63-Year-Old Flywheel Splitter Still Going Strong

63-Year-Old Flywheel Splitter Still Going Strong MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous Equipment Glenn McQuiston 86 still splits 4 to 6 cords of wood a year with the log splitter and stacker that he built with his father Otto 63 years ago It s a testament to the durability of early 1900 s technology The engine block crankshaft and flywheels from a 1908 Mogul 8 hp tractor were used to make the splitter I did all the welding with an acetylene torch McQuiston says The wedge is pieces of 3/4-in flat iron welded together and attached to 30 in of 90-lb railroad steel The splitter was initially powered by an International water-cooled engine but eventually replaced with a 12 hp Wisconsin engine The engine s piston was removed and 10 in added to the connecting rod It s mounted on a 1929 Dodge Brothers truck frame with a rear axle from a Model T Ford A 1936 Dodge 3-speed truck gearbox adds power to the flywheels McQuiston crank-starts the engine and puts it in second gear The splitter wedge hits every 10 seconds nonstop His family used to split about 20 cords of wood a year to heat four households The heavy-duty ram has no problem splitting large diameter fir pine cottonwood and tamarack trees I think the splitter would split a tank in two says neighbor Dale Anderson The whole thing worked hard all its life and shows no sign of slowing down It was well thought out and well-built The McQuistons also built a 10-ft stacker with a 1/2 hp reversible electric motor and 45-ft endless conveyor belt to move the wood away from the splitter Everything is portable and McQuiston moves the splitter and stacker with a 1939 Allis Chalmers that his father purchased new Several years ago McQuiston restored it I ve got a bunch of antiques around here including myself McQuiston laughs Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Glenn McQuiston 360 N E Foster Creston Wash 99117 ph 509 636-3293

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