Harbor Freight Log Splitter Review

Charlesaf3 · Oct 5, 2006

Before I bought one, I searched all over the web for reviews, and couldn't find much, so I thought I'd put one here, though I don't really know if this is the place.

I bought the 30 ton Harbor Freight Log splitter with the 9hp robin engine for $1099. Shipping was $50 which is a ridiculous bargain out to me. I've had it for around a month, and am generally quite happy with it.

It is a case of you get what you pay for, and "some assembly required" as per most harbor freight stuff. It comes in a couple of pieces, each of which weigh around 300 odd pounds. Putting them together, especially on unlevel ground in the woods beside my driveway, was NOT fun. I'm a 6'5 strong guy, and using a farm jack I was just barely able to tilt things into place. The instructions say 2 people required for assembly, and they aren't lying. A forklift and 2 people would make the job far easier.

I had a nut missing from the package - once again typical harbor freight, but not a big deal.

Filling fluids was a pain. Many of the things about this splitter could be improved with minor design tweaks, and the fluid fills are certainly one of them. A right angle funnel, or better yet some sort of transfer pump, would have been far easier than my approach of gently tilting a 5 gallon can of hydraulic fluid into a horizontal hole. I don't think I got more than 40% of the stuff on me... Oil fill is the same joy.

Fired it up - Robin subaru engine seems really nice on initial use. Beats the **** out of Briggs and Stratton (I hate briggs and Stratton - total junk)

Run it for a little while - it's splitting green oak and tupelo very nicely. THe control lever, which you have to hold onto the whole time in forward, is very awkwardly situated. (Yet another future tweak). There is an automatic high speed return.

Then the hydraulic filter blew, and sprayed hydraulic fluid everywhere. More fun. Got a new hydraulic filter at napa for under $10 - harbor freight said they'd ship it to me, but it was on back order. We'll see... Runs fine with the new filter.

I'm really happy with it now. Yes, it could have some design improvements, but its built tough, and splits well. And the engine is subaru, not B&S. I'd definitely buy it again - it seems better than stuff I've seen for 5-600 more.

Other minor issues - the adjustable kickstand, which really requires three hands to make it trailerable. The height of the hitch couple - good 2-3' above ground.

I'll post again if I have anything to add, but currently I'm very pro. Cheaper than most 3 point stuff to boot - TSCs was $200 less, but much less powerful.

BTDT · Oct 5, 2006

Sounds great. Boy, I would love to have a log splitter. But then I would have to buy a wood stove, and a chain saw, and a truck....nevermind.

Dargo · Oct 5, 2006

You have me beat by 2 ton; mine is only a 28 ton unit. I bought mine from a close out sale at Lowe's a couple of years ago in the early part of summer. Log splitters were not exactly moving fast for them at that time of the year. I was very pleased with the price (that's why I bought it - it was $795 and still in the crate). I'll have to agree with you on the B&S engine. I think it's an 8 hp (?) B&S engine. At first it seemed to run okay, but after the first couple of hours I had to start playing with the choke to get it to run right. It still starts and runs okay, but it is a pain to have to fiddle with the choke to get it set just right.

Mine is a Yard something brand I think. I've split quite a bit of wood with it and it, like yours, has actually panned out to be a pretty decent splitter overall. I'm glad it has plastic fenders. If not, I would have metal fenders all bent to heck after the first use. Thanks for your review. It seems to go along with mine in that it is possible to get a relatively decent and powerful splitter for not a huge amount of money. I had borrowed a 3 pt. splitter to use on my 50 hp tractor, and it sucked! The stand alone unit is the way to go. Good luck with yours, and don't tease me about my B&S engine too much.

schmism · Oct 5, 2006

ever considered converting it to tractor hydrolics and selling the robin (or useing it on a diffrent project... like perhaps a pressurewasher)

