Harbor Freight Log Splitter: Ruined by Lawyers, 5 Minute Fix.
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 2 ต.ค. 2024
- Harbor Freight nerfed their electric log splitter by eliminating single handed operation in the misguided name of safety. Here’s how to fix it in 5 minutes for $11.
Supplies used:
-Drill
-Cotter Pin
-Momentary foot switch (HF, $11 w/ coupon)
Sage advice about marriage. My wife has split wood with me, walked shelter belts during deer season, layed under a truck with me swapping out a motor mount at 11 pm and given me three kids who are responsible for 7 grandkids. We knew each for other for 6 weeks when we got married. It'll be 43 years come January. It's been a helluva ride.
Your’s is an awesome tale, Brother. God Bless you and your’s.
Kool story bro
“Knew each other for other than 6 weeks”? She can tell you why you failed to make your point whatever it was. I been married for 17 years and got engaged after a month and married the end of the next one. That’s right, met July 4 married August 31. It’s more important to both be putting God’s Law first on marriage than to have dated and shacked up for 2 to 9 years first. But what do I know? I’m not even giving people unsolicited “advice”. Marriage must be entered into and maintained as a lifetime commitment because that’s what it is. Both go in and keep that in mind and it will last. Go into it that you shacked up long enough to know each other very well and you will eventually get divorced. I would say your “advice” is not very sage, more like lemon pepper and nothing tastes more lazy than lemon pepper.
Came for log splitting information and got cheap but good therapy.
Seriously.
This was the best video on splitters that i have ever seen little brother. I don’t know what i liked best. The splitter hack or the excellent marital advise. I have been married for 30 years and you just spoke like a man that has been married just as long as i have been. You and your queen will go far if you keep thinking like this little brother. Peace and blessings to you and your little family. Oh yeah by the way. I am buying this over the Ryobi just because of you. Thank you My friend. LF73.
Thanks for the kind words!
I've split 5 cords through it so far. Does what I need it to. th-cam.com/users/postUgkxUyQswtttSffRMblGbrhCvZn7JkhtG1-7 I scrounge all my firewood and am not equipped to handle big wood, but for logs up to 24 inch diameter or so, it works great. I've been amazed by some of the gnarly bur oak and elm crotches it has split. For the tougher stuff within it's size range, you might have to study the piece a bit to decide the best attack, but if you split smart it's up to the job. It did arrive low on oil, and I was would have nicked it half a star for that, but it has regained my full confidence. UPDATE NOVEMBER 2021: Still going strong after all these years. I love the one-handed operation. Hope it's still in production if I ever need to replace it
The bit at the end is gold. Marriage takes teamwork. One half can't drag the other half along. I finally myself such a teammate. Your fix is pretty clever. We have a manual HF log splitter and it's a beast. Takes 2 hands though. Sometimes it a foot too. We love it. Our upgrade will be engine driven.
Just turned 69 this month, looking to buy a electric wood splitter, swing my axe just gets heavier each coming fall.. I was amazed with your solution to a "ruined by lawyers" fix... Your absolutely right, those guys can really mess up a perfectly good operational working machine.. Thank you for your ingenuity and time to post this video....
My husband and I have been married for 43 years and we have burned wood for the last 30 and yes he found a gym in me that is for sure he will be the first one to tell you loved your video
Glad I ran across your vid. I'm in my 60's but have RA (nasty form of arthritis), and though I still swing an axe/maul, it shuts me down completely pain wise the next day. So I purchased this splitter model a few days ago and was thinking about a toggle switch but didn't want to screw my warranty. Low and behold! Here you come along and brightened my day! Thank you!
BTW, loved the part about the service person with no eyebrows hooking up your gas... lmao
Being married for 47 years, I get the dry humor...and Love it..
I solved mine with a $3 adjustable screw clamp from HF! No drilling necessary. I leave mine on while I am splitting and have had it 5 years with no problems. In fact I used it for about 30 minutes this afternoon to split some wood down to more managable size today. My wife fires our stove, and plays with it all day. In the evenings, I stay up later than her and before coming to bed, put in a load so there are starter coals in the morning! She loves her hot spot near it very much...backs up to it and warms her buns before going to bed! HA HA
Mine wont let the ram come back until both the switch and lever out released. Did yours not have that issue?
