log splitter for rtv900

zenchal26

zenchal26

Member
<span style="font-size: 10pt; color: black; font-family: Arial;">Where can I find a splitter for my rtv? Do they make one that will plug into the ports on the back? How would you operate the splitter (from the cab or is there something you can do to run it at the splitter) Man the possibilities for this thing are endless. Glad I went with the rtv!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
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Equipment like that is usally runbeside the wood spitter.That way you can see when todo what..... </p>
 
i really don't know how much the bota slpitter's are but something you might wanna look at is them log splitters at lowes that run off of hydraulics it would be very easy to get the connections to rig it up to some quick connects that way you could use it with the engine that comes with it if you want or you can simply just unglup it from the motor and connect it to the rear hydraulics on the rtv and run it off of that. that would give you a the best of both worlds .</p>
 
My preference is to get/run a log-splitter that doesn't require the RTV to be connected. The RTV can run around collecting the wood while the splitter sits in front of the wood shed prepared to split the harvest.</p>
 
i would rather a gas powered log splitter myself and leave the rtv or utv to round up the wood. but being the rtv does have the capabilities to run one the one at lowes if you mod it to take quik connects that way if something does happen that you need the rtv engine to run it all you need is to swap some hoses. but i'm with you bczoom i rather aseperate unit/</p>
 
Here in N. Ga I go through at least 2 cords each winter. We have 2 heat pumps to use; but I really hate even the thought of using them. For instance, this month's electric bill just came. We have been needing some kind of heat at night for the last 3 weeks. Electric use was down previous months by $75 to $125. </p>


For me, the answer of wood heat is obvious especially due to the fact that the drought is killing our old trees. Last year took down 4. This year 5 taken down with 7 at latest count still standing. These are old growth oak and hickory here on our 10 acre mountaintop. </p>


Sooooo, a wood splitter. Getting kind of old and especially tired to get out there and swing that maul. The RTV makes getting into the woods and hauling SO very much easier than either the lawn tractor with trailer or the 27 horse tractor. I easily haul a rick per load no matter what the terrain. </p>


Did a lot of research on log splitters. POWER is the key to splitting, especially through those huge knots that the oaks and hickories develop. In the past we have cut around these and threw them in ditches for erosion control. Electric splitters are toys for the occasional user. That leaves the MANY hydraulic types available. For me, a self-contained unit with it's own power supply fits MY needs. </p>


My tractor and of course the RTV have hydraulic power take offs. Two problems in this method. One is the hours put on the tractor or RTV. The other is the speed and actual power that can be achieved by using the exteral hydraulics. I feel that the RTV really isn't engineered to do this. My research brought forth that the hydraulic pump pressure required takes a very lot of HP and a constant basis and even at that, the stroke time of the splitter is quite slow. </p>


What I ended up doing was finding a 35 ton splitter at TSC. Couldn't be happier. My wife and I have split 3 cords, with all of the above trees yet to go through. Approximate time per cord is maybe 3 hours. That is going to the woods, splitting, and then stacking. I find that taking the splitter to the tree is the most effective method, rather than dragging logs or cutting up sizeable pieces and hauling them to the stack and then splitting them most effecient. Ever try picking up a 36 diameter piece of hickory?</p>


Anyway, for me, the independent powered splitter works best. You do what you need...........God Bless...........Dennis</p>
 
Dennis,</p>


You are 100% correct on everything youstated !!! I do agree that the self contained unit with it's OWN power supply isreally the BEST way !!!!</p>


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ jamie</p>
 
Hi Dennis, good advice on the log splitter. I have just had an outdoor furnace installed so I am on the prowl for firewood at all times. I like your suggestion of a mobile splitter and being able to take it to the downed tree. I am trying to avoid as much wood handling as possible. Thanks again.</p>


Mannie</p>
 
Mannie, where in Otario are you. What species of wood is available to you? Traveled LOTS up there by MC in the past and I seem to remember a lot of softwoods and poplars. Anyway, be careful about creosote build up. Your furnace is outside so burnin down the house is diminished a lot for when that stovepipe starts glowing red.</p>


Been working on my last 2 trees that are down over the last few days. One, a hickory, has a 32" dia base and is 80' of at least 4'' when cut in 18" pieces.Each time I take the RTV down there to split and move another load up to the house woodpile I than HIMfor blessing me with this fantastic tool, land, wood, and life. </p>


