Was with the wife at Sam's Club tonight, and decided to go look at the splitter I've had my eye on there for awhile. Anyone here who does the Sam's club thing knows they tend to mark their seasonable items down, and this was no exception. It was $450 a couple of weeks ago, but tonight they had marked to $299! So home with me it went. With my $70 in birthday money I received last week, this really only cost me around $230 before tax. It seems to have good user reviews online, but does anyone have this one? I'll post more pics as I put it together this weekend. Specs: Champion 90720 7-ton Log Splitter Review
I'll go out tonight or tomorrow for hydraulic oil. Is there any particular one listed here in the manual that is more recommended? It's giving me 4 choices. Not planning on running it below 32.
Dexron would be easy to get in a pinch. Even the local drug store has it on their shelf. They do not have any hydraulic oil though. I see lots of equipment running it even if they don't get used below 32. Keep us up to date with the assembly and maiden voyage.
The AW32 is super easy to find at places like NAPA, TSC, Farm/Fleet type stores. My 23 ton Champion holds a lot more oil than that, but I bought a 5 gallon bucket of AW32 for it...$25 IIRC
Congrats Brad38 I have the 22T Champion and it's served us well over the past four years. I run AW32, and when I've split below 32°F's, I usually pop the recoil housing and spin the crank with a 1/2" drill and a 3/4" socket. Works like a charm, but glad I don't really split in the chillier temps (in F's) much anymore. Looking forward to how ya like the new machine!
You can also to TSC, fleet and Farm or Farm and Fleet ag supply stores. There hydraulic oil is about as reasonable as you'll find. The normally run sales as well. They were mentioned before but check your prices as it does vary. Ag Tractor dealers are better to some but the prices will go way up. For a normal homeowner, it is not really needed in my opinion.
For a gallon system, I'd run Mobil 1 5W30 synthetic. Covers all temps & takes heat better than about anything else. Been used in hydro systems on commercial lawn mowers for years. Small capacity, no coolers, & high heat.
Thanks for weighing in! I'll shop around, but it sounds like from what I'm hearing, there aren't any "wrong" choices from the manufacturer Recommendations. Alright, so it's ready for fluids! Took a couple of hours to assemble, and the instructions were really well done (for once). If the rain holds off tomorrow, we'll have lift off! I know it's not one of the big'uns, but I hope it'll split most of what I've got. We'll find out!
I think that will serve you very well. I use an old didier brand splitter that's almost as old as I am. It's low like that champion, and only horizontal, but maybe 14 tons or so of power. It still goes through everything, even elm.
I use a hunting chair to split wood so I don't have to bend over and pick up logs all the time. Have the rounds close, so you can get a few done before getting up off of the chair.
I bet that splits the majority of your wood. I'd get that up on a platform because I'm 6 foot 6. I hate being stooped over.
Let's see some pics of you splitting rounds soon! Your going to love going through those knarly rounds. Looks like you have a nice unobstructed work space when splitting. I also like the wedge being on the end of the beam like yours. I think you will have to figure out how to lower yourself, maybe a chair, or raise the splitter a little. I bet you won't lose a penny when you go to sell it in the future.
...now...how to get it out of the living room I have one of those small electric splitters that I keep in the house garage to split stuff a little smaller right before loading sometimes, (my current burner likes wood smaller than my old one, and much of the wood I'm burning currently was cut for the old one) it is only 5 ton maybe, but I haven't found anything that it wouldn't split yet. I think the very sharp and thin wedge helps
We have lift off! (Or split off?) I got in a whole 2 rounds before the rain hit. It's 68 degrees here right now (avg temp is 46), so it really is splitting weather (well, until the clouds split) I ended up going with the aw32 oil. It seemed as good as any. This went though that good-sized round like butta. If that's a sign of the future, I think it's a good purchase. I'll do some more reviewing as I spend more time with it.
