log splitter advice wanted

[windfall]

I am finding that my £3500 4x4 tractor is just being used as a stationary engine thats costing me £2.80 an hour to run! Mostly the tractor is surrounded by log biscuits so that when i could do with using it i cant without exerting much wasted effort.

[Justme]

I was thinking similar today whilst standing there looking at two tractors & one 4 tonne digger thinking I could sell one & get a processor lol. Trouble is the 4wd 590 does lots of other jobs as does the digger & the 165 aint worth much.

[TimberCutterDartmoor]

I am currently pricing for a PTO driven splitter to take 1.0m lengths, 13 (or 14) tonne capacity being ample for my needs

Riko responded the same day with a (so far) competive quote.

No response yet from Thor or Posch suppliers.

And it does not appear that Wallenstien supply such a machine.

Thanks Jim

Cheers

M

 

Posch - not surprised they haven't replied - worst customer service I have ever come across

 

I have a Riko / Balfor - has split some serious tonnage; apart from my chipper it's the best machine I own.

 

I thought as a general rule it was always better to specify a pto splitter with its own pump rather than using the tractor hydraulics which as mentioned here are famously poor...

[dylan]

I have around the same flow rate 28lpm from my IH885 and my harrows r us jobbie is superb. But the tractor revs have to be 1600rpm, if i have them at 1200 then there is a drastic decrease in splitter performance and speed so i can understand your issues with lower flow rates. IMHO 28lpm will be fine.

 

In case anyone is interested at 1600 rpm i am chewing through 3 quarters of a gallon per hour. So i will be building a hydraulic pack powered by my petter ph2 motor.

 

have just put one of my splitters on to gas as the 20hp v twin honda can use 5.75 litres/hour

it works out at between 3 or 4 litres /cubic meter depending on type of timber being split

might convert the other one if it works out alot cheaper

[difflock]

Cheers TCD

Good to Know that Riko supplied stuff is good, not that anyone has suggested otherwise.

M

PS

Mind after a day on a hired in splitter (again) I might be thinking that a processor would make sense, physically rather than financially that is.

Ouch!

[windfall]

From what i have read if you are just processing cord wood of upto 15" thats all straight then a processor is the way forward. The machines themselves seem to really hold their value, it seems they only loose 2k in value over 2 -3 years! I really cant see how you could go wrong...

 

No good for arb waste though

[difflock]

A Butt:lol:, there is a catch, the butts.

I am clearfelling windthrown Lodgepole pine, not many bigger butts I suppose, anyway I could set them aside & process the suitable sized stuff with a processor.

Then hire a splitter occassionally when sufficent bigger stuff accumulated.

It is the capital expenditure all tied up.

Ideally I would like to hire a processor, but nowt available locally.

Sigh