Benchmark 25 Ton Wood Splitter review

[@davalleyguy5020]

Awesome review. I've been borrowing a splitter for 25 years from family. Custom made and 16" tires. Your attention to the height got me thinking. Also sad one must pay 100$ for fluids on top. Thanks from NS

[@jeffrotullstein]

Hello out there in NS, thanks for watching and taking the time to provide some feedback.

[@fmcmillan08]

This was the absolute perfect video I needed to be confident in buying this. Thanks for taking the time to review this for us Canadians!

[@jeffrotullstein]

Awesome, thanks for the comments and good luck with your own splitter ... Jeffro !!

[@donjaneashbee3011]

Glad you made this video Jeffro. The reason I Iooked this up was because I received my splitter still in the box. Quite a challenge to assemble this beast. Don't blame the poor hardware kid that assembled it. The instructions do not mention how to install the hydraulic hoses. That's why I looked up your video. LOL

[@jeffrotullstein]

Happy to hear my video was of help to you ... happy wood splitting. I guess if there are no assembly instructions for the two hoses there's a 50:50 chance of getting it right.

[@bananajack1]

hi does your cylinder get extremely hot to the touch? so hot that it could burn you if you were to touch it for a prolonged amount of time.

[@jeffrotullstein]

Yed it does, best to operate on cooler days.

[@francisrodrigue2354]

I just order my own today, to be deliver at the end of july. I was curious to see how it performs so thanks for this review . I figured that for the price it was à good deal.... and it will bé a nice addition to my diy sawmill. Sgt rod

[@jeffrotullstein]

Thanks for watching and glad my review was useful - yes, this splitter had the most pressure at 25 Tons for the money I could find.

[@cneville2]

I just assembled my today. It wasn't clear at all in the instruction manual how the hoses were hooked up. There is another video on youtube about it and I could see the hoses were hooked up backwards to how you had it in the beginning so I thought you had it wrong. Anyway when you figured out that they sent it to you hooked up backwards, I had to laugh. Good thing you figured it out. I find it like you a hell of a value for the money. I got it when it was 899$ before taxes which was just about 3 months ago. But even at 1299$, I don't think you could do much better.

[@jeffrotullstein]

Yep, best value in a splitter I could find. After splitting several cords with it my only other complaint is the working table should be a bit bigger and have end plates to stop blocks from falling off - especially onto the engine. Thanks for watching and giving feedback.

[@kenweis2291]

Back in the day ....2007 i got a yard machine...27 ton solid beam, no track 6hp honda...8 inch high fat wedge....splits most pieces in 3 inch travel....$1000.00 after tax out the door

[@shaunflynn]

When you changed the hoses did you drain the hydraulic fluid first or was it not necessary? I am asking because mine works fine viv-a-vis direction etc, and my hoses don't leak, but the bar with the U in it from the handle to the other end of the cylinder is leaking (factory assembled) I tried to tighten it but it still leaks. I noticed that there was no teflon taped on the threads there as there was everywhere else, so I want to disconnect them and put tape on them.

[@jeffrotullstein]

Hi Shaun, no I did not drain the system of fluid before swapping the hoses ... if engine/pump are not running then hose pressure is zero ... each hose will drip out a bit so have a catch can handy and a rag ... good luck with the splitter.

[@shaunflynn]

@@jeffrotullstein Thanks for the info..I like the splitter as it splits some pretty tough wood..just need to fix the leak!

[@terryseredoka1931]

I have the identical model. I think you have the hydraulic lines reversed. When pulling the anvil back, you should be able to lock it and it will retract, then the handle goes back to Center. Also you are not getting filtered oil. Would recommend you correct that. As for the size of logs, I am splitting 4 ft rounds of white oak and silver maple. The beast does an excellent job.

[@jeffrotullstein]

Yes, if you wstch entire video you'll see I fixed the reversed hydraulic hose issue ... Oil filter and position related to oil flow is as per Home Hardware diagrams and the same as all other splitters of similar design. Thanks for the feedback ...

[@jeancartier6640]

Hi Jeffro, great videos. I noticed that the outlet of the hydraulic filter is not connected correctly. The outlet of the filter adapter should be connected to the inlet of the hydraulic pump (small black hose). You want filtered oil flowing into your pump; not straight oil from the tank; there could be some contaminants in the oil tank that could damage the pump and piston. Hope this helps. Jean Cartier

[@jeffrotullstein]

Okay, thanks Jean I will take a look.

