Countyline Log Splitter? Best Budget Splitter?

Started by GaTrapper, January 21, 2022, 12:58:26 PM

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GaTrapper

I am in the market for my first log splitter. I'm looking for something reliable that is simple to use and work on if needed.

Is there anything that can compare to the Countyline log splitters with the Kohler engine?

Thoughts and input is appreciated! 

mike_belben

Box store splitters are all about the same.  Ive seen many identical parts with several brands and i bet they all come from the same alibaba connection.  Get the biggest one you can afford and cross your fingers is my opinion. 

If you wanted a really good american one youd have a lot of money and a long wait tied up these days. 
Praise The Lord

GaTrapper

Being in the south I don't have to burn a lot of wood each winter. It's been hard to justify buying a $3000 plus splitter.  

Are there any American made splitters that are reasonably priced?

btulloh

Check out craigslist and Facebook marketplace for used splitters. I picked up the splitter I'm using now for $350 a couple years ago and it foes what I need. To get one that cheap means it might have some age and be a bit ugly, but I've never had to replace a hose or fix anything on this one except the tires. Coulda fixed the existing tires but I opted to just buy wheels and mounted tires. (I've wasted a lot of time in the past chasing leaks in small pneumatic tires.)
HM126

beenthere

GATrapper
QuoteAre there any American made splitters that are reasonably priced?

What is "reasonably priced" for you?  Might be quite different for others. 

Bought mine new 37 years ago and thought it was "reasonably priced" at $800. USA made, quality exceptional, on its second 8hp engine. 
Buying new, only have available the splitters that tilt up to split vertical. They are a pain (IMO) to work around when horizontal. Not a picnic when vertical either.

btulloh has a good suggestion.
south central Wisconsin
It may be that my sole purpose in life is simply to serve as a warning to others

stavebuyer

The Countyline splitter is a decent value. I bought one for personal use to clean up after a major ice storm and split 50 full cords over several seasons. Added the optional side tray for catching re-splits. Zero repairs or breakdowns.

Biggest downside is the fat ram mounted wedge. I prefer a push plate on the ram and a fixed wedge so the next piece can clear the wedge. With the wedge on the ram the stuck round retracts with the cylinder.

TSC usually offers than $100 off at the beginning of every fall.

There are better units built; but nowhere near the same price point.

sawguy21

What are you splitting and how big are the rounds? Are you wanting to quarter them? In our softwoods a 20 ton works well for many people, if quartering more power and a bigger ram are generally required. Your hardwoods need more than the minimum but you should be able to pick up an Oregon or Echo/Bearcat 25-30 ton for under 2 grand, those are two I am familiar with. If speed is of the essence look at SuperSplit or similar designs. Whatever you do buy American! The cheap imports use non standard hydraulic components, replacement parts are a nightmare and imo the engines are junk.
old age and treachery will always overcome youth and enthusiasm

DMcCoy

I bought a Troy Built 27T years ago at Lowes.  Honda engine 2 speed pump.  Have split 30-40 cords with it and it's still going strong.  I did polish (grind!) the cast wedge to a smooth finish, it was really rough!

thecfarm

I would buy that unit.
I bought one kinda like that many years ago. I put some wood through that thing!!!
Model 6020-20hp Manual Thomas bandsaw,TC40A 4wd 40 hp New Holland tractor, 450 Norse Winch, Heatmor 400 OWB,YCC 1978-79

fabandfirewood

we use a 25t country line thats hooked up to a skid steer. it gets really good cycle times and splits anything we put on it without any problems. we have spilt 20 inch knoty oak with the 4 way on it just fine. sadly they stopped selling that model and only sell the ones that have their own engine. if we could find used second one we would modify it to have a static wedge. 

Nebraska

I have an older model  3 point county line splitter, it does the job, I would recommend  it if you have a access to a tractor or skid steer with enough hydraulic capacity. Basically no maintenance  I have replaced the chinesium front cylinder seal and a hose.  

TroyC

I have the Countyline splitter, Kohler engine, bought it 4 years ago. Think it is 22 tons.  Starts right up, runs and works good. Have had no problems with it. Uses very little gas, don't run it hard.
It doesn't get commercial duty use, just splits wood for the campfire. It goes vertical for the big cookies but that's a lot of work.

I'd really like to have the side arms on it to catch the splits. Will probably make one this season. If I recall it was on sale and just under 900.00 when I bought it.

upnut

I have the same splitter as TroyC, it has been a good machine. Did have to replace the engine at 6 years old, suddenly lost compression for some reason. Really like the splits catcher, plus built a stout steel plate cover for the engine. You can see one of the support arms in this pic, another was added along with the steel cover plate...



 

Scott B.
I did not fall, there was a GRAVITY SURGE!

TroyC

Yep, looks like it. I've heard those small Kohler motors have a plastic or nylon coated  cam gear. If you still have that old motor maybe it could be repaired rather easily. 

Like that catcher, and the engine cover is a good idea. Guess I have 2 upgrades now!

upnut

Quote from: TroyC on January 22, 2022, 06:24:06 PM
Yep, looks like it. I've heard those small Kohler motors have a plastic or nylon coated  cam gear. If you still have that old motor maybe it could be repaired rather easily.

