Thread: New Split-fire 3265 Arrived!

This just came in yesterday morning. I promised to put up pics and here they are:

http://s232.photobucket.com/albums/e...07/Split-fire/

After splitting about 2/3 of a cord I will state my opinions. Overall I really like the splitter, however, there are some changes I would like to see and plan to make on my splitter. The track width of the splitter is too narrow with the log lift attached. The driver's side wheel needs to be extended about 6" to 8". One log I lifted probably weighed 200 pounds and the splitter wanted to turn over. This is rather disappointing but should be an easy fix since I have a welding machine. The second thing I would like to see changed is the cooling air that goes across the fins of the engine is directed towards and parallel to the beam. Splitting in 90F weather with warm air blowing towards you isn't that great. The wood I was splitting was picking up alot of dirt and some of this was blowing around and getting in my eyes. One of the photos shows a cardboard diverter that I zip tied to the splitter..........this took care of that issue, but I would like to make something a little more permanent to take care of this, possibly something easily removed. I am sure the warm air may be welcomed if splitting in cooler weather when the logs aren't being rolled through dry dusty dirt before splitting. I also had one very minor leak where one of the pressure supply lines connects to the cylinder. I probably could have just given it half a turn more, but I went ahead and removed it, cleaned the teflon tape from the threads, applied new tape, and tightened it up pretty snug.

The things I like about the splitter: It's fast, it made splitting large rounds very easy, the honda engine is superb. It starts with half a soft pull. My wife or 8 year old son could crank this thing easily even though it is 6.5 hp. The unit is built very stout. The suspension should make towing it at normal speeds a breeze.

Please note that several of the detailed photos of the log lift are for farmersid. He has built a clone of the split-fire and had asked me to share photos of the log lift as he is interested in adding one to his splitter.

Waylan

walexa07,

Instead of moving the wheel out to add stability try adding a swing out stabilizer bar along the side of the log lift. Widening the track on one side only the splitter may not tow straight.

I had thought about some sort of stabilizer as well.......just haven't figured it out for sure yet. If I do put one wheel further out, it will not affect towing as far as I can see. As long as the wheels are parallel it should have no affect. If anything it would just make the splitter more stable when towing.

My father is rather sharp when it comes to modifying things, so I am going to sit on it a few days before I do anything.........to give him time to think of the best way to solve the problem with the log lift.

Waylan

Hey Waylan,

Glad you got your new toy in! That's interesting about the hot air blowing in your face. The muffler points towards the wheel. Is it when you are rolling a block onto the lift that it blows dust in your face? I'd modify the guard that covers the muffler by welding a piece of pipe bent on a 90 so it points downward or out the back. I never noticed that issure when using the one my buddy rented or mine as my muffler points in the same direction as yours.

I still owe you some pictures of my tailgate. I will get them to you. I have been away and this is my first time in the office.

Thanks for the pictures of the lift. Very helpfull. It's funny that you mention how the splitter wants to tip with heavy rounds on it. I wondered that myself but figured that the manufacturer corrected those issures during R&D. Do you mind if a take a copy of those pictures so I can build a lift myself?

Cheers!

Sid

Very nice and congrates. Interesting observations. It could be the photo's but how is the height of the beam for you? Looks a bit low too me but again could be the pix. I had too wheel mine up onto a pair of those cheapo steel ramps to get it up too the proper height for prolonged use. I found that bending over slightly was worse than allot over time. Now I'm standing straight and no aches.

Sid,

The hot air that is blowing on me and blowing some dust is coming from the engine. I am referring to the air that is sucked in around the recoil starter and across the engine fins........not the muffler. The exhaust is blowing out above the driver's side tire, like you said.

I believe the log lift is an afterthought on split-fire's part.....in other words, they built their original splitter, then later decided to add a log lift. If the driver's side tire was a few inches further out it would be a non-issue. Another thing that promotes it being tippy with a large round on the log lift is the suspension. If it was not suspended I can see it wouldn't be as much of a problem. But when lifting a large round the suspension gives and causes the machine to roll.

Please take all the photos you want. I took them in high resolution just so you can zoom in for whatever detail you may want. If you need additional photos or measurements let me know and I will get them to you.

It appears to me that your home-made splitter may be wider, or your beam is more towards the passenger side so adding a lift to yours may not cause these problems I am experiencing. Let me know what you come up with.......it looks like you do top notch work.

Waylan

Originally Posted by Zodiac45

Very nice and congrates. Interesting observations. It could be the photo's but how is the height of the beam for you? Looks a bit low too me but again could be the pix. I had too wheel mine up onto a pair of those cheapo steel ramps to get it up too the proper height for prolonged use. I found that bending over slightly was worse than allot over time. Now I'm standing straight and no aches.

I am only 5'-6", and the beam height is advertised as 24-25" and seems perfect to me. I split for over an hour yesterday and did not feel any back strain at all. If it were higher it may be more work for me to work with the rounds as I reposition them for more splitting.

