir, it would work just fine. Plus, the MTD and other lower end splitters have the same type of axle reservoir.
I really wanted something like the Timberwolf TW-6, but at $10,000 for that splitter, that was just not an option for the 10 or so cords of wood a year my dad and I are processing nowadays. Only way I could justify the Timberwolf is if I started selling firewood for a living, and I do something else for a living that will not justify the sale of firewood for a living unless I wanted to go big time on firewood sales. Plus, if the Ruggedmade gives me any trouble, I will just use the beam and parts from it to build something like the TW-6 with an exterior 20+ gallon reservoir and an axle with a suspension on it.
Only real downside is that there aren't many reviews about the Ruggedmade. The ones I have found have mostly been positive, with one bad review in several places by the same person, regarding the Type I.
Bad LP
Minister of Fire
The NFA trust issue is a non starter for the foreseeable future is what I'm hearing from my counsel who drafted mine. Are you silent, sbr or "other"?
I was in a local shop about a month ago and saw this TimberWolf, big drool factor. I think the price as it sat there was close to $9K. The cylinder rod diameter is huge on this sucker. It is heavy duty all the way around. If I were 20-30 years younger I might........
I am drafting it for several SBRs. Pretty much drafting it so I can own suppressors and machine guns too should I fancy them and the regs not change so I do not need to go through CLEO sign off and a cavity search. Crazy thing is I am an attorney with a couple FFL clients and while I do not think anything is going to happen anytime soon, I also live in Maryland and we suffer from battered gun owner syndrome. So, we always think the worst is coming down the pipeline. I would rather be safe than sorry. I want three SBRs at the moment, so I am going to make sure I have them and then I can breath a little. I still have a splitter that will get me through the next couple of months, or even years, so a new one can wait a couple months.
20 to 30 years ago, I didn't need a log lift and I could work a lot quicker. Now, I need a log lift and something that can get the job done faster. My heart and man card really want the TW-6, but my head and wallet are voting for the Ruggedmade Type II. Only way I could justify the TW-6 is if I was going to sell firewood, and even then the Ruggedmade Type II would probably work for as much as I would be processing/selling. Practicing law nowadays is taking up almost all my spare time, but I still like to get out in the woods and make firewood with my dad, brothers, and kids.
Cycle time is VASTLY overrated. A second or two is a "mine is bigger than yours" kind of thing that really doesn't make a difference in the real world.
- Go big. I know, I know, everybody's 22 ton splits anything you can burn. I've heard it a thousand times. I strongly suspect those folks just haven't tackled anything really tough. I've had rounds and crotches that have stopped my 35 ton, and it's a REAL 35 tone. Speeco runs their splitters at 3500 psi. Most run 2000-2500, but rate them at 3500.
- I've looked at the DHT in the stores, and I like the way they've copied the Speeco design. That built in log cradle is very nice. No balancing a round on a flat beam!
- I'm a little leery of the thickness of the footplate. I've bent mine (replaced under warranty), and it's thicker than the DHT.
- 36" rounds? You need the ability to go vertical. Period. Unless you get a log lift that can handle that size, and even then, it will be very tough to handle it while you're splitting.
- Along with whatever splitter you get, get one of these. I love this monster!
I'm not surprised. I'm pretty sure the folks who say that 22 tons can't be stopped just aren't splitting any tough, big wood.
Now them's be fightin' words. I'm one of those people with a 22 ton splitter. I've split every type of wood Michigan has to offer. I've split rounds up to 4 feet in diameter. What do you suggest I split that is in the category of "tough, big wood?" I've split probably 30 full cord with it in the few years I've had it.
Jazzberry
Minister of Fire
They are trying to justify why they bought a splitter that don't work as well and cost twice as much instead of paying attention to everyones advice regarding the Speeco 22 ton. lol Everyone must be wrong.
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2broke2ride
Burning Hunk
Another 22 ton speeco owner, haven't stopped it yet, just finished up some 20" elm and was doing 30" red oak in the spring with it.
I pulled the trigger on a DHT 35T unit. I really like the 28, and the 35 is only $100 more, and 2 seconds slower cycle time. The 35 also has an inch taller wedge and foot plate. I also ordered a DHT 4 way. I'll be dragging it around behind a quad, so weight isn't as much of an issue.
Should be here on the 23rd.
Should be here on the 23rd.
whatsgnu
Member
DodgyNomad
Minister of Fire
I can't speak for other 22 ton brands, but my Speeco has seen some serious serious wood. Oak and hickory up to 40" when vertical. I have never found a piece it couldn't get through, and mostly with ease. I too had myself talked into a bigger unit, but the guy at TSC was older and very experienced, and he shared several stories with me and steered me back to the 22 ton. Now at about 100 cords total through it after this season, and couldn't be happier, as I still consider mine better than new.
UPDATE re: the continuing series of problems I've had with my Ariens splitter.....after sending a letter to their Technical Service Manager on 11/1/15, Ariens' response has been.....drum roll, please....
NOTHING.
This is interesting, since the closing lines of my letter said:
"The purpose of this letter isn’t just to grumble & complain to Ariens for the sake of grumbling. I WANT Ariens to make a great product so that it delights its customers and continues to grow as a company. As a customer, I want to be proud of my Ariens products and be able to brag about them to my friends.
Please help me be able to brag about the quality and durability of my Ariens log splitter."
I'm sad to say that for those considering an Ariens log splitter, I'd recommend that you look elsewhere.
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