looking for advice on a log splitter...

[panahead@gmail.]

hi... i am looking to buy a log splitter..... i live in big sur ca. and my house (2 cabins and a shop) are heated by firewood.... i have a lot of oak and some madrone that needs to be split and i am looking to buy a machine that will last a long time..... i have looked into the
troy built 33 ton..... http://www.amazon.com/Troy-Bilt-24AD597D766-8HP-Honda-Splitter/dp/B0000AS2GT

the northern tool 37 ton.... http://www.amazon.com/NorthStar-Horizontal-Vertical-Log-Splitter/dp/B000HD4LPU

and the iron and oak 26 ton..... http://www.amazon.com/bhvh2602-Vertical-Horizontal-Splitter-Engine/dp/B000BPM1YC

i am not sure which machine is the best? the northern tool seems to have the best specs.... although i am not sure about the splitting head? the troy looks to be the better for trailering.... and the head looks pretty butch and the iron and oak was recomend by valley saw in salinas.... although it is the most expensive and the lowest power rating.... can anyone help me? i burn 3 to 4 cords an year and would split double that given the time.... i want a machine that is reliavle... sturdy.... and won't get bogged down with big oak and madrone rounds... we have a lot of dead would here due to the sudden oak syndrome....

 

[Buckeye]

Don't let the ton-ratings fool you. The manufacturers fudge these numbers.


Troy Bilt = MTD = POS (In my opinion)

Everything I have read about the Northern unit is positive.

The Iron and Oak is more of a Professional unit. If you have the money, go for the I&O, but for homeowner use it probably won't do anything that the Northern unit wouldn't handle.


I'm in the process of building my own splitter, but if I was goiing to buy one it would be the Northern. This goes doubly if you have a Northern Tool store local and thus don't have to pay shipping.

 

[GLM]

Of the three links you gave I would go with the Norther unit, you can't go wrong with the Honda engine and Barnes pump, the other two splitters you linked to don't even mention what pump they use or the GPM. The Iron and Oak you linkned to has a Briggs and Stratton engine on it if you get the Iron and Oak with the honda its $2400 and some change. I agree the Troy built is not even in the running and when you compare the Northern and the Iron and Oak looks like the Northern comes with a nicer engine for less money, go Northern, my first oprion would be to build my own but if you want to buy one that Northern looks like the better of the three you listed and I agree that the ton ratings dont mean much the way manufactureres monkey with them, good engine + good pump(atleast 16 gpm) + good cylinder = split wood That Northen is looking good. Good luck Jon

 

[asb151]

I have the iron & oak you are looking at with the Honda. I love it. The construction is very high quality. It has split everything I can through at it. Cycle time is right aroung 12 seconds. Around here it is not uncommon to see them as rentals. You might want to check around. If you can rent for for a day you can see for yourself if you like it. Try here if you order.

http://www.northwestpowertools.com/lawnandgarden/logsplitter/bhvh2602h.htm

 

[046]

northern tool, iron/oak and speeco (huskee) all seem to get excellent feedback.
most everyone agrees... stay away from MTD and harbor freight

you seem to get the most bang for the $$ with speeco units. if you have a Atwells or TSC any where close to you. it's worth a drive to pick up.

22 ton speeco/huskee for $900 will split just about anything you can throw at it.

purchased 35 ton huskee (speeco) from TSC for $1,500.
12.5hp rated at 16gpm, but flows 20.75 gpm. has 6in ram, getting 16 sec cycle time. massive 8x10 beam.

splits horizontal or vertical. much prefer vertical to avoid lifting 2ft+ diameter logs. largest drawback is lack of four-way splitter option and 45mph tow speeds.

 

[Buckeye]

In addition to the Huskee splitters, I believe that Speeco also makes the Northern units.

On the Northern splitters, they use a horizontal shaft motor, which is a far superior design in my opinion. This keeps the pump up out of the way, where it can't get clipped by a rock/stump/whatever. Also easier to work on.

 

[Jackman]

Speeco does not make the Northern unit. Northern's company called Northstar does. I actually called them to ask some questions about the unit and the lady gave me the history of northern. The company actually started out in the midwest making their logsplitters and grew from there...I was going to order one until they told me it took 2 weeks to get the 37ton unit because there is such a backlog and that specific unit they tend to make to order. After waiting two weeks and not getting delivery I went with the 35ton speeco. A couple of hundred lower and tax free because I got it in delaware. Also...already assembled without an assembly fee and the included the engine oil and hydro oil as well. With the nothern you'll pay shipping, tax, for the oil, for the hydro fluid, have to put it together and pay more up front. The Speeco unit is well built and will suit you just fine.