If you watch the videos on slit-fire's website you can see one in use and judge for yourself if the height is too low for you. But like I said, I see no problems using it with my height.

Waylan

i had called and talked to matt and then marty from splitfire to look at possibly buying one of their splitters, as i've never seen one and wanted to check it out.

marty was very helpful and brought it over to my house about 2 weeks after calling him for a demonstraction. the motor was very nice, and it took him less than 5 seconds to get everything running. there was no log lifter on mine but i did think the stance was a little narrow.

i did notice on some of the logs i had laying around, he was able to punch them no problem but getting them off the wedge was a different story. it took several tries and finally ended up using a piece of another log to force the big one off. the smaller stuff it was lightning fast, but most of my supply is very large, and it didn't seem to handle them as well at all.

also noticed after splitting for about 5 minutes it started leaking hydraulic fluid pretty bad.

they are neat though, i'm sure with your modifications it'd be a great splitter. hope it serves you well.

how long did it take to get your splitter after ordering it? Are you satisfied with the model size you got ?? Do you think getting a 4 way axe is worth getting??? I'm thinking of getting one also.

It took about 6 business days from when I ordered until I received the splitter.

I am satisfied with the model I got.........I requested a taller wedge than the standard, added suspension, and got the 6.5 honda instead of the 5.5 honda.

The way I was splitting yesterday..........unsplit logs on one side of the splitter, stacked wood behind me........roll log onto log lift, split it up, and stack it as it came off the splitter, I think the regular 2-way wedge is plenty fast enough. In fact, I think it can keep 2 guys covered up. If you have 3 people total operating the splitter the 4 way wedge may make more sense. For heavy homeowner use the 2 way is plenty enough for me.

One recommendation though........I would ask Matt if you can get a 4' track width, with the 10" extra going to the side the log lift is on. I measured mine at lunch today and it had 34.5" track width, center of tire to center of tire. I am going to redo mine and add 4" of axle width to the passenger side and 10" to the log lift side. This should make it possible to lift any log size w/o the machine wanting to tip. I will post photos when i am done. Should have it completed this week.

Sure hate modifying something brand new, but oh well.

Waylan

I got my Split Fire about 2 weeks ago and love it! We split about 2 cords of wood with 3 guys, and it was plenty fast for us.....The split wood piled up so fast that I almost wish we had a conveyor! Nothing we split gave it a problem, and the log lift besides the obvious advantage, was great for the guy bringing the wood on the lift, so when ready for more wood, just lift and split away until he brings more wood....

I thought not getting the 4 way wedge was going to be a problem but I am VERY HAPPY with my 3265

The only other splitter I would consider is a TimberWolf TW5, and for $7300 for personal use I think is way overkill....

Good luck with your mods and please post some pics!

Jerry,

I posted a link in the first post to my photobucket link........lots of photos in there. I plan to take more photos today.......action photos if I can remember while I am splitting.

Have you noticed the hot air from the engine blowing towards the operator?

Have you lifted large enough rounds that the splitter acted as if it might tip over?

I stalled mine once yesterday splitting a 24"+ round, but the wedge was on the retract stroke. After that, all large rounds were split first on the cylinder extend stroke and no stalling. The one that it did stall on when retracting was full of knots but the extend stroke had no problem with it.

Can you post photos of yours?

Waylan

Waylan, rather than cutting it up & adding to the axle, is there anyway to add some weight on the other side? Wheel weight or something like it?

I did not notice the hot air bothering us at all......was about 70 that day so was a nice day otherwise

We really didnt have any rounds bigger than 24 inches, but we would put 4 18-20 inchers on the log lift so the splitter had logs ready to split....

The only picture I have readily available is when I first got it before I brought it upstate......Will try to get some pics for you next time I am there, but its exactly like yours, except it has the normal 8 inch blade

The other difference is that mine has suspension. But I blocked the axle yesterday and it didn't help any. I am about to add some photos I took of the splitter coming off the ground on the side opposite the log lift. A couple with me point loading the log lift...........and several others with the log lift attempting to raise about a 24" round that I am guessing weighs around 150 lbs or so.

In a nutshell, I really like the splitter, except for the problem I am having with the log lift. I emailed Matt with split-fire and he said the 350 pound rating on the log lift is on the model without suspension and that blocking the axle helps alot. I paid extra for the suspension, and was not told it decreased log lift capacity.

I am thinking long and hard about the best way to fix everything to my liking even though it sucks to modify something I paid out the butt for to begin with.

In my possibly flawed thinking, a 350 pound rating on a log lift has a safety factor incorporated in, and the log lift would actually be capable of more. As it is, it is a safety hazard. I do not feel safe allowing my 8-year-old son near the unit when working with heavy logs even though he is super excited about our new equipment.

Right now I think the best mod would be to get a 4' axle, with larger tires (more flex with taller sidewalls), no suspension, and have the axle extend out to the edge of the log lift, with the axle spaced to allow proper beam height with the log lift lowered.

Waylan