New splitter - American CLS

[Turner-N-Burner]

My new splitter showed up last week, and I’ve had time to put about a cord through it.

Can’t get the grin off my face, so I thought I’d share some pics and impressions.

I’ve got a bad back, but I love to burn wood, and I know I’m saving a ton of money on natural gas, so it wasn’t too hard to justify buying a good splitter. I expect this one will outlast me.

It’s a 25HH model by American CLS. 8hp, 16gpm horizontal. I upgraded to the honda engine, and also went with the split pans, 4 way wedge and the log lift.

After using it, I’m even more impressed than I thought it’d be. the ergonomics are great. because of the bigger tires on the HH model, the beam is at perfect working height - no bending to run the splitter or handle the splits. The split pans are big enough to catch big chunks or even halves coming off of 20"+ rounds, and they’re just low enough so that splits fall away from the beam so you can split a few pieces before clearing the pans. T

The log lift makes positioning the next round into place just too easy, and is a fantastic worktable for the pieces you need to re-split. You just toss those onto the table, and pull the lever to bring them back to you when you’re ready for them.

With my back, I couldn’t run a vertical splitter for more than a few minutes at a time, so the lift was a must-have for me. After using it, I cannot recommend it highly enough.

enough of the sales pitch.. time for pics
.
.
.
Splitter and two wood carts, one for kindling, one for splits

.
.
.
Rounds lined up and ready to go

.
.
.
.
Lifting the next round into place. WD40 can just for scale

 

[BlueRidgeMark]

How much can that log lift handle?

 

[mga]

looks like you better get busy splitting all those logs.

 

[husky455rancher]

nice man im jealous thats badass, mike

 

[boostnut]

Thats a nice looking splitter, looks like you'll be keeping it busy for a while! Pat yourself on the back for upgrading to the Honda, I just replaced my old B&S with a Honda, what a world of difference. Starts on the first pull and no need for earplugs anymore. Nice choice!

 

[Kydan]

That is a nice splitter, I know you enjoy that log lift and that log dolly makes things more convenient too, I need to get one of those. All you need is a good helper chainsawing ,stacking them splits. You'll soon be looking for more to feed that machine. Have fun!opcorn:

 

[hornett224]

those are the best splitters for the money.

i bought the 24hh a couple weeks ago.a top quality product all around.

i got the 5.5hp honda with the 13 GPM pump because i was in a hurry.seems to be enough.my buddy talked me into the 4 way.i could have done without it.kind of a pain taking it on and off all the time.i didn't get the table originally but i went and got it the following week.welded it right on and i love it.this splitter is night and day compared to my buddies TSC husky splitter.don't get me wrong,the Husky has split a crap load of wood but this is 20 times more user friendly.it cost a bit more but it is much better laid out.i like the honda better than the Briggs.seen to many briggs with a rod out the side of the block.

i don't need the log lift.if it's bigger than i want to lift i just load it with the tractors front grapple.

enjoy that splitter.only problem with mine is i'm out of wood to split.guess my neighbors are gonna lose some trees.

 

[rx7145]

How much can that log lift handle?

500lbs

 

[Butch(OH)]

That's a nice look'en splitter! And you must have some cool neighbors too? Fire up a saw and a splitter in a neigborhood like that around here and they would be calling the police, EPA, zoning board, lone ranger, FBI, George of the Jungle and anyone else who would listen to them B:censored: ch.

 

[TheGrunt]

Timerwolf TW-5

Nice splitter, does it have an autocycle so you don't have to hold the lever when splitting? Why didn't you opt for the hydraulic 4 way wedge? I've got both options on my TW-5 and I just love it. You hit the auto cycle valves and while it is splitting that piece you can stack the pieces that were split already. And the wedge you can move up and down depending in the size to the round. I know it costs but it is well worth it.

 

[msjanket]

American CLS splitters

Just as I was ready to spring for a new 24HH splitter, I found a used one in good shape. It was always kept under cover, used wisely, and in fine shape.
These Americans are ergonomically built. Wood split falls out the back side,not on the small wheels many makes have. The cylinder goes forward, toward the tractor, away from the wheels in the back.
Don't want to bloat up the reputation of the American splitters, but you won't find a better, more thoughtfully made and functioning unit. And, Praise the Lord, they are AMERICAN made....