@@boxerdog0588 Nope, as soon as let go of the lever, the ram returns to the start position. Still working well. I started splitting a 12 foot trailer load of wood today. Worked well until I nearly was overcome by the heat...99 and 108 heat index today! At least I have a fan on me and am in the shade the entire time! I am in no hurry, will work it a few wheelbarrows at a time until it is all done! Being 72, us old guys know how to work smarter, not harder! LOL
@@boxerdog0588 mine won’t return while the button is depressed either…
@@boxerdog0588 No problem with mine at all.
Mine won't work with clamp .
I got one of these ~1 yr back, to let shoulder injury mend. Saved my bacon until I can properly swing a maul again. I used a woodworking clamp to hold the switch on the motor closed. When the clamp fell off, switch stayed closed. Pity that. I use a HF NO foot switch on a wood scrap to run the motor. Sharpening the wedge makes life easier on the mechanicals. One big PLUS of this machine, why I bought one, is that it takes only about 1' square space to stow it on end indoors. Shoulder responded poorly to Covid vaccine shots, but it's coming along nicely, bless it. Morso stove still great.
AMEN Bother on the relationship tip! .. Thanks for sharing this quick easy mod on the log splitter. I'll be changing mine up this week.
Ha weird when you hear what you’ve needed to hear for a while from a TH-cam video. Helpful man thanks
I just bought one of these and I too wondered and was skeptical about the two handed operation. This”fix” is brilliant.
I found the foot switch at HF..two versions...dead man's vs push on/push off. At first I went for the push on/off but that's not as convenient as the dead man as the motor keeps running and the ran does not retract, even if the lever is dis-engaged. I have also been put off by the difficulty with moving the splitter "off road". I was looking to change the wheels, expand the wheel base, or something. Then HF had a hand truck on at Black Friday. Going to try mounting the splitter on the hand cart, add the switch and moving should be easier, plus the machine will be raised up by 10-12". I've had my splitter for around 5 years and it has earned it's spot in my garden shed. Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you for the advice and this awesome mod! I don't have a wood stove...I wish I did.
I wanted wood heat in my home soooo badly, but I can't seem to convince the wife that it's better.
I keep telling her that it's better and if the grid goes down and electricity and propane fail, with a wood stove we'd have options to heat the house.
We'd have to have a stove installed, chimney routed to the outside and heating side connected to the vents for the rest of the house...but the benefits far outweigh the costs.
I'm in the same boat as you.. Last week she asked why I purchased a splitter, I said because I'm installing the stove soon.. 😎
Nice solution, I like the footswitch idea, as you say, 'ruined by Lawyers'
I have the same splitter, I mounted a heavy duty micro switch on the back of the lever then wired in a 230v relay inside the box, happy days.
Also, as my brother pointed out, I can tie a piece of string to the lever with a loop the other end as a foot switch, hands free!
Just bought that splitter yesterday and can’t wait to upgrade per your video.
Great video and Amen on the marriage comments!
AWSOME….. and the relationship advice was spot on. 🏆🏆🏆
Nice mod, I'm currently making a double lever for mine that simultaneously depresses the power button and trips the ram lever . What makes me laugh is that these morons think that having to use both hands to run the thing, allowing a split log to possibly fly up and hit the operator in the face is supposed to be SAFER? The lawyers and government regulators can ruin anything with their blatant stupidity.......
I just bought the harbor freight 5 ton splitter along with the foot pedal switch. Thank you for the video
My mate and I married 24 years last 20 we have used 10 cord of wood every winter to heat our home 4 bedroom tri level with two fireplaces and a tarm wood boiler. Split and stack every year. You are correct Nothing heats better than wood.👍 Nothing like coming home to a warm fire crackling away in the fireplace, and the smell of wood burning give a new meaning to being Home.
Also the knowledge of in an emergency of no electricity, we can have light, heat and means to cook and bake in the fireplace. Talk about comfort in a bad situation.
The benefits of wood are amazing. It can literally save your life. Great video and fantastic content 👍
its just like the new EPA gas can spouts that i spill more gas with than the old style
Facts brutal!!!
My wife got me the same wood splitter as an early xmas present. Not fast but it does the job. I placed mine on a table so I don't have to bend over to operate.
There’s nothing quite like taking a knotty piece of Oak right in the grille. Thanks lawyers.
I had put a longer piece of pipe on the piston handle so i could use my leg or knee to control the splitter. Very easy and quick and doesn’t take long to get used to.
