Log Splitter Rebuild

I rescue a log splitter from certain doom.

[@thomasjones613]

As a retired welder with 44 years experience, I would have welded that top plate that you replaced in the overhead position to get better penetration. Welding vertical down hill is really only for sheet metal. This is not meant as critisism, just advice.

[@dmoore8705]

On the farm, what you call a nail is what we call a single use agricultural pin.

[@shaneharrison4775]

The old hot wrench never fails to deliver satisfaction

[@yako0000]

"it looks like a Bangladeshi ship breaking yard" lol. i'll have to remember that one.

[@86FxBdyCpe]

Those are some scary looking places. It amazes me that type of work is performed all while wearing sandals and carrying those heavy pieces by hand. Those poor bastards...all for pennies an hour.

[@froggleggers1805]

@@86FxBdyCpe Poor bastards is right, I have watched more than a few videos on what they do and how they have to live, God bless those people. They find a way to feed their families and take care of those they can.

[@icesoft1]

I believe LCT (Liquid Combustion Technology) is the new owner of Tecumseh engines - Since 2010'ish, based out of South Carolina (with other facilities in China and Australia)... Oh, and I also have the same log splitter, I'm impressed that the farmers managed to inflict so much abuse on it, leads me to believe that mine should last forever...

[@WatchWesWork]

It should!

[@lewiemcneely9143]

I don't think anybody needs to aggravate you OR Brian on your welding skills. FINE job! And I was hunting a 2nd hand splitter to fix up but nobody wanted to sell one bad enough so I up and ordered a new one. I think it's the only thing I ever got new. All the rest are worn down but not worn out and farmers aren't the only one for those 'tricks' OR there are a lot more farmers than I reqalized. GOOD splitter! Good as a million if it works. Thanks, Pal and GBWYall!.

[@rottiejakeluke]

Great job. I’d suggest you fabricate a catch table on the side opposite where you stand working the controls. This will eliminate you bending and reaching for dropped wood. If you want another suggestion: bring it back towards the motor to protect the motor from dropped wood. Be careful not to block access to gas or anything else you have to get to .

[@oldman9642]

You probably won’t see this, I’ll try to get it on a more current clip but, dude, you lay the best looking weld I think I’ve ever seen.

[@feildcar4578]

Sometimes it helps to pre heat the steel where your going to weld it with a torch then weld it up when your working with a welder that's not exactly rated for what your welding.. I've done it many times and it helps.

[@deenunya7735]

That what a like about Your Work Ethic , getting the Right Materials to do the Job regardless of Cost , The Bolts, and using the correct type if Safety Pin than a Nail Good Job 👍

[@assessor1276]

Nice job Wes - you are good with that welder! A buddy of mine built a log splitter and I recall that he used a stick welder running a Stellite hardening rod on the cutting edge of the wedge and that really helped it to deal with hard maple without so much wear.

[@arejay4965]

Made in USA Stuff! Truth Spoken: "Too Lazy to find it, Too Cheap to buy it". Wes, I salute you! Thank you for telling it like it is. What a great video on recycling machinery, I think most would have scrapped it, not you! Nice Rebuild, much better than original!

[@riccroft710]

"Bangladesh ship breaking yard", that's funny right there! I'd say you reinforced the top of that plenty strong enough. Good work, Wes.

[@ickipoo]

It lives again! Nice, satisfying repair. Thanks for sharing your work with us.

[@WatchWesWork]

Thanks for watching. It's nice to fix something with materials I had on hand.

[@jazzerbyte]

Great log splitter save with the weld work to match!

[@gregdawson1909]

quick tack weld on each of those bolt heads, then angle grind off, and you can buy yourself a few more "amps" with a healthy preheat on that thick piece, but looks like you have a perfectly viable repair there.

[@jondavidmcnabb]

Wes that was a great mid project redesign. You saved yourself a ton of time. Ever considered adding a 4 way splitting head modification?

