My 28 ton speeco log splitter ordeal

Hello new member to the forum. Thought I would add a post about my new speeco 28 ton splitter.

First a little background. Purchashed this splitter after doing some research online and in this forum. Seemed like everyone had good things to say about speeco and it would work well for my needs. I am homeowner using wood to heat with and live at lake Tahoe. I figure I burn about 4 cord a year of mostly Doug fir, ponderosa pine, white fir, lodge pole pine and black oak.

Bought it from omni mnfg and rock was good to deal with. Was initially set on the honda motor but was convinced to go Briggs. Ordered it right after Christmas and it arrived soon after. Put it together and built a cradle that slips around the oil tank to protect the exposed filter. Filled it up and next morning fired it for first time. After letting the engine break in for a few minutes i put in the first log and it gets stopped cold. I had about a cord of oak, some really knotty to spit before the snow comes. Ok I think, that was a big knotty piece maybe I have to noodle it. Get a smaller piece and same thing. Goes in about 1/2" and stops. So I get out a small round I can easily split by hand and it finally makes it through.

This can't be right so I call rock who gives me speeco's customer service number. Talk with kent who has me do a few field tests. Nothing can be determined so it needs to go to the nearest service center, in Reno. That's going to be a 3 hour round trip and about 125 miles. Great. I ask if there is anything near Sacramento, I go over there often and can combine trips. Looks it up and nearest center is in.....Reno. Great. I have a decent shop and some basic knowledge and Kent says he can send me parts but generally likes the splitters to go to service centers so he does not have to spend money to fix parts if they are not broken.

So dropped it off on jan 6th and was told should have it in a week. Called last week and was told they had not gotten around to it. I call again today and was told it might be a control valve o-ring, the control valve itself and if that does not fix it speeco will send out a new cylinder. Should be fixed by next week or maybe later depending on what's wrong. At that point I will have to go back down to Reno and pick it up.

So figure 6 hours of my time and about 80 in gas for a brand new splitter. First storm of the season is coming (finally!) so will not get a chance to use it till spring.

Just adding to the knowledge on this forum. I don't know if others have had this problem but when I was looking to buy this splitter nothing like this post came up on the forum. I have no idea how common this is just want to share my experience and have this be part of the knowledge base. And just a warning for others looking to buy speeco products in California, you might want to check where the nearest service center is located. That spitter might end up costing you a whole lot in gas.

Take it back and get your money back. I bought a northern tool log splitter 30 ton and have been using it commercially and all that's broken is the control valve. They sent it free shipping forward and back and even offered to fix at a local shop. I have split somewhere in the ball park of 60 cords and there 3o ton has got the commercial Honda GX.

I bought a northern 30 ton about 14 years ago it is on the second engine but the machine is still strong.Now it has a Honda 13 hp.

I looked at the north star splitters from northern tool. When I priced them out the cost of shipping was going to be 550. That's why the speeco was so appealing from omni. I paid 50 for the lift gate service only. You must have gotten a great deal from northern to include free shipping.

I bought a North Star (northern tool made in minnesota) I think it is an 18 ton about 3-4 years ago.
Have split about 80 + cord and have only changed oil in the engine.
Have only had two real crotchy elm pieces that it would not split.
Think it was $899 when i bought it.
Picked it up at the store so no shipping charge except 45 mi drive one way and was there anyway.

Sorry to hear of your problems. I have always had excellent service from speeco.

I would explain what happened and Speeco should compensate for your time and out of pocket money.

ratso said:

Sorry to hear of your problems. I have always had excellent service from speeco.

I would explain what happened and Speeco should compensate for your time and out of pocket money.

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I called the service center today and was told their was a problem with the machine. So I called speeco and spoke with kent. I asked what he thought was going on as kent was the first person I talked with.

From the beginning kent wanted to be involved. When I delivered the splitter it was with the instructions that the service center call kent because kent did not want them just to replace the pump. He said they will normally do that right off the bat and will not run a few tests first to make sure that's the problem. He told me it would just cost him money.

