DHT 35-ton splitter

Is this a good deal?

35 TON HORIZONTAL/VERTICAL LOG SPLITTER, KOHLER ENGINE | eBay


This ebay seller has "Manufacturer refurbished" Dirty Hand Tools 35-ton log splitters available for $1149, shipping included. No fluids, assembly required.

I don't know what to make of the refurbished status. Why would splitters get returned for refurbishing?

I'd like to own something like these, and I like the 9" wedge instead of the 7-8" wedges on the smaller splitters, but it is a pretty significant investment and I thought I'd see if anyone had any comments on them.

 

It could be anything. Rams had to be resealed....engines wouldn't start....somebody ran them in a commerical application for 14 hours a day....pumps grenaded because they got too hot.....axle bent because it got dropped while unloading at the store....imperfect weld on the tank leaking....coupler came loose and burred up the engine or pump shaft. You name it.

Honestly, it's anybodies guess at what they had to do to fix them. The one thing I would be very cautious of is the hydraulic tank and the rest of the system. Make absolutely sure that it's 100 percent clean before filling it with oil and firing it up. In a hydraulic system, when a pump blows up, it sends bits of metal throughout the entire system. Bits will sit in the bottom of a ram for who knows how long until they finally get stirred up enough become wedged under a piston seal and scratch the cylinder bore. It can only take a small flake of metal to completely fubar a control valve. Caterpillar telehandlers (zoom booms) are insanely bad for things going sideways after a pump blows...and getting everything out of the system afterward is nearly an impossibility. I've actually told people who have had pumps blow up on them to expect future problems no matter who fixes/flushes it out. In order to completely clean out a system, the entire thing needs to be taken apart...every valve taken apart and checked for debris, and the cost of doing so is enormous. Most just opt for flushing the system a couple of times and hoping for the best. Cat likes using shuttle valves that move back and forth with pilot (low) pressure and a metal particle a couple of thousands of an inch in diameter will jam them up.

In wood splitter type hydraulic systems (as with most hydraulic systems), filtering is done on the return side. If something manages to make it through the entire system, it will usually wind up in the filter, so you usually won't find much in the tank....but it isn't a perfect world. Check it anyway.

 

Very good points. I hadn't thought about all those issues. Woodsplittersdirect has a sale on new ones right now for $1,380. The extra $230 might well be worth the peace of mind.

 

This one from HD is new and includes a 4 way wedge for only $100 more. Plus you can return it locally if you have issues. I have not bought one yet so I can’t offer any more insight than the webpage.

YARDMAX 35-Ton 306cc Gas Log Splitter-YU3566 - The Home Depot

 

I don't know about rebuilds...the way I think about it is if this thing will last 20 + years, a couple hundred buck now is not a big deal, maybe some insurance.

I do have that same one. I got it at HD and it was all set up and ready to use. That was nice. HD gives you the tray too.

FYI, it is heavy. In retrospect I probably should have got a smaller one. I'm of the mindset to overbuy on things. Probably didn't need to here. Its heavy to put in vertical. Will get heavier over the years too! Its impossible to maneuver by hand, but they may all be. I have a Ranger I use to truck it around. I'll be putting jack on the tongue to help lift it to the hitch. If you're a young buck you wont find these things such a problem.

But, it is a beast. I only cut oak and its never slowed down on a split. Starts every time.

Two people can go thru a lot of wood in an afternoon. I will be retiring this year so look forward to some relaxing time by myself, slow and easy...

Also, I trailered it 50 miles from HD to my house under 45 mph without any problem.

 

Thanks for the good info, ksks. One more question, if I may, How do you like the engine? Start well, run well, etc?

 

I've only had it a couple years. There's been no problem. It starts in a couple pulls. It doesn't lug down at all when running. Runs strong. Kohler makes a good engine.

I did drop a split on that plastic instruction holder tube the first time out and snapped it off.

Also, think about making coverings for the engine and reservoir. This guy had good ideas...

 

I have noticed that in the last 10-15 years consumer grade splitters have switched to entirely made in China or at least switched to imported hydraulic components which tend to favor cost over durability.

 

I spent about 30 minutes trying to find where Kohler engines are made. I didn't find any clear info. They are in Kohler WI and have a very big presence in WI, highly touted company. Lots of pluming stuff. Looks like some bigger engines are made in MS. Best I cam figure is little engines are made in China. Looks like most little engines are made overseas. No idea where other splitter parts are made. I'm sure overseas. DHT are assembled in my son's town, Westminster, CO.

On DHT website they have a stroke reducer, but its pricy. Actually I've never found a problem with the speed of the stroke. Guess I'm not in that big of a hurry. Not a production guy. Any you can manually stop the return stroke.

On another site they said the had a wheel kit for highway use, but I didnt see it on their site.

They sell a longer table for $120. Looks like something that likely costs them $5. They should just include it. I'll just put together a strip of plywood.

On another splitter I had a horizontal cutter that slipped over the vertical for a 4 way. On theirs you have to remove the vertical and replace it with the 4 way. Think I'll have a welder put together a quick and cheap sleeve to slip on the wedge.

 

Even if an engine is “made” in the US, critical components like the carb and ignition likely are imported these days. For less than $1500 retail, you can only expect so much.

 

I've often wondered how much something would cost if all actually made, not just assembled, in the USA. Would $1500 be $2500 or $3500?

 

It's not hard to make a log catcher. I made on from the shipping tray the splitter came on:





The beam already had the holes drilled. I cut off a third of the tray and used some scrap angle iron for the brackets.

I am happy with the DHT and their customer service.

KaptJaq

 

Looks good Kapt. Have you thought of putting one on the other side too?

 

That stroke reducer will only work on the OEM version of the DHT splitters (The ones sold by DHT or landscaping/tree service suppliers). It will not fit the big box store version (home depot, lowes, etc). The difference is the bolts on the log-extractor brackets. These bolts attach the stroke reducer but or not on the BBS version of the splitter.

It is the same with the 4-way splitter head. If the log-extractors are welded on (BBS version) then you cannot upgrade the splitter head. There are also 2 different log catchers, one for the OEM version, the other for the BBS version.

KaptJaq

 

I have thought about it. I still have the other 2/3s of the shipping tray to make it. I find that when I use the splitter I stand pretty close on that side and think the tray would get in my way. I usually let half the log fall on the catcher and support the other half with my thigh.

KaptJaq