Let's hear about your log splitter

[bhd21478]

I have a 27 ton Troy built with a honda motor.It starts first or second pull every time.It also uses very little gas.What makes it a great splitter is that it's my father in laws who just put in a geothermal system,so it's free to use.It a good one and reasonably priced.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

I bought a four foot old American on CL. great buy put a four-way on it no problems! used high end splitter is what I went for. I picked up a new old stock 19hp kohler for backup just in case. easy to move by hand and affordable. cycle time is fast if I return it too far I just throw 2-3 pieces on depending on length.

 

[scooby074]

Splitter... .

I prefer my processor.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

(broken link removed to http://nwct.craigslist.org/for/4702836736.html)

good deal for this one. little far from Illinois

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Splitter... .
I prefer my processor.

Your pic did not come through?

 

[scooby074]

Your pic did not come through?

Maybe refresh the page? It shows on mine.

 

[NE WOOD BURNER]

Maybe refresh the page? It shows on mine

Got it now! That looks interesting.
I love the Irony: processor dumping into a manual wheelbarrow!

 

[fossil]

My splitters. Not shown is a little electric on a stand I use inside my shop during burning season for re-splitting stuff that comes out of the shed bigger than the shop stove likes to eat. It takes smaller bites than the big Lopi in the house. Rick

 

[Kool_hand_Looke]

I also have a Huskee 35-ton splitter (2009 build), and it has never given me issues.

I agree--it is on the heavy side to move by hand. There are better balanced splitters (less tongue weight) that are easier to move than mine. All the I&O machines I've used excel in this aspect.

Sometimes I wish its 15s cycle time were faster. If I were purchasing a splitter of this type, I'd go for the DHT 28-ton splitter with its 11 second cycle time or one of the I&O fast cycle splitters.

In the 35-ton splitter's favor, its very rare that a log will cause the pump to jump into its slower second stage, so I do save time that way.

As far as cycle time goes, I've been tempted to get a Super Split. The idea of keeping the 35-ton hydraulic splitter for the big nasties is tempting, but I'm thinking I'll make the decision on whether to keep it after using the SS for a while. Why have all that $$ tied up in splitters when I can blow it on more chainsaws and beer?

Do you have an I&O splitter?

 

[TreePointer]

Do you have an I&O splitter?

No. My current splitter is the Huskee 35-ton model. Three local (not Home Depot, etc.) equipment rental places around me have them available, and I've used them in the past. They are quality machines.

 

[Kool_hand_Looke]

I called around to I&O dealers. They didn't even know if they were dealers anymore since they haven't had any shipments in. Heard this from 2 different ones. One told me that I&O was bought out. So I called I&O and politely asked what the deal was. He didt hide anything. Admitted they were bought bought. Didn't hide from the Skepticism floating around since they'd been bought out. He put it simply that, I'm not going to find a dealer with them on hand. That best thing to do is rent one. Then call them up if I'm satisfied and go from there. He said I&O now wasn't going to compromise quality. Lastly he explained that if anything, it's harder to get hands on one because they've gotten stricter with quality and who can and can't sell. Regardless, "Bill" wasn't hiding that I&O was bought. And he wasn't hiding that I&O had questions surrounding it. I was pretty impressed. Now I just need to find a rental company that has one to try.

 

[Kool_hand_Looke]

No. My current splitter is the Huskee 35-ton model. Three local (not Home Depot, etc.) equipment rental places around me have them available, and I've used them in the past. They are quality machines.

That Huskee is just too much. Its not bad, aside from the coughing and sputtering Techumseh. My FIL gave it to me. My BIL used it with FIL. When I got it, it didn't run. So I put $200 in it. Now, BIL has darkened my doorstep and apparently thinks it's "his" to come grab at anytime. So, long story short...I'm done with it.

 

[nmcqueen469]

I'm heavily considering this one:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_594051-74081-101507_?productId=50223053

Seems highly regarded, price dependent, by most on Arboristsite. Once I get my hands on a 10% off coupon, it sweetens the deal even more.

 

[TreePointer]

Interesting. I hadn't heard anything regarding I&O being acquired, but a quick check on the I&O and Brave websites shows their not being headquartered in Illinois anymore. They are listed under Great Northern Equipment in Rogers, MN. I hope the quality level is kept.

Considering the success of SpeeCo splitters in big box stores, online retailers, Home Depot rental centers, and local rental centers, I'm not surprised that the more expensive USA made I&O is a target for merger/acquisition.

FYI, Blount, Inc, is the parent company for Oregon, SpeeCo, Huskee, and other rebadged splitters like Bad Boy and CountyLine. I never confirmed a connection, but the DHT splitter design also has a lot in common with SpeeCo/Huskee and they're also in Colorado and are located only 20 miles apart.

 

[TreePointer]

That Huskee is just too much. Its not bad, aside from the coughing and sputtering Techumseh. My FIL gave it to me. My BIL used it with FIL. When I got it, it didn't run. So I put $200 in it. Now, BIL has darkened my doorstep and apparently thinks it's "his" to come grab at anytime. So, long story short...I'm done with it.