So today I told him I did not want to insult him by asking if he could cover my cost. I did however ask if there was anything he could do for me. I am in need of a cover for the splitter and if he could get it to me for dealer cost. He said that they no longer have the cover and further he would have to ask a manager. I am not trying to be difficult so I just dropped it, thanked him for his time and he thanked me for my patience. Really all I wanted from the beginning is a working splitter.

I am on the fence looking for a splitter right now, I'm sure there are many others on this site as well. Speeco has some big problems first with the Speedpro and now this.

They may have enjoyed a good reputation in the past but I think that may have gone via Chicom. Just sayin.

I have a speeco 28 ton and haven't had an issue with it. Had it a couple of years now and run alot of different wood thru it. 6 or 8 neighbours have borrowed it and none have had an issue. It sits outside all summer but spends winter inside a shop, always starts easily. Only complaint I have is the small fuel tank but some days I'm pretty happy when it runs dry.

It sounds to me like the pump is delivering to much flow under load for the size of engine, and that your system hydraulic relief valve (if equipped) might be set to high. If your 2 stage pump is not unloading the high volume section when the cylinder meets load (the log) and the relief valve is set too high, you are going to stall the engine. When the cylinder starts into the wood, does the cylinder change speeds or does it try to continue to advance at the same rate. A high/low (2 stage) pump should dump its high volume section somewhere around 500 to 800 psi. If you see an acorn nut on your pump, that is the sequence adjustment for unloading pressure for stage 1 (high volume section of the pump) Depending on the manufacturer, they are adjustable between 200 and 800 psi. It is possible a contaminent is caught in there causing it not to function like it should.

Farm boy, I don't have the unit right now. I don't have a 3000psi pressure gauge to further test it so off to the shop. At first I thought it was the 2 stage pump not kicking in to the 2nd stage. Kent had me field test it by capping the high pressure line and then trying to start it. Would not fire up so he told me the pump was good.

When I did have it the wedge would hit the round go in about 1/2" and stop. Really did not seem that it was kicking down to the 2nd stage. No change in the engine noise as it kept running. As far as out of adjustment, it's brand new and should have been adjusted at the factory. I could see some type of contamination fouling up the pump but it must have been from the factory. All i did was add hydro fluid.

Cantoo, I think the splitter will run fine once I get it back. I have no doubt it can handle the light work load I will provide for it each summer. I guess my issue is with a new splitter going in for warranty work after 3 rounds and me having to bear the transportation costs. I guess these things don't get tested at the factory. Sure seems like it would improve quality control.

You should've heard an audible change in engine sound (less laboring) if it was unloading the 1st stage....I suspect there is an issue with the pump. I'm not certain how Kurt's test would've resolved the pump is ok...the only way I know is to put the pump on a test stand with a needle valve and a flow meter to see if the output changes when it reaches the sequence pressure to unload stage 1. If it continues to displace the combined pump flow of stages 1 & 2 at or beyond the sequence pressure, the pump is faulty.

Sounds like you have similar luck that I do...I hope your issues get resolved very soon.

sounds to me like you gave up way too early with getting satisfaction for your problem. now that you've tried the easy-going, reticient method and basically been told to pound sand you should think about going back with an attitude that says "i'm not taking no for an answer". also, remember this curt guy isn't necessarily your best friend. they should make you whole on this entire ordeal; they should also be providing you with a means to get your splitting done in the mean time. just saying

In a case like this, there is no excuse why speeco shouldn't have just sent out a brand new splitter and picked up the broken one free of charge. If this unit was purchased at a local store, a simple refund or replacement would have taken place. The rules shouldn't be changed just because shipping is involved. Buying a item like a splitter takes research, time, and hard earned money is plopped down on a product that should deliver out of the box, regardless of name brand. Lots of luclk.

I was kind of thinking the same thing. If I would have gone to lowes and got a Troy built I would have returned it and gotten a new unit with minimal hassle and all my wood have been split stacked and covered up for winter. Instead I am still waiting.

