3pt woodsplitter vs Gasoline powered

[Jeff Lary]

I am a 1/3 owner of a Troybilt 27 ton Honda powered splitter. The sharing thing just is not working and I was wondering if you guys could tell me as far as power ( the 27 ton we have already) how does a 3pt splitter match up? How about speed? I am thinking of buying a 3pt type I will be running it from my 30hp Kubota.If any one has experience with both I would like to hear from you. I probably will not buy till next spring this years wood is all done.

 

[greg_g]

3pt splitters are seldom rated at over 20 tons, simply because of cylinder size limitations. That said, it's 20 constant tons, powered by the one-stage tractor pump. The exact tonnage becomes a factor of the pump PSI and the splitter cylinder size. Self-powered splitter ratings on the other hand, typically use two stage pumps; high pressure to push the ram, low pressure to retract it. Tonnage ratings are the sum of the two stages, not the actual splitting power. Misleading at best.

Speed of a 3pt splitter depends upon the GPM rating (flow rate) of the pump. The more gpm, the faster the ram extends and retracts. As I stated above, power is a function of pump PSI. The higher the PSI (2000, 2500, 3000, etc) the more tonnage is applied by the ram. The larger the splitter cylinder, the more PSI it can handle.

Some prefer the self-powered, because it permit them to use the tractor for other stuff - like moving the firewood itself. I personally prefer the 3pt type, because I've already got enough small gas engines around here to maintain.

//greg//

 

[bullsram]

I have a 20 ton MTD stand alone that was bought new in 95 and had to put a new motor on it in 09. I didnt have my tractor yet so a motor was the only option. If it ever goes bad again the it wiill become a 3pt splitter. The 2 stage pump which is 11 gal/ min is the same as what my tractor puts out at the scv. I like the fact that i can use the tractor for other stuff when i need to . I pull the log splitter around with my 4-wheeler so that is convienent for me, but there has been times that i needed a 3pt one to take with me where i was cutting. It all depends how you work the wood up, ie in the woods or at you're house. You might not want to overlook just building one yourself ,it would be cheeper i would think. Bull

 

[Lineman North Florida]

I have a Speeco Splitmaster from TSC 3pt hitch model and I power it with a Farmtrac 360 DTC with an implement pump flow of about 8 gpm I think, it is definately not as fast as a stand alone but it's still plenty fast enough for me and I split large grainy oak wood and it has'nt even grunted on anything I've tried to split with it. If you want speed your probably not gonna get it with your size tractor, but if it's not an issue you will probably be well pleased with a 3pt hitch model. Good luck.

 

[MikeInEburg]

I think you'll find the three-point splitter to be a bit slower but acceptable. My biggest challenge is that I like to use the tractor loader to lift the heavy stuff - can't do that with three-point version.
Mike

 

[Nightrain1]

If you are a meter watcher for hours on your tractor, get the standalone. Then again, with some extended hydraulic lines, you can put the splitter in a wagon, pulled by the tractor.

 

[grsthegreat]

My homebuilt 3 point splitter is a bit slower than the motor powered one that i used to rent, but its plenty fast and my fingers thank me. I have never figured out the tonnage (4" ram w/ 2" shaft, 24" long) but it has never failed splitting anything.

and i love the ability to move it to my wood piles spread all over the place (30 acres) and split it where i want to split it. But everyone has their own opinions as to what works and what doesn't. I was thinking about going in with some neighbors and buying a splitter years ago.....then i remembered.

"Think back to when you went into a 1/4th ownership on that Piper Turbo Arrow in the 1980's......how BAD that turned out.....NEVER AGAIN"

 

[easygo]

I have a 3pt splitter and it works great for my taste. I use it about 10-12hrs a year to split about 5 cords. If you insist on moving the wood with the tractor right away after splitting then get a self-powered one. I just toss it into a pile and move it under cover whenever I can find time for it.

 

[roman]

I have a 3pth type. I cant split & move wood at the same time anyway. I like the slightly slower ram speed as two people(I know of) in this area had incidents this year. One lost part of his hand.
The power is handy and to split the big stuf I lower the three point hitch. One less engine to maintain and buy stabilizer for.

 

[Farmwithjunk]

I broke open the piggy bank several years ago and bought a Wallenstien 3-point splitter. It worked just fine, but after a couple seasons of splitting, I just grew tired of piling up hours on the tractor. I'd rather put the hours on a (MUCH less expensive) "lawn mower engine". The little Hondas are so frugal with gas, it was probably less costly (regarding fuel) to run the gas engine than it was to run a diesel tractor all day.

And I liked the mobility of the wheel mounted splitter. With the 3-point model, I found myself having to either hitch it to a tractor, or, pick it up with the forks (on the skid steer) every time I needed it moved around in the shop. (If I had a dolly w/casters to move everything heavy I keep in my shop, my caster bill would match the national debt....)

I also DON'T like having to have the tractor with me to use the splitter. I often cut up and split downed trees off the farm where I just take my pick-up truck with the splitter in tow behind it.

No real "deal breaker" with the 3-point model, but the free standing wheel mounted model was just more practical in the long run.

SO I sold the 3-point model and bought one of those 27T Troy-Bilt splitters w/Honda engine. I'm MUCH happier with it. As of yet, I haven't found any wood needing split that it wouldn't handle. (And I've had some big honkin' logs to split this year!) I can pull it around with the tractor if I want, pull it with the riding lawn mower, or the 4wheeler, or the skid steer, or just grab the tongue and walk it into place.....And the tractor doesn't need to sit there running all day, accumulating hours. And THAT is how I manage to have one tractor that's been with me for 41 years and still has less than 3500hrs.....By NOT piling on hours just to hear it run.....

For the sake of comparison; I usually split NEXT years wood every fall....This years supply was split last fall....I burn 18 to 24 "ricks" per winter. (Ricks are a regionally popular term for half cords. ) Not a huge amount, but enough to get a handle on what works for me and what doesn't. (I heat my shop with wood, as well as burning a conventional fireplace in the house) I burn a mix of red oak, white oak, some ash, a bit of hickory and cherry. Occasionally a bit of beech.

And....I used it last fall, finishing up sometime in late September. Did NOTHING special to get it ready to "park it" for the winter/spring/summer.....Then I pulled it out 4 weeks ago, pulled the starter rope ONE TIME, and we were off to the races.....So much for the "another engine to take care of" theory.....

I must admit though, in recent weeks, I've had the opportunity to watch a neighbor using a "Timber Jack" splitter that's mounted on the loader of a skid steer! That thing is fascinating to say the least! (Expensive to say the most.... )