Saved my aching back,
October 19, 2009
"They don't call this "POWERHORSE" for nothing. This is the best log splitter I have ever used. I split an entire winters worth of wood (six cords) in no time. Only problem was a blister on my little finger and a blister on my thumb..."
What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman
1 of 1 people found this review helpful.
Outstanding Piece of Equipment,
July 21, 2009
By Theoldman from Dolores, Colorado
"Simply Outstanding. This 143 pound piece of equipment has saved me innumerous hours of manual labor. For the operator who observes safety first, this is the unit for you. The Powerhorse 3-point hitch horizontal log-splitter packs vastly more power than its rating. For those who have a tractor with a 3-point hitch and hydraulics at the rear of the tractor, this is an ideal tool. Who needs 12 tons, 30 tons of power. Somewhere in the literature it states that this log-splitter is a good match for 12" logs. I just finished spitting logs 36" in diameter with NO jams. Plenty of power. My Kubota L4740 idling at 750 RPM provides more than enough power. The dual directional operation is the icing on the cake. Despite others who complained about a fitting that was awkward to assemble, I found NO problems assembling and installing the unit on my tractor. This is a winner. And, I do not work for Northern or any of its subsidiaries."
What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman
Good match for small sub compact tractors!,
July 20, 2009
By TooMuchToDoNotEnoughTime from Connecticut
"I bought this three point hitch splitter to run off of my Kubota BX 18 hp tractor which has rear remotes. Although the package arrived in rough shape, everything was there and in tact. Assembly was not too difficult and the instructions were clear except where it says to use 1/2" hydraulic hoses to connect to the tractor. Since my BX only uses 3/8" lines to the remotes, I saw no advantage to using 1/2" lines to connect to the tractor. The 3/8" I bought worked fine, plus the lines the splitter comes with from the valve to the cylinder are only 1/4".
The splitter calls for 3 GPM of flow which matches up well with my BX. I found I had plenty of splitting power for the average 12"-14" log if I ran the tractor at about 2,400 to 2,500 RPM. I even split a few 20" rounds that were not too knotty. These usually required one split from either end of the log to completely separate the log. The wedge is relatively narrow but a wider wedge would probably overtax the 3" hydraulic cylinder. Being able to split in both directions makes this splitter as productive as one that has higher flow rate (faster) but only splits in one direction. The standard log cradle is a nice feature and I could work a few logs at a time before having to empty the cradle to do more splitting.
One change in the design I would recommend is to extend the bottom rails of the splitter another 1/2" or so. The 90* elbow fittings that connect the hoses to the cylinder stick down below the rails a bit so storing the unit on a flat surface to make hook up easier means possible damage to the elbows. I ended up making an X shapped stand so the splitter could rest in the top half of the X's without damage to the lower fittings and hoses.
All in all, I'd recommend this splitter for anyone with a tractor that doesn't have the hydraulic flow necessary to run a larger 3PH version."
What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman
Good Product For the Money,
June 15, 2009
"If you have a tractor witha 3 point and hydraulics, this is a great product. Very fast with the bi-directional splitting. I run it on a Belarus 220 and it works well. I would have given it 5 stars if they would have thought of a few more things in the design. (1) I added a 22.5 degree fitting to the 90 degree fittings it came with to fix the line routing problem that others have spoke of, (2) A heavier bracket / shield holding the valve as I already bent mine, (3) some sort of stand for when it is removed from the tractor.
All in all, it is a great product for the money."
What is your level of technical expertise? Professional
Extremely Useful and Efficient,
January 12, 2009
By TheHappySplitter from Northwest Ohio
"When I recently increased the amount of wood I burned to save propane heating fuel, I found out the hard and sweaty way that I'm not the wood splitter I once was. In truth, I never was that good with a maul and getting older hasn't made it any easier. I have an unlimited supply of firewood in our 11 wooded acres but having to split by hand was really slowing me down. I was woefully behind in getting this season's supply stacked and finally decided to get a splitter to catch up. The 3-point mounted Powerhorse really attracted my attention. It seemed a perfect fit in nearly every way. Our stove takes modest sized pieces, so the 18 inch length limit was right on. The hydraulic requirements fit my Ford 2810 utility tractor very well. The two way action sounded useful. That it was made in USA finally made the sale. How did it work? I just spent the last two days cutting and splitting wood and couldn't be more delighted with the Powerhorse. The tractor idling at 1000 rpm provided all the hydraulic power I needed (your tractor could be different) to split the oak, ash and hickory that provide my firewood fare. The two way action is truly a boon. The racks allow you to have a piece ready for both directions. Split one one way and roll the other one in for the trip back. Amazingly efficient! Assembly was easy but I will reiterate some other reviewer's complaints about the rearmost hose (one of the two the buyer supplies). With careful tweaking, and a long enough hose, you can arrange the hose to clear the beam as it goes back but it's a design oversight in my opinion. It would appear to be easily addressed by a different angle fitting, which is what I will try first, but Northern needs to look at this and come up with what I think will be a simple cure. Overall, this is the best splitter I've used and it's perfect for a "small-time" operation like mine. If you fit in this category, I don't think you could do any better than a Powerhorse"
What is your level of technical expertise? Home Handyman