Well I wrestled over which splitter to buy for a couple of weeks now and today I finally picked one up. I ended up getting one from Northern Tool. The 5hp, 22 ton unit. I was originally looking at their 30 tonner, but the cycle time was slow (16 sec). So I bought its baby brother. They basically look identical with the exception of a smaller ram, and motor. Northern Tool has a special going on now. If you buy one of 3 certain splitters you get a free Husky 137 chain saw. Not a bad little saw, it retails for $189.00. Its a 16 inch bar with 2hp. If I signed up for a Northern credit card, and used it for the purchase, I could take an additional $50 off, plus no payments or interest for 12 months.
So with assembly required, they loaded it in the back of my truck with a forklift and I was off. It's listed weight is 550lbs. Luckily I have a bobcat, or I would have no idea how to get it out of my truck. I wrestled the splitter and pallet onto the bucket of the bobcat when I got home and started the assembly. For the most part, the instructions are clear and the assembly is fairly simple. The hardest part is getting the main splitter I-beam, with ram and assembly stood upright to bolt on to the trailer section. This I-beam section must weigh at least 300lbs. Again I used my bobcat to stand it upright. I dont know how someone could do this without at least 3 grown men. After I got it bolted on, the rest was going great. Only 2 steps to go. Screw on the hydro, filter and connect hoses. Where is the filter housing and filter?? Oh, $hit, it wasn't shipped with the unit.
I had about 10 minutes on install left and no way to finish with out the filter and housing. I called Northern Tool and talked to the salesman, and told him he better run one out to my house so I can finish. I told him to hurry because I was dying to play with my new toy. Of course, I knew he couldnt do this but it made me feel better saying it. He said the filter unit is attached to the tank from the factory, I assured him it wasnt and there was a plastic plug in its place. He said they close in 1 1/2 hours and if I wanted one I'd have to run in and get it. I said whats in it for me, if I do. I said I live 30 miles away, so its a 60 mile round trip. Plus 1 1/2 hours of my time for a part thats missing. He apologised and said his hands are tied. I wasnt going to let it end with that. I said let me talk to the manager. The manager said he would give me a $25 gift card for my trouble. I agreed. Of course, now the wife wants to run into town with me so I have to wait for her to get ready. So I figure I'll dump the Hydro fluid into the tank. I un-screw the filler cap and see something in the tank. I get a light and I see a bunch of paper, wrinkled up inside the hydro tank
What the hell is that I thought. I grabbed a little flexable grabber I have and fish some of the paper out. It was almost like a Chinese newspaper. A bunch of Chinese or Japanese symbols written all over it. Now I was really puzzled and frustrated. So instead of driving my car into town to get a filter, I had to take the truck and pull the splitter along to show the boys at Northern that some China-man ditched his newspaper in the tank after his lunch break. And to exchange for another splitter. When I finally got to the store I told the manager about the chinese newspaper. He said the splitters are American made, right here in Minnesota. "That would explain why all of the bolts are metric", I said. I fished out some of the paper for him and he was puzzled. I now said the ante, is a bit higher than the $25 dollar gift card. I claimed I now had to drive my truck into town instead of a car and my whole unit must be replaced! I told him I would settle for nothing less than the 4-way wedge wings. "We dont have any in stock", he said. Its no hurry, I said, you can have them shipped to my house. He said the best he can do is the $25 gift card. I said, I can always keep this unit, start it up back home and let the paper plug up all of the hydraulics. And then get a new one, but that would cost you guys money to service the machine in addition. He said I'm only a shift manager and I'll check with the store manager on the wedge wings. So wouldnt let him give me the $25 card, that way they still owe me something. I took home a new assembled unit, and they are suppose to get back to me tomorrow on the 4-way wings. Got home oiled it up and the honda started first pull. Split a few splits and put it in the shed, it was just about dark at that point. Overall, it seems like a good splitter and I will be happy with it. Its unfortunate, about the missing filter and crumpled up paper in the hydro tank. I dont like being a prick, but sometimes quality control just amazes me these days.
I attached a photo of my splitter along with my free husky saw. Hope it turns out it was pretty dark outside and its a inside photo.
