Tractor Log Splitter

[grnspot110]

I bring my rounds in from the farm & stack them along the fence about 20' from the wood shed. Either split by hand w/Fiskars X27 splitting axe or sometimes use the 790. I just roll the blocks from the pile to the splitter & stack the splits as I go, no big hurry! I understand that my set-up would be too slow for some, but works well for me! I'm about 3 years ahead on wood now & more trees that need to be cut. ~~ Lowell

 

[Dead Horse]

Nice set up......... I like the wood shed. I also like the vertical nature of your splitter. Take some side pictures if you will. I am curious how it attaches to the tractor. be great for splitting huge rounds. I make do by setting the splitter on the ground and rolling the rounds up to the beam, sometimes even using a pallet to make the step up easier. I had one what seemed like 3'+ round that I just didn't even attempt. It was pine and didn't seem worth the effort.

My splitter has the wedge on the beam end but I could modify it with a wedge on the cylinder rod pretty easily. The whole thing is SOOOOO incredibly heavy I cannot think of how to modify it in a way so i could choose to use it horizontal or vertical.

Just thinking about it.

 

[Hiltz]

I bought a used pto powered log splitter a couple of years ago for a small job. It has its own pump and you simply hook it up to your pto. I had only a couple of trees to split but the splitter was so cheap I couldn't pass it up. It did a great job splitting but also it tied the tractor down. It kinda messes up your production because when you stop to transfer your split wood with tractor bucket to the site of use your whole operation moves with it. It sorta messes up the routine. If that makes any sense. Years ago I heated with wood and it makes a lot more sense to keep your tractor free to move the firewood both before and after it is split. If I was using wood as my primary source of heat I would for sure have a separate wood splitter.

 

[NHbotanut]

Gordon,

That is a slick setup on the winch. Do you tighten the bolts in the slots. I was thinking about getting someone to fab up and weld pallet fork receiver for my splitter. After seeing your solution, I think I will do the same. Did you use grade 8 bolts?

 

[Gordon Gould]

Gordon,

That is a slick setup on the winch. Do you tighten the bolts in the slots. I was thinking about getting someone to fab up and weld pallet fork receiver for my splitter. After seeing your solution, I think I will do the same. Did you use grade 8 bolts?

Here is what I did. It is a 1-1/4" Reese Receiver - not heavy duty but good for a small trailer or my splitter. I also have a small vise on a reese hitch so I can hold my saw to sharpen or work on. Plus it works with all my 4 wheeler stuff which is also 1-1/4". I used two grade 8 3/8" bolts which have a proof load of 9300 lb each.







I think I paid around $10 for the receiver the rest was spare pieces I had. Getting it welded up should be cheap.

gg

 

[grnspot110]

Nice set up......... I like the wood shed. I also like the vertical nature of your splitter. Take some side pictures if you will. I am curious how it attaches to the tractor. be great for splitting huge rounds. I make do by setting the splitter on the ground and rolling the rounds up to the beam, sometimes even using a pallet to make the step up easier. I had one what seemed like 3'+ round that I just didn't even attempt. It was pine and didn't seem worth the effort.

My splitter has the wedge on the beam end but I could modify it with a wedge on the cylinder rod pretty easily. The whole thing is SOOOOO incredibly heavy I cannot think of how to modify it in a way so i could choose to use it horizontal or vertical.

Just thinking about it.

Here are the pics that I can find:

I originally built the splitter for my JD 520 using the tractor control, just added a lever & flipped the linkage over to it. The "H" beam came from the county bridge dept. (used), had to buy a new cylinder, but most of the rest of it was scrap I had on hand. When I got the 790, I had to add the control valve & long hoses, nearly doubling the total coast of the splitter to around $500.

 

[Dead Horse]

How do you take it off the tractor and store it. it looks pretty heavy!

 

[grnspot110]

How do you take it off the tractor and store it. it looks pretty heavy!

Back it up to a corner post & set it on a wood base with a chain around the post so it can't fall over.

 

[PILOON]

What I liked:
Could drive up to the log pile.
When the splits were overtaking my space, simply move forward a few feet.
Turn around, load bucket and drive to shed.
Only one engine.
Can't lend it out.
Easy to raise up to comfortable working height.
Did not like:
Long hanging off the back.
Remove and install.