Wolf Ridge vs. Eastonmade vs. Brute Force vs.

[Woodpecker]

They really are amazing!

Scott do yourself a favor and start using a dry ptfe based lube like this stuff:

It’s the cats turd cutter for keeping these kinetics running smooth. Once this can is gone I’ll probably switch back to the wd40 specialist stuff. The interflon is good but I’m not sure it’s 4 times the cost of the wd40 good:



Once you get all the old gunk cleaned off the bearings this stuff will actually do a pretty good job of keeping all the dirt and bark from accumulating on the bearings and rails.

 

[Scotty Overkill]

Scott do yourself a favor and start using a dry ptfe based lube like this stuff:View attachment 364478

It’s the cats turd cutter for keeping these kinetics running smooth. Once this can is gone I’ll probably switch back to the wd40 specialist stuff. The interflon is good but I’m not sure it’s 4 times the cost of the wd40 good:

View attachment 364479

Once you get all the old gunk cleaned off the bearings this stuff will actually do a pretty good job of keeping all the dirt and bark from accumulating on the bearings and rails.

That's a great suggestion! I've been using Tri-Flow spray lubricant, it's a game changer too. The slide and all the roller bearings like to have some "go-juice" once in a while, I have learned that on these machines!

 

[Scotty Overkill]

Scott do yourself a favor and start using a dry ptfe based lube like this stuff:View attachment 364478

It’s the cats turd cutter for keeping these kinetics running smooth. Once this can is gone I’ll probably switch back to the wd40 specialist stuff. The interflon is good but I’m not sure it’s 4 times the cost of the wd40 good:

View attachment 364479

Once you get all the old gunk cleaned off the bearings this stuff will actually do a pretty good job of keeping all the dirt and bark from accumulating on the bearings and rails.

This is what I've been using....

https://www.amazon.com/JNSN49923-Tri-Flow-Lubricant/dp/B00SXH7EN8/ref=asc_df_B00SXH7EN8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=509036443846&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11071939391955284779&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1024622&hvtargid=pla-1292193251010&psc=1

 

[Woodpecker]

This is what I've been using....

https://www.amazon.com/JNSN49923-Tri-Flow-Lubricant/dp/B00SXH7EN8/ref=asc_df_B00SXH7EN8/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=509036443846&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=11071939391955284779&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=m&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1024622&hvtargid=pla-1292193251010&psc=1

Perfect! Similar to the interflon and wd40. Fwiw the wd40 is only about 7-8 bucks a can.

 

[Scotty Overkill]

Fwiw the wd40 is only about 7-8 bucks a can.

Yep now that I have them bearings juiced up good with the Tri Flow I'll prolly switch over to the WD-40 for cost effectiveness.

Ir seems for every 1/2 cord or so I split, I give it a few shots on the slide and the bearings. Seems to retract better when I do it that way.

 

[Woodpecker]

Yep now that I have them bearings juiced up good with the Tri Flow I'll prolly switch over to the WD-40 for coat effectiveness.

Ir seems for every 1/2 cord or so I split, I give it a few shots on the slide and the bearings. Seems to retract better when I do it that way.

Pretty similar usage here. I’ll work about 30ish minutes and take a “maintenance” break. Then work another 30ish and usually clean it up and put it away. Seems like a cord at a time is all I ever get time for these days.

 

[Nutball]

Those Subaru engines are great. I know someone who put a 9hp off a generator on his 30T Hydraulic, and it ran very smooth. I think he had a Honda on it before.

 

[Hinerman]

Perfect! Similar to the interflon and wd40. Fwiw the wd40 is only about 7-8 bucks a can.

I ordered mine yesterday, at your advice, $6.99 plus tax and free delivery in Amazon. I do pay for Prime though.

Ironically, guess what happened yesterday when I went to split? My roller bearing froze up and the ram wouldn't retract. I took it apart, cleaned it, and used bar oil for lube. We were back in action. First time in 5 years that has happened.

 

[Scotty Overkill]

I ordered mine yesterday, at your advice, $6.99 plus tax and free delivery in Amazon. I do pay for Prime though.