Good video. "True that" on the relationship advice, from a 75 year old, who splits wood year around, for his wife to be able to "fire up" her cast iron Franklin stove whenever she feels a need to! It makes her smile and reminds her of how she was raised.
NICE!
Great advice by the way.... I completely agree 💯👍🏻
Being able to position yourself behind it really adds to the safety, IMO.
also: raise that pig up...working firewood bent over all day will kill your lower back...if the working part of the machine is at waist height your back will thank you at the end of the day
Can I get a hell yeah?
There is an old joke about a guy fooling with a propane stove, and it blows up! On his way up, he meets a man falling down. The man yells, do you know anything about parachutes? And he tells back, no do you know anything about propane stoves?
A wife that doesn't mind handling your wood is nice
Good to see someone thinking thru the process. I will use those ideas at home and camp. Takes a village.
As a side note I have a foot switch on my drill press that way my hands are free to hold work and use the drill press and if the work gets stuck just let off foot switch in stead of trying to hold work and hit the stop button . I am thinking about getting a splitter and thanks I will use my foot switch👍
Now to incorporate the switch into the lever...
One motion operation = perfection.
Sir you deserve any and all success you find on TH-cam. The advice is very much welcome and I hope there's more to come! great content man 🤝
Two good fixes, thanks. i also thought a foot switch would be the way to go. i'm just now considering breaking down and getting a splitter, and the two hand thing bothered me. I've got a little bar clamp that might hold down that switch on a new one, and already have a foot switch that i use on Dremel tools and knife sharpeners, so I’m a little closer to deciding which to get.
I just posted above, two 8" zip ties work perfectly. 30 cents for couple zip ties and you can save your bar clamp for something else.
@@bobfromoh Yeah considered other things, the little bar clamp was handy and unemployed. :-) I actually, long ago, used his technique on some gas cans with a button I have to hold down, which was a pain, but is not so bad anymore.
If you're thinking about buying a log splitter but don't want to futz around with workarounds, buy a Boss electric splitter; they're still one-handed. My 7-ton unit looks exactly like the HF model in this video, right down to the oil vent screw. Had it for two years, no issues.
Clamped that stupid button down. I Plug it in and unplug when finished. No feet work.
excellent!
His model won't retract the ram while the motor's running
First, thank you for the video. I watched several on TH-cam before buying. Yesterday I went to Harbor Freight and bought this log splitter. Very happy with it so far. I used it a little bit last night without any modifications. Today I woke up with brilliant idea. No drilling, no clamp like the other viewer mentioned. I used a couple 8 inch cable ties ("zip ties") they fit around the electric box and hold down the button perfectly.
The foot switch I have (also from Harbor Freight) was $16.99 but it's a two way on/off foot switch (not dead man type). So I can hit it once with my foot and take my foot off. After the wood splits I release the lever, the motor is still running so the ram does not retract. I can then grab the wood and move it as I hit the foot pedal to turn off the motor. Then the ram will retract. When the ram gets where I want it to put wood back in, I hit the foot switch again and ram stops there as the motor starts again.
You could also use the double sided hook & loop velcro strap to hold the button down!!!😁👍🏻
Excellent suggestion! And less than my $3 fix! HA HA
Wise beyond your years young man !!!
Slowly trying to convert my knowledge into wisdom!
@@thedoubtfultechnician8067 read Eclessiastes book of the bible to learn how to gain wisdom!
My wife will split wood with our 25 ton spliter and help stack and she will load the stove and keep the fire burning, she is my helper.We always try to burn wood it saves us a lot and keep us from burning high price oil for our oil furnace.
I clicked on your video and it was pretty good
This is the first video of yours I have seen, was in Harbor freight looking at this splitter as my big has one is dead… found your video, your comments on the electrical components were enough for me to sub to your channel. Thanks
2nd biggest thing wrong with this world is the damn Lawyers! BRAVO for FIXING your splitter. I love the relationship advice. Had someone told me that 20 years ago, I would not be twice divorced. My next one is going to be a homely chick (Nowadays, Character and loyalty are well above looks on the list of things I want in a woman.) that is willing to fiddle fart with the wood stove all day to keep the house warm. :-)
Everyone gets ugly eventually. Character lasts forever!
You can have the wood I burn coal better ongoing heat and low maintenance. I load my with stove with coal at 6 am and I don’t touch it until 6 am the next day. I get the coal for free from selling all the oak logs to people which I have more hard wood seasoned in tree lengths to supply 15 years
Can we tie the lawyers hands ,hold the log with your feet. Good love advice !
another thought... the temporary clamp idea would be good while still under warranty. There is no way anyone could tell it was modified.
