Mods:
Conveyor:
I sometimes get a small chunk of wood or bark on the lower roller of the firewood conveyor that throws the belt tracking off. Fishing it out can be a chore. There is expanded metal protection, it is low to the ground, and very shaded between the belts. The first thing noticed of course is the belt tracking to one side, and then a lump between the drum and belt. Blown snow does the same. When compressed it turns to lumps of ice which also throws off tracking.
I doubt I'll be using the conveyor this winter with my set up. I think it may be a good time for a mod. To remove the expanded metal and replace it with a removable guard and also add an attached tool box for flash light, dedicated wrenches, grease gun, and a spot to pin the removable tongue.
It also need zerks added to the pivot point of the wheel support structure. Seizing at that point has been a long standing issue when I need to raise and lower it. I emailed Built-Rite this summer and got a quote of $450. for components to convert the raising/lowering from crank to hydraulics. It sits stationary for a year at a time, and only on occassion does the height get moved. Without zerks and the ability to get grease in there the tube in tube hinge seizes. No hydraulics at that price.
Another mod is for the SS.
I want to use the quad to move the splitter.
Wheels/tires and bolt-on T axle arrived this past week, and go-kart spindle kit should be here tomorrow. The parts are to make a wagon running gear pivoting front axle with tongue to bolt under the flywheel/engine end of the splitter. The existing axle will be moved to bolt under the wedge/table end allowing me to push the splitter up to the conveyor. Hopefully the forklift tube will still stay and if needed I can still use them. They should bolt back in as it is now with one bolt on each end. The optional SS hitch on the table end does not work for me because of the conveyor. I mentioned this mod to Paul at SS two years ago in an email suggesting he offer it as an option. There was no response. I mentioned it in an email again when ordering the parts, that they are for a four wheel mod.
So the idea is for the axle to pivot side to side to eliminate tipping/rocking when using the splitter. Then cut the axle stubs off and weld on the go-kart spindle kit with trailing arms. The tongue set up will be the interesting part to get it right. I'm guessing the spindle and trailing arm tie rod point distance should be equal to the tongue pivot and tie rod connection point distance, to turn and follow properly. The tongue itself also needs a pivot up and down, and to be able to raise it vertically out of the way. Some one else will be doing the welding so uncertain of the time line. If it is soon, and I hope so, then I'll pull the SS and use the TW-6 for everyday splitting and see how that goes with smaller stuff.