Thanks guys,
I think noodling is going to get some more tries. I ordered the timberland sharpener, so hopefully have a sharper chain.
At point I will give Evan a call and try out the can't hook.
Will also play around with partially cutting the wood, and then using a wedge.
A lot of the stuff doesn't quite need to be noodled, but is just a little bit on the heavy side to safely lift. So i am really curious to see how much the cant hook helps with moving the logs to the splitter (in vertical mode).
Another thing i saw on here that is a really good idea, is using a 2 x 6 or 8 next to the foot plate the splitter, to give the wood more room to sit on, (currently have kind of hold the piece up next to the beam to keep it on the foot plate.
I would love to add a log lift, or a hoist on the splitter, but I have have limited storage space in the shed, and as Evan can attest, my welding skills not quite that up to that. (we had shop class together in school) haha.
But really guys you have given me lots of great ideas.