New Huskee 22 Ton Cycle Time?

[James04]

I recently purchased one of the new Huskee 22 ton splitters with the Kohler engine. It is advertised to have the same 13 second cycle time as the old Briggs model. However mine has a cycle time of 19 seconds. Well I took it back to my local TSC today because the pump has a considerable whine to it. They had a new one that was just put together yesterday. Well that one had an 18 second cycle time after considerable warm up. I am wondering if they may have changed something that has lengthened the cycle time. We checked one of the 35 ton units and it had a 15 second cycle time from a dead cold start. So I am sure it would have made the 13 seconds after a little warm up.

Has anyone else purchased one of the new models and timed it? What about the Briggs version? Where they achieving the advertised 13 seconds? I am kind of pissed about this. Since I cancelled a Sears 27 ton that I only paid $950 for after the sale price and coupons. Thinking that I would rather have the 13 second cycle time rather than the 27 ton with the 19 second cycle time. So what is the deal? Are the advertised times bogus? Or did they change something in the new model that makes it slower?

 

[BrotherBart]

Your life is wasted and ruined now. Time stolen that you will never get back.

Are you freakin serious? Three seconds a split? Buy a maul.

 

[triptester]

The engine itself does not determine cycle times. Cycle times are determined by cylinder bore size, pump gpm, and rpm. A 35 ton model will have a 5" bore cylinder but the less expensive ones will be equipped with a 11 gpm pump and a smaller engine. These units will be powerful but painfully slow. More expensive 35 ton models with a 16 gpm pump and a bigger engine will be faster. The 27 ton models have a 4.5" bore also are built with 2 different pump and engine combinations.
Advertized cycle times are for a no load condition, in actual use they are usually slower.

Here are calulated cycle times under optimum conditions with different bore and pump combinations.
All with 2" rod and 24" stroke at 3600 rpms. A smaller rod will increase cycle times slightly.
4" bore-11 gpm pump=12.3 sec.
4.5"bore-11 gpm pump=16.2 sec.
5"bore-11 gpm pump=20.1 sec.

4"bore-16 gpm pump=8.6 sec
4.5"bore-16 gpm pump=11.2 sec.
5"bore-16 gpm pump=14.2 sec.

 

[Bigg_Redd]

Are the advertised times bogus?

They very likely are, but I bet they're still faster that your axe

 

[Creekheat]

I bought a Huskee 22 ton three weeks ago. It has the Kohler engine. I have never timed it but I love the splitter. I mean 14 secs, 19 secs I dont care. I mean if it was like 30 secs or something sure but it's $949 and I'm not swinging a maul that's all I know.

It does a great job too btw. Cracks everything I can throw at it. I got the log cradle and it's worth it's weight in gold.

I will time mine tomorrow for the hell of it a repost.

 

[bmblank]

Your life is wasted and ruined now. Time stolen that you will never get back.

Are you freakin serious? Three seconds a split? Buy a maul.

I believe the concern isn't the time, but the difference in time may be an indicator of other problems. Especially if the pump is whining.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

When I'm splitting with my Huskee 22, I never go full cycle, some wood only takes 2 inches into it to split it like straight maple, that cycle time is probably 5 seconds, now some stringy wood requires you to go fully to the end of it, on return I stop it when I have enough space to turn the log I'm splitting or to place a new one in.....the tougher the wood, the longer it takes but I'm never out there with a stopwatch, I prefer a beer.......
Like someone said, if it is 19 seconds with no wood in it and looks like a turtle walking, then you have an issue with it also it would probably be harder to split hard wood with it.....

 

[James04]

Thanks for your reply's. Creekheat, it would be great if you or anyone else with a new model could time yours. Below is a Youtube video with the old style. At the 8 min mark he does a full cycle with a load in 14 seconds. So I am thinking something is wrong with my splitter. Or they changed the pump/design to where it no longer meets the advertised specs. I did check the engines rpm and it is running at 3600 rpm so that is not the problem.

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[Fifelaker]

In the two years I have had min I never had the inclination to time it. I just now went out to time it 14 sec cycle time cold. Some whine is normal, kind of like a kid. Run that thing like you stole it that is what warrantee's are for.