Like that catcher, and the engine cover is a good idea. Guess I have 2 upgrades now!
The old engine sits on my workbench, thanks for the tip! 
I did not fall, there was a GRAVITY SURGE!

farmfromkansas

I bought one of those county line TSC splitters after the made in USA one I had was stolen.  Works better than I expected.  Hated the stand it came with, took it off and welded on a jack, as lifting the thing to hook it to the truck is hard on a weak back.  Was that split catcher an option or something you welded on?
Most everything I enjoy doing turns out to be work

upnut

Quote from: farmfromkansas on January 23, 2022, 10:19:18 AM
I bought one of those county line TSC splitters after the made in USA one I had was stolen.  Works better than I expected.  Hated the stand it came with, took it off and welded on a jack, as lifting the thing to hook it to the truck is hard on a weak back.  Was that split catcher an option or something you welded on?
The split catcher is a bolt on accessory, works well as intended. I don't stack huge chunks on it, too light for that. Usually quarter really big chunks in the vertical position, resplit on horizontal. 

Scott B.
I did not fall, there was a GRAVITY SURGE!

TroyC

upnut- did you weld the cross pieces on the wedge or did it come that way? I've been trying to figure out how to make a slip-on type for doing a 4 way split on the smaller stuff and take it off for the bigger stuff.

upnut

Quote from: TroyC on January 23, 2022, 11:29:47 AM
upnut- did you weld the cross pieces on the wedge or did it come that way? I've been trying to figure out how to make a slip-on type for doing a 4 way split on the smaller stuff and take it off for the bigger stuff.
TroyC- That's a slip-on 4-way from TSC that was available at the time as an option. The design limits it to smaller stuff, the retainer bends too easily if it gets stuck in big gnarly pieces. I like it for splitting kindling....


 
Works ok on small, straight grain stuff.
Scott B.
I did not fall, there was a GRAVITY SURGE!

peakbagger

I have a countryline with Kohler from two years ago. It starts and runs well. There is or was a defect with the air cleaner cover. It has a recessed dimple in the cover for the wingnut to screw down. That collects water and funnels it down into the air cleaner. Luckilly the rod is offset from the carb opening. I resolved the issue with a couple of O rings to seal this opening plus keep it covered. 

The second issue is the engine is quite exposed to splits dropping off. I would recommend a deflector guard. 

Those two items aside it splits what I need at a reasonable speed. 

TroyC

upnut, if your splitter is handy, could you get me a pic of your log catcher and the distance between the mount holes? I have some time now that I could fabricate something and attach it when I get back to the camp. Easier here than in the woods.

upnut

TroyC- It looks like this one, the specs say 11" center to center for the bolt holes. I'll measure mine today when I go to the shop....

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/countyline-log-catcher


Scott B.
I did not fall, there was a GRAVITY SURGE!

TroyC

Thanks! That will give me something to do today. :laugh:

mike_belben

i have about the same splitter but branded a husky.  there are some slight changes as mine is old but i can see quite a few elements as whatever big chinese plant evolved the design.  engine was on the other side but the beam is the same.  mine has a footplate with no ribs. i cant imagine it bending as i have stalled it with all 13hp in black gum.. but that new footplate is stronger. i wish they were pushing a flat into a stationary wedge though.

mine has been passed around quite a few times and everyone has added their signature.  tongue change, engine swap to 13hp honda, i welded on rebar catcher trays on both sides and pile wood onto it off my limb conveyor chopsaw rack thingy. and i welded it into a 6ish  then 5ish then irregular 4 way wedge.  it doesnt make 4 equal sized pieces unless in about a 15" round.  the cross wings are up pretty high so a 6" round will only split one time as it goes under the wings.





these early kicker triangles REALLY help shorten up the stroke by spreading the piece and tearing it instead of knifing all the way down.  in small straight limbwood it pops early and i peel the piece apart by hand,  flinging to the pile to my left rear in the natural tug direction so that tearing and throwing is one motion. all as the cylinder retracts and ive got two hands ready to rotate or grab the next piece thats usually staged on the rebar deck.

  in stuff sized to get 4 equal splits it goes faster by having the bottom two quarters flare out and tear ahead of the knife from those kickers.  big production increase once i got it all dialed in. most of my oak only needs a half stroke.  i keep a sharp hatchet right there for a quick sever on stringy ones while the ram goes home.  i only like splitting for an hour or two at a time but can make quite a pile if nothing breaks and the kids arent up my skirt.










as a 6 and 5 it made a lot of kindling/small wood that i dont need and two weaker tabs kept deforming so i cut them off when i stopped selling firewood.  you can still do big rounds with a multi-way if you have a large enough table to roll it off center and nibble away from the sides, thats the weakest, straightest fiber is the perimeter.  you dont wanna aim for the bullseye on a big round with a multiway.

the round point just helps safely locate the point of impact because the knife enters the end grain.  its like a lathe center, a lot of times i am lifting a block off the bed with my left hand to have it pass through just right and i want minimal pinch area for a finger to wander into.

its only sat a year but its in plain view.  i prefer it looks rusty, broken and tangled in briars to discourage anyone from cutting my fence and dragging it off. if it were shiny it probably woulda grown legs.  thats why i dont paint anything.  
Praise The Lord

mike_belben

i will probably mount it on the skid steer some day when i get the engine rebuilt, and mod that rebar rack into a good long scoop for picking big ones up or loading a whole magazine full.  thatd be pretty good for dealing with big fat yard trees i think. make the mess where the tree falls, pile the wood, then use the skeleton grapple to get the wood pile shook out and into a trailer then the brush all piled to burn.
Praise The Lord