The wheel base could be wider. Other than that I have no problem with mine. I paid $307.00 out the door.
You r right about all. Get rid of crap that don't help. life gets hard
Excellent video, many thanks . Same here in the UK with the lawyers, our poor country is literally drowning in bullshit....Regards to all.
I got that impression from watching Clarkson’s Farm- crazy!
I was hit in the mouth by a log that "sprung" off when the ramrod slipped off a log.
That safety switch put my face right where it needs to be..I'm lucky it didn't break my teeth. Beware!
I loved this video and you got one of the good ones. I talking about your wife also the log splitter
Thanks! I’ll let her know lol.
Thanks for the video & great marriage advice! 😉👍
Good idea. Just saw that Harbor Freight also sells the foot switch
I have practically the same splitter from Tractor Supply. I bought a maounting frame for it that gets it up to waist level. I use a clamp on that button and bought the same foot switch. Now it's one hand and foot to operate. You need the extra hand to hold your wood down sometimes. It works perfectly. So you are a few years behind, I did this almost ten years ago.
Mount that switch onto a board to keep it stable. Another mod to make is to make some kind of teeth in the ram surface instead of leaving it smooth. Wood won't slip of and hit you in the face! Most larger splitters have spikes or some kind of teeth welded on the ram end.
Or better yet, weld another wedge on the ram! That way no matter what you try to split, one end or the other will enter the wood so it will always split!
Brilliant solution! You've made the splitter easier to use and-I believe-safer. Plus, yes, you've got a keeper.
Numerous log splitter injuries ending in amputation seem to counter that belief. Just pointing it out, people can do whatever they want with their stuff. _(ツ)_/¯
Yes, It is safer, as you can hold onto the logs to stop it firing them across the yard. 😄
Just returned a borrowed electric wood splitter to my neighbor (I like having my own stuff, ya know...) and have been researching electric ones and HBF pricing on this model is $329 (TN, USA) now. Probably will get the foot switch as well. Need to work on a sturdy table to bring it up off the ground as the knees and back sure feel it more now (not 20 yo anymore). I'll reply back on this thread in a few months, as it's Winter time and I'm about to do A LOT of wood splitting. Great video, appreciate your candor and sharing tips. Saved your link to check back on other stuff and things later on.
Mine is mounted on a left over metal stand from my woodshop, did not have to built a thing!
Everything you buy costs more because of lawyers.
Great info, I just looked at one of these splitters at Harbor Freight, The switch part was very helpful.
Thanks for the idea. I've seen other models where it came with a switch and you left the engine running. Oh well.
Great solution for the two handed operation. I have a review of the log splitter on my channel and and was referred to your channel for this fix. I have ordered my foot pedal and will be installing for this falls wood splitting. Great video!
Thanks!
Instead of putting the tile to stop the ram from returning all the way.
Place a piece of wood in front of the ram .you WILL ruin the ram because it is ment to return all the way.
Take my word for it.
How does it get ruined that way? Just curious!
Simplest solution is usually the best. Very nicely done bro. You just sold me on one of these splitters. lol.
HAHAH The left wing radicals will be after you rear end dude> LOL
The true problem is in the valve. If there was a way to change the valve so that the pump pressure when running doesn't stop the ram from returning then you could just install a simple on/ off switch. Unfortunately I have not been able to find anything for any of these style splitter when it comes to the valve. But this is a great idea too.
This is what I was hoping to do. Flip a switch for power and use just the handle to move the ram back and forth.
@@boxerdog0588 unfortunately I've looked for valves and have had no luck. Best thing to do is buy one that's already set up that way
@@millennialhomesteading5915 I should have looked at the controls before I purchased and modified mine. I turned it into a budget forging press.
I went one step further and installed a mechanism on the rear lever that presses a button ,which means that I only use one hand to start the splitter and the other hand maneuvers the wood log
Great advice... I needed to hear that. ........now back to the bar.
Yes. The problem with these log splitters is that you need to get down very close to them to operate both the lever and the switch. I also had a log fly into my face and have a 2 inch scar right between my eyes. I ended up extending the handle and installing a remote switch for the button. Now it can be operated without having your face right next to it.
Good idea. I use a bungee to hold the lever down, which turns mine into one-handed operation. It may work for youts.
The button on the side rather than the top as others are puts your face close to the wood..not good.
