I bought a new IMS 37 ton log splitter in April 2011. It has proven to be the most unreliable, poorly designed and built power tool I’ve ever owned and I wish I had bought something – anything else.
I paid $1,500 for it new directly from IMS in Rockland MA. This was a major purchase for me. My goal simply is to process 6 cords of firewood each year to burn for heat in our home in Central Massachusetts, to burn less heating oil. The day I got it home I split several pieces to test it. It split fine, but as I set it to split vertically, one of the hydraulic hoses got caught on a lifting handle and the stress of the movement caused the hose fitting to leak out the back where attaches to the hydraulic fluid tank (not a smart design). I finished my test, cleaned it up, wrapped it in a tarp and put it away for about 2 months. I topped off the fuel tank with some gas treated with Sta-bil.
After 2 months passed I began processing my firewood for this past Winter. When I attempted to start the 9 hp Lowther engine, it would chug but I could not get it to run. It was explained to me (after the fact) that even though I treated the gas with Sta-bil, the carburetor on this engine is not able to handle fuel that sits in the bowl for longer than 1 month because the added ethanol in today’s gasoline absorbs water. The bottom line is I had to bring the logsplitter back to IMS to have the engine entirely replaced because it had no compression. My home back up power generator and my lawnmower (both 4 cycle) had no problem whatsoever with the very same fuel, but the Lowther engine/carburetor combo couldn’t handle it. IMS NOW strongly recommends treating the gas with X2 additive and running the engine dry when putting it away for longer than 1 month. The owner’s manual that came with it does not mention this, nor was I told all this the day I took delivery. To IMS credit, Tom (one of the owners – he demos the log splitters in their videos on their web page) agreed to replace the engine after some haggling back and forth, because he could see from looking at the logsplitter I had barely used it.
Several months passed. I was running the splitter for perhaps 2 hours when something failed in the hydraulic controller: The Piston would not move. Since the logsplitter has no suspension and shouldn’t be towed long distances (I live over 50 miles from IMS store in Rockland) I paid my local auto mechanic to fix it.
When I got it back from my mechanic I split about 3 cords of firewood: Nothing big, most of the stuff I had last year was 6” – 12” in diameter. When I was into my 4th cord, the lovejoy coupler broke (connects the hydraulic pump to the engine shaft). Tom sent me a replacement, plus a replacement hydraulic hose for $112. A cast housing in between the hydraulic pump and the engine block completes the connection and houses the drive shaft/lovejoy coupler assembly. As I was taking OFF one of the 4 bolts, that casting cracked. I nonetheless finished installing the new lovejoy coupler and reattached the housing to the pump / engine. I used the splitter for about another hour, when I noticed 1 of the 4 cutting blades had broken off into a piece of wood (8” in diameter, no knots) I was splitting. Examining the broken blade and base it attaches to, I could see rust colored corrosion / pitting INSIDE the cast metal (nothing on the surface) where it broke. I brought the whole unit back to IMS again. They replaced the cutting blade and the cracked housing under warranty. The service manager wanted to charge me $51 for the pin assembly that allows the unit to stand vertically. It must have come off in travel, though I was not aware it had. They also replaced the hydraulic tank vent cap, which is made of plastic and is located on top of the tank. Unfortunately, it is located where split pieces of wood often fall, which is not very well thought out either.
I asked Tom to step outside for a moment so I could talk with him out of earshot of other customers in his store. I didn’t want to be a jerk in front of his other customers but I needed him to hear of all my difficulties and frustrations with their log splitter. He listened and was gracious. All he could say though is
“most people don’t have this many problems with our logsplitters”. And if I didn’t feel I should pay the $50 for the pin assembly, then don’t pay it. I explained that bringing it back twice I had already spent over $100 in gas / tolls. He agreed to no charge, but also said he was
“all done” with fixing my log splitter under warranty (I have 1 month left).
When I got the splitter home I wanted to test it. I grabbed the pull start handle and could NOT pull it through. I immediately called Tom at IMS who immediately connected me to their service manager Dan. Dan asked me if I turned OFF the fuel switch before towing it home. I said I took it home in exactly the condition he gave it back to me, and the fuel switch was ON. He said that with all the bouncing during traveling, the float switch likely allowed too much fuel into the cylinder. And to take the spark plug out, pull it through, and that gas would probably squirt out the plug hole. It did. Then he advised I change the oil just in case….. so I didn’t blow the engine like I did the 2nd time I used it.
This splitter has 2 drop down legs (1 front and 1 back) that stabilize and support the splitter during operation. Each leg has a chain and clip that hold the legs “up” when moving / towing. The chains provided were so flimsy that they rusted and broke within months of my buying it (despite being covered in a tarp). It’s a good thing I keep bungee cords in my truck because literally both chains broke and the legs dropped the 2nd time I brought the splitter back to IMS. Yesterday I replaced the safety chains that attach to a trailer hitch because those were rusting out too. I also bought an aluminum cup to go over the top of the plastic vent cap (mentioned earlier) so hopefully it won’t break again when I next use it.
The following quote is from IMS website (
http://www.imotorsports.net):
Our Research Team in Shanghai, China is a group of knowledgeable individuals dedicated on finding great manufactures building quality, durable and low-cost products. Together we seek to create a great value and an alternative to the public here in the United States. At IMS, we dedicate ourselves as a team to being simply the best in everything we offer for sale and everything we service.
The gas tank on my IMS logsplitter has a sticker boldly proclaiming
“Made in China”.
To repeat what I said earlier, the IMS 37 ton logsplitter has proven to be the most unreliable, poorly designed and built power tool I’ve ever owned and I wish I had bought something else. I’ve read elsewhere that these logsplitters are a collection of cheap, Chinese made knock-off copycat parts. All I can say is that I have never, EVER had a power tool that has broken, malfunctioned, and been so unreliable. Understand that I don’t even have 30 hours on this logsplitter! I have zero confidence in using it reliably, and wonder what NEXT will break on it. I’m frustrated beyond words because I need a reliable logsplitter and this one has been a waste of $1,500.
I’m posting my experience with the IMS 37 ton logsplitter on any website I can google search that offers reviews on it. Feel free to contact me via email anytime. I have photos of the broken parts.
Paul Casassa
Central Massachusetts
[email protected]
