Thoughts on 3pt log splitters?

[Carl_NH]

I use a 3PT splitter on my FEL with hoses to the BH connection. Use the BH to lift and cut 20-30 rounds then connect the splitter hoses and run at 1200 RPM. I can do a 1/2 cord in 3-4 hours. Also can lower the splitter to the ground to load large rounds.

 

[KennyG]

Why put wear and tear on an expensive tractor engine and get inferior performance to boot?

Because a lot of people are like me and put about 100 hours a year on the tractor. I expect it to outlive me. Performance is only inferior if the equipment isn't matched. I have only about 5 gpm but my splitter is a 13 ton 2 way splitter. With no retract stroke in the cycle, I have about a 10 second cycle time which is more than fast enough at my age.

As I have said before, I think a majority of people will prefer a stand alone, but for some of us the 3 point splitter is better. It's quieter, takes up less storage space and is zero maintenance.

There are other options. Back on the farm we had a splitter on a trailer we ran off the tractor remotes. I think it was about a 5" cylinder. We hooked it to a 100 hp tractor, ran it at idle and split like crazy. Again, used it for years with no maintenance except straightening the parts we bent when we dropped big rounds on it.

 

[uglydukwling]

I have a Bobcat mounted splitter like the one in post #30. I bought it because I had a lot of really big (up to 3 foot diameter) rounds that a local contractor dropped off. How to split them? Cut lengthwise with a chainsaw? Lots of wedges and a lot of hammering? Dynamite? The mounted splitter solved the problem. I can bring the splitter to the log and I don't need a crane to lift the log. With a gentle touch, I can even use the splitter as a grapple to pick up logs if I need to reposition them.

That said, I still find it more convenient to use the stationary spltter for any logs I can lift by hand.

I suppose this type of splitter could be mounted on a FEL if it had the Bobcat style mounting plate and an auxiliary hydraulic connection.

 

[shooterdon]

Good thread and shows why one size does not fit all. The right choice for you is not the right choice for everyone.

What this thread does is show you options that you need to evaluate wrt to:
What size rounds are you splitting?
Do you harvest your own wood and bring it home or harvest it on your property?
Do you buy logs or harvest your own.
How much wood are you going to split?
Do you work alone or with a helper?
What is your age and more importantly, physical condition.
How much do you want to invest?

 

[walnutman]

I have been considering getting a log splitter when I heard somewhere about a log splitter as a tractor attachment. Don't know why I didn't think of looking for that earlier. My question is this. Are they worth it? Some of the prices I've seen are on par with a stand alone splitter. I'm wondering if it is worth getting an attachment over a stand alone. Thoughts?

I wouldn't run my tractor to run a log splitter. Sure the tractor is designed for work but I would rather run a low cost stand-alone splitter and save the hours on the tractor. 1000-1500 gets you a real nice stand alone splitter that you don't have to take off and on. Get one that converts to vertical as I feel this is the best position especially for very big logs. Used are even cheaper and you have a ball receiver to cart it around.

Here is me doing nice size red oak....

 

[JackDaniels1982]

I love my 3ph splitter. I run it off a Zetor 7745 that has a 30 lpm pump, however, I generally run the rpms much lower and I'm only likely at 15-20. It has a bit of a smaller cylinder, with a thin wedge. I paid $750 Canadian for it and a snowblower (used obviously). I place it on a skid and leave it on the ground, as I find there is too much sway and bounce if I use it in the air. It is small and light enough that two or 3 people can load it in the back of a pickup (ie, no trailer). The tractor already has 9000 hours on it, so I'm not worried about that, and I appreciate not having another motor to maintain. The tractor sips fuel at 3 litres/hour. I've also run it off a 1025 JD without issues.

In theory, my only thing I don't like about it, is working so close to the ground. I should make a stand for it. However, it makes it easy for the larger pieces I commonly work with. I split 12 face cord last year with it. It just always works.

I use IBC totes, and generally have a second tractor around. However, if I don't, I can easily throw into 4 bins, which is time for a break anyway. I do expect them to be better value than a gas version, either by price or quality.