SPYDERLK · Oct 5, 2006

Charlesaf3, Thats a lot of tonnage for a 9HP. You trade off speed when you go to the bigger (5+") cylinders needed to provide this force safely. Unless you are using a 4 way wedge you will never need more than 20 tons. I have been using my homemade 18 ton (verified by gauge) for 20 years and have never run into something I couldnt split. There have been about 5 times that I had to try twice. You got a good price for that force capability, but you pay in speed unless you go to a 4 way wedge.
Larry

BTI · Oct 5, 2006

The "off brand" at the big box stores and "Harbor Freights" stuff will become more and more similar as time goes on.
Some of the stuff HF has is the same as Northern Hydraulics, but HF is cheaper.
Usually....

BTI

Stoweski · Oct 5, 2006

Yep, like Charles I purchased a HF log splitter. Bought it just over a year ago. Unlike Charles I did go with the B&S because that's all they had in the size I wanted... a 24 ton, 8hp. A few months later they changed to the Robin engine.
A year and 8 cord later I have had no major issues with the splitter. My original thought was to pick up something at a reasonable price. The splitter I got retailed for $949. It was on sale for $899. With my good-old 20% off coupon I picked it up for $720. I had a friend who has a truck and they loaded it right on it in no time. Yep, the tough part was getting the thing off of it.

Small problems range from a loose nut (teflon fixed that) and recently a loose filter. The issue with the hydraulic fill is a problem. I used a long neck funnel and bent it. Seems to work... except how the heck do you tell how much is in the tank? It's a pain.

The manual states not to split anything larger than 8". HA! Try 3'. Vertical splitting definitely is a back saver. For the price this thing definitely takes the cake!

Keith
Kubota B7610

Charlesaf3 · Oct 5, 2006

BTDT said:
Sounds great. Boy, I would love to have a log splitter. But then I would have to buy a wood stove, and a chain saw, and a truck....nevermind.

That just about sums up my life. Hi, my name is Charles and I have a tool addiction problem...

Charlesaf3 · Oct 5, 2006

Dargo said:
You have me beat by 2 ton; mine is only a 28 ton unit. I bought mine from a close out sale at Lowe's a couple of years ago in the early part of summer. Log splitters were not exactly moving fast for them at that time of the year. I was very pleased with the price (that's why I bought it - it was $795 and still in the crate). I'll have to agree with you on the B&S engine. I think it's an 8 hp (?) B&S engine. At first it seemed to run okay, but after the first couple of hours I had to start playing with the choke to get it to run right. It still starts and runs okay, but it is a pain to have to fiddle with the choke to get it set just right.

Mine is a Yard something brand I think. I've split quite a bit of wood with it and it, like yours, has actually panned out to be a pretty decent splitter overall. I'm glad it has plastic fenders. If not, I would have metal fenders all bent to heck after the first use. Thanks for your review. It seems to go along with mine in that it is possible to get a relatively decent and powerful splitter for not a huge amount of money. I had borrowed a 3 pt. splitter to use on my 50 hp tractor, and it sucked! The stand alone unit is the way to go. Good luck with yours, and don't tease me about my B&S engine too much.

I wouldn't dream of teasing you about your B&S - it's a great way to meet cute girls who hang out at your local BS repair shop

That is, assuming you have cute girls there - my BS repair shop has an ugly old guy named jim... But sounds like you got a great deal!

And I agree with you, the cheap ones seem to do well - the PTO stuff seemed to cost way too much. And why put the hours on the tractor engine? Its also nice to have something else on the 3 point, while the splitter lives at the log pile.

Charlesaf3 · Oct 5, 2006

SPYDERLK said:
Charlesaf3, Thats a lot of tonnage for a 9HP. You trade off speed when you go to the bigger (5+") cylinders needed to provide this force safely. Unless you are using a 4 way wedge you will never need more than 20 tons. I have been using my homemade 18 ton (verified by gauge) for 20 years and have never run into something I couldnt split. There have been about 5 times that I had to try twice. You got a good price for that force capability, but you pay in speed unless you go to a 4 way wedge.
Larry

Yeah, it is slow, though its a 2 way so its pretty fast back. And to tell the truth, it isn't that slow, and I see the speed as a safety thing - tough to get a hand caught in this one.

