Harbor Freight 7-ton Splitter Video/Review

Just measured the HF splitter on my bathroom scale: 154.6 lbs.

That's not too bad at all. One person can load it in and out of the truck without too much trouble.

My splitter is about 300lbs and I get it on my trailer myself... and I've got 3 bad discs in my back.

I have the Task Force 5 ton splitter from Lowe's, One thing I noticed when you were getting into some hard to split wood the splitter did not release the ram by itself. Looks like it kept trying to split. If I get into a hard piece the ram will auto release and I need to so start over. Is that just a diffrence between the two? Also have found if the front wedge end is up just a little it works better. I use mine on the ground and can push the handle with my knee and then push the button with hand. Also found DO NOT stand in front of it. Was splitting some Ash and it was working hard when it shot the splits right out the front. Sure hurts the knees of who ever is helping.
Don

I used one for a while, I pulled out the hand switch and changed to a foot switch.

As long as your hand is on the handle advancing the sled, the HF splitter will keep charging forward and then eventually throw a circuit breaker if it gets a piece that is too touch. It will only pull back when you take your hand off.

"...and then eventually throw a circuit breaker"...or blow a seal. The instructions say not to let it stall for more than 5 seconds. I don't wait that long, I just back off and give it another shot.

That is excellent advice!

Well yeah, if u just let it sit there u're looking for trouble, but no, it does not auto return.

If yours does NOT auto return , something is wrong cuz, mine does ,and it should.
YA if it doesn't start to split don't wait, let off n reposition the wood

Why is your's right and mine wrong? Haha.

It only returns the piston when you let go of the handle. Even if you let go of the safety button, thus turning off the electric motor, but still have the handle engaged, it will hold the piston right there. Works for me.

I Misunderstood , I thought you let go of handle and it did not return
I guess I'm reading to fast

The size of the tires are a plus for the HF splitter,they roll over all the bark and little chunks laying around in my splitting area

Thanks for the coupon. I copied it and drove a hour to buy the 7 ton splitter. I bought the extra1 year warranty for $49. Dam thing is heavy.

That's GREAT man, I'm really glad someone used it.
Dam thing is heavy I just drove around to the back yard, pulled it onto the back deck , and put it together right there ,rolled it off to the wood n fired it up.
As a mater if fact ,Split some with mine today.
Don't forget to open the bleed valve to run it

I need a little help. I have one of these, and have used it, but not much (about 9 months old), and the other day I had a log that it couldn't split, and it ran about 3-5 seconds, and then stopped. It blew a fuse. The piston retracted all the way. I reset the fuse. Then I tried to get it to go, and it makes the noise like it should be doing something, but nothing happens for about 3 seconds, then the fuse blows again. Help please? I'm sure there's a dial (or did someone say "seal"? Where? How please?)...

Thanks,

Sam

U did have the bleed screw open right ?
Did U try pushing the button and letting the motor run for a bit, with out cycling it??
Did U push the lever half way down or all the way ??

You should post a new thread,more people will look at it, title something like, Help splitter ram won't move

Any idea what amps it draws? HF is not real good about giving basic info like that.

Startup surge must be more, no? I'll have to see if my Harbor Freight 2 stroke generator can run my Harbor Freight electric splitter. I know it doesn't run my electric saw.

Wow, I can't believe it's been 6.5 years ago:
http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/harbor-freight-electric-splitter-item-93815-0vga.3157/#post-3157

I guess HF never figured that someone might want to run one of them loaded.

Has anyone measured the full load amps on one of these, or run one off an inverter or smallish generator?

Oh, hey, I just found the numbers in Velvetfoot's 2006 screed - 17 amps startup and 11 full load.