So with assembly required, they loaded it in the back of my truck with a forklift and I was off. It's listed weight is 550lbs. Luckily I have a bobcat, or I would have no idea how to get it out of my truck. I wrestled the splitter and pallet onto the bucket of the bobcat when I got home and started the assembly. For the most part, the instructions are clear and the assembly is fairly simple. The hardest part is getting the main splitter I-beam, with ram and assembly stood upright to bolt on to the trailer section. This I-beam section must weigh at least 300lbs. Again I used my bobcat to stand it upright. I dont know how someone could do this without at least 3 grown men. After I got it bolted on, the rest was going great. Only 2 steps to go. Screw on the hydro, filter and connect hoses. Where is the filter housing and filter?? Oh, $hit, it wasn't shipped with the unit.
I had about 10 minutes on install left and no way to finish with out the filter and housing. I called Northern Tool and talked to the salesman, and told him he better run one out to my house so I can finish. I told him to hurry because I was dying to play with my new toy. Of course, I knew he couldnt do this but it made me feel better saying it. He said the filter unit is attached to the tank from the factory, I assured him it wasnt and there was a plastic plug in its place. He said they close in 1 1/2 hours and if I wanted one I'd have to run in and get it. I said whats in it for me, if I do. I said I live 30 miles away, so its a 60 mile round trip. Plus 1 1/2 hours of my time for a part thats missing. He apologised and said his hands are tied. I wasnt going to let it end with that. I said let me talk to the manager. The manager said he would give me a $25 gift card for my trouble. I agreed. Of course, now the wife wants to run into town with me so I have to wait for her to get ready. So I figure I'll dump the Hydro fluid into the tank. I un-screw the filler cap and see something in the tank. I get a light and I see a bunch of paper, wrinkled up inside the hydro tank
What the hell is that I thought. I grabbed a little flexable grabber I have and fish some of the paper out. It was almost like a Chinese newspaper. A bunch of Chinese or Japanese symbols written all over it. Now I was really puzzled and frustrated. So instead of driving my car into town to get a filter, I had to take the truck and pull the splitter along to show the boys at Northern that some China-man ditched his newspaper in the tank after his lunch break. And to exchange for another splitter. When I finally got to the store I told the manager about the chinese newspaper. He said the splitters are American made, right here in Minnesota. "That would explain why all of the bolts are metric", I said. I fished out some of the paper for him and he was puzzled. I now said the ante, is a bit higher than the $25 dollar gift card. I claimed I now had to drive my truck into town instead of a car and my whole unit must be replaced! I told him I would settle for nothing less than the 4-way wedge wings. "We dont have any in stock", he said. Its no hurry, I said, you can have them shipped to my house. He said the best he can do is the $25 gift card. I said, I can always keep this unit, start it up back home and let the paper plug up all of the hydraulics. And then get a new one, but that would cost you guys money to service the machine in addition. He said I'm only a shift manager and I'll check with the store manager on the wedge wings. So wouldnt let him give me the $25 card, that way they still owe me something. I took home a new assembled unit, and they are suppose to get back to me tomorrow on the 4-way wings. Got home oiled it up and the honda started first pull. Split a few splits and put it in the shed, it was just about dark at that point. Overall, it seems like a good splitter and I will be happy with it. Its unfortunate, about the missing filter and crumpled up paper in the hydro tank. I dont like being a prick, but sometimes quality control just amazes me these days.I attached a photo of my splitter along with my free husky saw. Hope it turns out it was pretty dark outside and its a inside photo.
![[Hearth.com] Finally bought a splitter, what a day!](/talk/data/attachments/4/4834-060abf8bcae9cf3dee8dfaa0c0e2bda8.jpg?hash=ATwZTb2YQw)
![[Hearth.com] Finally bought a splitter, what a day!](/talk/data/attachments/4/4855-b9f6c23d32e7978cbf47d6bb35c34788.jpg?hash=KVzclCpPr_)
![[Hearth.com] Finally bought a splitter, what a day!](/talk/data/attachments/4/4864-00ecc3ec1b50171151e3f8f679bef09b.jpg?hash=v4O6fDdJWN)
![[Hearth.com] Finally bought a splitter, what a day!](/talk/data/attachments/8/8003-f0d88c761bea652e3bfade38460173dc.jpg?hash=dKtxJwK2GX)