LOL, I quit buying equipment with Tecumseh engines a long time ago. My Huskee came with a good B&S engine that, although being a little louder than a comparable Honda, has never given me trouble.

 

[Kool_hand_Looke]

LOL, I quit buying equipment with Tecumseh engines a long time ago. My Huskee came with a good B&S engine that, although being a little louder than a comparable Honda, has never given me trouble.

It was gifted to me. I wouldn't buy anything with a Techumseh.

 

[mustash29]

I've always had B&S motors on all my small stuff, basically never had an issue.

My MTD snowblower, 8 hp 26" has the Techumseh. Granted it only gets used a few months of the year, but it also has never had an issue. I drain the fuel, run the carb dry & put a dribble of 10w-30 in the plug hole each spring. Next winter a fresh drink of 87 octane and it fires on the 1st or 2nd pull, smokes like crazy for a bit due to the oil burning off.

Funniest thing, a few springs ago I did the storage maintenance. The motor was still pretty warm from running the carb dry. I did the oil thing, left the plug wire off & rolled it over to distribute the oil. The darn thing began dieseling on me, sounded like a 15 hp for those few seconds, LOL.

 

[Kool_hand_Looke]

I'm heavily considering this one:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_594051-74081-101507_?productId=50223053

Seems highly regarded, price dependent, by most on Arboristsite. Once I get my hands on a 10% off coupon, it sweetens the deal even more.

Looks like a legitimate splitter. 10 second full stroke cycle. That's better than the Ariens 22 ton.

 

[TreePointer]

Based on specs and firewood forum reviews, I'd be happy to own that DHT 22-ton.

 

[duramaxman05]

I have a 27 ton troy bilt and have had good luck with it so far. My only complaint is its a little slow. We also have a old 2 way splitter that used to run off a tractor pto. We just finished putting a gas motor on it to run the pump. Also has an axle and hitch so we can pull it around with the 4wheeler or truck and use the tractor to load blocks. You can sure get some wood split with that thing with it splitting both ways. I will try to get some pictures of on here to show you guys

 

[osagebow]

Love the huskee 22. can drag it around by hand a bit, and goes vertical. that was the reason I didn't get the powerhorse. ( I had to do a lot of 25" or so oak in the woods).
I don't mind lifting 18" or so rounds, and would have gone with the bi-directional if i had mostly smaller trees on hand, i'm sure it out splits mine with them.

What kinda stuff do you get most of the time? There's the rub.

 

[DickRussell]

I bought TSC's "CountyLine" (aka Huskee/SpeeCo) 22-ton six days ago. It sure rattles a lot while being trailered over secondary roads. Fortunately most of my trailering will be about 200 feet at a time. I need to do the five-hour oil change now. I find I run it in the vertical position, for now anyway, as most of my rounds are rather large and heavy maple, and which I'm glad I don't have to split by hand. On the first bite into a round, the thing sounds like it can't split the round for just an instant, then there's a great croaking/cracking sound as the split goes across the piece. This splitter is all I need, as my burn rate isn't even two cords a year.

At first I thought that for storage in the garage I would put the beam vertical, push it up against the wall, and unbolt the tongue assembly, which would give me just a 40" projection out from the wall. But I find that it goes the other way into a corner, and the usual assortment of light garage-stored stuff packs around it conveniently. Moving it within the garage is easy enough, although once I put the beam vertical I find I have to retract the support leg into the tongue so as to lower the hitch nearly t the floor so as to get the end plate of the beam enough off the floor that I can maneuver it into the corner. Awkward, but how many times a year will I have to do that anyway? Overall, I like it; nice toy.

 

[Kool_hand_Looke]

I'm heavily considering this one:

http://www.lowes.com/pd_594051-74081-101507_?productId=50223053

Seems highly regarded, price dependent, by most on Arboristsite. Once I get my hands on a 10% off coupon, it sweetens the deal even more.

I went to Lowes and looked at one. It's a little shoddy. IMO. There was a lot of slop and slap where the ram connects to the flange on the beam. I can just see the wedge binding in the races that it glides in and snapping something not fun. Needless to say, I'm not buying this.

 

[TreePointer]

I went to Lowes and looked at one. It's a little shoddy. IMO. There was a lot of slop and slap where the ram connects to the flange on the beam. I can just see the wedge binding in the races that it glides in and snapping something not fun. Needless to say, I'm not buying this.

I thought the same thing when I first saw that design on SpeeCo/Huskee splitters years ago. It actually works very well and doesn't bind, in my experience.

I don't know if Lowes will give a demonstration with actual rounds to split, but TSC will.

 

[lindnova]

I have a Huskee 22 ton works well for me. The Dirty Hand Tools splitters are looking good too and a little more hydraulic flow and speed.

I agree the cylinder moves some and wood can get pinched under the wedge, but not a big deal. The thing has been through a lot in a year and is still just like new.