[@tdotw77]

👍Yeah, I was thinking that too. Coulda added another wedge on 'horizontal' axis, 90° from existing big wedge, and moved back a few inches so its a secondary process to the 1st big one. 👍👌🤔🛠️🔧🔩🗜️📐✏️📏🥽🔨⛓️🚜⚙️🍻

[@staind288]

I realize this is an older video, but yet another fantastic how to/tutorial from ya, bud!

[@generaldisarray]

I love me some god old gas axe work!! Great work Wes I use to do some summer work repairing regulators, welding gear, etc. for my uncle. He installed a 5/5 oxy/O2 tank system in a metal shop that cut seriously thick steel plate, think it was 7" or 8". It was a monster of a system, that crated a great fireworks display once it got cutting...

[@JohnSmith-tv5ep]

Dude, I really like your style and your attitude! 'Makin it work' !! Rebuilding things better than original so it won't break!! Just wish I could weld like you. AWESOME JOB!

[@Frankiedoodle1941]

I cant believe you lifted all those heavy logs yourself , should of gotten the wife to do the easy jobs lol, great show as always, give my love to the family, be safe and look out for each other, From the Uk

[@dwitcraft]

Great camera work with the gas axe! I could almost feel the heat!

[@richwielechowski5191]

Wes, you and I have one thing in common, love for our pets. Doesn’t matter what I doing, always have time to toss ball or frizz be for dog or stop and pet the cat.

[@bohhica1]

Maybe add a four way to help in the older wood, nice work.👍👍👍🇺🇸🇺🇸

[@sshaw7912]

I used a 1/2" x 6" piece of flat bar on top of a piece of 1/4" x 4" square tubing. The square tubing is my hydraulic reservoir. I bought valve , pump & 4" tie rod cylinder from Northern Tool, and a 8hp gas engine. 30 years later it still works, but it is in need of a pump and valve.

[@turbocobra]

very nice, that 3/4" top plate will outlast the rest of it for sure.

[@WatchWesWork]

It will boost the scrap value when it finally splits its last.

[@tommymann69]

I love old log spitters. Some I have come across looks worst than this one. By the time I get thru fixing one . Its looks brand new plus has a lift on it to handle heavy logs.

[@adnacraigo6590]

Good idea cutting the web and adding that plate.

[@fricknjeep]

just looking at other channels . good show thanks john

[@BBICubicle]

Yeah loved the shipyard comment. Another awesome video. Thanks!

[@garrydonnelly6433]

G'day Wes. Love your vids and the new shop is a beauty. I saw some fellow with a log splitter who had welded a horizontal wedge as well so the machine splits a log is 4 in the one pass. Cheers mate.

[@fredhart7904]

Looks good great job repair, it you plan on using it for years you might think about changing the hydraulic oil, I have had one similar since 1982, old splitter still works fine, problem, it just keeps going and does not get tired, wears me out,

[@SteveSummers]

I need a splitter myself. I was thinking why does he not just replace the top section?? And then you did. Good work and video Wes Thanks.

[@WatchWesWork]

Thanks. The replacement I-beam seemed like a great idea until I actually thought about it.

[@iamrichrocker]

say hello to Donna for us..

[@tutekohe1361]

A good trick is to have the wedge razor sharp. Mine is so sharp, I can put the wood in sideways and it will cut straight through it. It means you can split knotty wood super easy.

[@jimliechty2983]

Good vid Wes! AIthough my original and normal focus these days, are machining related, I like your various content. It reminds me of the way I always approached problems, by fixing everything myself. I'm now getting to the age where that is much harder, but it's harder yet, to have someone else do it!

[@WatchWesWork]

There is a lot of satisfaction in fixing something yourself. Though, it doesn't always make sense.

[@jimliechty2983]

Yea, but doing what makes the most sense gets boring, and not nearly as much fun!

[@tectalabyss]

Hello Wes. Catching up on some of your older videos. Vertical down,is a big No no using a stick weld. Has the flux will run into the weld. Has far as I know Mig's do not do that . I have welded for over thirty years. Great job on the rebuild. Seems the people who owned it didn't use grease Lol. Liked,Shared.All my best.

