Fix old splitter or buy new???

[michaelthomas]

I have a monster homemade splitter that is need of updating. It has an 8 hp intek engine and is belt driven to a single vane vickers pump that is starting to whine. The detent valve no longer releases at the end and requires you to be all the way out or all the way in or it kills the engine. The intek has vibrated it's muffler off and bolts are constantly comeing loose with the vibration from the engine and belt system. The beam is perfect, the wedge is great, the wood catching deck is ideal, it is the perfect height to stand and work all day, it has a 9 gallon hydraulic flud tank and is built on a cut down mobile home trailer axle, the cylinder is a 36"x 4" with a 1 1"2 bore with no leaks.
The splitter is a beast and when it is working it works well... it just seems that for every 4 hours I am working with it, it requires 45 minutes to work on it. If I am going to update it I would need to get rid of the belt system and go with a 2 stage pump direct drive system, this would require me to buy all new hydraulic hoses as it would change the location and the intake and output from the pump is 2" hose. I would need to buy an antivibration mat to mount under the engine, and buy a new detent valve. I figure all said and done I am looking at about $500 to do it right.
Splitters are in demand here in maine and I am pretty sure I could get $600 for the splitter as it sits. That being said...I sell it for $600 and take the $500 I would have put into it and get a new one for $400 more (around $1500). Basically I just want to go out, start it, work for as long as I WANT too not how long IT wants too, maintain it and have it just keep working. Could I expect that from a new splitter or are they prone to requiring tinkering? What do you think?

 

[wingsfan]

A new 22 ton spliter cost about 1200 at the local farm and fleet store . I guess you have to decide what is best for you.

 

[akhilljack]

tractor supply has everything you could ever need to make one from scratch cheap. certainly you could fix it. i wish someone had a broken splitter around here i could get for a steal. they are almost 1700 for anything up here in alaska. fix it. it might be less than you thought.

 

[savageactor7]

Sounds to me like you feel pretty comfortable with that splitter. Yeah...go ahead and repair it, there is nothing wrong into putting good money into an old splitter.

 

[fyrwoodguy]

sounds like you know what your doing......i say repair the old girl you like her!....and you know what you got.

 

[NoPaint]

I say go with a new one and keep the current one. Then you have two good running splitters....awesome.

 

[rayburn]

I bouht a brave splitter built new in 92 from a co-worker that was not running for $100.00. I spent about $600.00 to rebuild it put a new briggs engine and a new hydraulic cylinder on it, and been very happy with the results.I say rebuild!

 

[kevin j]

do you need the 36 stroke cylinder? If so, you need to rebuild as i don't think you will find a consumer model with long stroke.
If not. tougher call.

Fix up projects take twice what you thought it would cost, but if you have a heavier base to start with and think it will be stronger in the long run, I'd fix it up.

 

[Cowboy Billy]

I agree with Kevin fix it projects end up costing more than expected. But if you are otherwise happy with your splitter I would rebuild it. I have can't wait to build my own splitter just the way I want. I am also going with a diesel engine. My brother found has a 10 hp diesel with counter shaft so it is extremely smooth and quieter than a gas engine with more torque to keep that pump turning.

Billy

 

[Jamess67]

I rebuilt.. you should too. jmho
https://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/33201/