After splitting by hand for many years, knowing that I'd one day have to take that plunge in obtaining a splitter, this proved to be the year. I looked around for awhile and made offers on a number of machines, but was never able to get to where I wanted to be, until this one showed up. A quick round of negotiation, in which we both were satisfied, resulted in me picking it up this afternoon and bringing it home. I split a half-dozen rounds before picking it up and another few dozen at home and YIPEE!
My neck, back, shoulders, arms, elbows, etc. will likely last quite a bit longer as a result.
I bought it from a guy that built it in around 2002 and then built five more for friends that liked his. He charged them for components and they had to be present while he worked on it to fetch tools and learn, etc. (Wish I had a friend like him!) He used it himself and loaned it out to any number of friends. It appears to be in good shape and works well. Everything appears to be much heavier than the ones at the box stores. I paid $500 and wouldn't trade it straight up for a new one from any of them. I towed it about 50 miles home from his place, staying at around 30 most of the way on back roads and up to 40 on some smooth stretches.
It ain't "perfectly purty" but it's been fun playing with it today and I'm looking forward to a lifetime of use and passing it on to my kids at some point. I only use 1-2 cords a year at the most, as we use it mostly for the effect in the living room and as an emergency backup, just in case. Short of the rail doing something goofy, I can replace most anything else that might fail over time.
4" X 24" cylinder that cycles 9 seconds under load splitting and 8 seconds retracting at WOT. I was generally running at about 1/2 throttle and it cycles at 12 and 10 seconds then.
Northern Hydraulics S1012, 11-GPM / 2-Stage pump.
Kohler engine, there are no plates or numbers visible anywhere and I don't know the HP. Based on the look of it, it's older and is probably around 5HP, but it's just a WAG. The engine never bogged or hesitated while splitting all elm, some of it crotchy and gnarly. Starts in a couple of pulls.
First time trying to attach an image on this site, so fingers are crossed...
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opcorn:
