3-Point Hitch 3-point hitch log splitter

[Orebonder]

Hi all.....
I have the Branson 5220C. I have been wanting to add a log splitter to my tractor implement list.

There is a person locally that wants to sell their "tractor mount style" log splitter at a great price. It is a 3- point hitch mount unit. I have a 10gpm, 2000psi PTO HYD.pump.....can I use my PTO mounted pump for this project?

Any and all ideas or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks

 

[ovrszd]

I built a splitter several years ago using a PTO pump. I think mine was 22gpm. It was very quick. Yours should work fine. Just might be a bit slow. Totally depends on the size of the ram?

 

[ericm979]

The Branson remotes can get you about 10 gpm at 2200psi or whatever the loader relief is set at.

With a 4" cylinder that might not be too slow. My Oregon splitter has a 4.5" cylinder and 16 gpm which gives a 12sec cycle time.

 

[ovrszd]

The Branson remotes can get you about 10 gpm at 2200psi or whatever the loader relief is set at.

With a 4" cylinder that might not be too slow. My Oregon splitter has a 4.5" cylinder and 16 gpm which gives a 12sec cycle time.

Good stuff Eric!!!

Is that 12 seconds for stroke one direction or round trip?

 

[ericm979]

I'm going off the manufacturer's spec but it sure feels like that's for a full round trip. Now I'm going to have to time it.

It's fast enough that I don't get too bored waiting. It's a 24" stroke and I cut to 16" so I sometimes don't let it retract all the way to save time.
I think if it was significantly slower I'd feel like I was wasting time.

 

[ovrszd]

Yeah, I think you would too. 6 second one way is efficient and you'll still wait a bit for it to retract.

 

[Branson Bob]

I do not have a splitter though I have tons of oak logs ready to be processed so I'll be buying one soon. I have 3 thoughts on log splitters:

1) At some point having the tractor as the master of numerous attachments starts working against you in that you are forced to swap them out one for another and this can be inconvenient and time consuming as opposed to a stand-alone unit.
2) I would want a two-way log splitter (splits in both directions) such as the Split-Fire (both stand-alone and 3 point attachment models available)
3) Or I would get a "kinetic" flywheel model such as the Woodmax or DR

This way the splitter is never the part of the process that is slowing you down.

Just the thoughts of a person who is not an expert but who has given this some thought.

Split-Fire 3 Point Hitch 323 Two-Way Log Splitter

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RapidFire Log Splitter Premier (Outsplits 22 Ton Wood Splitters) | DR Power Equipment

 

[Sawyer Rob]

IF, I had BIG wood or tough wood, I'd stay away from a "kinetic" splitter, and if I did buy a kinetic splitter, I'd for sure NOT buy a DR or other copy of a Super Split.

Kinetic splitters aren't trouble free as some would like you to believe, but Super Split is easily the best one on the market.

Personally, I think handling wood for splitting requires you to use some smarts, to get everything lined up in order. Once lined up, it's no big deal to use a tractor 3 point splitter, to get the splitting done. If you have the rounds staged, you don't need to use a loader to handle them ect..

I do it all the time, and yes I do have more than one tractor, but I don't need my loader tractor when I'm splitting, I only use the splitter when I'm splitting wood...

In my case, my splitter tractor was FREE, actually better than FREE, as it's made more money than it cost several times over, so that one is a no brainer!!

I find it comical that folks will brag about how good their tractor is made, how great the diesel is, then be afraid to run a splitter with it!! lol because it puts hours on it!! What is wrong with THAT picture!!

A few hundred hours on a diesel tractor engine is nothing, and 99.9% of the guys wouldn't put a hundred hours on their diesel, splitting wood!!

SR

 

[ericm979]

I've been splitting mostly hardwood including Eucalyptus which is famously hard to split. I didn't think a kinetic splitter would do for me. I found a used Oregon splitter with the larger 4.5" cylinder. I've only had a couple pieces that it could not split. Driving through big knots it will shred the wood but keep going.

I also stage my rounds for splitting, though they are on the ground and I have to pick them up (redneck cross-fit). Big rounds get noodled into manageable pieces.

