Speeco 15 or 25 ton

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fyrslyer

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Hi all, i am looking at getting a splitter and am curious if anyone can tell me why Speecos 15 ton model has a cycle time of 8 seconds and there 25 ton models range from 12-18 seconds? Any advice on which model you would suggest?

Thanks in advance

I will probably be splittin between 20-40 cord a year with it
 
Stay away from spee co!!!!!!! Im sure its way more then you want to spend shipping it, but if you really want a spee co pm me I will sell you mine. Mine was purchased brand new on 4-28-08. So far, they have replaced the tank, hydraulic cylinder, and monday it goes in to get a new splitting rail. They also replaced the coil on the engine. Each time it has gone in, it has taken a few weeks to a month to get worked on. Mine where the splitter connects to the tank(where it pivots from horizontal to vertical), if you look 2 little spot welds is all that holds the rail onto the tank. When the welds broke, they replaced the tank as that whole thing is one unit. The new tank is designed the same way, has 2 tack welds holding the whole thing together. Who knows how long that will last. The new tank, the atf fluid comes out around the threads(where the dipstick is/oil fill is). The splitter is not overfull on oil and the vent isnt plugged. I was told just to put teflon tape on the oil dipstick cap, it still leaks. The ram was replaced about a month after I got it. It was leaking fluid around the seal. The foot plate on the rail is bent outward, and they are putting a new rail on it monday. The briggs motor uses a lot of fuel for the size (compared to honda) and starts very hard in winter. Except for the pump and engine, they have replaced everything else within a year. I have the 25 ton model. In the vertical position, the foot plate isnt big enough for very large pieces of wood. So much of the wood sits on the ground, it wants to pick the splitter up vs splitting the wood. The tonge is just upside down u shaped steel. Not very heavy. Not boxed in. Mine is bent slightly just from the weight of the splitter and beam. I dont road my machine much at all but imagine if I did, it would be much worse. There is a reason why these machines are 1500ish dollars(for the 25 ton) and the real professional heavy duty models are 5,000ish+ for the timberwolf. For the volume you are doing, I would either invest in a real splitter or build one. Oh and as for the cycle time. it is purly because of the pump size. 18 seconds is pretty optomistic. I wouldnt go any smaller then 25 ton. ON some red elm, twisted boxelder and oak, I have stalled my 25 ton model and had to rip the blocks.
 
Ok yes they are 1500+-

You get what you pay for.. t least Speeco has stepped up to the plate and are making efforts at the repairs.
I bet a dollar to a doughnut your service will be better with speeco than some of the other less expensive splitters..
I have the 28 ton. Love the Honda.I have never stalled the motor or the ram. It has seen the low side of the pump many times though.But it just keeps on pushing through., I agree things could be built a bit stronger here and there. Regarding the filler cap. it is a vent. Of course it will leak when bounced around across the yard or down the road.
If I had to buy another splitter tomorrow.. It would without a doubt be another Speeco model.
I bent the foot slightly on mine.. They freighted me another beam, no questions asked other than my address.
 
They wouldnt send me the rail, they said it had to be installed by the dealer who is less then favorable or congenial. It doesnt leak out the vent, though the vent isnt plugged or blocked. It leaks around the threads where the plug screws into the tank. It doesnt leak when roading it, I dont road it much at all. It leaks when running. As I said it is not overfull.
 
I have had my 22 ton spee co for 3 or 4 years and done 25-30 cord thru it. I have never had an issue with it. The paint is not the best but it runs great. I just changed out the filter... The 22 ton has been excellent for me...
 
Thanks for the replys everyone defenitly varying opinions on the speeco models, will have to do some research for sure
 
Not sure where you are at , but Orschlens here has the 15 ton Speeco for $899 before any discounts and the price is soon to drop. It is a Horizontal only with a Honda GX190, 3.5" cylinder and 11 GPM pump. The one drawback looked like it might be the 20" stroke. The 8-9 second cycle time caught my attention.

I was looking at their 35 ton Brave V/H splitters too but not ready to turn looose of the coin for that much overkill.
 
