BCS branded wood splitter?

[Shrew_Gardens]

I need a wood splitter and am trying to choose between ponying up $$$$ for the Wallenstein manufactured unit or looking for a good used splitter that will have a dedicated engine (preferably Timberwolf as they are local).

The Bell unit offered by Earthtools is not very appealing- very low working height and the freight will bring the cost up considerably (I can get the BCS branded unit from my local BCS guy).

Anybody ever use the Wallenstein?

 

[NibbanaFarm]

I have not used one or heard any reports. I have thought about it though. I'm sure, like all BCS equipment, it's high quality. But after you add in the power cradle it's $3750. That's probably 2 or 3 times a stand alone unit. Seems like a lot.

 

[Shrew_Gardens]

That’s my feeling as well, except most new stand alone units with the exception of made in USA brands like Timberwolf appear low quality (and I recall much frustration with non functional wood splitters in the past). Wallenstein makes high quality equipment and I would expect the best. But I can get a stand alone Timberwolf for about the same cost so I expect that is what I will end up with. It doesn’t seem worthwhile to pay a premium to have to swap out implements.

 

[Jrasband]

How often are you going to swap implements in the winter when your splitting wood? Also, its so easy there is no comparison to swapping out 3 pt implements.

 

[NibbanaFarm]

I would not pay even close for a stand alone unit. Because you're now going to have another engine to take care of. And store.

 

[dodge man]

I don’t understand the logic of “another engine to take care of”. I have no idea how much time I spend taking care of the engine on my log splitter but it can’t be more than an hour a year.

 

[Jrasband]

You can probably get a stand a lone unit for pretty cheap used. With a Earth Tools coupler and a hitch dolly you can pull it around with the BCS, that is what I have done in the past and it worked really well.

 

[MapleLeafFarmer]

I need a wood splitter and am trying to choose between ponying up $$$$ for the Wallenstein manufactured unit or looking for a good used splitter that will have a dedicated engine (preferably Timberwolf as they are local).

Anybody ever use the Wallenstein?

I have a couple of pieces of Wallenstein equipment and find the engineering and build quality to be top shelf.
Now honestly they are almost 10 year old pieces so not sure if new stuff is the same but from using Honda engines, branded batteries, powder coating not wet paint, rubber grommet and clasps on the hoses to minimize chaffing, etc.... I couldn't ask for better.
This fall I was servicing my Wallenstein logging winch and after 10 years of heavy use I remember noticing that even the two pull ropes for cable intake and drum lock were dirty but not frayed/warn or showing any sign of damage. That was just something I noticed and was impressed with.

I had a wood chipper / shredder but sold it as I found it too slow and since I have lots of room to burn my piles I simply build piles some as big as a small house and burn them off when I get a few feet of snow on the ground.
The wood processor is a beast. (WP840) I cut / split about 1.2 cords and hour.
The Winch (FX85)is powerfull and have never had a problem.
etc...

so from my experience with 4 of their pieces I am not ashamed to have any of them in my shed.

 

[Shrew_Gardens]

How often are you going to swap implements in the winter when you’re splitting wood? Also, it’s so easy there is no comparison to swapping out 3 pt implements.

Oh, I try to stay inside December through February!

I would usually be swapping out the mower deck for the splitter. It might not be much to swap implements compared to a 3 point hitch but it’s still a pain and adds enough time to the job to be a consideration.

 

[NibbanaFarm]

I don’t understand the logic of “another engine to take care of”. I have no idea how much time I spend taking care of the engine on my log splitter but it can’t be more than an hour a year.

My experience is that with any engine, OPE or auto, if they don't get regular use they're going to screw up. I don't know about the chemistry but the fuel goes bad one way or another. The only way I've found to avoid taking carbs apart and cleaning them out is to completely drain the fuel system. And also oil the cylinders. I live in New England where it's high humidity so it might not be a problem in dry areas. It probably has something to do with the ethanol.

 

[DarkBlack]

My experience is that with any engine, OPE or auto, if they don't get regular use they're going to screw up. I don't know about the chemistry but the fuel goes bad one way or another. The only way I've found to avoid taking carbs apart and cleaning them out is to completely drain the fuel system. And also oil the cylinders. I live in New England where it's high humidity so it might not be a problem in dry areas. It probably has something to do with the ethanol.

I’m in high humidity NH. I own many small gasoline engines, and have never had to take apart carburetors.
On my spitter , I simply turn off the gas lever and shut it down that way. Never used the ignition kill. It starts up first pull every time.
1 quart oil change once a year.
Simpler maintenance, and certainly cheaper to buy/ use than a 3PH splitter, plus I’m not trying up the tractor

 

[NibbanaFarm]

I’m in high humidity NH. I own many small gasoline engines, and have never had to take apart carburetors.
On my spitter , I simply turn off the gas lever and shut it down that way. Never used the ignition kill. It starts up first pull every time.
1 quart oil change once a year.
Simpler maintenance, and certainly cheaper to buy/ use than a 3PH splitter, plus I’m not trying up the tractor

That would probably work. And even better putting plastic over the fuel cap to completely seal the fuel from the atmosphere. Just being exposed to atmosphere gas is going to absorb moisture because the ethanol is hydroscopic, and evaporate off the most volatile compounds over time.

Most of my engines, 2 stroke in particular, have no fuel shut off. And come to think of it those are the ones that give me problems. And the ones that I can do that haven't given me problems.

I'm not sure where the best place to put a fuel shut off would be on the CC lawn tractor with a Kohler command engine. Before or after the fuel pump? I don't think there would be room on the two strokes.

 

[aesanders]

Take a look at a Splitfire. The Wallenstein is a copy off the Splitfire. Splitfire is another Canadian made splitter and they have been doing it well for 40 years. Many Splitfire models to choose from but the 2265 is a great all around splitter and one of their lower cost splitters.

 

[NibbanaFarm]

Take a look at a Splitfire. The Wallenstein is a copy off the Splitfire. Splitfire is another Canadian made splitter and they have been doing it well for 40 years. Many Splitfire models to choose from but the 2265 is a great all around splitter and one of their lower cost splitters.

That is a very nice design with the two way cutting action. And the electric motor option would be the way to go for me.

 

[Shrew_Gardens]

Take a look at a Splitfire. The Wallenstein is a copy off the Splitfire. Splitfire is another Canadian made splitter and they have been doing it well for 40 years. Many Splitfire models to choose from but the 2265 is a great all around splitter and one of their lower cost splitters.

Thank you, I glanced over the website and will go back to look further. They look to be reasonably priced and I’d be pleased to be supporting our northern neighbors.