Splitter Mechanical Question

I have an 8-ton Brave EZ Split log splitter. It is a smaller horizontal type. It had a 3.5 HP Briggs & Stratton. I split many cord with this little splitter. The motor finally gave out - immediate loss of power sputtering (ring/piston bad).

Anyways, I had the choice of replacing the motor with a new mostly identical 3.5 HP briggs or having the 6.5 HP predator (Harbor Freight) bolted on. I am going with the bigger 6.5 HP motor (almost a bolt on - new base plate holes and gas tank needed raising). The 6.5 HP vs a 3.5 HP motor on the same platform means what exactly?

The cycle time will be identical? The only difference is that the bigger motor will have more force thus being able to split wood that the 3.5 HP had trouble with? Obviously the bigger motor will use more gas.

D9H, I don't know what kind of rock it is - but it is dense. It is from this area (Southern Idaho). I've got the thin flag stone (pictured). And I obtained some chunks that I am going to use around the edges on the masonry heater I'm building. I also found some petrified wood rock that I'll also use around the edges/above firebox. Idaho (the gem state) is a great place for a rock hound. I see you are from Colorado.

greg13, a relief valve is designed such that the pressure in the hydraulic lines only can go so far and than it kicks in lessening the force? So the greater push that the bigger engine is making could be negated? I'll try splitting with it in the spring and if it isn't splitting any better I guess I will need to replace the relief valve to a valve that will not do its relief thing until a higher force is reached. Thanks for the info.

ill_make_you_famous said:

And I'd guess the cycle time to be the same as advertised, 18 seconds I beleiv? Only thing I have failed to split was a big crotch price of oak, but did split around it and broke the round down. I love the little workhorse

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Thanks that gives me hope. My EZ split with the 3.5 HP couldn't split some dry knotty ash. I tried several times but the wood won each time. And, I had some dry red elm that it could split. Where I live I have to drive to get firewood. I want to roll this little splitter to the big/medium rounds, and split them into halves/quarters. This could save a lot of heavy lifting/rolling. It should be a handy portable splitter.

ill_make_you_famous said:

I guess I'm ignorant of this subject. I thought the both run at 3000 rpm so there wouldn't be an issue since I'm not messing with anything else, no? Wonder if it'd be more safe to run it at 3/4 throttle with the 6.5

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You say your 6.5HP engine on the EZ Split didn't split a big oak crotch. That was a good test - nothing stopped working. That would be good enough for me. Running it at lower idle may be something I do.