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  1. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
    Tried finding some info on this old speeco splitter but I am coming up with nothing. Interested in finding out how many tons this thing is, I am guessing 10 tons? Couldn't find any numbers on it while searching it but I didn't look very hard either in the hot sun. Hoping someone can fill in some info on it.

    Attached Files:

    #1

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  2. Fifelaker Member

    joined: Oct 3, 2011
    179 posts
    NW Mi
    Surplus Center has a calculator on their site that will give you your tonnage. My guess is around 17 tons.
  3. triptester Member

    joined: Aug 25, 2006
    229 posts
    S.E.Wisconsin
    It says Speeco on the side but everthing but the cylinder says it is a Didier.
    For tonnage measure the outside diameter of the cylinder and subtract 1/2", this will give you the bore size.

    3" bore@3000 psi =10.6 tons
    3.5" bore@3000 psi = 14.4 yons
    4" bore @3000 psi = 18.8 tons
    3000 psi is considered the normal max. pressure for commonly used. splitter pumps
  4. nate379 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 21, 2010
    4,006 posts
    Palmer, Alaska
    That is similar to mine which is 7 tons. Mine isn't 10" off the ground though. Who the hell will use that, a midget?
  5. bogydave Minister of Fire

    joined: Dec 4, 2009
    7,769 posts
    So Cent ALASKA
    Not far to lift the rounds.
    Is it yours or are you shopping?
    If it splits & you like it, use knee pads & "get-r-done ":)
  6. MasterMech Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 2, 2011
    4,789 posts
    Hudson Valley NY
    Pretty common for old horizontal only splitters to be designed to sit low like that. Makes rolling the big 'uns on it much easier. Hard on the back tho as you can imagine.
  7. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
    Looking at buying it, figure if I can pick it up for 200-300 it is not a bad deal. It has been taken care of all its life so the age doesn't bother me, it fired up on 1st pull and cycled with no issues. The owner still burns in an old smoke dragon and I was surprised this thing would split some of the pieces he showed me which really had me wondering about its tonnage, being able to split large oak rounds is no small feat.

    Being low to the ground is a good thing, he will include a ramp for rolling large pieces up on the beam. Trust me if I had the money I would be buying a vertical.
  8. tomc585 New Member

    joined: Jul 3, 2012
    26 posts
    Long Island, New York
    The bore looks pretty small (3") so I'm guessing your looking at around 10 tons which would do fine for most rounds but may not be so rewarding when trying crotch wood.
  9. nate379 Minister of Fire

    joined: Sep 21, 2010
    4,006 posts
    Palmer, Alaska
    I think I'd rather lift the couple big ones then be bent over all day to split the other 99% of the wood!
  10. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
    This will be my first horizontal only splitter, all the other years I have begged/borrowed/rented a splitter they were all horizontal/vertical and 99% of the time I was splitting in vertical, just something about sitting on a 5 gal bucket with rounds all around you splitting away. I will miss that I am sure.
  11. MasterMech Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 2, 2011
    4,789 posts
    Hudson Valley NY
    Most likely won't be much different. The bucket will still be of use and wood will still be on the ground. May be reaching a bit more for the splits.
    Joful likes this.
  12. onetracker Minister of Fire

    joined: Aug 11, 2011
    593 posts
    rondout valley ny
    hey that's a cool little splitter. i would surely have bought something like that in the past if i only had a few bucks to spend. if height was the issue i'd just modify it. roll it up on truck ramps and chock it good. weld a foot on it. whatever it takes to get'r'done. use it for a few years while saving up for a bigger splitter and sell it for what you purchased it for.
  13. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
    Bought the splitter last night for $200. Didn't have time to test it out last night, hoping to give it a test on some good ol gum wood tonight and see how it does.
  14. weatherguy Minister of Fire

    joined: Feb 20, 2009
    2,716 posts
    Central Mass
    Good deal, Ive seen a couple of those around here going for $400-500, cant wait to see it split. My 12 ton handles everything I throw at it so that should do just as well.
  15. tomc585 New Member

    joined: Jul 3, 2012
    26 posts
    Long Island, New York
    Good deal even if it needs work. Whats the stroke on that thing? From the pictures it looks short (which cuts down on unattended cycle times)
  16. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,309 posts
    Northern Illinois
  17. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
    Splitter worked great even on knotty pieces. Question about the ram, it has black spots on it, looks like the silver coating is coming off, looks like spider webs. I can't post the pic of it from my phone but when I get to a computer later I will.
  18. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,309 posts
    Northern Illinois
    That is probably from the shaft coating cracking (I believe that it is often a chrome based coating) . The black that you see is actually corrosion. As long as it don't leak, don't sweat it. Long term it could become a problem, or at least eat up shaft seals at a greater than normal rate. Probably only last another 20 years. Always keep the ram in the retracted position for storage.
  19. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
    Picture attached of ram arm.

    Attached Files:

  20. bioman Burning Hunk

    joined: Dec 25, 2010
    195 posts
    mo
    fer 200 beans i'd runit till i thought it needs fixin. good buy very clean looking splitter!
  21. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,309 posts
    Northern Illinois
    Yep, that is what I am talking about. That is rust. Run it till she pukes. There ain't no fix except for replacement.
  22. mellow Minister of Fire

    joined: Jan 19, 2008
    1,756 posts
    Salisbury, MD
    Ok, didn't know if there was someway to strip off the old coating and redo it, I will have gotten my $200 worth out of it by the end of this weekend so everything past that is gravy.

    Starts on first pull and all the fluids are super clean. It has been sitting for the past 8 years in a guys garage that got a bigger splitter. Surprised the carbs are not clogged but then I thought about it, no ethanol in gas 8 years ago.
  23. Jags Super Moderator

    joined: Aug 2, 2006
    11,309 posts
    Northern Illinois
    Like I said - it will probably only last another 20 yrs or so.;)
  24. blades Minister of Fire

    joined: Nov 23, 2008
    870 posts
    WI, Milw
    Can that be fixed? yes, but the cost would exceed the price of a replacement.
  25. tomc585 New Member

    joined: Jul 3, 2012
    26 posts
    Long Island, New York
    Looks like the chrome finished tarnished which you could remove with a tarnish remover or polish. If its rough and has a texture feel it might be corrosion from neglect which will cause some wear on the seals and wipers and someday begin to leak.

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