In the past years I have used the tractor, a 2 wheel drive 27HP, to load up the bucket and a platform on the 3ph.My land has anaverage slope of 20 degrees and you talk about afun ride when turnin that puppy around or going across the slope with it loaded up.Specially fun when you go into a whole and find yourself 3 wheelininstead of 4.</p>


I put the ol RTV in 4 wheel, move cut pieces from the tree over to the splitter and dump them, or roll them across the slope.Split a bunch till Iget tired of that, load up, put the RTV in low and putt on up to thehouse firewood stack.Having the dump is so great cause I just back up to the stack, tilt the bed, and it is like 3 feet to transfer from the bed to the stack.</p>


Anyway, with so much wood, find that I am feeding thatstove more than Ihave in past years. Keeping the house at 78 without making that electric meter whirl is really nice a true blessing.</p>


Dennis</p>


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You guys covered this one pretty good. Only a couple things I would add:</p>


1. I would never try to run a splitter off the RTV hydraulics primarily because the amount of hydraulic oil in the RTV would probably not allow for constant cycle time like what a splitter needs without overheating. I tried this on some larger tractors with a ton more capacity and they would heat up. </p>


2. The hours on the tractor or RTV is also my concern. I would rather put the hours on a throw away engine than destroy my RTV.</p>


3. As mentioned before, get one with about 35 Ton capacity. Will go through anything. Lower capacity splitters will just get you hurt. The wood gets half way and then sticks, etc...</p>


On another note. I looked at my wood processing and realized that I was handling the wood 4 times just to get it on my big rack. 6 total getting it to the fireplace. That was stupid. So I picked up 12 crates. They are the size of a pallett and about 5 foot tall. I cut out one side to load wood into them. I also built a plitter table for the tractor 3 pt hitch that also picks up the splitter. I take the splitter and table to the wood, unhook and go put the forks on the tractor. Then I bring in the crates, they are filled and moved to the rack with the tractor. I keep 2 of these in the garage and load my wood box directly from them. Now I handle the wood 2 times - to the splitter, and rack, from the rack to the wood bin for burning. </p>


So, take a look at your process, take out the stuff that involves your back. Heck, I even use the loader to lift the larger pieces to the splitter table. This brings up another point. If you take a big piece of wood, split it, drop half on the ground while you work up the other half, you are killing your back. The splitter table allows me to keep all the pieces at the same level as the splitter. You bend over 1 time to get it to the table. Even the racks are usually elevated so I reduce the bend over time.</p>
 
Instead of letting the back-half chunk fall to the ground, I made a little bracket that catches it.</p>


I used C-clamps to hold it on since it has to be removed if I want to go vertical with the splitter.</p>


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Forgot to add/note:</p>


It's plenty strong enough as you can see from this pic.</p>


If I set a long on the splitter that weighs more than I do, I have to make sure the coupler at the other end of the splitter is connected to the RTV or tractor so the splitter doesn't flip over.</p>


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bczoom: Good idea on the "catcher". I will have to check into making one for my splitter. I would agree with others that it is easier to have a seperate unit and not try to use the rtv as a hydraulic pump. the entire system is not up to the task in both volume and psi. I use mine to haul it up to the woodshed and dump it in the front bucket of my gehl skidloader. a double stack in the kubota slides right in the bucket and I just raise it up and me and the wife stack it . it is a lot easier on the back than stacking over your head. the rtv is still the best wood hauler I ever used! Bill B.<br _moz_editor_bogus_node="TRUE" /></p>
 
Brian.....Thanks for the idea. Do the "C" clamps tend to vibrate loose by the end of the day? Wondering of some other quick disconnect; but aside; from the non-elegance of "C" clamps I think this is just fantastic.</p>


When I was shopping last summer for my splitter I came across several that had tables as an attachment; but the TSC one didn't. NOW YOU have solved that with a bit of 2" angle iron and my welder I can be in business.........Hmmmmmm now who do I know with a notcher and bender to make me the "U" shape and then I can weld on the opposite direction angle that your heels are on to use as a lip on the outside edge.......Anyway....thanks......Dennis</p>


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