Anyone own a Champion log splitter?

[Deleted member 47704]

Anyone own a Champion log splitter? opinions?

 

[Old_Paint]

OB, might wanna get a mod to move this into the Implements/Attachments forum. I may be following this, depending on whether or not it gets hijacked.

 

[mcfarmall]

Let's try to not make this political.

 

[Bmyers]

Let's try to not make this political.

You are taking all the fun out of everything

Our neighbor had one, it was small like 5 or 7 ton. It worked fine, but it was just to small. He ended up selling it and getting a 25 ton County Line (the reason he went with the County Line was the Lowes didn't have any of the larger Champion ones in stock at the time).

So very limited experience on my part with them.

 

[hodge]

YTL is an American company, who supplies splitters to many different vendors. They are built in China, and they will vary in engine selection, options, and splitting force. I had looked at a Champion at Home Depot, but I settled on a Performance 32 ton at Lowes- it was an unused return, and I got it for half price. There is a recall on the 250CC Briggs engine, so I assume the previous owner didn't want to mess with it. Briggs is replacing the flywheel and ignition coil at their cost. The splitter still came with the factory 3 year warranty, even though it was a return.
I bring that up, because of this- YTL's customer service has been fantastic. I had contacted them the day that I bought my splitter, because I wanted to register it, and it was missing a bearing cap. I just wanted to know the specific size, so that I could pick up a new one. They put one in the mail that day, and informed me about the recall. Lowe's wasn't supposed to sell it unrepaired, but I wasn't about to return it. YTL set up the service with a local small engine shop. The person that I talked with, Shaun, was American, easy to speak with, and very attentive.
While I don't have first hand experience with a Champion, I am very pleased with my YTL built splitter, and their customer service is great. I would assume that if you buy a Champion, it would be the same.

A few differences- Champion splitters (at least the ones sold through Home Depot) have a private labeled engine, they have log catchers on both sides, and fast cycle times. The Performance splitter that I bought from Lowe's has a Briggs commercial engine, a log catcher on one side, and spring steel looms to protect the hydraulic hoses. It also cycles fast- 11 seconds. Unless it is really bogged down, it splits at that speed. It's much more productive, but you had better be attentive where your hands are. It is fast, and I've caught myself almost not getting mine out of the way quick enough. It takes a little adjustment.
Countryline splitters at Tractor Supply are also YTL splitters, with Kohler engines. Out of the 3 retailers, they are the most expensive, and the 25 ton doesn't come with a log catcher- you have to buy it seperately.

 

[Old_Paint]

YTL is an American company, who supplies splitters to many different vendors. They are built in China, and they will vary in engine selection, options, and splitting force. I had looked at a Champion at Home Depot, but I settled on a Performance 32 ton at Lowes- it was an unused return, and I got it for half price. There is a recall on the 250CC Briggs engine, so I assume the previous owner didn't want to mess with it. Briggs is replacing the flywheel and ignition coil at their cost. The splitter still came with the factory 3 year warranty, even though it was a return.
I bring that up, because of this- YTL's customer service has been fantastic. I had contacted them the day that I bought my splitter, because I wanted to register it, and it was missing a bearing cap. I just wanted to know the specific size, so that I could pick up a new one. They put one in the mail that day, and informed me about the recall. Lowe's wasn't supposed to sell it unrepaired, but I wasn't about to return it. YTL set up the service with a local small engine shop. The person that I talked with, Shaun, was American, easy to speak with, and very attentive.
While I don't have first hand experience with a Champion, I am very pleased with my YTL built splitter, and their customer service is great. I would assume that if you buy a Champion, it would be the same.

A few differences- Champion splitters (at least the ones sold through Home Depot) have a private labeled engine, they have log catchers on both sides, and fast cycle times. The Performance splitter that I bought from Lowe's has a Briggs commercial engine, a log catcher on one side, and spring steel looms to protect the hydraulic hoses. It also cycles fast- 11 seconds. Unless it is really bogged down, it splits at that speed. It's much more productive, but you had better be attentive where your hands are. It is fast, and I've caught myself almost not getting mine out of the way quick enough. It takes a little adjustment.
Countryline splitters at Tractor Supply are also YTL splitters, with Kohler engines. Out of the 3 retailers, they are the most expensive, and the 25 ton doesn't come with a log catcher- you have to buy it seperately.

Good info, all of it.

Keep the posts coming. I've gotta do something for a splitter myself. They're stinkin' expensive for what they do, and pretty exclusive in what they can be used for. My old 4 pound double bit axe is a bit hard on me now, especially since I've had cuff surgery on both shoulders, and the right one twice. Swinging a 12 pound hammer on wedges is pretty much out of the question. One more tear on the right shoulder, and I'm looking at a complete reconstruction. I'm getting too old for that kinda fun, and besides that, I'd rather spend the $50K it costs for a shoulder repair on things that are a lot more fun. If only I'd been able to spend that kinda money on better toys when I was younger.

My splitting needs are pretty light, and I'm in no hurry. Cycle speed doesn't mean that much to me. I can still split a lot more in an afternoon than I can possibly use for several weeks. I have absolutely no intention of trying to make a living splitting wood at my age. I live in the south where the winters are short and the scrub oak grows fast. I have a small wood stove that I'm going to use to heat my shop with (just for nostalgic reasons, mostly) and the wood only needs to be about 12-14 inches long. Doesn't take much to split that, and the vast majority of it will likely be under 3 inches in diameter anyway. Can do some of it with a 2 pound hatchet if it's reasonably straight. But if I want to sell any of it, it's going to need to be standard length (whatever that really is), and one good knot in an 8" diameter chunk of water oak can make for some pretty intense work. I'm clearing out most of the undergrowth on my property, so I have a lot more wood than I can possibly use. I just don't like wasting stuff, or a lot of it would already be gone.

 

[Springer]

I owned a 27 ton one for about 4 hours, a couple of weeks ago. Brought it home from Home Depot and the pull cord retractor spring crapped out on the third pull. Though it had red tags warning that there was no crankcase oil installed, and they supplied a bottle, I saw there was oil in it and the oil was not brand new!!! This had most likely been a returned item. And that is was I did.
Bought a Husky used from our local implement rental, for half the price. Totally happy with it plus the close support, if needed.

 

[Deleted member 47704]

Let's try to not make this political.

Just how in the world can a log splitter discussion turn political?

 

[Deleted member 47704]

Well, I bought the Champion 34 ton 338cc single-cylinder OHV was $2050 with tax and delivery charge. prices have been going up weekly, should have just pulled the trigger months ago.
I'll see how it goes.
Been trying to get a splitter for months. I had enough splitting by hand this past spring. I have some large green logs to split, wild cherry can be tough, some of it is 20" dia. Tried splitting it by hand and decided to get a splitter. I cut it about 20" long, I live in a 200 year old house and the main fireplace is large.
I expected to have to assemble it, showed up assembled. I'm going to go through it.
I don't have trouble with equipment, I don't expect to have trouble with this thing.
I'm not in the firewood biz, just splitting my own stuff mostly cherry and maple trees that lose limbs in storms, get uprooted or over grown stuff.
Firewood here is 200/cord delivered, with the stuff that has to get cut, I estimate in 2-3 years the splitter will pay for itself.