Looking for info - 3 point log splitter

[WranglerX]

Thank you. Lost it in the shop fire too.

OUCH!....

 

[ovrszd]

OUCH!....

And this one.

 

[nyone]

I sincerely appreciate all the replies and information. Would adding a tank and attaching to the pto pump be an option (similar to how my backhoe works)

Yes it would make it faster how ever if your buying all those parts new just go buy a brand new big box store splitter. It's going to be cheaper in the end.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yes it would make it faster how ever if your buying all those parts new just go buy a brand new big box store splitter. It's going to be cheaper in the end.

I wouldn't trade my "more expensive" 3- point splitter for a dozen new, box store splitters!

That is, IF I had to use them!

SR

 

[Loaderman22]

Dont forget to account for the added heat of the fluid that the tractor now has to cool since it wasn't designed to cool fluid in a splitter setup. Get a prince pto pump and a separate hydraulic tank to cool the fluid, and run new lines between it all. this will extend the life of the tractor and splitter parts. Fluid temp is a big concern on the splitter parts also. If you switch to a gas engine on the splitter itself, you have to buy all these parts anyway...

 

[Flad]

I had the same problem, turned out to be the control valve on the fel seems like there is a restriction or limiting device on the down side, which makes scence as you don't want the bucket free falling to the ground with a load on, I got around this by hooking up to the 4in one rams with a seperate control valve I mounted near the splitter ram, I tied the lever back with the bucket in the closed up position so the other valve was used to control the ram It was all plumbed up with quick connect couplings and extra long hoses 5/8" as thats what I had laying around, the ram is 3 1/2" dia with a 30" stroke, I also improved the spliting capability by mounting a back hoe bucket tyne over the standard wedge it's 2" wide and has a similar shaped wedge to the back, Iron bark,and our hard woods generally laugh at less than a 40t splitter, By the way this was done on a old CAT 428B backhoe with a rated 6500 lb front bucket loading.

 

[ovrszd]

Dont forget to account for the added heat of the fluid that the tractor now has to cool since it wasn't designed to cool fluid in a splitter setup. Get a prince pto pump and a separate hydraulic tank to cool the fluid, and run new lines between it all. this will extend the life of the tractor and splitter parts. Fluid temp is a big concern on the splitter parts also. If you switch to a gas engine on the splitter itself, you have to buy all these parts anyway...

Temperature is a concern. My Splitter has a temp gauge on the tank. It carries 15 gallon of fluid to help this situation.

 

[90cummins]

I made rear forks for my tractor for moving pallets & carrying my log splitter. Not a believer in using tractor hydraulics to operate splitter due to low flow rates and the fact the tractor can’t be used while splitting.
I made my splitter so I can easily back into it to pick up & move without getting off the tractor.
I can also secure it with a U bolt allowing me to carry & place the splitter near the pile and then easily pick it up to move.
I recently upgraded it with a 28 gpm pump and a completely rebuilt 32000 series 16 hp cast iron Briggs&Stratton that was manufactured in 1974.
It has a cycle time of 6 seconds running at 2800 rpm which can keep 3~4 people really hopping.
I’m a fan of old engines.
90cummins

 

[John_Mc]

I sincerely appreciate all the replies and information. Would adding a tank and attaching to the pto pump be an option (similar to how my backhoe works)

If you already have a PTO pump for your backhoe, I wonder if you could put it on quick disconnects (make sure to get ones that can handle the pump's flow rate) and use the same pump for your splitter. Then all you'd need to add is a tank & filter.

 

[YBSMike]

I havent looked into it, but a Kenetic log splitter may be made for a 3 point setup? I bought a 40 ton Kenetic log splitter mainly for the speed. The stroke takes about 1 second from start to finish, and they are 2 70pd flywheels that an 7hp motor turns them to get that kenetic force to split up to 40 tons. I specifcally bought it because I too felt the Hydraulic log splitters were just too slow. It's hard to keep up with this one as a lot of our logs are pretty big, and we spend much more time picking up the logs and loading it then waiting for it. in fact, there is no waiting for it. The one we bought is the PowerKing PK0342. I have since wondered if they made a Kenetic log splitter for a 3 point setup because that is definately what I'd want if I bought one for the tractor. Just sharing my 2 cents.

I did a quick check, but Im not yet sure if they make them.

 

[cqaigy2]

Yup, that's how mine is set up,

The size of the pto pump will determine speed, as long as the hoses, ports ect. aren't restricting the flow.

SR

That looks similar to a buddy of mine setup, but his is smaller rated at 7 tons. So far haven't run into anything it won't split. It's a pretty sweet setup.

 

[Todd727]

I wouldn't trade my "more expensive" 3- point splitter for a dozen new, box store splitters!

