LOG SPLITTER RECOMMENDATIONS WANTED

  • Thread starter Thread starter RANCHER
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  • #51
I won't buy anything with a Tecumseh engine. Wow, I guess Briggs went over to the dark side! I had a Kohler 15HP, I think it was, on my riding mower. I was very pleased with it. But, I only had it for 5 years and then sold it... I wouldn't be surprised if Honda had some components made in China now... Even the Swiss are doing it now and they're still charging Swiss prices! They do seem to have a good handle on the quality-control though.
 
You folks must be refering to Briggs lawnmower engines they put on cheap mowers sold by K-mart .

They do make a better line of engines you know .The flat head old standbys were phased out as per EPA edict a few yours back .What you get now is an overhead valve which actually produces more power than the flathead per cubic inch .

Tecumseh did make chrome lined cylinder engines and they were junk .Of course Kohler is iron as well as the IC Briggs industrials .With the Briggs I've never had a problem with the exception of my son side hilling an 18 HP pancake and loosing oil slinging ability simpley because he didn't know any better .

The biggest thing with small air cooled engines is changing the oil frequently if you want to get some like out of them and keep a good air filter on it .No matter how good a Honda might be it won't last long running filthy oil forever .
 
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  • #53
I agree Al. I always watch the oil and keep the air filters clean. That goes a long way. In fact, that may be why I've
never had a problem with any Briggs! :) I use full synthetic oil in all my engines too. Have been since they came out with it.

Plugs last a very long time in my engines.
 
It doesn't matter on the Tecumseh's, you can't buy one now anyway, they killed themselves and went under, no more parts, no more motors.
No Al, I'm referring to ALL the NEW Brigs motors, they aren't the same as what you are used to.
 
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  • #55
Wow. I guess I'm not surprised. The one Tecumseh I had unfortunately bought, didn't hold up more than a year
before it gave me problems.

So, do all the new Briggs motors have plastic carbs?
 
Most do, yes, or a plastic intake or..............................
Tecumseh was always an odd engine, you either had a good carb, or a junk carb, nothing in between. The engines were always sound and built well, 99.999999% of the problems they had was in carbs!
 
The newest Briggs I have is an 8 HP IC overhead valve on a pressure washer .I've had no problems so far with the engine .The washer however I've had to fiddle with the check valves .Hard water ,ya know .Damned iron makes them stick .

.
 
A little info here .Most times fuel delivery problems on newer Briigs engines can be traced to the diaphragm fuel pumps .

They tend to fail just like chainsaws especially after they have sat unused for a season .Also like saws if they get exercised regularly they seem to do just fine .

Not a big deal to fix.Just go to Briggs web site and get the part number then order it from MFG supply,Tulsa engine or whatever.Couple bucks .Just more of a general pain in the butt rather than a costly item .
 
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  • #59
What's the story with the Honda's? What's good/bad about the GC vs. GX series? I read where the GC has a timing belt? Is that an issue? (I generally don't like timing belts; prefer chains or direct); I know the GX is more expensive. The GX looks like their commercial
grade engine and I guess the GC is more of the residential/homeowner series. What are the issues for use in splitters?

http://www.trupower.com/honda/honda-gc-engines.htm
http://engines.honda.com/models/series/gx#gc
http://engines.honda.com/models/series/gx
 
Al Smith said:
A little info here .Most times fuel delivery problems on newer Briigs engines can be traced to the diaphragm fuel pumps .

They tend to fail just like chainsaws especially after they have sat unused for a season .Also like saws if they get exercised regularly they seem to do just fine .

Not a big deal to fix.Just go to Briggs web site and get the part number then order it from MFG supply,Tulsa engine or whatever.Couple bucks .Just more of a general pain in the butt rather than a costly item .
Click to expand...

Al, sorry man, but you are way behind the curve on this one! There are NO diaphragms on the "newer" Brigs engines, they are fuel pump driven or gravity fed. The "new kits" include a plastic piece that is the needle and seat, float and jets all in one unit! There are three O-rings, one for the intake side of the engine, one for the air breather and one for the fuel bowl. You now replace the ENTIRE assembly on the smaller ones. This "kit" costs $75 from anyone, the carbs are $125.
I am very familiar with what you are talking about, used to get those kits for $12 and have it running in no time. It's another world now days!
Rancher, I can't honestly say, all I am familiar with are the GX series.
 
Perhaps Andy but as I said I only have one of the newer design and it hasn't given me reason to work on it yet .

However two models come to mind ,one an 18 HP pancake twin on a rider and a 5 Hp single on a leaf vacuum .Both are flatheads of course but some of the very last of those series or about 5 years old . Both those engines had diaphragm operated fuel pumps .Not a diaphragm type carb,just the pump .

Now that big single on my pressure washer certainly has something feeding the carb because the way the lines are routed it can't gravity in very well I wouldn't think .If it isn't a diaphragm type pump then just exactly how could it work ?
 
Interesting! I can't say for sure Al, and I wont lie! But I know Briggs has done EVERYTHING they can to get away from that system in recent times.
Forgive me for my bluntness, I haven't worked on everything they make. But I know what I have worked on, hasn't impressed me of late!
 
Well you were right about the carb .Tom who has no patience at all gave $125 to get his replaced about a year ago .He couldn't wait for me to order a kit .

Seems high to me seeings how he could have bought the whole engine from Small engine warehouse in Indiana for maybe twice that amount .He bought a 22 HP Honda from that same guy for around a thousand a few years back which is a hell of a deal .
 
I hear you Al, but as I said, the damn kit would have cost him $75, what's better?
I am not saying I like it, I assure you I don't, but it seems to be the way it is anymore.
 
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  • #67
I found a decent comparison rundown on the GX vs. GC engines: http://www.ventry.com/fans/faq/gc-vs-gx.html

I think I'm leaning towards this little guy here: http://www.timberwolfcorp.com/log_splitters/default.asp?id=2

The guy I talked to at Timberwolf told me that all of their 20-25 ton splitters will split the same wood, but that the real difference is the continuous run-time. He said the TW-P1 only has a 3 hour constant run-time before the fluid gets too hot. The bigger units (TW-HV2) can go 5 hours or so continuous. So, that's something that we haven't really talked about yet.

One drawback on the HV2; it can't take a 4-way wedge or a log lift... The P1, which is only horizontal, can and
the log lift for that is about $489.
 
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TW is definitely one of the brands built to meet the demands of the job rather than just trying to meet minimum specs on paper.
 
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  • #70
TreeDimensional said:
I know a guy with a "Split Fire" that really likes it. I t will split going each way. Quick for sure!

http://www.arboristsupply.com/compact.html
Click to expand...

That looks like a good one. I think I'll call them.
This one has the GX engine, similar to the TW I was looking at.

http://www.split-fire.com/splitter_sc_3255.html

So, I looked into these further. It looks like they're in the same ballpark as TW.
The 3255 is $2661, the hydraulic log lifter is $479; $550 for shipping; doesn't take a 4-way.

3455 takes the 4-way wedge; $3207; plus shipping.

They don't have a CA distributer or any stores that sell them here.

One thing I do like on these is that they have the cylinder protected inside the rail. Sort of protects it from
damage. Not a big thing, but kind of neat.

I think I like the Timberwolfes better. They have a 12" wedge, which can save quite a bit of time
on a 2 pass type split to get 4 pieces out of a 1 way wedge. I've seen the 7 or 8" wedges take 3
passes to get the same 4 split pieces, due to the fact that the wedge doesn't reach up to the top
piece... If you know what I mean...
 
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