Thread: log splitter for homeowner

I bought the Troy Bilt 27 ton last year from Lowes. $1399.00 12 months no interest or 10% off. I took the 10 % off. Went back the next week and noticed the same splitter now had metal rings around the hydraulic hoses. Mine didn't, asked the guy from Lowes, he called his manager, got 10 more percent off. Glad I went back in...

Split 6 cords last winter...works great..

i have the 27 ton troy built. Its ok, three families are using it so i want to say its splitting 20 full size cords a year. its been six years or so.. Its showing its wear. The ball bearings for the autoreturn have gone bad. The fenders have gotten pretty crushed, and the log holders bent the first day.

someone, at some point, drove it into a rock and knocked the pump out of proper agligment, so we ahve to replace the transfer device at the pump every year or so. THere is a light frame gaurd to protect the pump but that got smashed also.

if you can afford it, you should go a little bigger, better...

Take a look at the Brave line of splitters, they are made in Illinois and are the entry level of Iron and Oak splitters. I have a 26 ton model with the 8 HP Briggs Intek engine and have been really happy. I wanted one with a Honda but I have been very pleased with this new model Briggs engine.

I bought a Northstar 22 ton from Norther hydraulics earlier this year. And have put 20-25 cords of oak threw it this summer. And have not had a lick of trouble with it. And has split everything we have thrown at it.

We did modify it a little. Added a log tray on the motor side. Just so you don't have to keep picking up the peices that fall on the ground. I guess I do have one issue, thats fuel consumption. I go through a tank per cord roughly. I guess not to bad but wish a tank would go further. But it creates a good point to stop and take a break!

Looks like they changed this model. Now its derated to 20 ton and moved the control and a little cheaper too.
http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...6905_200316905

just bought a 35 ton huskee with a 15sec return still works faster than me .anyone have a store bought catcher so far more than meets my demands not sorry at all about the purchase

Originally Posted by throbak

just bought a 35 ton huskee with a 15sec return still works faster than me .anyone have a store bought catcher so far more than meets my demands not sorry at all about the purchase

Originally Posted by BlueRidgeMark

That's a huge rip-off. For that price, you can have the Speeco/Huskee from Tractor supply in the 35 ton persuasion. This is a FAR better machine than anything MTD builds.

The downside is, it's made mostly overseas, but then, I would bet the MTD is, too.



http://www.tractorsupply.com/outdoor...litter-2152382

Ok, after much deliberation, we went to our local Tractor Supply and ordered this one yesterday. $1799.00 Thanks for all your assistance, we will cross our fingers and hope we did well!

You did great, that is a very popular splitter here, and speeco has a very good reputation here in customer service. Look up a log table for your splitter on this site and you will be great shape for a long long time.

I'm assuming the user name refers to a Honda trx300. I have a pair of 2000 trx300's the most bulletproof 4-wheelers I've ever owned.

That is great to hear. I am looking forward to the splitter and putting it through the paces.

You are correct about my user name. I own a 88 300 2X4 (daughters) and a 94 300 4X4 (mine) in addition to at 97 Honda 200 (sons) and a 2000 Foreman 400 (mine) I started using trx300man on the different atv forums I frequent or moderate.

Originally Posted by flewism

You did great, that is a very popular splitter here, and speeco has a very good reputation here in customer service.

I think you'll be happy with it, trx. I did manage to bend my toe plate on some extremely harrrrrd oak. Big stuff. Speeco and TSC stepped right up to the plate and made things right. Here's the thread, if you're interested. For my summary of my experience with Speeco and TSC's customer service, this post will do.


Enjoy!

Originally Posted by flewism

Look up a log table for your splitter on this site and you will be great shape for a long long time.

Yeah, there's a thread or two around here with a link to an eBay seller that has a very nice log table for these beasties. Looks pretty good, from the pics, and several folks say they work very well. IIRC, it's cheap enough it just wouldn't make sense to build your own.

I want to put an LS27 into the back of my Suburban for a long trip - if I buy one. The good folk at Troy Bilt could only tell me the crated dimensions . Can someone here help me out with the height, width and length? Many thanks!

I bought an "Earthquake" splitter made by Ardisam IIRC in Wisconsin. It's rated 22 ton with a B&S 6.5 HP. So far it's been a very good splitter. The hydraulic filter is only branded with the earthquake logo and part number. When I went to get a new one, NAPA and Carquest both said they couldn't cross reference the number. I ended up buying a few from ardisam but the price was suprisingly fair.

Originally Posted by davessworks

I want to put an LS27 into the back of my Suburban for a long trip - if I buy one. The good folk at Troy Bilt could only tell me the crated dimensions . Can someone here help me out with the height, width and length? Many thanks!

The approximate dimensions are 34"Hx40"WX7'L. Good luck getting in the back of a Suburban though. It would probably take atleast 3 guys to get it in even if it would fit.

Originally Posted by jkce457

The approximate dimensions are 34"Hx40"WX7'L. Good luck getting in the back of a Suburban though. It would probably take atleast 3 guys to get it in even if it would fit.

Right - I figured as much. Thanks anyway.

The troy-built I bought (living on military retirement) is a pile of crap! I have to fix or tighten something every time I use it.
All the metal is infirior/weak. Soft springs, slow cyclce time, pot-metal wedge, etc. The only thing that is sound is the pressure hose and the tires.

The only things I seen good on the new Troy-built splitter is the Honda engine and the higher deck.

Originally Posted by Straightgrain

The troy-built I bought (living on military retirement) is a pile of crap! I have to fix or tighten something every time I use it.
All the metal is infirior/weak. Soft springs, slow cyclce time, pot-metal wedge, etc. The only thing that is sound is the pressure hose and the tires.

The only things I seen good on the new Troy-built splitter is the Honda engine and the higher deck.

that's disappointing. I just took a look at the LS27 at Lowes - it looks good to me. The wedge is supposed to be cast iron. Pot metal would just break . . .