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Break down and buy a Splitter?

Discussion in 'Chainsaws and Power Equipment' started by Fanatical1, Mar 3, 2014.

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  1. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    That beam is nice, but the Ariens has a cradle. The only thing is I'll most likely use the vertical position anyway, so that won't matter much. I like hearing that the B&S motor is holding up.
     
    NortheastAl, Mar 6, 2014
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  2. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    I'm a big fan of the Subaru engines but flip a coin on those two machines. Hard to go wrong either way.
     
    MasterMech, Mar 6, 2014
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  3. Fanatical1

    Fanatical1

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    Question for the engine guy. I think some of these engines have a steel lined sleeve and other are just a bore into the aluminum casting? How important is the steel sleeve? Even Honda talks about their upper line engines using a steel piston sleeve.
     
    Fanatical1, Mar 6, 2014
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  4. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    It depends on the engine and intended usage. There are some older Briggs units without sleeves that were junk in a relatively short time period. They were vertical shaft units usually mounted on cheap lawn tractors. If the engine is a sub-$300 throw away, I wouldn't worry about a sleeve because any trouble beyond ignition and carburetion, you are likely to just replace the engine rather than attempt to repair it. You are unlikely to be honing a cylinder and replacing rings on such an engine 25 years from now. The Honda GC series that is so prevalent in entry-level equipment today often is an aluminum bore engine.
     
    MasterMech, Mar 6, 2014
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  5. Fanatical1

    Fanatical1

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    That was my understanding also on the Honda GC engines. My assumption is that the lower end Briggs and others such as the one on the Huskee 22 is also an aluminum bore engine? Should that be a concern or will I never wear it out anyway as you said and other parts will fail before the sleeve needs to be re-honed?
     
    Fanatical1, Mar 6, 2014
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  6. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    You might wear out either engine in 10+ years of use, sleeve or no sleeve. But at that point it's going to make a lot more sense to re-power the machine rather than rebuild the engine.

    IDK if the Huskee 22's engine is alum. bore or cast iron sleeved. If it doesn't say cast iron sleeve somewhere on the engine, it very well could be alum. bored.

    Keeping the air filter clean and sealed good, and running good oil with frequent changes will do a lot to further that engine's lifespan.
     
    MasterMech, Mar 6, 2014
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  7. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    I checked and the B&S on the Huskee has an aluminum alloy bore. The Subaru's is cast iron. Does it matter that much?
     
    NortheastAl, Mar 6, 2014
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  8. MasterMech

    MasterMech The Mechanical Moderator

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    There are other things I like about the Subaru, OHV instead of flat-head and I think they might have a longer warranty than Briggs. Is this a horz or vert shaft engine? I'd much prefer a horizontal shaft setup to vertical and a cast iron sleeve is icing on the cake engine-wise.
     
    MasterMech, Mar 6, 2014
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  9. NortheastAl

    NortheastAl

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    It is a vertical shaft.
     
    NortheastAl, Mar 6, 2014
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  10. bert the turtle

    bert the turtle

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    Right now I can keep up with use even on sweet gum, but getting ahead is hard. I can get ahead by putting my efforts into the easier to split stuff, but I've got a bunch of elm that is really testing my resolve to hand split as long as I can. It only takes about 3 cords a year to heat my place as warm as I can stand it.

    I know if I get a power splitter, I'll use it and there goes the one exercise I really enjoy. Also, with the damm ethanol gas, small engines don't last long. I use the expensive bottled pre-mix in the saws because for the amount I use, it is more or less the same price as buying a new carb and at least the saw works when I want it to. If I used the saws more, I'd just use pump gas and deal with the carb as needed.

    If I get a splitter, it will probably be the electric 1.5HP super split. It would be more reliable than a gas engine since I just won't need to use it much and gas engines need to be run fairly frequently. Or, a PTO powered one for the tractor. I still am not ready to make the leap. Age will catch me eventually and I'll do it then.
     
    bert the turtle, Jan 17, 2015
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