Opinions on Huskee Splitters at Tractor Supply Co.

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That is the current model of the MTD splitter that I bought in 1987 for $800 and it has been doing a great job every since then. Splits anything I can manage to man handle up to it and parts are readily available at any MTD authorized repair shop.

TS including the hydraulic fluid is a bonus. The splitter holds quite a few bucks worth of fluid.
 
I've compared these to the MTD's and they seem much more rugged in both construction and components. Plus, the Tractor Supply one come with a Briggs instead of a Techumseh on the MTD models.
 
jmurray04 said:
I've compared these to the MTD's and they seem much more rugged in both construction and components. Plus, the Tractor Supply one come with a Briggs instead of a Techumseh on the MTD models.

Not a salesman for MTD, who makes both of them anyway, just relating my experience with my splitter.

Of course I would never run from a Techumseh engine. I would run toward one. Especially the thirty year old one on my generator that has been rode hard many a day and never missed a beat.

Ya gotta shop and buy the one you are most comfortable with purchasing.
 
That (tractor supply) looks like a nice unit. I paid $899 for my 8 hp Briggs/24 ton unit from Harbor Freight. (Item #41912-0VGA) So, $899 + $48 to ship it to me, I had to buy my own oil/fluid ($30 for a 5 gallon bucket). I have almost a grand into it. My 8 hp Briggs runs along all day at about 1/2 throttle & it's powered thru some knotty crap. I'd imagine the TSC unit's 6.5 hp motor would do just fine!

Hey....I just checked with Harbor Freight.....The price is up $100 to $999!!!!! Good thing I didn't order it 3 weeks ago, I saved $100!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I've had my Huskee for 2 years (11hp Briggs/35 ton). Split at least 6 cords with it without any problems. I like the "built-in log cradle" it helps keep the log on the beam without your hands on it. I wish the "foot" was about an inch taller though.
 
wvstriper said:
I've had my Huskee for 2 years (11hp Briggs/35 ton). Split at least 6 cords with it without any problems. I like the "built-in log cradle" it helps keep the log on the beam without your hands on it. I wish the "foot" was about an inch taller though.

That would be the "Super Huskee"....Holy crap; 11 horse, 35 ton
 
MuckSavage said:
wvstriper said:
I've had my Huskee for 2 years (11hp Briggs/35 ton). Split at least 6 cords with it without any problems. I like the "built-in log cradle" it helps keep the log on the beam without your hands on it. I wish the "foot" was about an inch taller though.

That would be the "Super Huskee"....Holy crap; 11 horse, 35 ton

Yeh, probably overkill. I used to borrow a small 12ton splitter that had trouble on some rounds, especially elm! So, when I bought my own I didn't want any regrets. It is fun to see the looks on my friends' faces when I split 8" oak rounds....cross-grain. :coolsmile:
 
Thanks for the replies. I've decided to go with the Huskee. I'll post again after I buy it and report on how it works. The welds are much better than the MTD models at Sam's club and the big box home centers. There is actually an I beam on this one. Not a bunch of metal spot welded together to look like a beam. I also like the fact that there are no bolts in the ram area of the guide like many of the MTD's have. For $999 IMO it's hard to beat.
 

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wvstriper said:
I've had my Huskee for 2 years (11hp Briggs/35 ton). Split at least 6 cords with it without any problems. I like the "built-in log cradle" it helps keep the log on the beam without your hands on it. I wish the "foot" was about an inch taller though.

I have this same unit, except they must have upgraded the motor at some point since mine is a 12HP Briggs engine.

In addition to what you've listed, another plus is the vertical splitting ability. I have used this a few times to split some monster logs.

I agree also about the foot being taller, as well as I wish the wedge was higher. Both could theoretically be made larger by anybody with welding experience.

All in all this unit is great. It is amazing the wood this thing has powered through. It has never choked, not once. Once in a while a really gnarly, knotty log will give it a run, but it just keeps "creeping" into the wood until the inevitable crack happens.

