I waited two years to order a SSHD, but shortly before it came I had unexpected hernia surgery. For several months afterwards I could lift things, and I could lift the SS table, but not lift and push it, not even on concrete. It sat for some time and I thought of ways to move it easier.
Once I got to use it, the SSHD was everything others had said, as far as splitting. And having never seen one, that was a huge relief. But there is more to splitting than splitting, and I soon added the fork lift tubes, because I wanted it moved inside when not being used. My old hydraulic had a tarp over the engine for most of its thirty plus years here.
Adding wagon steering was one of those ideas from three years ago when I was healing. This winter it is a new mod, and being top heavy is a concern. Also, it needs a push bar added to back up by hand. Best part however, the tongue is on the proper end to back it up to the conveyor, instead of trying to pull it from the side.
Simple mod: Pulled the four bolts on the axle leg and moved it under the table. Bought another axle, wheels and tires from SuperSplit, go-kart spindles (go-kart parts found on-line), tie rod ends, steering plate and tongue came from Kory Farms or Primere Fabrication (?), and then had a guy fab it up with a side to side pivot on the leg for uneven ground. Bolts to the beam with existing bolts. Splitter can be returned to normal in an hours time, and eight bolts removed/replaced.
The tubes under the beam are a separate mod connected with one bolt in each leg. They are fork lift tubes, which I decided to keep. The wagon tongue un-pins.
I have not split anything with it since the mod. The weather and a conveyor mod from hand crank to hydraulic lift is in the works (hand crank sheared a pin inside). When that project is done, I'll find out pretty quickly how top heavy the SS is when towed. I wanted to keep the tires under the outfeed table when splitting and away from my feet to avoid leaning while working. Perhaps a sliding axle could be pinned in a wider stance when transporting. Obviously the mod is meant for the wood lot and not road use. However it will make it much, much easier to load on a trailer if need be.