I was thinking of having someone make me up a four way head, actually. Don't know how to weld myself so I'd have to get it done. Head seems pretty replaceable - one bolt to the cylinder, and some bolts on the I beam.

On the power washer front, nah, I've got one. A Briggs and Stratton

(Dargo, feel free to give it back to me now!)

Charlesaf3 · Oct 5, 2006

Stoweski said:
Yep, like Charles I purchased a HF log splitter. Bought it just over a year ago. Unlike Charles I did go with the B&S because that's all they had in the size I wanted... a 24 ton, 8hp. A few months later they changed to the Robin engine.
A year and 8 cord later I have had no major issues with the splitter. My original thought was to pick up something at a reasonable price. The splitter I got retailed for $949. It was on sale for $899. With my good-old 20% off coupon I picked it up for $720. I had a friend who has a truck and they loaded it right on it in no time. Yep, the tough part was getting the thing off of it.

Small problems range from a loose nut (teflon fixed that) and recently a loose filter. The issue with the hydraulic fill is a problem. I used a long neck funnel and bent it. Seems to work... except how the heck do you tell how much is in the tank? It's a pain.

The manual states not to split anything larger than 8". HA! Try 3'. Vertical splitting definitely is a back saver. For the price this thing definitely takes the cake!

Keith
Kubota B7610

Wow, great price. And sounds like you got to avoid the fun of putting it together. I don't see how they can make any money on them at that, considering all the steel in the thing. And yep, you are right - the 8" is clearly a CYA number - the thing laughs at 8". That's just the size of the head.

I love skiing at Stowe btw. Hope the coverage is better this year.

Propertymaint · Oct 6, 2006

I bought one of the HF 24 ton 8HP B&S this spring. For the money it's split everything I put at it so far - about 5 cords. I had a similar problem with the hydraulic filter only mine just loosened up (the only thing i forgot to check if it was tight during assembly - quite a mess). I did run thru all the other connections and teflon taped fittings etc. I modified the location of the control valve to make it easier to operate. I did a small review in this section after I purchased mine but it was in conjunction with a cord saw review. Why do people not like the Briggs and Stratton engines. I will agree the Kawasaki and Honda engines are what I usually lean towards for a commercial piece of equipment but I have an old walk behind leaf blower with an 8 HP I/C engine and it just keeps running.

Stoweski · Oct 6, 2006

Propertymaint said:
I bought one of the HF 24 ton 8HP B&S this spring. For the money it's split everything I put at it so far - about 5 cords. I had a similar problem with the hydraulic filter only mine just loosened up (the only thing i forgot to check if it was tight during assembly - quite a mess). I did run thru all the other connections and teflon taped fittings etc. I modified the location of the control valve to make it easier to operate. I did a small review in this section after I purchased mine but it was in conjunction with a cord saw review. Why do people not like the Briggs and Stratton engines. I will agree the Kawasaki and Honda engines are what I usually lean towards for a commercial piece of equipment but I have an old walk behind leaf blower with an 8 HP I/C engine and it just keeps running.

1. I didn't realize they still sold them with the B&S engines. Thought they were all Robin at this point.

2. Any chance I could get a few picts on how you relocated the control valve? I'd really like to see that especially since whenever I use the thing I need to stand IN FRONT of the muffler... can be quite hot!

3. When and if my engine goes I'll be sure to purchase a Honda engine. A friend has one that he bought to replace a B&S and the thing was silent compared to the B&S!

3. Charles... Actually my splitter was in the crate which they loaded in the back of a Toyota pickup. I did have to assemble it which was a pain especially with the I-beam they had on it. Good kindling wood for my firepit!
And yes, you caught on to my username. Stowe is my favorite mtn. If it weren't for the weekend liftlines on the quad I'd be skiing Liftline and National all day! Oh, and if my quads could take that punishment too. Pray for snow!!!

