New Toy in the Shed!!

[PhilD41]

So my new Nortstar 37Ton Splitter came earlier in the week. I "took" the time last night to build'r up. I quote "took" because I started at about 10pm and didn't finish until around 1:30am. Just so you know, it can be a single person assembly, but you do need to be careful; that beam is HEAVY! Anyway, I got it put together, filled with fluids and tested her out today. Man is it nice!!! I will split this season with it and give some feedback. I know there are lots of opinions out there but personal experience is always welcome.... at least in my book.

Anyway.... here is a pair of before and after pictures. Sorry for the quality, I used my cell phone. Hope you enjoy

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eLCTXzmxYgtO_ng5txtCH8gU95TM4EcK-q7xBJxPiyw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_K4aI0RmGF18/TddgUXbryJI/AAAAAAAABTg/eNfD_8sBFOM/s640/Splitter1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a>


<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KJRMgNndVirB59lIQ22CGsgU95TM4EcK-q7xBJxPiyw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_K4aI0RmGF18/TddgBxgqr7I/AAAAAAAABTc/rhQHlBQQVIE/s640/Splitter2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a>

 

[Southside]

That looks like a heck of a splitter, let 's know it works. Congrats, Southside

 

[promac850]

I've been looking at them NorthStar splitters for years...

They always appeared to be very well built from the looks, and all of the reviews seem to say they're some of the best splitters for the money.

I say you made a good purchase that will last a long time.

The first scratch on it might hurt a little though...

 

[Nosmo]

Your New Splitter

Congratulations on getting your new splitter. It seemed you did well on your assembly time considering the hour you began (at night).

I'm sure your going to enjoy using your new tool when it comes time to do some serious splitting.

Nosmo

 

[Circle B MN]

Now get to split'n...

 

[Valkyrie Rider]

REAL NICE! I'm sure you will love the new machine.:msp_thumbup:

 

[eric_271]

So my new Nortstar 37Ton Splitter came earlier in the week. I "took" the time last night to build'r up. I quote "took" because I started at about 10pm and didn't finish until around 1:30am. Just so you know, it can be a single person assembly, but you do need to be careful; that beam is HEAVY! Anyway, I got it put together, filled with fluids and tested her out today. Man is it nice!!! I will split this season with it and give some feedback. I know there are lots of opinions out there but personal experience is always welcome.... at least in my book.

Anyway.... here is a pair of before and after pictures. Sorry for the quality, I used my cell phone. Hope you enjoy

<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/eLCTXzmxYgtO_ng5txtCH8gU95TM4EcK-q7xBJxPiyw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/_K4aI0RmGF18/TddgUXbryJI/AAAAAAAABTg/eNfD_8sBFOM/s640/Splitter1.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a>


<a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/KJRMgNndVirB59lIQ22CGsgU95TM4EcK-q7xBJxPiyw?feat=embedwebsite"><img src="https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/_K4aI0RmGF18/TddgBxgqr7I/AAAAAAAABTc/rhQHlBQQVIE/s640/Splitter2.jpg" height="360" width="640" /></a>

Nice looking splitter. Now build 2 tables for it. You'll never regret it. I can post some pics if you would like. I have pretty much the same beam.

 

[Iska3]

Nice look'n splitter. They sure make life a little easier.

The two tables would be a plus. I need to get in gear and make two.

 

[PhilD41]

Nice looking splitter. Now build 2 tables for it. You'll never regret it. I can post some pics if you would like. I have pretty much the same beam.

Pictures would be great! I love looking at other peoples ideas and modifications. Thanks!

 

[eric_271]

http://www.arboristsite.com/attachm...quipment/122827d1264358193-img_1801-large-jpg

Weld 2 rectangular tubes on the lower part of the beam so you can slide the table's off when you need to split vertically. I think i have some better pic's. I'll post if i can find them.

 

[eric_271]

http://www.arboristsite.com/attachm...equipment/79433d1223255823-img_1797-large-jpg


If you do this use heavy wall tubing.

When you're splitting by yourself the far table comes in handy on the bigger logs by catching the half that falls that way and saves you having to walk around and pick it up to finish splitting.

 

[stihl sawing]

Great lookin splitter, Put her to work and let us know how it does.