My dad has a speeco 28 ton and he used it to split some maple for me before I built my splitter. He stalled it a few times on that maple. My 20 ton cuts right through it though.....It has a LOT to do with the wedge shape....get a sharp one or make it sharp after you buy it.
 
The one drawback looked like it might be the 20" stroke. The 8-9 second cycle time caught my attention.

my splitter has a 20" stroke whick i thiught was a bad thing at first too. till i realized the biggest log my insert will take is 20". so as i like to say if itll split itll fit.
 
Hi all, i am looking at getting a splitter and am curious if anyone can tell me why Speecos 15 ton model has a cycle time of 8 seconds and there 25 ton models range from 12-18 seconds? Any advice on which model you would suggest?

Thanks in advance

I will probably be splittin between 20-40 cord a year with it

The 15 ton uses a smaller cylinder. It fills quicker with an 11GPM pump than the larger cylinder on the bigger splitter. Not sure what size pump/cyl the bigger of the 2 use but bigger cylinders take longer to fill is reason for the cycle time difference between them. A bigger pump takes larger hoses to deliver the volume. Bigger hoses cost more money , not like they aren't expensive enough to start with. Bigger pumps also require more horsepower engines. Thats another expence.

For my operation, I'm considering the 15 ton for a few years. At least till I build or buy a bigger/better/faster/louder splitter, if I need it.
 
My stove will take 24" long splits/rounds. Most of what I cut is 16"-18". Occasionally I get calls for 24" wood. I usually just burn the shorts in my own stove though. 12" to 14" stuff will stand on end in it and seems to burn longer.

No more 24" wood than I might sell I can still split it by hand , or move the splitting wedge to the end of the beam.
 
Something else to maybe check into for comparison. Speeco builds the Huskee splitters for Tractor Supply. If you like the looks of the Huskees wait until Tractor Supply offers a special. I saved a little over $185.00 with a coupon they offered on my splitter.

Nosmo
 
:agree2:

That's what I did to get my Huskee (SpeeCo) 35-ton splitter from TSC. There was a price drop in early August at the same time a TSC discount coupon came in the mail/email.

Oh, and they went back to the solid toe plate:

Splitter_VS_RedOak.jpg
 
why is it that the wood always seems to collect around the base of the splitter no matter how hard you throw it.
 
I have the 35 ton Huskee. I just replaced the lovejoy spider and that is the first issue I have had with it. It is not the fastest cycle time and the Briggs will just about rip your arm off if you don't pay attention starting it. But I don't have anything negative to say about it as far as how it was built. It does the job and has put up with my unique type of abuse for 5 years. From what I have read on the forum they seem to stand squarely behind the product. Would I like a kickin new Timberwolf...heck yeah but this one does the job at 1/3rd the cost.
 
Hi all, i am looking at getting a splitter and am curious if anyone can tell me why Speecos 15 ton model has a cycle time of 8 seconds and there 25 ton models range from 12-18 seconds? Any advice on which model you would suggest? Thanks in advance.

I will probably be splitting between 20-40 cord a year with it
Check out this table:
SplitterCycleTimes.gif

Note the incredible increase in cycle time required by a larger diameter cylinder to obtain more force. The only way to maintain a fast cycle time with a larger cylinder is to increase the pump's capacity, and that requires more horsepower (and fuel consumption).
 
i have a15 ton and the father in law has the 25 ton. Cant go wrong with either and i got mine for 750 out the door full of gas and oils. For everyone telling me the 15 ton wouldnt split crotches i had to try it and it popped through an elm crotch just fine, although she did growl down and grunt alot she got through it, the only thing i noticed is the 15 ton hydraulics heat up quicker then most splitters because it is only a 2.5 gallon resievor. The nice thing about the 15 ton is that with two people you can easily pick it up and put it in the back of the pick-up for hauling whereas the 25 ton will likely make you pop a nut, its a heavy SOB. just my 2 cents i would recommend either one
 
I've got the 22 and 35 tonners. If you're doing that many cords, don't worry about the cycle times; spend the extra $125 bucks or so and get the extra splitting force of the 22 tonner.
 
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