 

[Creekheat]

14 seconds on mine empty. That's after I ran a half cord through it.

 

[Ram 1500 with an axe...]

If yours doesn't work like his take it back, if its close, your ok.....

 

[Ashful]

Good post, Triptester. To add to what he said, in the world of Huskee and other homeowner-grade splitters, manufacturers typically use the same 11-gpm pump on their 22-ton and 28-ton machines. This means the 28-ton is roughly 27% slower than the 22-ton, hence why most of us buying Huskee or similar go with the 22-ton unit. It has plenty of power, without the painfully slow cycle time.

Even at the homeowner level, all manufacturers I know jump to the 16-gpm pump when moving to the 35-ton class, thus giving you a cycle time closer to the 22-ton machines.

BTW... many have noticed you can buy an Iron and Oak 22-ton for either $1300 or $2200, one having a typical 13 sec. cycle time, the other closer to 6 sec. Yep, pump capacity and engine HP...

 

[James04]

Since Creekheat has the same unit. Then It is pretty safe to say something is wrong with mine. I will follow up with the store manager today. He said he would have Huskee send him a new pump for me to install. I am ok with that. Only because I know Huskee has a good customer service reputation and I am sure this will be taken care off. Does anyone think it could be anything other than the pump? For example the controller? How about the piston in the cylinder?

James

 

[Fifelaker]

It could be the valve not opening all the way. It could also be the supply hose collapsing.

 

[James04]

I think I may have found the problem. I believe they put the larger 4.5" cylinder on it. Can someone measure there 22 ton and post the measurements? I have 5" outside diameter 1.750" shaft. and best I can measure without opening the cylinder 4 7/16" inside bore.

 

[Ashful]

Will try to measure mine tonight...

 

[triptester]

Tube for hydraulic cylinders in 4 to 5 inch diameters have a 1/4" wall thickness. So the O.D. will be 1/2" larger than the bore size.

 

[James04]

Thanks to all who helped. Speeco is shipping me the correct cylinder. They are great! They are even throwing in a log cradle for my troubles (multiple trips to TSC).

James

 

[midwestcoast]

Good to hear that you're being taken care of.
So you had a 27 ton cylinder on the 22 ton splitter? What an odd one to get by QC. Or maybe not so much if "QC" is a guy making 10 bucks a day & dozing on the job pulling 14 hr shifts....

How long 'till we see a new 4.5" hydro cylinder up for sale?

 

[TreePointer]

To SpeeCo's credit, they have gained a reputation for being very responsive to issues with their log splitters. Years ago a few units left the assembly line with a return hose not rated for petroleum products. They shipped the proper hydraulic hose to me when an issue arose and even expedited the free shipping.

Usually the problem with Huskee splitters is not a SpeeCo issue but the final assembly at TSC stores. Fortunately my local TSC has some very competent employees.

 

[MarkinNC]

Good catch on your part! I think cycle time rules also and bought a 22 ton for that reason. I would want the smaller cylinder in there for the speed myself as well.

 

[midwestcoast]

Also I would not want a 27 ton cylinder on a machine with any other parts designed only for 22 tons of force.

 

[Ashful]

Usually the problem with Huskee splitters is not a SpeeCo issue but the final assembly at TSC stores. Fortunately my local TSC has some very competent employees.

I have bought quite a few implements and large tools at TSC. Down to the very last, every single one of them was improperly assembled in some way. Yes, that includes my Huskee splitter.

I have argued with the manager there several times, to allow me to take the product un-assembled, but have only been successful in winning that argument on one occasion. That occasion was a large tow-behind sprayer, which was a warranty replacement for the tow-behind sprayer that broke when their guys improperly mounted the tank to the chassis.

You can't expect much from a teenager making minimum wage, being asked to assemble equipment with nothing but a worn-out screwdriver and a single pair of pliers.

 

[BrotherBart]

Learned that lesson with a Sears gas edger 40 years ago. Every since then any store assembled equipment gets gone over completely, just like I was assembling it myself, before it is ever used.