You ever let off the lever while holding that push button in? The ram won’t retract. So I suppose your plan is cutting power to the splitter via the foot pedal will do the same job as letting off the button?
Not only does she run the wood stove she helps split and stack. We are in our 60’s now. It’s more than a metaphor.
There’s probably a reason why it wouldn’t but why not duct tape and/or zip ties😂
Relationships? Married in 1977 3 months and about 3 weeks after we met. Saw each other TWO TIMES between meeting and marriage. I figure that, if you marry the right person, there's nothing like it - but if you marry the WRONG person, there's nothing like it.
That reminds me of the guy who took his girl out into the fog and mist.
1 minute and 25 seconds in,,,,, And Im an instant sub.... That seems to be coming out of my mouth a lot more these days..
Yeah, I just took a flying log to the face with mine because of this issue. Broke my safety glasses and glasses and also almost cut through my lip requiring 5 stitches and tearing up the inside of my mouth. I'm also fairly certain I got a minor concussion. After all that is when the idea for this sort of mod.
This is an issue that requires contacting, at least, if not sueing the seller.
At the very least leave a review describing your experience to hopefully warn others of this poor design.
160K clicks later, the relationship advice keeps on delivering
Thanks. I was looking at videos and trying to figure out a solution. I like yours the best. I just bought myself a foot peddle control. Much thanks.
The first thing I did when Mine arrived was order the big c-clamp and foot switch , screwed the switch to a piece of plywood, so it stays stable and does not run around the ground so much. Have used this setup for two years now and split 14 cords of firewood, works great.
I love it!
Luv your 'metaphors'... thx!
Excellent advice!!!
I think if you’re going to heat your home with wood it’s better to just pay up and purchase a real log splitter. I have had my 27 ton MTR log splitter for almost 24 years. It works vertical and horizontal. It’s gas powered and it’s works great. I can see this working for splitting wood for a fireplace or camp wood but if heating your house no. Take care
Nono, the solution is a seatbelt for the log... You're welcome.
What's up young AvE! Yep I have one (but vertical) two handed job. Fucking stupid design. I one handed mine and now it's WAY faster and safer imo
I don’t deserve to be in the same sentence as AvE but thanks lol
I don’t deserve to be in the same sentence as AvE but thanks lol
Would an alternative to your footswitch have been to replace the momentary switch with a push button on-off switch, or would that require playing with the connections to that capacitor?
The problem is the switch has to be turned off for the ram to retract. So you’d be pushing on and pushing off for every split. So it kind of has to be a momentary switch of some kind, and foot seemed easiest.
@@thedoubtfultechnician8067 AHA! Now I know!
I didn't realize that switch needed to be released in order for the ram to be retracted.
Yes, the foot switch was a no-brainer, especially considering you already had it.
Thank you for taking the time to address my question.
Great fix, thanks for sharing. Did you consider locking down the control lever as well? Seems to me just using the foot pedal would do?
It won’t retract unless you release both the lever and the foot switch.
Getting to old for this sh*t
Classic, love it. Stay safe from ur ole wv hillbilly buddy.
My wife is the thermostat type... But i still love her to death. Haha I am the exception to the rule, 12 years in.
Just done upgrades on my splitter. Made good wiring that doesnt requires drill the hole to push the button. With mine upgrade, you can use a button or pedal. It is quite easy and doesnt requires lot of knowledge to do that. I can draw diagram if someone interested
Great advice… metaphorical or otherwise.
I got a win electric log splitter the little thing does a good job for the size but this to hand of crap I don't like I got to fix mine
Bawwwhaaaww! Great vid! Subbed.
Thanks a lot for this video!!! I’ll be doing this to mine.
i love burning open pine cones....they burn really hot, burn for ages and leave a nice fine ash thats great for the soil
So the way i rig it is? rope and a stick, Tie the rope making a loop to the ground to the stick wedge on the button rope over to the handle tie it on . use a plank of lumber for the peddle, Take your foot place on the peddle and step on it pull the button and handle down at the same time. There I'AM AWAY FROM THAT DANGEROUS THING
I don't want to be any where around my powersmart. IT DANGEROUS When it pop. logs shoot out every where with a lot of force. It could easy kill some one / I don't need a log explode into my face 😵
I actually DID click on this. Hilarious!
You should sell that as a kit, Drill bit and carter pin.... It will sell like hot cakes before mid night tonight.... HA!!!!