Self-Propelled Wood Splitter

Self-Propelled Wood Splitter WOODLOT EQUIPMENT Wood Splitters 24-3-37 "I built myself a wood splitter a few years ago but but I got tired of having to take my ATV or tractor with me so I could move it around," says Doug Slatcher, Bracebridge, Ontario. "I already had an auxiliary hydraulic control on the splitter for its hydraulic block hoist so I added quick couplers to the hydraulic lines and equipped the splitter with a hydraulic-driven front axle. The front end is really the rear end out of a golf cart with a hydraulic slave motor driving it. "Now I can tow the splitter to the woods with my pickup using a ball hitch, and then unhook the splitter and connect up the drive axle by hooking up the hydraulic lines and steering bar. Then I can drive wherever I want, walking alongside. It moves at about walking speed and is very maneuverable. If it's wet or slippery, I have a set of chains for the 12-in. snow tires on the drive wheels. "A Ford hubcap on the drive-chain sprocket keeps twigs and sticks out of the chain. When I need to use the hoist to lift a big chunk of wood, I uncouple the hydraulic lines from the drive axle and hook up to the hoist. "The splitter works great and hasn't broken down once after splitting about 250 cords. Total cost of the job was only about $100, mostly for hydraulic hose and fittings." Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Doug Slatcher, Bracebridge, Ontario Canada.

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