Help! Troybuilt or speeco woodsplitter???

[puller738]

I need to buy a splitter. Looking at a 27 ton troybuilt with a 5.5 horse honda engine on it for $1350. My other option is a 25 ton speeco with a 10 horse briggs on it for $1100. Both have the same options but it seems like the speeco is built a little better and its a little cheaper. I do like the honda engine on the TB as i'm sure it burns less gas. Anybody have any experience with either of these splitters. thanks

 

[FireNewbie]

I bought the TroyBilt 27 ton model this year. So far it hasn't skipped a beat splitting 8 cords of hardwood. The honda engine is fairly quiet and does good on fuel.

 

[fire_man]

I'm happy with the 27 Ton Troy-built I bought last fall. It starts easy and goes through all kinds of knotty wood easily. I get the feeling repair and maintenace parts are not cheap. The dealer wanted $3.00 for one 5/16 inch self tapping screw that sheared on the log cratle, hard to find in the hardware store. And they wanted $22 for the Hydraulic Filter (Napa has a much less expensive replacement).But I would buy this splitter again.

 

[smokinj]

I have the troy built more than 75 cords done with it no real problems yet.

 

[SWNH]

I'm happy with the 27 Ton Troy-built I bought last fall. The dealer wanted $3.00 for one 5/16 inch self tapping screw that sheared on the log cradle, hard to find in the hardware store.

I had the same issue on my Cub Cadet splitter. I drilled out all the holes for 3/8" and installed grade 8 bolts & nuts. The metal of the cradle will probably tear before these bolts shear off.

 

[firefighterjake]

Most folks here will tell you that for the price the Speeco/Huskee splitter or the MTD/Cub Cadet/White/Troy-bilt/Other Clone splitters are both decent splitters that should provide you with years of splitting enjoyment . . . what it seems to boil down to for most folks is the final price, power unit and in some cases the extras (log cradles, lights, etc.). In my own case I went with the MTD because I could buy it locally at my True Value Hardware store and the price was better than most other places -- it didn't have the Honda engine, but I figure Briggs and Stratton engines are pretty reliable and I can easily repower it should I need to in the future. As mentioned the Achilles Heal of the MTD cloned splitter are the bolts on the cradle . . . after you shear them once you'll either do what Peter did and install better bolts or you'll just be more careful in the splitting.

 

[SWNH]

FWIW, I've had/have a few Honda engines and many B&S engines. I've never *EVER* had a Honda engine that wasn't easy to start...period. By the same token, I have 25+ yr old B&S engines that still run fine (oldest Honda I have is 8yrs old, so I cannot compare...yet).

 

[zzr7ky]

I went MTD/Troy-Bilt. I got a deal at $1100 with some discounts.

I'd go with the less expensive one. They're both fine.

I would/did replace the cradle 5/16 bolts with Grade 8 5/16 x 18 x 1" bolts. The 1" length makes them easier to get out after you break them. I just grab them with vise-grips and run them on though. They don't break often, usually if I have somebody helping.

ATB,
Mike

 

[highmark800]

I bought the 22 ton Speeco last fall and have split aprox 10 cords with it. No issues so far. I am splitting wood today.

 

[blel]

I have a Speeco 22, splits anything I have. Unless you are constantly splitting some real nasty stuff I don't see why you would need a 27. B&S engine starts easy, 1st or 2nd pull.

 

[rdust]

I would compare the cycle time on each. I have the 27 troy bilt and it has a 19 second cycle time(slow) the speeco splitter will probably be faster. I knew it was slower when I bought it, I liked the Honda engine and other features over the speeco my local tractor supply had. I've split 20 cords in the last year and it's working fine.

 

[puller738]

Thanks for everyone's input. I just bought the speeco and now its time to put it to the test. The speeco was a little cheaper and it just seemed a little more rugged- we will see. I'll let you know if I have any problems with it. Thanks again everyone.