I love how the ariens splitters are set up. They thought about the ergonomics of where the engine needs to be and there the lever is. It's a well built machine. If the engine ever goes, drop a predator on it for 99 USD, or 234 loonies.
Hahahaha. I am hopeful it will be in by the weekend as I am off Thursday to Sunday. I do have floor joists to install for our renovation and am hoping to have the wiring done and maybe if I am lucky the insulation started. I like to think I will be responsible and just work on the house but I know I will setup the splitter and put it to a test as soon as it’s in
The ergonomics are why I chose it. I have looked at a few other splitters and found most of them to have a cramped operator station. I am planning to split the smaller rounds right at the stack to eliminate a step. Most of what have is smaller so hoping this will speed us up. I am disappointed Subaru is getting out of small engines as people speak very highly of them. A repower is a simple and inexpensive fix though so I am not too worried.
I was in Quebec City this summer, and needed to buy some more briefs. Then I was afraid to wear them. Didn’t know how the exchange rate was affect me.
I have the 27 ton Ariens with the Subaru and I'm not crazy about the engine. I think it runs well but it's hard to start in cold ish weather (took 6 or so pulls yesterday in low 40s temps) yet will turn over first pull in warm summer weather. To put it simply I think it has a few quirks that none of my other small engines have, but the splitter itself is great. I highly recommend the $50 table add on!
Interesting Woody always 2 pulls and it fires right up, maybe I hit the Subaru lottery as it runs perfectly always, well actually I should say use to always as I have not found any pellets that need to be split ... Have not split or burned firewood going on 3 seasons, should probably get rid of it but will fire it up to keep it running until I am ready to get rid of it.
That's interesting. I have a Surgemaster, it is an awesome splitter. (Got mine used, Kijiji find). It is designed & laid out the way they all should me IMO. Some of the same ideas as Ariens. Did you check Home Hardware? They used to sell them too. And I think I have even seen them at Canadian Tire?
I'm about the only person who's had complains about the Subaru. Youtube videos rave about them, everyone on here has good things to say. Mine just doesn't like chilly weather, but I will say I've gotten it to start in single digit temps after pulling the cord about 20 times. In temps like that I would expect it, but I also would expect it to just not start at all. Another thing I have to always remember with this engine is to turn the gas lever OFF not only when not in use but even just when I'm moving it around the yard, as everytime I've not done this, the engine ends up flooding. Faulty carb float/seal perhaps? It's been this way since day 1. I towed the thing home from the store and it took me forever to get it started due to a flooded engine (gas coming out of the muffler too) because the lever was ON. Same thing happened another time bringing it to a buddy's house, forgot to turn lever to off and engine flooded.
Canadian tire still has one listed when I was looking. Didn’t see any at Home Hardware. The model I was looking at was $2100 so I was fine paying $200 more for Canadian made but $500 is not justified so I didn’t bother looking any further. I believe the Surgemaster I was looking at had the fender and light kit for towing. I won’t tow it on the road as it most likely won’t leave my property and if it does it will be on my trailer or in the truck bed. Although it would have been cool to own a well made Canadian splitter.
Mine has the lights & fenders. Lights were broken when I got it - it gets towed a lot but only back to the woods behind my ATV, so no issue there. I rolled it onto another trailer to bring it home, certainly wouldn't go very far down a highway with it. Fenders were still there until a month ago - I cut them off to get bigger wheels on it. They or bigger replacements might get welded back on someday, they do make decent spots to set a piece or round of wood on if needed. Got mine for an even $1k. Well used but still solid. Last couple few times I looked, there was still the odd one on Kijiji.
I think one of them well used would still last a very long time. There is one on Kijiji here but they want $1500. I figure I might as well have the financing option and a warranty for not much more. I also have the price of mind knowing I am the only one to monkey with it. For a grand I would have taken it ran
The eagle has landed at the local Home Depot. Will pick it up tomorrow but it’s snowing now so I will have some work to do with that when I get home. I can’t see me not getting it put together and at least fired up tomorrow. I am off Thursday so hopefully I will have a bit of time to run some rounds I have stacked up through it. Thanks for all the comments folks.
I have a Subaru engine on my dr rapid fire kinetic splitter and haven't had any issues in 4 years. It will start on the 2nd pull regardless of the temp..
Great! That should be a great unit for a great price. I wouldn't worry about the Subaru engine. The one on my Echo/Bearcat splitter had been dead nuts reliable. As above, whenever I'm done for the day or need to move the splitter, I put the throttle to idle, turn off the gas supply and let it run out of gas. I try to do that with all my small engines. My JD lawn tractor automatically does that when I turn off the key. Good habit to get into.
Made it home but it will spend the night in the truck. Had too much to do tonight. I am off tomorrow so after a bit of snow clearing I will give it a test run.
Got it out of the truck but didn’t make it past that. -13f with the windchill and I was out long enough doing farm chores so I called it a day. Should get to it by Monday as it’s supposed to warm up by Saturday. It’s been rough November for weather.