[@johnwilliams4545]

Your comment on American made are on point, 'Too lazy and Too cheap'. The same holds true here in Australia.

[@Tom-In-Ga]

Have to agree with you John. Wes's "Too lazy and too cheap" rings true. I always try to buy American, in your case, Australian. I'm sure there are guys like us in other country's who try and do the same. I feel its always better to support your own country's manufacturers first. Then, if you can't find it, look elsewhere. But, its getting harder and harder to do that since so many of our mfg's have exported their manufacturing outside and make it look like it's "home grown". John Ruskin said: “It's unwise to pay too much, but it's worse to pay too little. When you pay too much, you lose a little money - that's all. When you pay too little, you sometimes lose everything, because the thing you bought was incapable of doing the thing it was bought to do. The common law of business balance prohibits paying a little and getting a lot - it can't be done. If you deal with the lowest bidder, it is well to add something for the risk you run, and if you do that you will have enough to pay for something better.”

[@Chr.U.Cas1622]

Dear Mr. Wes 👍👌👏 Very well done again and as always. If you still have this log splitter, kindly allow me to suggest that you change the small knob on the lever/handle to a billiard ball. Those can be grabbed perfectly well = suits great into human hands. Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing. Best regards luck and health to all of you. Post Scriptum: Nice to see the great rodent detector Max.

[@imysteryman]

I have a splitter similar to this one and I built a shelf that is use when it is in the horizontal position. The shelf is attached to the bottom of the beam with 2 short pieces of 2x2 angle iron with 2 bolts. I welded short pieces of 2x2 to raise it up to the top of the beam leaving clearance for the wedge to pass by. Then I made the shelf out of angle iron covered with expanded metal. When I need to use it in the vertical position I just remove the 2 bolts and take the shelf off. It is much easier to use because when I split a larger piece I can just set half of it on the shelf and I don't have to bend over to pick it up again. If i were you I would remove those rails, I stand with my left hip touching the wood and control the splitter with my right hand. I try to never put my hands on the ends of piece of wood, I like my fingers way to much.

[@WatchWesWork]

That's how the rack and pinion/flywheel splitter is built. It has a big shelf all around the wedge and the ram actually pushes the wood through the wedge. Plenty of space to set the wood aside while working a big piece.

[@shaneharrison4775]

That's the way you do it no nut or bolt can resist ye ole hot wrench

[@AUTiger1964]

Nice rebuild WRs! Send it to the body shop for paint job and license the wife as an operator! Like you I prefer a vertical splitter to horizontal models!😊

[@mdouglaswray]

Nice welds!!

[@Martin.Wilson]

The best plan would have been to grind the tops of of all the bolts and replace them. What kind of mook would have used flat head bolts for this application....certainly never someone who had to take it apart for servicing.

[@ihrescue]

Nice work - good project - very interesting video.

[@munched55]

My splitter had a Briggs motor but after a half-dozen rounds, my head was swimming from the fumes. I also changed the Briggs out for electric as I have plenty long enough extension cords.

[@paulsilva3346]

8, 10, or 12 gauge wire on those cords.???

[@criggie]

Could you extend the hydraulic hoses? And relocate the motor/pump further away?

[@CrazyPetez]

I like how you store that crankshaft correctly upright. Some Internet fools think a crank should be laid horizontally to prevent bending. Exactly wrong.

[@simonyovino2126]

Those are some beautiful welds

[@curtkopp19]

On this episode of “watch Wes wreck his wrist” screwdriver vs. impact.🤦‍♂️🤣

[@6-4fab53]

I know this video is a couple years old but... Check out Jody over at welding tips and tricks. He does a great job of explaining why you should go uphill on thick steel with mig vs down hill. Keep the great videos coming, love them all!

[@Mad.Man.Marine]

He also states in a video That if you know what to do there isn’t any problem welding. Downhill. All about puddle control.

