The Forestry Forum

Hi folks!
new to the forum, Way Cool!!
I have a Lafont SS-450 Super Log Splitter that has been in the family for 30 years.
It will make 2 men old very fast attempting to keep up with it.
its lack of modern day, home owner, splitter safety features are totally awesome.
hit the lever and go get more wood!
my grandfather darn near got in a fight with the rebuild shop when they said the hydraullic servo.. or what ever couldnt be repaired..
low and behold they fixed it..
very little info available, one good video of an ss-500 on youtube.
let me know your thoughts!
Thanks guys !

Very well built (obviously), some might say historically significant.
SS500 is on my want list.

Detailed photos please.

Please post a link to the video; I can't seem to find it.... ???

Didn't find the video either, but did find some evidence that the LaFont was lacking the safety controls, as mentioned.

This lawsuit, suing the maker of the valve that wasn't a "deadman", i.e. it operated the ram without a person holding the valve lever, a result of a man losing a thumb and both legs in the LaFont splitter.

http://www.leagle.com/decision/1989933888F2d45_1920.xml/CHILDRESS%20v.%20GRESEN%20MFG.%20CO.

having a hard time posting a pic of the machine
any sugguestions?

Can't say for sure what is giving you a hard time, but go to the "Home" page and scroll to the bottom to see where pic posting help is at.
The short of it is.. with a pic in .jpg format on your computer, you upload it into your gallery, and put it in to your post from your gallery. Done by clicking on the "Click here to add Photos to post" line below this posting window. Can upload another pic, or go to "My Gallery" in the menu bar to find a pic posted. Then bring that pic up and scroll down below it to see where you click to link it in your post. Sounds more complicated than it really is.
Let us know which step doesn't work, or is giving you a hard time.We can help.

 

  

 

put a little effort into my gallery and got these 2 pics up and on there.
Sounds to me like the fellow who lost his legs to a lafont must have been over 6 foot tall.
he must have slipped forward and fell waiste first ontop of the machine with the ram "obviously" ingauged.
care must be taken when operating these machines. 2 people can work these splitters *DanG steady but always keep in mind your not going to out run it. i freqently re ingauge the ram forward before it makes a full return but any further back your risking a crushed hand.
"i pushed my grandfather over hard 1 day when he wasnt paying attention"
I replaced the worn out 8hp this fall with the 10hp that actually was on the machine origionally.
i figured it was toast but actually had 70psi compression.
Wow what a difference, does all the work i need at half throttle 
i made a hydraullic tank heater out of a soldering pencil, i think if i go up to 60watt from 30 i will get better results.
only downfall with these style briggs motors is carburator icing at temps below freezing.

I couldnt find the video i was talking about.
dont think it was on youtube. but there is a video on there of a lafont ram cycle.
at one time the 450 had a hydraulic wedge adjuster, it was removed many years ago do to impracticalites.
alot easier to lift the wedge as you go.

Try Google ,Lafontss550 and the video will come up.That's quite a wood splitter.

Thanks for the photos.
Links to video clips in first post:
http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/my-splitter-thread-by-popular-demand.52415/ (http://www.hearth.com/talk/threads/my-splitter-thread-by-popular-demand.52415/)

That ram is huge!!

Thanks guys, i book marked the video.

That's a nice looking machine there Mopar!

What's the spray bottle for in the first picture?
What's the little roller for on the top of the cylinder's push plate for in the 2nd picture?
Do you have any other pictures of the wedge set-up?

Thanks!

My guess is that the roller is to kick the control valve in to "neutral" upon return.

And I didn't identify the spray bottle at first, but think you are right about it. Maybe sprays the sliding parts of the head with oil to decrease wear ??

your 100% on the spray bottle and the roller.
I oil up the base of the ram and anything else that looks dry with oil when i am done for the day and cycle the ram a time or two.
I have found a defect in the control cylinder, the end of the cylinder is threaded into the handle asembly
the cylinder-threaded end are free floating and will turn out of the handle.
We had to weld a new bolt onto the end of the cylinder due to this problem.
Thanks guys!

bad terminology.
The control cylinder isnt free floating but likes to turn out of the control valve counter clockwise

Nice splitter im about ready to pull the trigger on a lafont ss 500 that has all the additional wedges and has been updated and rebuilt some hope to snag it in the up coming week it my loader sale goes through. Might also pickup a little giant conveyor and pair them together for a nice complete package. 🙂

There is a LaFont firewood processor for sale near me that I'm real tempted about. Has a timberwolf conveyer added and has been repowered  y a 4 cylinder john deere diesel. Looks old, early 80's ish

I saw that its a massive contraption for sure. A processor would never be a good fit for us our wood that we get isn't pretty enough for one but a heavy duty lafont ss will work out nicely. I've heard they are pretty impressive and quick.

Getting close to picking up our new to us splitter!

Picking up the new wood splitter tomorrow morning. 

 

 

 

Looks like a sturdy set-up. 

Those look to be a well built splitter. Enjoy the new {TOY} tool for the tool box. 

Yes they are a very well made splitter built like a tank. To be honest i think they were ahead of they're time and had features found on today's modern splitters that are honestly playing catch-up i feel. TESTING DAY TOMORROW!

Well guys I sold the lafont to CT. I recently found another that has been completely rebuilt top to bottom and is also updated with a more modern hydraulic system for a faster cycle time. 
 I'm planning to snag this one and add a few things like a table grate for catching re splits as well as a log lift and a hydraulic adjustable wedge for 4,6 and 8 way splits. I absolutely love these splitters and can't wait to perfect them. I've had several people ask if I could build them one so I may consider doing that in the future possibly. 

picking up the new splitter tomorrow!

so picked up the splitter and looking forward to getting it to work and building it into the machine it should be.