Log splitter - don't laugh

[smfcpacfp]

I built this 29 years ago, all from scrap parts. The engine is a Wisconsin single cylinder engine built in the early built in the mid 50's for $75. It needed a new magnito.

A friend of mine gave me the hydraulic pump. I bought the hydraulic cylinder in Denver while visiting my sister. I have no idea where I got the steel. I bought the selector valve, hoses, and fittings.

Since it wasn't an engineered product, it runs how it runs - slowly. Anyway I have split a lot of wood with this ugly beast.

 

[denmansoft]

I never laugh at something that works. A friend of mine has one very similar. Ugly but it sure split those 3' dia rounds of Doug Fir!

 

[Bedlam]

Ive sure seen much more uglier.If it does the job thats all that matters.

 

[WayneB]

Steve a little paint and it would look great! (LOL) Sure you have some good memories about working with that machine!

Lot of people talk about how fast their machine splits wood, I typically speak about how will I keep up with my old splitter.

One thing for sure you can see it behind your truck going down the road with the length and size of the tires!

 

[moeh1]

Looks identical to my wisconsin that has been running my splitter for the last 30 years since a rebuild...What is wrong with your mag? I had to clean mine, the "points" had corroded and it wouldn't spark. If you aren't inclined to tear in yourself, there are shops that specialize in repairing magnetos. They seems to be hard to find and expensive for these old W's.

 

[Ductape]

Mmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmmm mmmmmmm !!!! Look at all that delicious firewood !


I say your splitter has lots of character.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

That's a great looking old machine..Those old Wisconsins are beast. If it isn't lugging too much can you speed it's cycle time by decreasing the pulley size on the engine?
Does the hydraulic fluid get very warm in the tank? The tank on my 34 ton splitter is about 2 times that size.

 

[actionaj]

I don't see it as being ugly at all. I don't think you would get 30 years out of new store bought splitter. Thats one heavy looking cylinder what is it off of?

 

[Tig]

It actually looks more road worthy than most splitters I see. Nice big wheels and a decent stance.

 

[Farmerford]

They don't get any better than that.

In the last picture it appears the woodpile collapsed on the splitter. I assume you will leave it alone and uncover it as you burn the wood this winter!

Or do you use it for a wood trailer too?

 

[smfcpacfp]

The magnito is fine, but when I bought it many years ago, I had to replace it.

The hydraulic fluid gets warm, but not hot. It still has the original hydraulic fluid in it that I installed 29 years ago. I bought some new fluild a week ago and was going to replace it, but my mechanic friend said why bother if it is working ok. I think I will take a sample of it out and take a good look at it.

I got the cylinder from an industrial salvage yard in Denver about 30 years ago while visiting my sister at Christmas. It is hard to find used good cylinders here in the boondocks. I needed a long one, since I used to have a furnace that could burn 5 foot logs. The cylinder has never leaked. It has been perfect.

It just looks like the pile fell on it. We just had wood stacked for splitting.

I usually buy 20+ cords of wood at a time which will last 3 to 4 years, so I hadn't used it for 4 years. I replaced the spark plug. Would you believe it started on the first pull? I warmed it up and changed the oil and it has performed flawlessly.

 

[TheKid]

One of my neighbors has one he pieced together that looks a lot like that. One thing he added was supports that kept the log from falling to the ground when it split. He said it saved his back and also a lot of time not having to bend over to pick up the pieces that fell.

Here's one of your pictures with the addition.

 

[bobodu]

If beauty was all that mattered.....there would be a LOT more single people.

 

[WilliamBos]

I built this 29 years ago, all from scrap parts. The engine is a Wisconsin single cylinder engine built in the early built in the mid 50's for $75. It needed a new magnito.

A friend of mine gave me the hydraulic pump. I bought the hydraulic cylinder in Denver while visiting my sister. I have no idea where I got the steel. I bought the selector valve, hoses, and fittings.

Since it wasn't an engineered product, it runs how it runs - slowly. Anyway I have split a lot of wood with this ugly beast.

Beautiful. Who cares how long it takes to split it, as long as it does.

Not ugly at all, well worked and earned its keep, I am sure.

 

[LBrown59]

*Looks identical to my wisconsin that has been running my splitter for the last 30 years since a rebuild...

I don't have a Log splitter but I do have a 1966 and a 1967 Bolens with wisconsin motors on them.

 

[moeh1]

The one on my logsplitter was rescued from the dump with no compression, bad valves, a mag with no spark and a carb full of dirt. Don't know how it was even running the day it died. Anyway it wasn't labeled as a wisconsin, it is labeled as a Ward's Tractor Engine. I repainted the whole thing, but left that plate intact.

New rings, valves, head gasket, rebuilt the mag and carb, and it has run flawless for the last 30 years. Amazing.

 

[robbieo11]

my freind beuaty is in the eye of the beholder. i think anyway my point is i love to see the fuel bills in winter primary heat here at home is a Hydro-fire hf46 outdoor wood boiler

my former primary heat was propane i bought the unit 5 years ago works great paid for itself by the 3rd season because of heating cost spike that year.
so how can we fault a man or woman in trying to keep there famiy warm if u are that worrie about paint it pink atleast so we can talk about how fimine it looks then show us how much of a man it is while working


holy run on sentence batman

look at sig line to see my creation

 

[scrout]

that cant be all firewood?
I am just finishing a homemade bandmill and all those logs are making my mouth water......

 

[easygo]

I especially like the fact that it has enough flat surface to hold a tasty beverage.

They don't make 'em like they used to...

 

[locknut]

That cylinder looks huge.Probably needs a little bigger pump to make it run quicker.This reminds me of the first splitter I ever used.Had a V4 Wisconsin w/electric start,a pump from a state hwy truck,and a huge cylinder that would split 6" logs laid sideways(stand back!).It was so heavy you could only move it on hardstand,by hand.