[@6-4fab53]

@@Mad.Man.Marine I totally agree. But in my opinion there is a proper tool for every job if you know what I mean. Maybe I should have mentioned dual shield flux core as the correct tool but, I was just trying to educate. No disrespect or "know it all" coming from me.

[@phillipdean9879]

Best tool ever the BFH!

[@bohhica1]

The BFH is an awesome tool !

[@AntonioClaudioMichael]

Good video came out great on the repairs @Watch Wes Work

[@dansaver8247]

Terrific job.

[@darellsunderlin4670]

You got a steel !!!

[@joeyf504327]

is that cast 90* fitting on pressure side of the hydros safe? Looks like a water fitting and with the casting line right down the middle and it sketches me out thinking of 2,000psi within that fitting.

[@shaneharrison4775]

That will.work better than the old one

[@bcbloc02]

Maybe try welding a pyramid type shape on the base and you might be able to get it to split 4 ways in one press.

[@WatchWesWork]

They make cross shaped wedges that can split 4 ways. It's tricky though because you have to get the wood centered on the cross. This is still a major improvement over my splitting maul.

[@Brock_Corb]

Why dont you hold screwdriver down similar to how you had vicegrips longways so you have 10x leverage to hold it from spinning. Cant do that on regular sized flat heads but on those 1/2 - 1" headed bolts it works great. Awesome content as usual keep up the work Wes!

[@gerin1946]

Friend !!! on the wedge, put some small wedges to split in 4 pieces not only 2 pieces !!! ---- Of center wedge is not all that good especially when you get stumps with branches knots which are very strong splitting !

[@ranchdog7920]

BFH Tech can solve a lot of problems .

[@40yeartrucker25]

I bought the exact same spleeter on sale at Menards for $699 in a create. About 5 years ago.

[@timmybob4871]

C'mon Wes, put a big ass log on there!

[@slugster51]

Have the same splitter motor was junk when I got it put a 6.5 predator for it works great use it heavily

[@kenmccormick3052]

any kind of knob at the end of the rod is fine.

[@katelights]

the good old blue tip wrench. cant be stuck if its liquid!

[@DoRC]

The etemology of plug nickel is interesting.

[@WatchWesWork]

You've got too much time on your hands!

[@DoRC]

@@WatchWesWork Yeah. I'm fighting Lyme disease. It leads to way too much laying around.

[@shaneharrison4775]

I bet wes great job on the slide frame the wedge has its issues dads had a yolk threaded onto it

[@critic482]

Great videos, some ptfe "cutting boards" might help to stop the destruction.

[@WatchWesWork]

I've never seen any kind of bearings on a log splitter, but it does seem like a good idea.

[@critic482]

Wes Johnson, I know I have seen then only on a few and most don't come to mind. Quick Google search bring up this one. It has nylon slides as one of its listed features. shop.spectrum-plant.com/default/bf-a16or1060pi.html

[@critic482]

might be only a UK thing as here is another one, that uses brass slides. I know i have seen one in person here in northern indiana. www.fourseasonsfuel.co.uk/log-splitters/amr-vertical-log-splitter-v-h-12-tons-14-0-P-75/

[@paulsilva3346]

I use BAR lubricant on log splitters...

[@kenmccormick3052]

vertical down is a problem with a stick using something like a 7018 rod, high slag inclusion in your weld. Think the MIG freezes fast enough that the slag--[what there is] do not have time to flow down into the molten weld material below. hope that makes some sense to you.

[@deenunya7735]

Theres something very Theraputic Wes Using a Log Splitter , cant beat a Blazing Log Burner Fire 👍

[@jimalexander1896]

Nice on the welding!

[@MS-fs5xu]

Nice job! Needs painting 😅

[@luisbatista1103]

He was soo young (Wes) you can hear in his voice .....nowadays he's Mr. YT....👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼

[@richardluce7875]

Just found your vids. Luv em. Down to earth let’s get it fixed try to keep equipment idiot proof. That was obviously a “Single use” clevis pin. Not a nail.