BTW...I originally picked up the yard machine/trybuilt/homedepot special 27ton unit and used it for an hour for the first night and it blew the hydro line at the control valve on the return side. (got fluid all over me and the driveway.) I looked at the design and noticed that they had the filter on the return side...in my mind a bad idea...should be on the suction side. Think about how it would be to push fluid at the return line flow rate through a 10 micron filter or whatever it is..Too many issues can arrise from being built that way and probably the reason she blew. I returned it the next day for a full refund and then bought the speeco unit.

 

[GLM]

Funny you should mention return line filters I had one on my homemade splitter and after an hour it would blow the gasket at the filter, put a new filter on it another hour and same thing, 20gpm filter rate and a 16gpm pump, after the third filter I took the whole thing off and got rid of it I have a suction strainer and has worked great for hte last 200hrs without a breakdown.

 

[mga]

Speeco does not make the Northern unit. Northern's company called Northstar does. I actually called them to ask some questions about the unit and the lady gave me the history of northern. The company actually started out in the midwest making their logsplitters and grew from there...I was going to order one until they told me it took 2 weeks to get the 37ton unit because there is such a backlog and that specific unit they tend to make to order. After waiting two weeks and not getting delivery I went with the 35ton speeco. A couple of hundred lower and tax free because I got it in delaware. Also...already assembled without an assembly fee and the included the engine oil and hydro oil as well. With the nothern you'll pay shipping, tax, for the oil, for the hydro fluid, have to put it together and pay more up front. The Speeco unit is well built and will suit you just fine.

BTW...I originally picked up the yard machine/trybuilt/homedepot special 27ton unit and used it for an hour for the first night and it blew the hydro line at the control valve on the return side. (got fluid all over me and the driveway.) I looked at the design and noticed that they had the filter on the return side...in my mind a bad idea...should be on the suction side. Think about how it would be to push fluid at the return line flow rate through a 10 micron filter or whatever it is..Too many issues can arrise from being built that way and probably the reason she blew. I returned it the next day for a full refund and then bought the speeco unit.

the return line has very little pressure...less than 10 psi. if you have pressure in the return line, you have other problems. besides, filter mounts have a by-pass valve in them so that when the filter gets clogged, the valve opens up to keep the oil flowing. a filter blowing signifies another serious problem.

putting a filter on the suction side is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Booshcat]

northern tool, iron/oak and speeco (huskee) all seem to get excellent feedback.
most everyone agrees... stay away from MTD and harbor freight

The Troy-Bilt 33 Ton you are looking at IS NOT an MTD.
These units are built by Troy-Bilt and are sold by a different dealer stream than the MTD units. You will not find this unit in the big box stores. This may not be true in the future as MTD changes operations.
There are some Troy-Bilt labeled MTD's but this is not one of them.
The Troy-Bilt is an excellent unit that blows the other two away quality wise.
The Honda 8HP COMMERCIAL motor alone is a major point vs the other consumer grade power plants. With a 33 ton rated 5" cylinder, I have split cords and cords of 36" red oak rounds and all kinds of gnarly crotchwood with out a single incident of bogging. The diamond plate fenders are strong enough to stand on, the lights are protected by a heavy steel plate, and the horizontal/vertical transition is pretty much effortless. Total Quality
I own one and would pit it against anything else out there.


As far as the other MTD units go, or Northern Tool for that matter,
I dont know who "most everyone" is, but I'd be willing to bet it's not more than 2 or 3 posters with personal ?????es. I'm sure there are plenty of folks who are using these brands and are quite satisfied.

Oh yeah, If you picked up a splitter that someone at Home Depot assembled, and didn't check the hose clamps before filling and using, I'd say you were lucky that a little spilled hydraulic fluid is all you ended up with. Checking connections on a hydraulic system is part of the basic operating procedures that should be done at least a couple times a season.

On the Speeco units I looked at the motor is a vertical shaft and the pump exposed below, I'd hate to catch that on a stump.

 

[046]

booshcat, there's been more than few posts about MTD quality. several folks have posted MTD now owns Troy built brand and have had troubles.

personally have stayed away from MTD units due to posted comments.
my Huskee made by speeco has a 12.5 HP overhead valve engine with 6in ram and 8x10in beam. It's the most heavy duty splitter for $$ spent that I'm aware of.

would have purchased northerntools 33 ton 9hp 5in ram, splitter, but after adding on shipping etc, cost was aprox. $2200 VS $1,500 for 35ton Huskee, 45 miles away at TSC.

no question pump is exposed on speeco units. but I'm not dragging around in ruff conditions. So far 35 ton speeco has worked flawlessly.

could have made do with 22 ton unit, but I like getting the most heavy duty unit available for the $$. could you find a better splitter? of course, but price would be substantially higher!

after much research and lots of time looking for a used splitter. a $1,500 35 ton huskee is what I ended up with. so far very happy with choice.