That is, IF I had to use them!

SR

To each his own, however my Northern Tool 37-ton splitter with the Honda engine is a workhorse and very well built.

I wouldn't want to put hours on my large equipment just to do the menial task of splitting wood. Also, by having a separate splitter, I've freed up the other equipment to move and lift logs.

I used to be of the mindset that I needed cool attachments and built a very nice splitter that mounts to my skid steer. Then I realized what a waste of money it is to run that skid steer vs. a small gas engine.

Something to consider.

 

[arrow]

Thank you. Lost it in the shop fire too.

Awe crap.
I was just gonna say "at least you still have that beautiful Jeep".

 

[Sawyer Rob]

To each his own, however my Northern Tool 37-ton splitter with the Honda engine is a workhorse and very well built.

I wouldn't want to put hours on my large equipment just to do the menial task of splitting wood. Also, by having a separate splitter, I've freed up the other equipment to move and lift logs.

I used to be of the mindset that I needed cool attachments and built a very nice splitter that mounts to my skid steer. Then I realized what a waste of money it is to run that skid steer vs. a small gas engine.

Something to consider.

I bought a tractor that will easily outlast me, so I don't care how many hours I put on it splitting wood.

Then again, I paid $3,500.00 for my splitter tractor in the 80's and I've made around $20,000.00 with it doing jobs for others, so how much did that tractor really cost me??

Personally, I wouldn't buy a tractor that I had to worry about putting hours on it, and my tractor is so fuel efficient I don't worry about that either...

On top of all that, I've driven my tractor/splitter to jobs and split wood for others too, that's also a pretty good moneymaker...

SR

 

[mike peyerl]

I have a 3 point log splitter I want to use with my Jinma 284, since there are no auxiliary hydraulic ports I connect it to the lines for the fel. It works ok but the cycle time on the splitter is very slow, slower than my gas powered splitter is. I had a friend suggest that the fel lines may not provide the proper pressure. Additionally this connection isn't ideal since I cannot move the tractor until I reconnect the fel. Does anyone have any experience with this or suggestions?
Thank you.

I had one spend a few hundred dollars and put a motor and 2 stage pump on its worth the time saved

 

[ovrszd]

To each his own, however my Northern Tool 37-ton splitter with the Honda engine is a workhorse and very well built.

I wouldn't want to put hours on my large equipment just to do the menial task of splitting wood. Also, by having a separate splitter, I've freed up the other equipment to move and lift logs.

I used to be of the mindset that I needed cool attachments and built a very nice splitter that mounts to my skid steer. Then I realized what a waste of money it is to run that skid steer vs. a small gas engine.

Something to consider.

Yep. I much prefer my trailer mounted splitter to the 3pt splitter before it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Yep. I much prefer my trailer mounted splitter to the 3pt splitter before it.

I'm actually thinking of making a simple trailer for my 3 point splitter, actually an axle with a tongue.

Why, you may ask? Because I have some old tractors without 3 points, and I think it would be fun to every once in a while, put one in front of my splitter to exercise it.

SR

 

[ptsg]

I bought a tractor that will easily outlast me, so I don't care how many hours I put on it splitting wood.

Then again, I paid $3,500.00 for my splitter tractor in the 80's and I've made around $20,000.00 with it doing jobs for others, so how much did that tractor really cost me??

Personally, I wouldn't buy a tractor that I had to worry about putting hours on it, and my tractor is so fuel efficient I don't worry about that either...

On top of all that, I've driven my tractor/splitter to jobs and split wood for others too, that's also a pretty good moneymaker...

SR

You're probably also using about a third of the fuel on on your tractor than you would with a screamer engine.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

You're probably also using about a third of the fuel on on your tractor than you would with a screamer engine.

That little 30 PTO hp two cyl. just chugs along slooowly sipping fuel...NO crapola on it to go bad either, electrical, DEF or otherwise. What a great design!

SR

 

[ptsg]

That little 30 PTO hp two cyl. just chugs along slooowly sipping fuel...NO crapola on it to go bad either, electrical, DEF or otherwise. What a great design!

SR

Those old school air cooled diesel engines were awesome. Just keep the oil at the right level, clean the air duct and fins every once in a while and the thing just runs forever.

I had a 2 cylinder 26HP and a 3 cylinder VM 40HP air cooled engines on my crawlers and now a 25HP 2 cylinder Slanzi engine on the generator. Great on fuel consumption. The VMs were rated at 2000 RPM and made peak torque at like 1300 RPMs or so. The 2 cylinder one would start with literally half of rotation of the crankshaft.

Sadly, another great series of engines killed by emissions. I would still like to get one for my log splitter though, to replace the screamer gas engine I have now since the tractor sits most of the time at the remote propriety.