[@bahopik]

There's this one guy that works at a place that buys bearings wherever they can get it cheap, then machine off numbers and brand names and engrave their own numbers and "Made in USA" so just cause it says on it there's no guarantee

[@frankdeegan8974]

Ok it is saved is there a chance you changed the oil and checked the air filter of the motor or the hydraulic fluid lol

[@MrMnmn911]

Duh. 🙄

[@jimlong527]

Nothing like bringing our the torch. You can practice to cut up recycling cruise ships in your part time with wife as a team.

[@danbartolini27]

You gonna grease that slide?

[@toddavis8603]

Illinois log splitter after Abraham Lincoln!!"

[@clarencewiles963]

Thumbs up 👍

[@JoeHynes284]

congrats on 50k!

[@stevenbenavente1229]

Good job

[@johnstrange6799]

Decent for scrap price, material and some repair time. Split until something gives, then fix'er again.

[@WatchWesWork]

Or let it go. You can buy a new one of these for $750, and they have made them much better.

[@johnstrange6799]

$750 is an interesting number. I think (but it might be cutting it close, idk) that you could make a better one than you can buy for $750, but time time time.

[@kenmccormick3052]

double the thickness is a good move.

[@bigmikex2333]

Dude that's a Millermatic 200 the 44 Magnum of mig welders! 3/8 to 3/4 isn't even gonna make that thing break a sweat.

[@larryfischer1970]

I saw a splitter that had a table out each side of the beam so you could stack incoming and did not have to pick up split logs off the ground.

[@bombardier3qtrlbpsi]

Nice job on the repair

[@hddm3]

How dare you call me lazy! Hahahhahahahhah. True true

[@Pico2199]

Who the hell said you can't weld vertical down. It's fine, in fact this is a good case for it. The thinner base metal with bend or break before any properly made vertical down weld would. And yeas, I know how old this video is.

[@allenwhite9729]

Might want to weld some plates on each side so you don’t have to keep picking up the split wood off the ground.

[@aterack833]

2:08 now I’m sitting here like an anime villain wondering if you’ve said you have welding skills or not

[@kingsleycollins6730]

Nice work bro. Pls what is responsible for piston fast stroke, is it motor or control arm

[@firesurfer]

I'd think you were taking lessons from Andrew Camarata except this video predates some of his more... interesting fixes. lol But really nice work. Nothing like making something strong.

[@edwardgarea7650]

fire surfer - Watching Wes Work is far more interesting than watching Andrew work. Wes knows how to talk, how to explain the task at hand. I love his Never Say Die attitude and, just as important, how he communicates it to us in the audience. One thing I especially love is that he’s not afraid to admit when he screws up, as WE all do at times. I can’t believe there are people out there who think he talks too much. Nothing could be further from the truth. Repairing a log splitter is a pretty dry topic. He makes it interesting in large part because he talks us through the process. I’d hate to be stuck having to converse with these critics at a party. Nothing to say and all night not to say it. A perfect recipe for absolute boredom.

[@richo2895]

That's a Win!!! Score

[@BGWenterprises]

Tweek the governor up to 3,600 versus what must be 3,100 at best. Would get the speed a lot better. I know mine improved an obvious amount. . Or just replace the engine and pump with a 9hp and 19gpm. Would blow the doors off that 5hp 11gpm

[@reviewking9709]

those screws at 6.56 just weld some nuts on them

[@Shockedbywater]

4:19 If not a 'killing machine' they are at least a 'Lose some digits quickly machine'

[@shaneharrison4775]

Well done wes

[@liveyourbestlife1513]

Standard practice is to try splitting a cinder block.

[@terryrogers1025]

Smoke wrench works good getting bolts out. But , with that many bolts in a row one can weld a piece of bar stock across the heads connecting all the heads together, which allows one to hold the other while impacting the hex nuts off. Works well on reassembly also. Of course, if you lose one you lose them all.