 

[akadave]

Pretty funny, how many hours a year do you guys think you would put on your tractor running a splitter??

50 hours a year would be one heck of a lot of wood splitting, are you guys saying you bought tractors that can't run 50+ hours a YEAR splitting wood?? What kind of junk did you buy??

I split more wood than most folks, and I bet you I average 50 or less hours a year on my tractor splitting wood.

SR

I've had my tractor 25 years. At 50 hours a year that would be an additional 1250 hours on an expensive to purchase and maintain machine. It has NOTHING to do with whether tractor can handle it. That's a straw argument.

 

[klm]

https://kansascity.craigslist.org/grd/d/lone-jack-wood-splitter/7883106743.html

 

[scootr]

https://kansascity.craigslist.org/grd/d/lone-jack-wood-splitter/7883106743.html

I replied to a local FB ad this morning about one like that for $500. Not worried about putting hours on my tractor. I bought it to work

 

[Fxfymn413]

I use a homemade stand alone splitter with an adjustable wedge and a log loader. Most years the neighbors and I split 15 to 18 cords of hardwood. We do about 1 to 1 1/2 cords a day so it would add almost a 100 hours a year onto the tractor to split with it.

I use the tractor to move logs closer to the splitter before they get bucked and to move IBC baskets of split wood so a 3ph splitter would not work for me.

One virtue of the 3ph splitter is you can lower it to load a large log, other than that I don't think they are as versatile as a stand alone model.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

I've had my tractor 25 years. At 50 hours a year that would be an additional 1250 hours on an expensive to purchase and maintain machine. It has NOTHING to do with whether tractor can handle it. That's a straw argument.

I've had this tractor over 40 years, here it is running my splitter

It adds one extra oil change every four years! That's about five extra quarts. IF, I had a little screamer powering my splitter, in four years it would take four quarts of oil, so I'm really only using two extra quarts with my tractor.

For two extra quarts I don't have to listen to a little screamer, I don't need to have a can of no E fuel around and I don't have to put up with dealing with small engine starting/running problems ect. ect.! Well worth the tradeoff for me!

BTW, what's a "straw" argument? We only grow hay on this farm. lol

SR

 

[Paul McILwain]

I have a home made splitter with a 1960’s 10hp single cyl Briggs. It has a double pulley with 2 B size belts to a sliding mandrel ( to tighten/ loosen belts) connected to a surplus aircraft hyd pump and 3 gal tank. Originally I used the hyd from my small 25hp gas tractor (satoh s650g) but too slow even at pto speed and with under slung exhaust blowing in my face soon switched to the Briggs engine. I have 3ph connectors and height adjustable 3 leg stand. I welded a trailer ball to the back of the splitter to take a trailer with me to the woods. I disconnect the tractor to use for skidding trees to the splitter. I carry my chain saws, gas and oil, chains etc in the bucket. At the end of the day just hook up the splitter and trailer full of split wood and head home with all the wood chips left in the bush. Even though the old Briggs just has wrap the rope around the pulley system it usually starts first or second pull. I have been using this setup since 1986 and has been flawless and at 84 still able to handle it.

 

[mx842]

I don't know; it just may be the way I look at things but to me why would I want to tie up my tractor to split wood when there are better ways to do it. I can split wood by myself with my home-built splitter, and I don't see how you could get any production doing it with your tractor without at least 2 people and three would be better. I would rather have my tractor to catch wood and get it out of the way and also getting wood up to the splitter where you can get to it.
Another thing is piling up hours on your tractor for something that could be done a better way. I guess if you only split a wheelbarrow or two of wood a year it may not be too bad, but when I start splitting wood for the year it can be a 2- or 3-week ordeal, and if you just figure splitting 8 hours a day that's adding 40 hours to your tractor for 5 days of work. When I get in the splitting mode, I'll split for at the very least 10 hours a day for 6 days sometimes 7 before going into the next week. Hours add up fast enough with just normal use.

