Thoughts on 3pt log splitters?

[BossofBBQ]

My Grandpa had a Kubota L3650 with a 3pt splitter, we split a lot of firewood that way. The ram actually moved decently fast, and had no problem with hardwoods. We'd still use the tractor loader to move logs/push trees, but the splitter was conveniently attached on the 3pt, ready for use. It was a lot easier than dragging a separate splitter around the woods. Plus, the tractor sounded a lot better than a small engine...

I still have that splitter, just don't use it too much nowadays. A downside of living on the plains, no trees out here!

 

[can do]

My Grandpa had a Kubota L3650 with a 3pt splitter, we split a lot of firewood that way. The ram actually moved decently fast, and had no problem with hardwoods. We'd still use the tractor loader to move logs/push trees, but the splitter was conveniently attached on the 3pt, ready for use. It was a lot easier than dragging a separate splitter around the woods. Plus, the tractor sounded a lot better than a small engine...

I still have that splitter, just don't use it too much nowadays. A downside of living on the plains, no trees out here!

Sometimes during the course of the year it can be a blessing not having a lot of trees.

 

[grsthegreat]

I made mine about 16 years ago. Absolutely love it. Its slower cycling than a stand alone, but i dont mind that. I still have all my fingers.

Its still plenty fast. Nothing to maintain. Mine stands up vertical so i dont have to lift the rounds.

These pictures were taken yesterday.

I always make piles of 60” long cut trees, than move these piles to cutting area. I cut the rounds there, than split and stack. Cover under tarp until it goes to storage area. I season my wood usually 2-3 seasons.

 

[grsthegreat]

No chance I'm running up hours and maintenance on my tractor for duties a cheap splitter can handle just fine.

Tractors are designed for long hours of running. We used to have our tractors hooked up to water pumps to irrigate fields. They would run for 24 straight hours. There not running full throttle. When using my splitter, its set to just a bit above idle. Works plenty fast for me, i feel safer that a really fast cycle time. I know friends without fingers from log splitter accidents.

 

[grsthegreat]

Honestly, if your afraid to run your tractor because youll wear out the engine, you purchased the wrong tractor.

 

[grsthegreat]

And i dont understand the tying up the tractor thing. When im splitting wood, i cant be using the tractor at the same time….
Also, i do all my logging, cutting and splitting by myself, so im not stopping anyone else from access to the tractor.

I can remove splitter in about 2 minutes if needed, or i can simply leave it on and do other chores.

Different needs for different people.

The 3 point fits my needs. The pile in the photo was made in just a few hours. Doesnt take too long. I just reposition tractor as needed into pile of rounds.

Come spring, ill use grapple and kawasaki mule to move pile for covered storage of wood.

 

[ptsg]

grsthegreat, you nailed all the points. I don't understand the wearing out the tractor argument? Makes no sense at all on a machine made to last thousands and thousands of hours...

Heck, most firewood sellers here even buy old broken down tractors just to power a log splitter. As long as the engine and PTO works, it's perfectly fine for log splitting duties.

I used to have a screamer engine on my log splitter. Then bought the Branson and used it right away to power the log splitter. Much better. Engine running at 1500 RPMs, running pretty much on diesel fumes, much less fuel use than the screamer engine and gas is more expensive than diesel here. You could have a normal conversation without having to scream or shout every time.

Then I got solar panels at home, so I converted it to a 3 phase 400V electric motor. This is by far the best version of it and even more quieter, plus if timed right, I get to split wood for free pretty much.

I don't get the "need the tractor to move logs" either. Are you splitting or moving logs? Just move the stuff you need to be split to the log splitter area and do it all at once? Then your tractor is free again for whatever duties it needs to do.

 

[Sportsman762]

I've had my tractor 25 years. At 50 hours a year that would be an additional 1250 hours on an expensive to purchase and maintain machine. It has NOTHING to do with whether tractor can handle it. That's a straw argument.

Why put wear and tear on an expensive tractor engine and get inferior performance to boot?

Like others I am not sold on the extra wear and tear on an engine. The average diesel tractor engine in Agricultural service lasts 6900 hours before the first inframe overhaul and 11,000 hours before needing an out of frame overhaul per a Mac Kay and company report. When I did an out of frame rebuild on my Massey with a Perkins AD135 engine the cost for me was <$1000 dollars. So thats $0.69 per hour if it lasts 6900 hours before an inframe is needed. It only needed rebuilt because the previous owner used starting fluid on it and busted the rings out.

As @ZiggyD points out, there is a cycle rate loss due to lower flow rates on a tractor.

