My splitter is not an expensive one, being a Countyline 25ton. I am curious as to how many hours daily/weekly/monthly one could run one, in general, with no issues as long as you maintain it properly. I have never used it more than a few hours a day but I have a ton of wood and am wondering about this because some of you guys process a lot of wood. And do you let it rest awhile during a day's use or just keep going? I think it is a Kohler engine, 6.5hp. I hope to buy a 'better' splitter but backorders sure are messing up my plans, lol.
I have the same splitter. I don't abuse it but it gets used. Prolly split close to 10 cord or more since late October. I have 10-15 cord sitting here to be split and hauling more in today. I did switch to synthetic oil for the engine after break in. I blow out the air filter regularly and put a new one in at least once a year. Keep an eye out for fittings getting loose. Mine gets shut off several times thru the splitting session when I need a break or moving wood to storage spot.
My splitter has a 13hp china motor. I’ve had to replace the carb and coil. No issues with the carb since using e free. I don’t have an hour meter on it, but I have spent a lot of time using it over 5 years. Recently had to get the 20 gallon hydraulic tank welded to fix a cracked panel at a weld site. Had to get the round platform rewelded. Its a bespoke splitter, so I’ve had to find the weak spots on it.
Not sure I can give you an answer but just a couple suggestions ; feel free to take them or leave them. I know you did mention proper maintenance and that is key. The number one thing is keeping the oil changed. Installing an inexpensive hour meter is great for helping with this , it also gives you some idea of how long you have worked to split a certain size pile and how long you can run on a tank of fuel. Don't be afraid to use some good oil either ; it's still cheap insurance. Get some magnetic sign material and wrap it around the hydraulic oil filter , this helps grab any small magnetic particles that might be floating around in the system. When you shut it down while splitting to maybe stack or re-fuel leave the cylinder fully extended. This gets some of the hot hydraulic oil out of the tank and into the cylinder where it can cool a little more since all the hot oil isn't in the same place , and the rod can also cool in open air since it is not surrounded by hot oil like it is when the wedge is retracted. If this helps = great If not please ignore me.
All good suggestions the biggest killer of any splitter is heat fluid levels are very important check oil when fueling keep crankcase up to full,make sure hydraulic oil is full, Keep engine clean so cooling can work properly,Idle engine down for a minute before shutting down from full throttle. Running a splitter for hours this time of year is usually no issue ,summertime is when you can overheat hydraulics a stick on temp gauge is a idea for the summer but most of us do not split for hours in 90 degree heat . if I did I would break down long before splitter . If you notice that is the big difference between the commercial splitters large hydraulic tanks and some have coolers on the system . I have a customer with a old TSC huskee splitter and he does 25-30 cord a year to use and sell it is 30+years old and still working JB
Good idea of a temperature gauge for the hydraulic oil. Today's mission is to find just this sort of thing , Thanks for the tip. I know in the summer mine gets pretty warm but I don't just how warm. I guess I could have shot it with the temp. gun but never thought of it. When it gets hot, I just take a break and do some stacking or maybe cut some more logs to length.
I bought the same one you have going on five years ago. I changed the oil and split about 4 cords a year. It still runs like a champ, knock on wood…so far it’s been a great machine.
My TSC 22 ton splitter feeds 3 OWBs/stoves heating 5 large houses burning 50-60 cord of wood a year for the last 11 years. That's not counting some wood I've sold. I change the oil yearly and have changed the hydro fluid and filter once, changed spark plugs and air filter once. That the only love it gets....
I still have the 20 ton MTD with 5 hp engine which is somewhere around 30 years old. I do nothing special wit it except keeping good oil in it and cleaning air filter. I have run it in summer but certainly not when it is 90 degrees! My hydraulics don't even work in that heat.
I swear I didn't make this up. My splitter won't run, lol! It's been running like a top this whole season after I replaced the control valve. Worker said he started it like normal and it ran about a minute and went dead. Got it going twice again and died both times. Now, it won't start. The gas he used is the same gas we've been using and is fresh e-free gas. I haven't dug into it yet.
I've split with mine for an 8 hour day before with a lunch break in there. No issues for the 8+ years I've owned it. Just do oil changes and the hydro fluid and filter once.
Good question as im thinking the same. I use my friend splitter at his place and log (no pun intended) on it more than him. It was new last Spring and ive changed the oil already.
Great advice to a hydro semi newbie here. Where did you get the digital one on the sawmill? Nifty little gadget.
First oil change is critical after a little time on it. There is natural wear of internal parts during the break in period , piston rings seating to cylinder walls etc. You need to get that oil out in order to get rid of anything floating around in there. Then be religious about changing the oil during normal operation. My maintenance schedule is probably a little more than what it needs to be but it is cheap insurance the way I look at it. Being an engine builder by trade or my OCD might have something to do with that as well.
That came with the Mill , they are available from flea-bay or Scam-Azon for around $10. There are a couple different styles ; one works off vibration like the one on the mill or the type that has a wire that gets wrapped around the spark plug wire like the one I installed on the splitter. Check the owners manual as far as what they recommend for intervals between oil changes. I always lean to the side of caution to what is suggested. If it says 20 hours I will cut that short to maybe 15 hours or so. Again that's just me.
I was just browsing amazon and found one for $17 that looks just like the one on the sawmill. No wires
My current lawn tractor states every 80 hours. With the sporadic use of my splitter and no hour counter, motor oil gets changed about every other year.