If I was buying a splitter it'd be a push-through with a table to catch the splits and a smooth flat area for the rounds to be split. And maybe a log lift. The Oregon is a horizontal/vertical with the moving wedge captured with lips on either side of the beam. Those lips limit where I can place a round to be split. I've used the vertical position once. It's harder for me to position a round in there than it is to pick it up.

I tend to spend a couple hours at a time splitting but not all day. Having to take whatever is on the 3pt off and put the splitter on would take more time than hitching it up to the UTV and pulling it out of the barn does. Of course if I had a tractor I could dedicate to splitter duty that would change things!

 

[Tomtint]

Some years ago I had a BX22. Bought a 3ph log splitter ....even though many said it would be a waste if time. ..and it worked just fine. I think the cycle time was 8-10 seconds which was pl nay fast and nought for me, as I don't need to pick up any more logs any faster than that.

 

[LouNY]

Several years ago we used an outside boiler on the farm, we did have a 3 point splitter.
Also we had a few tractors available to use. That particular splitter would work in a vertical mode.
Setting the splitter on a large round so that the splitter was high enough to avoid having to bend over worked good,
bring a bucket of rounds to the splitter, with the cutting edge the height of the block, just scoot the round to the wedge,
split and toss the pieces, when the bucket was empty use it to push and pile the split wood, then repeat.
No bending over.

 

[Cataclysm]

I built a 3 point splitter years ago. First ran it off a 5.5 gpm pump. Wasn't fast but anytime you felt is was slow just grab the maul and split a few. Made the 3 pt splitter look real good. I run it off a little Kubota 008 mini-x now days. Does just fine.

 

[Branson Bob]

Again speaking in theory because I haven't split wood yet with a power splitter (except my neighbor's 25 ton, $900 unit which I thought was useless), having more than one tractor would definitely make having a 3-point splitter easier to agree with but between the backhoe, finish mower, brush hog, pallet fork attachment, etc on 1 tractor I really don't want to get another tractor-dependent tool if I can get a stand alone. I don't care about putting hours on the tractor but I do care about constantly having to switch attachments (ESPECIALLY when the backhoe is on).

I guess I can see where a kinetic splitter might be problematic. I can certainly see from an engineering standpoint how a sudden force as opposed to a gradual loading of equipment could create a new set of problems.

Anyways I have until the autumn to figure out which direction I want to go in.

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

I personally can't see the point in wasting a tractor for a power source when a small displacement stationary engine will get the job done. If I had a fleet of old, junk, and free tractors laying around that I could sweep into a pile to make a running unit then "maybe". But still not seeing the point of wasting that large of a tool when a smaller, more efficient, and likely much cheaper option is so obviously available.

My stand alone, "homeowner grade" gas engine powered hydraulic splitter does just fine for my uses and needs. But I'm not pretending to be a professional logger either, nor am I out trying to impress anyone.

I've never used a kinetic splitter, so I have no idea if those are any good or not.

 

[K5lwq]

I personally can't see the point in wasting a tractor for a power source when a small displacement stationary engine will get the job done.

That reminds me of the farmer that walk outside and noticed his wife bent over pulling weeds out of her garden. He said "Honey, I believe your rear has gotten as wide as a 8 row corn header!" She did not say anything and he went on his way. Later that night, he said "Hey honey, how about a little lovin?" To which she replied "Now, why in the world would I crank up a $200,000 piece of equipment just to pick one little nubbin?" :confused3:

 

[Cougsfan]

I am not a big fan of 3 point log splitters. I'd rather (and do) have a stand alone, gas powered 27 ton splitter. Why? I don't want to have to connect and disconnect the thing every time I use it ( I use it a lot) and I don't want tie up my tractor from other uses when I am splitting wood. That's just me though, other people can understandably have different feelings about it.

 

[ChrisRyan]

All this talk about log splitters and I just spent the afternoon splitting a face cord with my 8lb Maul. Granted, I only go through about 2.5 true cord a year, but I'll split by hand until its no longer manageable. Its some of my best exercise. Eventually I'll get a log splitter