 

[Hansenj11]

You will absolutely love this machine. I have the 30 ton and it has split everything i have thrown at it. The customer service is the best. No haggling you call and order a part it is sent and there dollar and they pay return shipping too. I love north star and will buy many more of their products.:msp_tongue:

 

[reaperman]

Very nice looking unit. I have its baby brother, the 22 ton model. I wrestled over which splitter would suit my needs and I think I made the correct decision. Ninety percent of my woods is red oak, and ash, you know the strait grained stuff. Anyway, its splits great so far. Good luck.

I also assembled my splitter. I had a blast putting it together. But your correct in saying the I-beam with the ram mounted is very heavy. I cheated, I used my bobcat to put it into place.

 

[JimiLL]

Nice splitter!!!

Nothing like new equipment

 

[Steve NW WI]

Nice machine! I've been thinking of getting my big splitter a "baby brother" for a while now. I was in Northern last Friday looking at them and ran into a vanishing breed: a salesman that clearly enjoys his job and knows more about his products than I do.

I found out the North Stars are built in Fairbault, MN. I had thought they were likely built by someone else, but he gave me the whole story. The founder of Northern started out basically selling parts to make splitters and decided to make his own complete units, and the North Star was born.

I was kinda eyeballing the 22 ton, but after he pointed out some of the features it doesn't have, I left leaning toward a 30 ton. I liked the auto return valve, engine idle control, and GX motor on the bigger one, for not a lot more money.

Neil at the Forest Lake, MN Northern, if you're reading this, keep up the good work. It was a pleasure to spend a few minutes with you!

 

[reaperman]

Nice machine! I've been thinking of getting my big splitter a "baby brother" for a while now. I was in Northern last Friday looking at them and ran into a vanishing breed: a salesman that clearly enjoys his job and knows more about his products than I do.

I found out the North Stars are built in Fairbault, MN. I had thought they were likely built by someone else, but he gave me the whole story. The founder of Northern started out basically selling parts to make splitters and decided to make his own complete units, and the North Star was born.

I was kinda eyeballing the 22 ton, but after he pointed out some of the features it doesn't have, I left leaning toward a 30 ton. I liked the auto return valve, engine idle control, and GX motor on the bigger one, for not a lot more money.

Neil at the Forest Lake, MN Northern, if you're reading this, keep up the good work. It was a pleasure to spend a few minutes with you!

I also took a close look at the 30 ton model and ended up with the 22. For me, the $$$ wasnt really the issue. But the cycle time was the deciding factor for me. Other than the obvious differenced (gx engine, larger cyl, idle control) the 22 is basically the same. Same auto return valve, same pump, same I-beam and frame. I wish NT would have put a bit larger motor on the 30 ton unit, they could have used a 13gpm pump for a better cycle time.

Northern tool does claim the splitters are built in Minn. But the some of the parts are Chinese. The cylinder has a chinese sticker on it, the tanks are chinese also. Not sure about the valve assembly or the beam. All of the bolts are metric as well.

I found some of this out the hard way. When first assembling my splitter, I saw some paper inside of my hydro tank before adding fluid. I fished some of the paper out with a little grabber tool. It looked like a piece of chinese newspaper. I called NT and told them I found chinese paper inside my tank and wanted a replacement splitter. The salesman said the that wasnt possible because the splitters are made right here in Mn. I hauled the splitter back to the store along with my little grabber tool and fished around the tank and pulled up more chinese paper. All he could say was he was told the splitters are american made. I than asked him why all of the hardware was metric as well. Long story short, they replaced my assembled splitter with the assembled floor model. After a bit of a rocky start, I'm happy with my 22 ton.

 

[needwood]

Nice splitter man"

Im sure you will enjoy it! I think you did one hell of a job putting it together in that amount of time. We all know how it is to work alone"

 

[CRThomas]

Info

Im sure you will enjoy it! I think you did one hell of a job putting it together in that amount of time. We all know how it is to work alone"

I have a 20 ton Ramsplitter 3 pt made in to a stand alone with a Princes pump I run my tractor all week on idle it uses about 7 gal of diesel. No noise can carry on a good chat with other people. So say it slow but it's faster than me so what is to slow. Put quick couplers on the pump tractor is avaible in a minute. My 20 ton does extra large stuff. Never has it stopped. Put a 2 ton winch on my splitter electric it pulls the logs right to the splitter. Largest log I split was 56 inchs. My friends have 30 and 37 ton splitters and they say they can't do any better than my 20 (food for thought). Later

 

[brncreeper]

Nice looking new splitter, plus the Honda engine.
I've got a Huskee 37 ton (it's a beast) that splits tuff hardwoods.

My little EZ split works pretty good too. It's light enough to hall around on the back of my riding lawn mower.