Log Lift - County Line 40 Ton?

Thanks to a heads up here on this great site, I got a fantastic deal on a 40 ton county line splitter. I was going to get the smaller splitter, but I got the 40 ton for the faster cycle time and I split 22-24” long by 30”+ dia hickory, red and chestnut oak, ash, etc., pretty often. I’m finding I wish I had a log lift instead of going vertical. Lifting the huge assembly to vertical is pretty difficult because of the weight.

Anyone put a log lift on this style splitter? Any tips, parts lists, videos or other helpful info? Terrible idea? Let me know what you think!

Thanks!

 

Extend the ram all the way before tipping the beam. Shifting some of the weight helps.

 

Wow, that’s a good idea. I’m certain it would have taken me years for that to occur to me.

 

There is/ was a video of a mechanical arrangement rather than hydraulic, using the ram movement to get the job done, sorry I can't give any directions to this.