Lets see..... Wear out a $10,000 tractor engine or a $149 small engine...... Can buy awful lot of small engines for the $10,000....

https://www.harborfreight.com/brands/predator/engines/65-hp-212cc-ohv-horizontal-shaft-gas-engine-epa-69730.html

If the predator engine lasts 217 hours (150/0.69) then its cost would be equal to the wear on my engine (even though an inframe is $400 so $0.057 per hour in wear). I think that there is a case for 3pt and engine powered, but I am not buying the "my tractor engine will die" argument. This is my experience, however if doing much wood at all I would go stand alone engine powered.

 

[WranglerX]

And i dont understand the tying up the tractor thing. When im splitting wood, i cant be using the tractor at the same time….
Also, i do all my logging, cutting and splitting by myself, so im not stopping anyone else from access to the tractor.

I can remove splitter in about 2 minutes if needed, or i can simply leave it on and do other chores.

Different needs for different people.

The 3 point fits my needs. The pile in the photo was made in just a few hours. Doesnt take too long. I just reposition tractor as needed into pile of rounds.

Come spring, ill use grapple and kawasaki mule to move pile for covered storage of wood.

Its about using tractor to move rounds in area where spitting work is being done, mainly loading rounds to big to manhandle (human) onto splitter body, like I'm 81 years young have cardiac condition and find it really hard to move my 4 to 6 foot lengths from logdeck into area to cut down to 16 inches and possible put larger rounds on splitter.... Some of these lengths weigh in from 100 to 200 pounds (solid oak) ... Guess if my splitter was on 3PH and I would then have to purchase a Chinese Mini Excavator to continue my work flow.... Stand alone splitter and tractor I already have seems sufficient.... Dont really want or need to by one of these with standalone splitter and tractor...

 

[4570Man]

And i dont understand the tying up the tractor thing. When im splitting wood, i cant be using the tractor at the same time….
Also, i do all my logging, cutting and splitting by myself, so im not stopping anyone else from access to the tractor.

I can remove splitter in about 2 minutes if needed, or i can simply leave it on and do other chores.

Different needs for different people.

The 3 point fits my needs. The pile in the photo was made in just a few hours. Doesnt take too long. I just reposition tractor as needed into pile of rounds.

Come spring, ill use grapple and kawasaki mule to move pile for covered storage of wood.

I make full use of my machines when I’m splitting wood. I load the split pieces into the skid steer bucket right off the splitter and I use the excavator to move logs for sawing and if I have a helper I’ll load the big pieces right on the log table. I don’t load every piece that way but I’ll set a couple pieces on the table and I’ll set a couple more in an easy position to roll on the log lift. That piece in the thumb is kinda small but loading them like that is a tremendous work saver when they’re 2-300 pound pieces.

 

[90cummins]

I’m unable to post a photo or video of my setup.
My splitter is setup so I can move with my pallet forks which are 3pt hitch mounted.
Having its own engine makes it more versatile and is certainly much faster than a PTO powered system.
Splitter has a 16hp cast iron Briggs engine driving a 28 gpm pump.
Cylinder is 4x24 and is extremely fast with a 7 second cycle time at a governed speed of 2956 rpm. I rarely run it at governed speed.

I made my splitter long before I had a tractor so the obvious thing for me was to modify my splitter to be carried by my tractor.
The speed & ability to use the splitter independently from the tractor is not something I would give up.
As far as additional maintenance it’s insignificant.

 

[KennyG]

Its about using tractor to move rounds in area where spitting work is being done, mainly loading rounds to big to manhandle (human) onto splitter body, like I'm 81 years young have cardiac condition and find it really hard to move my 4 to 6 foot lengths from logdeck into area to cut down to 16 inches and possible put larger rounds on splitter.... Some of these lengths weigh in from 100 to 200 pounds (solid oak) ... Guess if my splitter was on 3PH and I would then have to purchase a Chinese Mini Excavator to continue my work flow.... Stand alone splitter and tractor I already have seems sufficient.... Dont really want or need to by one of these with standalone splitter and tractor...

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Now you have me wondering if I can use my three point splitter to justify buying a mini excavator.

 

[WranglerX]

Now you have me wondering if I can use my three point splitter to justify buying a mini excavator.

Just buy it you can not have to many things to work with ..... Remember work smarter... (Pssst, it's another market for you products also)...

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[Carl_NH]

Don't take this wrong but you just proved my point. I'm 78 and still can split a cord plus in an hour, by myself with my home-made splitter. That taking a break by getting on the tractor to move split rounds out of the way. Normally I work by myself but on rare occasions that I get a helper that loads my log lift and keeps the splits out of the way we can do 2 plus cords, 3 maybe in an hour depending on the type of wood. How ever this will work the hell out of one helper because he's constantly loading wood and keeping it out of the way as long as I pull the lever.

MX842 - the 3-4 hours is cutting, splitting, hauling from the woods to the garage, stacking it, and I take my time. I use a 4x6' dump cart on the side of the splitter to load wood into.