Ironically, guess what happened yesterday when I went to split? My roller bearing froze up and the ram wouldn't retract. I took it apart, cleaned it, and used bar oil for lube. We were back in action. First time in 5 years that has happened.

The machine I bought lived a rough life. I found it on FB Marketplace for 400 bucks, talked him down to 360 cause the tires were destroyed and it was literally rusted to heck. It was kept outside for who-knows-how-long (many years or even decades) under a rubber tarp near the woodpile.



It was loaded onto a trailer to be sent to the scrap yard if it didn't sell! It was near Kittanning so it wasn't a ridiculously long trip for me to go save it. All of the bearings needed serious attention when I got it. Now it's smooth as butter.....

I did upgrade some stuff. Got two new tires, the newer style actuator handle assembly, new actuator spring and return spring kit, as well as bump stops for the ram. So I have a total of 540 bucks in this machine and it's already my go-to splitter. I still have my Swisher 22ton hydraulic and even with a 4-way wedge it can't process wood faster than this 1980s model Super Split!

 

[Al Smith]

I'd think about this little bit .With an auto cycle design of any thing you are not in total control of it .Does a second or two in cycle time mean that much ? You lose your concentration for just a split second you might spend the remainder of your life with one hand .Once a portion of your body no longer exists it's too late because it won't grow back like a star fish

 

[XRoadsBurner]

How are you all transporting your kinetic splitters?

From what I understand the high center of gravity means they shouldn't be towed at highway speeds. I need a machine I can do 55mph with (ideally without a trailer) so I can go split deadfall from neighboring farms on site.

 

[Hoser]

Mine has been worked on to bring the beam height up and a large production table added and even then I can muscle it into a utility trailer alone.
But if I’m bringing a splitter out I have a lot of wood to split and the splitters normally staying there. Otherwise I just noodle it down to manageable size and throw it in

 

[Woodpecker]

There are a few splitters that can do highway speeds comfortably but they are expensive. And even then why add the extra wear and potential for repair on a pricy machine. The box store hydro units do usually have dot rated wheels/tires but I wouldn’t want to take one on the highway. If you absolutely have to take the splitter somewhere on a trailer is the best way. But it’s easier to just toss the wood into a truck/trailer and bring it to the splitter. Even the really big rounds can be noodled down to a manageable size. Why reinvent the wheel?

 

[XRoadsBurner]

Okay guys I hear ya- Reason number #437 why "sharing" woodchuck equipment with relatives is a bad idea.

 

[Al Smith]

From what I've seen most of those splitters sold by lowes and TSC are not built heavy enough to be pulled long distances .The pic is my home build which is heavy duty as a battle ship .Wheels and tires are rear spindles from a Ford escort ,tank is 8" pipe .I can pull it at 60 miles per hour and it doesn't dog track

 

[Hinerman]

How are you all transporting your kinetic splitters?

From what I understand the high center of gravity means they shouldn't be towed at highway speeds. I need a machine I can do 55mph with (ideally without a trailer) so I can go split deadfall from neighboring farms on site.

I trailer my super split for transporting; they are not road towable.

 

[isaaccarlson]

I built myown splitter exactly the way I wanted. Used a ford van axle. It runs down the road at whatever speed you care to go.

 

[RCBS]

When I was splitter shopping in 2017 Timberwolf told me they don't sell them with auto cycle valves anymore (didn't say anything about being illegal, just a liability thing for them). Wolfe Ridge happily put an auto cycle valve on mine. I'm no hydraulic expert, but I'm not sure how it could ever kick into split after being in return. It'll only go retract if the extend valve is in neutral, so when it drops out of retract, both valves will be in neutral.

Rayco breifly manufactured a beast of a splitter. It was my first experience with full auto cycle. Game changer for sure. I beleive it was a dual lever design where you pulled both forwards to detent, the cylinder would cycle out and when it hit end of stroke one lever would kick and the other stayed in detent until the return cycle was complete. Hydraulic 4 way and log lift also. Extrememly stout. I had rented it while I was splitterless for a little while.

 

[Homemade]

Hudson makes a nice splitter. The badger is a cool concept for a processor but out of the budget you listed. Halvorson and dyna make good products. The halvorson seems a little under powered.