I'd buy it again.
 
TheFlame said:
wvstriper said:
I've had my Huskee for 2 years (11hp Briggs/35 ton). Split at least 6 cords with it without any problems. I like the "built-in log cradle" it helps keep the log on the beam without your hands on it. I wish the "foot" was about an inch taller though.

I have this same unit, except they must have upgraded the motor at some point since mine is a 12HP Briggs engine.

In addition to what you've listed, another plus is the vertical splitting ability. I have used this a few times to split some monster logs.

I agree also about the foot being taller, as well as I wish the wedge was higher. Both could theoretically be made larger by anybody with welding experience.

All in all this unit is great. It is amazing the wood this thing has powered through. It has never choked, not once. Once in a while a really gnarly, knotty log will give it a run, but it just keeps "creeping" into the wood until the inevitable crack happens.

I'd buy it again.

They upgraded to the 12hp the year after mine. :shut: I don'tg know about you, but when that thing is working on a really tough log I stand back as far as I can!
 
I am currently loking into the 35 ton Huskee through tractor supply. The unit has a 12 HP Briggs. Is this an INTEK OHV engine?
In some of the posts there were some commmnets about the wedge size, ow big is the wedge? Can it be chnged to a large wedge?

I have looked at other units (brave, american, ramsplitter) Overall this uit seems to be good very good value and if not equal to but better built and with a larger engine, cylinder, and pump than some of these same units. What do you think?
 
I bought the 22 ton and truthfully it went through everything I threw at it, even really knotty hard maple. To me the 35 ton would be overkill. The 6.5 hourse Briggs never bogged at the lowest idle and it split faster than I could feed and throw. I am very pleased with this model and would recommend it to anyone looking for a splitter under $1k.
 
Corie said:
Kohler > Tecumseh > Briggs

In my humble opinion of course :)

Whoa Corie, no Honda?!! I'd put that in first place.
 
Massey1250 said:
I am currently loking into the 35 ton Huskee through tractor supply. The unit has a 12 HP Briggs. Is this an INTEK OHV engine?
In some of the posts there were some commmnets about the wedge size, ow big is the wedge? Can it be chnged to a large wedge?

I have looked at other units (brave, american, ramsplitter) Overall this uit seems to be good very good value and if not equal to but better built and with a larger engine, cylinder, and pump than some of these same units. What do you think?

Mine has a 12HP Briggs I/C (Industrial/Commercial) engine.

The only time the wedge is not big enough for me is if I try and split wood that is bigger then 12" in diameter, and is of a species that does not split cleanly (elm, sycamore). In those cases I have to run the log through, back out, rotate the log 180 degrees and go through the other side to split it completely. I've split 22" diameter oak logs where I had no problem with the log cracking through completely on the first pass. It's only the big stringy stuff that makes me wish sometimes that the wedge was higher.
 
I know that it has been awhile, but how did the huskee splitter owrk out..I am currently in the position of either purchasing a Yard machine 27 ton or the Huskee 27 ton and would love some feedback..I like the Honda engine
 
I believe it is black..difference??
 
Adirondackwoodburner said:
I believe it is black..difference??

I wouldnt do back flips over the black Honda engine and it selling point is not what the red engine is. I was reading on another site something to the effect that the black engine was now being made in China.

Your going to be just as well of , or better off with a Briggs & Stratton IC engine if its just the Honda black home owner model.

Another great option and getting great reviews is the north star splitter from northern tools.

I have the Swisher brand splitter with the Briggs IC engine and i couldn't be happier.

Look up splitter in the gear section for some other models to look at.

Arborist site in the firewood / home heating section there are a lot of owners of gas splitter and good reviews. Just not that many gas splitter owners here on the Hearth forum for some reason.

Here is the Arborist site link. http://www.arboristsite.com/forumdisplay.php?f=55
 
The black Hondas are their bottom line GC series. The red are their better line GX series. Their horizontal shaft models are also better than the verticle shaft models.
 
why cant things jsut be easy............
 
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