 

[mx842]

MX842 - the 3-4 hours is cutting, splitting, hauling from the woods to the garage, stacking it, and I take my time. I use a 4x6' dump cart on the side of the splitter to load wood into.

OK, then you be rolling along. LOL I use my Kubota to drag logs up to where I split and pile logs. Then I use my old Powerking to move splitter around. My biggest hang up is keeping the splits out of the way once they come off the splitter tray. In less than 15 minutes I will have to either move the Powerking forward or throw the splits out of the way by hand. Sometimes if I want to keep the split wood in a pile in a small area, I will place my Kubota bucket at the end of the table and let the wood fall into the bucket then pile it up, but I have to move the tractor every 5 minutes. To me it's faster to just throw it out of the way by hand. no matter how you go about it cutting and splitting wood is work
I keep saying I'm going to build another conveyor which would speed things up a lot because keeping splits out of the way is the most time-consuming task in my operation. I say I keep thinking about it, but I have to ask myself how much longer I will be able to do this. The one I had got burned up when my shop burned down and just can't see taking the time and money to build another one.

 

[mx842]

I made mine about 16 years ago. Absolutely love it. Its slower cycling than a stand alone, but i dont mind that. I still have all my fingers.

Its still plenty fast. Nothing to maintain. Mine stands up vertical so i dont have to lift the rounds.

These pictures were taken yesterday.

I always make piles of 60” long cut trees, than move these piles to cutting area. I cut the rounds there, than split and stack. Cover under tarp until it goes to storage area. I season my wood usually 2-3 seasons.

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I know people that have those vertical splitters, and I had one, but they would never work for me. It wouldn't be too bad if you were always splitting wood less than 15" round. Most of my wood I mess with is 24" to 30" around and to try and wrestle a 30" piece of wood that sometimes can weigh 3 to 400 lbs is a pain to try to get it to where it needs to be with one of those splitters. I find it's easier, for me anyway to just roll those big rounds over to my log lift and raise them up to the deck. Big wood is a pain any way you look at it, but I can roll it a lot easier than I can drag it getting them into position.

 

[dodge man]

Getting a splitter with a log lift seems to add a lot to the price.

 

[4570Man]

Getting a splitter with a log lift seems to add a lot to the price.

Because it’s worth it.

 

[qualsite]

We only heat with wood, and when I was looking, the tractor people reminded me that the flow is too low on a tractor to effectively drive a splitter. When I priced out ones with a PTO driven hydraulic system, the ROI wasn't there at all, and then I would have the tractor driving a splitter when I needed it. Plus, I like to split intermittently for short periods, and just pulling the tarp back off a splitter in the wood yard works for that. I ended up with a direct online order 25Ton YardMax for $1K delivered [a few years ago]. It's been great and split a few seasons of wood for us. I get logs delivered free from a couple tree companies, so a variety of wood, and some really bears to split, but the YardMax has handled them all... even the Liquidamber Sweet Gum, which doesn't split, but just uses all 25 tons to shred in half. The only bad thing about it is the Chinese-made Honda clone Briggs engine on it. Honestly, I don't know how B&S does it, but they can even mess up a clone of a good engine, and then have horrible service when it has a problem. Although, the YardMax people were great and took care of it when B&S didn't. The Harbor Freight clones are more reliable.

 

[WranglerX]

We only heat with wood, and when I was looking, the tractor people reminded me that the flow is too low on a tractor to effectively drive a splitter. When I priced out ones with a PTO driven hydraulic system, the ROI wasn't there at all, and then I would have the tractor driving a splitter when I needed it. Plus, I like to split intermittently for short periods, and just pulling the tarp back off a splitter in the wood yard works for that. I ended up with a direct online order 25Ton YardMax for $1K delivered [a few years ago]. It's been great and split a few seasons of wood for us. I get logs delivered free from a couple tree companies, so a variety of wood, and some really bears to split, but the YardMax has handled them all... even the Liquidamber Sweet Gum, which doesn't split, but just uses all 25 tons to shred in half. The only bad thing about it is the Chinese-made Honda clone Briggs engine on it. Honestly, I don't know how B&S does it, but they can even mess up a clone of a good engine, and then have horrible service when it has a problem. Although, the YardMax people were great and took care of it when B&S didn't. The Harbor Freight clones are more reliable.

B&S went into bankruptcy because they could not compete with HF and could not even sell me parts to fix the B&S that were broken, on engine on my splitter, the B&S parts to repair were more than what the HF replacement engine cost and it was a 6.5hp vs a 5hp B&S... As it turns out I can probably replace the HF 6.5 hp about 3 times for what one B&S or Honda costs... The sad part is I am sending my money to China instead of keeping US manufacturer alive.... And I still have got to eat...