Farm boy, I was thinking along your lines. I dont have the tools you mention so I think the easiest thing would have been for speeco to send me the parts and I could replace them. Kent did not want to do this as it would cost him shipping plus the part and he could not be sure the pump was faulty.

Anyway, for the sake of finishing this thread, I will post updates as they occur. Just want to get the information out there for anybody who is looking into purchasing a splitter

you need to read avalancher's thread about his troy-bilt splitter. i think it was troy-bilt but if not it was built the same way as the troy-bilt's they have now.

From what you discribed the pump is not the problem. The pump has two sections, the first section has a bypass but the second section does not. The second section pumps fluid all the time. If pressure fails to build in the system the first thing to check for is a missing key in the lovejoy coupling causing slipage between engine and pump.
Next would be a misadjusted relief in the control valve.
Least likely would be a damaged seal in the cylinder.

Speeco trash

Bought a new speeco 35 ton (what a joke) unit last year from Omni. Having said that, Rock is a GREAT guy, but Speeco sucks. Absolutely no fault of Rock's from Omni. Bought the unit w/ the Briggs engine, and after 90 days the engine actually blew up and caught on fire causing lots of damage before the fire could be contained. When I called B&S they had an independant service advisor come out and take a look at the machine, and a report was filed. After many phone calls, B&S stated they could determine what the cause of the failure was and would NOT give any warranty for the engine , much less the damage to the machine. After many attempts to resolve this issue with speeco, the rep there said only that they agreed with B&S in that they could not determine the cause of the failure, and the only remedy that was offered was a $500.00 discount on a new machine. Speeco sucks , the warranty they provide is beyond useless, they use crappy chinese steel, and they should be sued! I will not buy another product from them if they are the only mfg of splitters on the market. Yes, I'm pissed, but I have tried to get this problem resolved , and was left twisting in the wind from both Briggs & Stratton AND Speeco. I have been very patient with them to resolve this problem, and they have NOT come to the plate. I waited a long time to post this comment, giving both companies a chance to "come to the plate" and man-up to their warranty policy. Now it is just time to warn others...

Slt Skier said:

(snip)

Bought it from omni mnfg and rock was good to deal with.

(snip)

This can't be right so I call rock who gives me speeco's customer service number.

(snip)

And just a warning for others looking to buy speeco products in California, you might want to check where the nearest service center is located. That spitter might end up costing you a whole lot in gas.

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firewood guy said:

Bought a new speeco 35 ton (what a joke) unit last year from Omni. Having said that, Rock is a GREAT guy, but Speeco sucks. Absolutely no fault of Rock's from Omni.

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Omni and this Rock guy seem to get a lot of free PR on here, trouble is he ain't where you are. He IS however your dealer. I suggest you bring the damn thing back to him. Note also, that near as I can tell, he ain't a sponsor here.

If you don't want the hassle of fixing yourself, or dealing with a big corporation trying to get them to fix it, BUY IT FROM A LOCAL DEALER.

Would ya just buy a car from a far off dealer and call Chevy, Ford or Dodge when there's a problem? For the OP, you have a Speeco dealer about 20 miles from ya. By the time it's said and done, your cost would have probably been less to deal with them, and they'd have handled sending it to the service center (or fixed it there),

S&W Feeds - Distance: 21 miles

2292 South Carson Street

Carson City NV 89701

NOTE THAT I'M NOT TELLING YOU TO BRING IT THERE NOW! Do that and you'll be at the far, slow end of the line, same as the person that buys a Husqvarna at the big box store then expects the full line dealer to treat him like a king when he straight gasses it.

Can ya tell threads like this piss me off? Most of the Speeco and Huskee owners on here say good things about their splitters and have never had a problem. Some have had problems, and were treated well and are happy. Every now and then, someone feels they've been wronged (justly or not, we VERY SELDOM have the full facts to decide either way), and go on a full blown biblical crusade to wipe Speeco off the face of the earth.

DISCLAIMER: I have no vested interest in Speeco, don't own one of their splitters, don't own any Blount stock, and your buddy Rock didn't steal the last beer out of my truck.

This concludes tonight's rant.