 

[90cummins]

I’m unable to post a photo or video of my setup.
My splitter is setup so I can move with my pallet forks which are 3pt hitch mounted.
Having its own engine makes it more versatile and is certainly much faster than a PTO powered system.
Splitter has a 16hp cast iron Briggs engine driving a 28 gpm pump.
Cylinder is 4x24 and is extremely fast with a 7 second cycle time at a governed speed of 2956 rpm. I rarely run it at governed speed.

 

[mx842]

I use a 3PT splitter on my FEL with hoses to the BH connection. Use the BH to lift and cut 20-30 rounds then connect the splitter hoses and run at 1200 RPM. I can do a 1/2 cord in 3-4 hours. Also can lower the splitter to the ground to load large rounds. View attachment 4184791View attachment 4184792

Don't take this wrong but you just proved my point. I'm 78 and still can split a cord plus in an hour, by myself with my home-made splitter. That taking a break by getting on the tractor to move split rounds out of the way. Normally I work by myself but on rare occasions that I get a helper that loads my log lift and keeps the splits out of the way we can do 2 plus cords, 3 maybe in an hour depending on the type of wood. How ever this will work the hell out of one helper because he's constantly loading wood and keeping it out of the way as long as I pull the lever.

 

[WranglerX]

Lets see..... Wear out a $10,000 tractor engine or a $149 small engine...... Can buy awful lot of small engines for the $10,000....

https://www.harborfreight.com/brands/predator/engines/65-hp-212cc-ohv-horizontal-shaft-gas-engine-epa-69730.html

Still running strong for 5-6 years now, it cost less than repairing blown B&S 5hp that was on splitter when I bought it used....

 

[scootr]

I've had this tractor over 40 years, here it is running my splitter

It adds one extra oil change every four years! That's about five extra quarts. IF, I had a little screamer powering my splitter, in four years it would take four quarts of oil, so I'm really only using two extra quarts with my tractor.

For two extra quarts I don't have to listen to a little screamer, I don't need to have a can of no E fuel around and I don't have to put up with dealing with small engine starting/running problems ect. ect.! Well worth the tradeoff for me!

BTW, what's a "straw" argument? We only grow hay on this farm. lol

SR

Aren't you afraid of wearing it out
Who ever thought a tractor attachment could invoke such a passionate discussion?
Next you'll be telling me to park the plow and pick up the shovel

 

[can do]

I have been considering getting a log splitter when I heard somewhere about a log splitter as a tractor attachment. Don't know why I didn't think of looking for that earlier. My question is this. Are they worth it? Some of the prices I've seen are on par with a stand alone splitter. I'm wondering if it is worth getting an attachment over a stand alone. Thoughts?

I've got one on my 1959 M-F 50 gasoline tractor, & have been using it for over 27 years without any issues I bought it from Northern Tool the only thing I've replaced on it are the hydraulic lines about 2 years ago my tractor is a 34 HP engine, & the log splitter is a 25 ton it's a little slow until the fluid gets warmed up. IMHO the only drawback is having your tractor dedicated too the splitter; I did buy a new tractor in 2018 a M-F 1526 4X4 diesel with a fel so now I have my M-F 50 dedicated too the splitter from fall too late spring.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Aren't you afraid of wearing it out
Who ever thought a tractor attachment could invoke such a passionate discussion?
Next you'll be telling me to park the plow and pick up the shovel

Naaaa, but I will tell you to park the plow and pick up a Howard Rotovator though! lol

I have three, no plow for me! AND that's a great rhyme... lol

SR

 

[Sawyer Rob]

Lets see..... Wear out a $10,000 tractor engine or a $149 small engine...... Can buy awful lot of small engines for the $10,000....

https://www.harborfreight.com/brands/predator/engines/65-hp-212cc-ohv-horizontal-shaft-gas-engine-epa-69730.html

Still running strong for 5-6 years now, it cost less than repairing blown B&S 5hp that was on splitter when I bought it used....

I can buy a lot of tractors for $10,000 dollars, I just bought this one for $1500 and it starts/runs perfectly!

AND it's already making me money; in fact I've made over $500 with it since I bought it!

SR