 

[mga]

heh...i was bored so i looked around internet and found this "e-z cord" thing.

has anyone used one or watched one in action? (just bear with the music..lol)

http://www.members.shaw.ca/firewood/Log_Splitter_Log_Splitters_E-Zee_Cord_Video.html

 

[grandpatractor]

heh...i was bored so i looked around internet and found this "e-z cord" thing.

has anyone used one or watched one in action? (just bear with the music..lol)

http://www.members.shaw.ca/firewood/Log_Splitter_Log_Splitters_E-Zee_Cord_Video.html

I have seen this one before, I wasn't sure til the music started playing:rockn:

 

[wdchuck]

15+ cords run through my Speeco splitter, 25 ton, 10.5hp I/C Briggs engine, nothing has stopped it, elm crotches, knarly burr oak, even cross grain gets squished until it falls apart, works horizontal/vertical. $850 assembled, ready to go, new.

I wish it had a taller wedge and taller foot plate. Pull starting that engine in 10* weather is a good warm up for lifting the wood, but an 8hp honda would be even better, cheaper to operate too, less gas consumption.

I like it.

 

[Buckeye]

the return line has very little pressure...less than 10 psi. if you have pressure in the return line, you have other problems. besides, filter mounts have a by-pass valve in them so that when the filter gets clogged, the valve opens up to keep the oil flowing. a filter blowing signifies another serious problem.

putting a filter on the suction side is a disaster waiting to happen.

Agreed. Anyone who knows pumps/hydraulics will tell you that the filter belongs in the return line. A strainer on the suction side is OK, but a filter drastically increases the potential for cavitation and an early death to your pump.

The Troy-Bilt 33 Ton you are looking at IS NOT an MTD.
These units are built by Troy-Bilt and are sold by a different dealer stream than the MTD units. You will not find this unit in the big box stores. This may not be true in the future as MTD changes operations.

There are some Troy-Bilt labeled MTD's but this is not one of them.
The Troy-Bilt is an excellent unit that blows the other two away quality wise.

Perhaps what you are saying is correct, but what will happen in a few years when you need a part? Will MTD be supporting the TroyBilt units? I doubt it. Bottom line is that MTD makes/sells low-end products, like it or not.

As far as the other MTD units go, or Northern Tool for that matter,
I dont know who "most everyone" is, but I'd be willing to bet it's not more than 2 or 3 posters with personal ?????es. I'm sure there are plenty of folks who are using these brands and are quite satisfied.

You will lose the bet. Do a little research. MTD/White/Yard Machines/Cub Cadet/Troy Bilt/Bolens/McCulloch and whatever name they invent/buy next week are all the same company, and all are cheaply made junk. some of these brands were once respected companies, but all are under the MTD umbrella now, and thier quality reflects that.

I'm sure that there are plenty of guys who would be happy eating McDonald's every day. I prefer steak. :biggrinbounce2:

 

[panahead@gmail.]

thanks for the help...

thanks for all of the help..... i wound up getting the iron and oak 26 ton..... from northwest power tools..... no tax and free shipping and the machine seems to be the highest quality...... i can't thank everyone enough for the help... and i will let you know how it all turns out.....

 

[046]

congrats... post a few pic's.

 

[Booshcat]

Gomer Says...

I'm sure that there are plenty of guys who would be happy eating McDonald's every day. I prefer steak.

Looking forward to seeing your home-built splitter.
Make sure you post plenty of pictures when you finish.

 

[Booshcat]

Panahead said

thanks for all of the help..... i wound up getting the iron and oak 26 ton..... from northwest power tools..... no tax and free shipping and the machine seems to be the highest quality...... i can't thank everyone enough for the help... and i will let you know how it all turns out.....

The Iron & Oak is a fine product, you should get years of dependable service from it. Congratulations, oh and send a few photos if you get a chance.

 

[FuzzyOne]

I have the older style MTD with the full I beam and 6hp B/S IC engine. Never let me down and I never had to throw a piece to the side. I'd buy one again in a heart beat....that is I could find a used one like the one I have. Troy Builts current line with the half beam cannot compare to a TSC or Northern for price or quality. Mine is probably 8 years old and parts are easily available as I have checked into getting spares.