[@jeancartier6640]

@@jeffrotullstein Hi Jeffro, should also mention that the oil filter adapter should be connected to the bottom opening; not to the upper hole.

[@jeffrotullstein]

@@jeancartier6640 Hi Jean, thanks for checking out my videos and for the feedback. I checked my splitter this morning before work and it is connected as per the photo on the Home Hardware website, which has the Oil Filter connected to TOP port of the Oil Tank and is in the return path from the cylinder; the oil pump is connected to the BOTTOM port of oil tank. So what you are saying is opposite to that and may indeed be a better setup but in the grand scheme of things, I don't think it really matters. I bought the unit brand new and put in new clean oil, the oil filter will remove the contaminants from the return path - also note the OIL OUT port is about 1.5 inches above the tank bottom, so if there are heavy sediments they will settle below the pickup point ... anyway so far so good.

[@jeancartier6640]

Hello Jeffro, I reviewed a number of log splitter manufacturer's installation manuals such as SpeeCo, Wallenstein, and YTL international and they all have the oil filter adapter connected to the upper hole in the oil tank, which means that your Benchmark 25 ton log splitter oil filter adapter is correctly installed. My apologies for my previous comments. I own a 15 ton SpeeCo horizontal log splitter, which I have been using for the last 20 years and the oil filter adapter is connected to the lower hole in the oil tank, which means the filter adapter was incorrectly installed. I have not had any issues with the log splitter to date. Yesterday I ordered a Benchmark 25 ton from Home Hardware. Looking forward to using the vertical position to split some very large logs. Looking forward to your future videos!

[@jeffrotullstein]

@@jeancartier6640 Excellent, good to know on all accounts; hope you are happy with your Benchmark when it arrives.

[@kenweis2291]

You can always block up the tires with a few 4 inch long pancake rounds....make sure engine is level

[@rtoguidver3651]

I mainly use mine vertical, I dig down so the base plate is level w/ the ground, so I don't need to hold the log while splitting and I have a stool to sit on... Call me lazy !

[@kenweis2291]

I hope that weld on the back of beam never breaks....it looks good but fatigue can be a heartbreaker

[@jeffrotullstein]

Yeah that would be a bummer - but I doubt it will ever break - pretty good looking weld as you say.

[@bentwedgestanleybrand5818]

Good morning from Piqua Ohio.

[@jeffrotullstein]

Hello Ohio - thanks for checking out my video ... have a great day!

[@yvesberthiaume2521]

You may have lines reversed on valve ..that may be why it’s backwards

[@jeffrotullstein]

Switching the hoses worked ...

[@kenweis2291]

Absolutely

[@kenweis2291]

When you have 16 yr old highschool drop outs assembling machines thats gonna happen

[@jeffrotullstein]

I guess so - guy at the hardware store said mine wasn't the only one that was screwed up - he knew what was wrong within 5 seconds.

[@GrizzlyCountry]

That thing is way too low! I see where that would give a guy a sore back. I hate work surfaces that are too low! Correct height for a man 6'2" is about 40" to the work surface. But if you raise that thing, you will change the way that the ram works, when you flip it to the vertical position. A quandry...

[@jeffrotullstein]

Yes raising the unit will only be done when working in the horizantal position - I say that in the video ... 40" you say - I'll check that out.

[@GrizzlyCountry]

@@jeffrotullstein What would work great would be a cheap set of those car ramps CdnTire sells. Wait til they go on sale 50-60% off. Roll the splitter up onto those.

[@okko16]

2:32 I don't like the device: you put the log on it and then go three to four steps to the switsch? Too much movement. 🥵

[@jeffrotullstein]

Nothing wrong with the device - your comment is regarding the first time I ever used it - I had no experience and was a bit unsure of the splitter ... check out "Make It Take Mobile" on my channel for a comparison.

[@kenweis2291]

Took a chip out if that axe handle

[@bastianstassen3394]

“I didn’t buy it cause I’m getting old”…. Well just about everything I buy these days is cause I’m getting old

[@jeffrotullstein]

Sorry to hear that bud - - gotta keep on keeping on ...

[@jamesahr2634]

As usually another splitter with slow ass cycle time

[@jeffrotullstein]

Not fast but solid ... you wanna recommend a "fast one" ?