Keith
Kubota B7610

rambler · Oct 9, 2006

8" wood????? Sheez, that fits in my stove as is, I've never split wood that small! Why make kindling out of good wood????

If one hasn't needed 30 tons, one must not have elm trees......

Thanks for the review, alway curious about the engines & such.

Could an elbow be threaded onto the oil fill? Probably an odd size or not threaded or some such....

--->Paul

Charlesaf3 · Oct 9, 2006

Threading an elbow onto the hydraulic fill might be a thought of genius. Of course, finding that elbow... I just bought a funnel with a flexible insert yesterday, which I think will solve the problem.

A couple of other issues - I'm using it a lot now, so I have a lot of time to contemplate... The hydraulic hoses had enough slack in them that they tended to rest on the extremely hot muffler. I'm pretty sure that was going to cause problems one day - solution, 3 cable ties tying them together, so they support themselves well off the muffler.

Other modifications I'd like to make are making a cradle of sorts so the log doesn't have to be held in place - this would have to be mounted on the bottom of the I beam. I just saw this on a Yard machines. I'd also like to mount some sort of bumper beam around the engine, so logs can't fall on it, and so I don't accidentally bump up against the muffler

Also, I'd like to rig a long enough handle that I don't have to stand next to the muffler while cutting. The yard machines splitter had what looks like the same system as HF, but reversed so the handle was closer to the splitting area. Just flipping the HF assembly might be the easiest.

Re the muffler exhaust - the port on mine could be angled by removing and putting the screws in different holes - I now have the exhaust firing down and a little forward, which is nice. There is a spark arrester.

Other thoughts on checking out the YM splitter at Home depot ($1300+) against the HF machine. YM splitter had a bunch of the tweaks mentioned above already done - looked like the same design updated. Engine was a 5hp honda compared to my HF 9 hp subaru. Much more steel in the HF splitter - the design philosophy seemed to be spare no I beam. YM splitter only had an I beam under log, rest was 2" square tubing. So lighter all around. Hitch of the YM was at a much less PITA height.

All in all, the YM had the nice design modifications, but the HF was much better/heftier built, and cheaper. I was pleased to see this.

I find Briggs engines to be loud and lousy - great for keeping mechanics in business. The general quality of the subaru just kills it. And the 9hp subaru is quieter than a 5 hp briggs.

Charlesaf3 · Oct 9, 2006

oh, anyone ever replaced the wedge with a 4 point on any splitter?

Propertymaint · Oct 9, 2006

Stoweski, I basicly rotated the control valve, heated the lever and bent it to fit my needs. Here are a couple of pictures. I also built a quick cradle for the far side - keeps wood that requires a second split from falling to the ground. All in all a decent machine with a few mods.

Stoweski · Oct 9, 2006

Yep, I think I see some mods coming in the near future! Used the splitter for about 2hrs today and now have a nice pile of wood ready to be stacked. Now if the significant other will get out there and start stacking!!!

Thanks for the picts!
Keith
Kubota B7610

Charlesaf3 · Oct 9, 2006

Stoweski said:
Yep, I think I see some mods coming in the near future! Used the splitter for about 2hrs today and now have a nice pile of wood ready to be stacked. Now if the significant other will get out there and start stacking!!!

Thanks for the picts!
Keith
Kubota B7610

Forget the splitter, I want to know how you get the stacker to work!

Stackwood · Dec 5, 2006

We have a 20 ton splitter for ten years that can be stopped with knotty oak 16" and up. Not all the time, but enough to be bothersome. I don't imagine this would happen with a 30 ton splitter.

What psi do these things operate at?

The worst part about a gas powered splitter are the exhaust fumes. Somebody seems to get gassed in any situation. We're going to go with a tractor mounted splitter to avoid this. Should be quieter and easier starting, too.