 

[Hummer]

That's an impressive log splitter, I want one. The manufacturer and distributor websites don't make it easy to find prices of the units and options. Instead, they want you to jump through hoops to get prices, what's up with that? If you have to ask, you can't afford it, right?

 

[Turner-N-Burner]

500lbs

I hadn't heard that, but I believe it. Just out of curiosity I piled a bunch of rounds on lift all at once - basically all that I could fit on it without them spilling back off - and the lift had no problem with it.

 

[Turner-N-Burner]

That's a nice look'en splitter! And you must have some cool neighbors too? Fire up a saw and a splitter in a neigborhood like that around here and they would be calling the police, EPA, zoning board, lone ranger, FBI, George of the Jungle and anyone else who would listen to them B:censored: ch.

LOL. my neighbors are all pretty friendly, and I'm careful to make sure I'm in quiet mode - cleaning up and stuff - by the dark time. And they know me well enough to know that I go pretty quickly through any project I'm into.

Even so, I was feeling a little bad about the noise over the weekend. I shut down the splitter when I was done with the rounds that were already cut, and was about to call it quits for the day.

Then I realized that the skater-kids down the block were playing some god-awful rap music, and playing it really loud.

I looked at the nearest kid, and he looked at me like he expected to get yelled at, so I started the saw up, revved it a little, gave him a grin and got back to work.:greenchainsaw: LOL.

 

[Turner-N-Burner]

Grunt,
It doesn’t have full autocycle, but it does have autoreturn. The cycle time is quick – only 10 seconds down and back, so it’s not much of an issue. My arms are long enough to pull the lever and clear a split at the same time anyway.

I had looked at a used TW-5, but it had been used hard, didn’t have a lift, and the guy was still asking a lot. It’s also much bigger unit obviously. Overkill for my needs and it would have been a lot harder to store. Likewise with the adjustable 4-way. I didn’t think I really needed it, and I had already blown my budget.

msjacket,
I looked for a used one for a long time – you made a nice score. And you’re right, It's a lot easier to spend a big chunk of money on something when you know that most of it is staying in this country!

Hummer,
I think American mostly sells through dealers because the shipping costs can get excessive if they’re only shipping one at a time. If you call them though, they’ll tell you what their list prices are. They’re not cheap, but from what I could tell, they are less expensive than some of the other manufactures, and they have models that are in between the homecenter models, and the full blown TW5 clones.

 

[Hugenpoet]

Very nice looking unit. You should still have a smile on your face many years from now with that splitter. Congrats.

 

[Hummer]

It doesn’t have full autocycle, but it does have autoreturn. The cycle time is quick – only 10 seconds down and back, so it’s not much of an issue. My arms are long enough to pull the lever and clear a split at the same time anyway.

Hummer,
I think American mostly sells through dealers because the shipping costs can get excessive if they’re only shipping one at a time. If you call them though, they’ll tell you what their list prices are. They’re not cheap, but from what I could tell, they are less expensive than some of the other manufactures, and they have models that are in between the homecenter models, and the full blown TW5 clones.

Normally you would hold the log in place with one hand while operating the forward control lever with the other. Doesn't the log lift assembly make it awkward to reach across to the control. I don't have long arms, is it in the way such that this would be a problem?

I haven't seen this brand locally and the websites don't have dealer listings. Mind telling us what you paid for the outfit and options? Hey, and I like those carts too.

Hummer

 

[Dale]

Actually, I like what looks like your Cedar Tongue & Groove shed.

Honda Engine = 1 pull 1 start.

 

[hornett224]

lucky for you.

Just as I was ready to spring for a new 24HH splitter, I found a used one in good shape. It was always kept under cover, used wisely, and in fine shape.
These Americans are ergonomically built. Wood split falls out the back side,not on the small wheels many makes have. The cylinder goes forward, toward the tractor, away from the wheels in the back.
Don't want to bloat up the reputation of the American splitters, but you won't find a better, more thoughtfully made and functioning unit. And, Praise the Lord, they are AMERICAN made....

i looked and didn't find many splitters any where.let alone an American cls.i don't mind new.this way i know only i have used and maintained it.i kind of anal about my equipment anyway.ask anyone who has bought a saw from me.Oldirty knows.he bought my 371XP.

 

[A. Stanton]

Looks sweet!