Harbor Freight Predator 20 Ton Log Splitter Review

Harbor Freight Log Splitter

"He who chops his own wood warms himself twice."

Words of wisdom from my grandfather Ralph.

Aye, my girl snickers at this saying as well. But only because she doesn't separate the firewood…

It may be difficult to believe, but it does become cold in Texas.  Merely non very often or for very long.

We've had several weeks of common cold weather condition here, and I've been putting all this dead oak from the drought to employ in the fireplace.

The Fatty Rancher likes to remember of himself as burly.  Still, splitting logs isn't how he likes to demonstrate his manliness.  Yup, "better livin' through power tools" has e'er been my motto.

So when I started looking for a woods splitter, I took it pretty seriously.  20 ton, 30 ton, skid steer, tractor or gas engine powered, I looked at a bunch.  And the prices pretty much ran the gamut.

Then I spied the  Predator 20 Ton Log Splitter from Harbor Freight.

At present, this splitter has a smaller tonnage than some other power splitters.  Only information technology is very unique from others in one very special way: The location of the hydraulic cylinder.

Most splitters have the hydraulic cylinder (HC) in line with the wedge. That is, the HC is on acme in line with the log.  Now this may transfer the nearly power to the wedge, but information technology too ways that logs tin can be split in simply one direction of the HC.

The Predator, yet, has the HC under the log bed.  This ways that information technology can have a dual sided wedge, and separate logs in both directions.  This makes the Harbor Freight Log Splitter unique.

This may seem petty.  But every bit anyone who has spent time splitting logs can tell y'all, the return time to reposition the wedge is often the aforementioned amount of time to drive the wedge.  This means that splitting in only one direction splits 1/2 the forest in the same corporeality of time that splitting in both directions.

The result is that, instead of cooling your heels while a conventional wedge reverts to the open position, yous are reloading your splitter at each end of wedge travel. This dramatically increases the throughput of the splitter.  Place a log, split up it in half, take a half and move it to the other side of the wedge and return.

The Predator has a capacity of 23.five″ length and 16″ diameter.  This, and the 20 ton strength has been more than than adequate for the trees felled on Hidden Oaks.  I have yet to run into a log that couldn't be dissever properly.

The splitter comes with a 6.5HP Predator gas engine with, very chiefly, a fuel cutoff valve.  If you lot take had the "ethanol dejection" earlier, you know that leaving fuel with ethanol in the float basin of an infrequently used power tool volition bugger it up simply good.  So every time I shut down the engine, I run the fuel out of the carb.  That way, when I get gear up to first it again, no fuss.

I've never had a predator powered tool before, so I was cautiously optimistic that it would be reliable.  I'm happy to report that after 2 season, there take been no problems with the splitter.

The splitter comes on wheels and has a 2″ ball coupler.  It'due south non designed for route utilise, but rather hauling around the ranch (which I practise with the Mule).  I bought a long BBQ grill cover from Habitation Depot to cover it.  Information technology fits nicely with two hook/loop straps to keep it from bravado off.

The Splitter proved hard to detect in the Harbor Freight stores.  I think information technology is a combination of popularity and bulk that conspire for depression inventories. Even so, it is readily available from the warehouse. You will have to spend $75 on freight, merely since the splitter is normally only $749.99, you are nevertheless saving a bunch over the large-box stores.

Setup

The product comes in a crate and requires last assembly.  This includes assembling the frame, wheels, and coupler.   Be sure to purchase some hydraulic fluid and oil to complete the assembly.

Uncrated log splitter

The control, ram, engine and pump are preassembled on this Harbor Freight Log Splitter.  They demand to exist mounted and tubing installed.

Power tools!

Hardware kit and ram assembly

Packaging was great, with all small parts and connectors blister packed on a bill of fare (helps keep small-scale items in sight until assembly).

Assembled chassis with hydraulic reservoir

Completed Harbor Freight Log Splitter fired correct up and was ready to go.

Fully assembled splitter

At $750 (plus shipping) the Harbor Freight Predator log splitter is a great value.  Surprisingly, HF doesn't do a very skilful task of highlighting the most awesome characteristic of this product: Bidirectional splitting. Go figure.

Is it the beefiest splitter on the market? No mode. Merely it does an admirable job on a upkeep.  I'g into my 2d season and there are no bug.  I'll follow up on this thread if there are any changes.

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Source: https://thefatrancher.com/you-need-this/harbor-frieght-log-splitter/

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