mikereynolds
ArboristSite Operative
I was looking at the Super Split website and noticed a new model called the "Special Edition: with 100 lb flywheels and 9hp motor. Has anybody bought one yet and are there any reviews?
I was looking at the Super Split website and noticed a new model called the "Special Edition: with 100 lb flywheels and 9hp motor. Has anybody bought one yet and are there any reviews?
Aren't people putting bigger flywheels on them already?
Sounds like it is pretty heavy
Not sure why they bother, as ones like my HD with a 1.5 electric motor run beautifully through all sizes and types of wood.
Four? years now of commercial use and I have only had to replace one roller bearing and that was because I split in the snow and didn't lube the machine before I put it away. Great product, great customer service.
What type and sizes of wood rounds are you splitting? I've got the standard SS but with the 1.5hp motor instead of the 1hp.
I'm not getting the same results as you, sure it blows thru black walnut and most ash, but put some red elm and I'm having to hit some of it 3,4 even 5 times, usually blowing a breaker in-between. These are fairly straight red elm rounds, 12-16" typically. Only using a 25ft extension cord, heavy duty 12ga.
American Elm the same size - forget about it....unless it's sat in the round for quite a while and has started to punk out abit.
The red elm splits the best when fresh cut, becomes difficult if it sits in the round even for a month or two.
Oh and I'm not using a generator like I mentioned in a previous post - good old garage AC wall outlet.
I have the standard J model SS and it has split everything I've cut. 15-20 cords a year. Mostly oak, but a bunch of dead red elm last winter. Some of the gnarly elm took more than one hit, but I split 6-8 cords with little trouble.
I did upgrade to the heavy duty 3 bearing deal on the the rack engagement, as I blew out the single bearing. Paul was a big help and got the parts to me very quick.
I believe the 4.5 hp gas motor will power through tough splits much better than a electric motor.
Also, sharpening the wedge for the stringy stuff is a huge help.
After 2+ years with the Super Split, I'd buy another right now, if needed... :msp_smile:
Sharpening the wedge is the first thing I did when I received it. It does help.
When I ordered the unit Paul recommended the gas motor and buy the electric motor on my own.. I wonder now if this is why, the gas powered unit works better? At the time I wanted electric and still do- this gets used inside my garage about 50% of the time.
Don't get me wrong when I have the "right" rounds the SS works awesome, but the one's that don't make it miserable when the breaker is tripping after a few hits.. the stuff that is problematic is no issue on my 27t hydraulic... just slow.
The gas motor will usually push the bad piece on through, where the electric motor just stalls.
Flipping breakers usually means too long of cord and/or too small gauge wire. Which can rob power from the motor.
Mine handles elem just fine, w/4.5 hp gas. So I'd think your electric motor is holding you back with the elm.
Elem is nasty stuff! I usually just avoid it, with all the oak we have around here.Did more splitting over the weekend. Friday I cut down two smallish ash and two medium sized siberian elm. Split the same day with the SS and it went through these very green splits like butter - no or almost no stalls and no tripped breakers. The same wood that I've left in rounds for a couple months are not as easy so this is my new process.. split the green stuff right away.... everything that is except for american elm.. that I need to experiment with a bit more.
Putting on my super amateur electrician's cape...I have two questions for two people:
3fordasho:
1) What voltage is your 1.5HP motor?
2) What is the amperage of the circuit it's in?
MNGuns:
1) What voltage is your 1.5HP motor?
2) What's the amperage of the circuit it's in?
I have a suspicion, but I need to remember to be Sherlock Holmes and ask the questions first and then see where they lead
120v circuit - 15amp breaker with 14 guage wire to the outlet but only a few feet from the breaker box. Yes I know it should be a 20 amp circuit with 12 gauge wire. The extension cord is 25ft 12 guage.
Well, there's your problem.
Extension cord doesn't matter, you're downstream of your restriction that's causing a voltage drop -- the breaker and wiring.
What's the nameplate on the motor list for the Amperage? The generic charts say a 1-1/2HP motor is 20A.
The other piece of the puzzle that I don't know how to figure out is what it's actual continuous load is when someone is splitting wood, and I'm not sure it could be accurately measured in your current situation since we know the breaker and wiring are undersized already.
The reason that is important to know is the circuit breakers you'll find in a home or most commercial applications should only be run at 80% of the rated capacity of the breaker. They're allowed under code to be run at 100% for a maximum of 3 hours continuously. A 20A breaker should only handle a 16A load for more then three hours.
As you overheat the breaker from frequent use at 100% without giving it time to cool off in between, it'll start to trip below the rated capacity (say around 85-90% of rating).
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