powerhorse woodsplitters

[RIDGERUNNER30]

Hey i was wondering what you guys think about these powerhorse wood splitters that nortern tool is selling, they have a 20ton 6.5 hp splitter that splits both directions,and i also like the idea that it is kind of compact, what do you think or does anybody own one.

 

[computeruser]

As I understand it, they are Chinese splitters with knock-off Honda engines. For these two reasons, I would discourage one form considering them, regardless of their other "merits."

We are sending our dollars overseas and destroying what is left of our domestic manufacturing base because people would rather buy something for a few bucks less, even if doing so means that it was made by laborers under objectionable conditions, without regard for the environmental consequences of the manufacturing process, and without the manufacturer having put their own effort into R&D;. There are numerous American companies that make fine splitters at fair prices. Please restrict your search to those products.

 

[SolarAndWood]

Talking about this one?

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/product_6970_200394095_200394095

We don't have NT around here, so I haven't seen one in person. However, from the picture, one drop of a bigger round on that work table looks like it would destroy it. I get a lot of work done with my little splitter which is an old horizontal with the wedge on the end of the beam. The reason it has survived three generations of abuse is the quality and simplicity of construction.

 

[Gooserider]

I've seen many people mention them while shopping, but haven't heard any "after-action" reports of anyone actually buying one... The build looks a bit cheesy to me, but that may just be the photos. It wouldn't be my choice, but I don't have any specific objections otherwise.

(OTOH, I have seen a reasonable number of good reports on the more conventional design Northern splitters for whatever that is worth...)

Gooserider

 

[kevin j]

computer user +1 our greed for low price is killing us in the long run.

OP
I have seen them in the store but not used or even looked at closely enough.
check the 'tons' closely. They are a small cylinder to get inside the beam and 20T seems high.

Also since it pushes one way and pulls the other, the force on one direction will be maybe 30% less. The smaller the cylinder, the more percentage the rod area removes from the total area on return. i.e a 1.5 rod hurts more as percetn of total on a 3 inch cylinder than on a 4 or 5 inch cylinder.

Usually I would not think that is a problem since the firrt stroke would be halving the full round, and the return could be quartering the two already split halves, which take sless force. On situations where you split new rounds with each stroke, it means they rounds are smaller to begin with so required forcemay be less.

Wont' be double the production unless you have two helpers feeding. If you work alone, may not even be all that much faster. Unless you move the same wood to the other side of the wedge to return cut, and that seems too much wasted work for me.

Is it a two stage pump? If not, you will lose way more time than the two way would gain back.

Overall, I'd want to try one, but I think a good conventional one with two stage would be just as fast for onen person.


kcj

 

[virvis]

Got mine up and running today. So far so good. The height of the deck is nice, I'm 6'1" and the higher deck keeps me from bending over the whole time I'm splitting. I've only used it for an hour or so today but it seems much faster that the standard single direction splitter. The thing is heavy, close to 375lbs and seems well built. My only complaint is the air cleaner housing had a small crack in it when it was delivered (it's plastic). I'll let you know if any issues develop.

Also says made in USA on the box but who knows?

 

[mike1234]

Is it really made in USA (I've decided in the last few weeks that this is important to me)? Please give me more details of your experience.
I think I might be interested in one if it can stand up to 8 or so cords a year for the next 10 years.
I am specifically wondering how it handles nasty hard to split wood (elm etc...).

 

[Brian VT]

Is it really made in USA (I've decided in the last few weeks that this is important to me)? Please give me more details of your experience.
I think I might be interested in one if it can stand up to 8 or so cords a year for the next 10 years.
I am specifically wondering how it handles nasty hard to split wood (elm etc...).

Same here. I'm splitting 3-4 cord @ 16". What's the skinny on this splitter ?

 

[virvis]

Not sure about Elm. I'm using it to split fairly large Cherry and Oak. These aren't the toughest to split I guess but that's what I'm burning.

No issues so far except the air filter housing was cracked when it arrived. Not sure if it was bumped around during shipping or what but Northern Tool is sending a replacement piece (no charge).

Most difficult part about this splitter so far was getting it off the truck when it arrived. I have a Kubota with a loader so it wasn't to difficult but I would hate to try and off load that without a tractor.

 

[offroadaudio]

I liked ours for about 6 months - it's less than a year old now, and has been kept in a shed out of the weather.
Now it will only run for 30 seconds and then shuts off. No one will service it, because it's not a Briggs or Honda or Kohler.
Spend a little extra and get one of the good engines.
I'll probably throw the engine away, and connect the ram to my tractor with aux hydrolic lines - waste of money really.

 

[Brian VT]

Now it will only run for 30 seconds and then shuts off.

Sounds like another victim of ethanol. I'd replace the fuel line.
If that didn't fix it I'd clean the carb.

 

[Gooserider]

I liked ours for about 6 months - it's less than a year old now, and has been kept in a shed out of the weather.
Now it will only run for 30 seconds and then shuts off. No one will service it, because it's not a Briggs or Honda or Kohler.
Spend a little extra and get one of the good engines.
I'll probably throw the engine away, and connect the ram to my tractor with aux hydrolic lines - waste of money really.

If it cuts off suddenly, I'd take a look at the low oil shutdown...

Gooserider

 

[offroadaudio]

Thanks for the heads up - I did go over it completely - including cleaning the carb, air filter, oil check - all the obvious stuff.