Homelite 5 Ton Electric Splitter Review

[Beave]

Bart, I quickly came to the same conclusion last night while browsing.

As Dan mentioned, I think I will pursue Homelite and see what they think about warranty work. I found a nearby "Certified Repair Facility" that can diagnose the warranty work, or at least get the parts for me.

I just hope that it doesn't cost half the original price of the entire unit.

 

[MrWhoopee]

Bart, thanks for the parts resource.

Craig, did you buy that warranty, or was it otherwise stated on your receipt?

My receipt says no returns after 30 days, although obviously I would not try to return it, rather I'd just like to get a replacement unit. Also, my Homelite manual says the warranty period is 2 years for a non-commercial user.

I wonder if Depot would at least honor the Homelite warranty?

I didn't pay extra for the warranty, it's against my religion. Nothing on the receipt either. I did have to return mine, my friend forgot to open the bleed screw and blew a seal. He claimed it was just mayonnaise ;-P
They replaced it on the spot, no questions. I'd give it a try, I wouldn't expect to have to ship 100 lbs. anywhere at my expense for warranty replacement. Take it in, talk to the manager, make some noise, be pissed and insistent. They usually find a way to do what they say they can't.

BTW, that failure is not from abuse or overloading, the unit will just stall if it can't continue the split, I've done it a lot. Looks like a manufacturing defect. That fluid does looks awfully white and creamy, though.

 

[BrotherBart]

Seeing this made a decision for me. When I ordered mine I also ordered the 36" stand for it. I was on the fence about whether to install the stand or not but since it gets those supports under the pump up in the air instead of on the ground I installed the thing this morning.

 

[BrotherBart]

Just took a look at the Homelite site. They sell parts for the splitter.

 

[MrWhoopee]

Thought I'd post some pictures of the foot pedals I put on mine. They allow me to control the log with both hands. I frequently split, then roll the log keeping the halves together on the splitter and split again. Prevents the splits from falling on the ground (or my foot) and then having to be picked up again. It's also much easier on my back, I don't have to be bent over when splitting nor lift the logs up to an elevated stand. I tried more sophisticated pedals, but these work better and don't get in the way when moving the splitter. I did have to remove the electrical control box to attach the tee hinge to it. I love stupidly simple designs.

(broken link removed to http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2286990760052106007CKipEq)

(broken link removed to http://home-and-garden.webshots.com/photo/2514070320052106007XhyGaX)

 

[jdinspector]

If you like electric splitters, try ramsplitter.com. I have the 16 ton model that runs on either 120 or 240 (I use it on 240). I paid under $900 for it. Horizontal or vertical. I run mine with a 100' extension cord. 3 years old, no problems yet.

 

[DanCorcoran]

Seeing this made a decision for me. When I ordered mine I also ordered the 36" stand for it. I was on the fence about whether to install the stand or not but since it gets those supports under the pump up in the air instead of on the ground I installed the thing this morning.

Doesn't the splitter still rest on the legs and not the wheels? Or does the stand support the splitter in some other way? (I don't have the stand and mine sits on the legs...that's why I'm curious).

 

[BrotherBart]

Mine sits like the OP's does. Back at the pump end the wheels are off the ground and it is sitting on the two "legs" on the pump housing with a small screw in support under the front end of the motor holding it up. The wheels only make contact when you tip it up to move it. In the stand the wheel axles support the back end. So those "legs" on the pump are up in the air 30 inches contacting nothing but air. Of course we ain't talking an angle iron stand here so a huge round could collapse the whole thing.

I'll keep using the gas guy for monsters and use this one for what I bought it for. To make small and medium splits out of the huge guys I keep on the stacks. As needed.

 

[Beave]

An update: I took it back to Home Depot and asked what they could do. Feeling a little more than partly responsible with my oversized rounds and rough treatment (and being 1.5 years since the purchase) I did not try to haggle or demand anything.

They took a $35 deposit and tagged it to be sent out and repaired. About halfway thru the process, I wondered what I was doing and why I didn't just fix it myself. But then they said I will be notified if the repair charges exceed $100, but I won't be charged anything and will have my deposit refunded if Homelite decides to cover it under warranty.

Now to price some parts and decide what my cutoff point is, should they deny warranty coverage.

By the way, nice foot pedals! That's a great idea for keeping the logs on the splitter during operation.

 

[Beave]

Well, this is embarrasing. Now that I found some time to look on the Homelite parts website (excellent exploded diagrams), I see that my part is a mere $20.

Think I'll run down to Home Depot and see if they have already shipped it out.

 

[MrWhoopee]

Well, this is embarrasing. Now that I found some time to look on the Homelite parts website (excellent exploded diagrams), I see that my part is a mere $20.

Think I'll run down to Home Depot and see if they have already shipped it out.

It may be only $20, but there's a principle involved. It shouldn't have failed unless you somehow damaged that plate that caused it to crack. I'll bet Homelite takes care of it.

 

[Beave]

Good news, it had not shipped out yet and I was able to get it back and get my $35 repair deposit refunded.

As mentioned in previous posts, I don't have a problem accepting responsibility for splitting rounds well above the maximums and I can't fault Homelite. They designed the product and wrote the rule book. I made my decision to push those rules and ended up paying for it. To be honest, I felt bad taking it back in the first place.

I will continue splitting large rounds, but will watch out for the real problem, which in my case was loading those big rounds.

After wandering for a bit, I feel like I'm back on the right path. I broke it, I'll fix it.

 

[rowerwet]

old thread I know, I just got one of these, and noticed a few things have changed. the ram now has a single large "bump" in the middle to help grab the log instead of a flat plate.
the cord now comes straight up out of the switch box on the side of the motor, not sure if this is an improvement or not, but it does keep it clear of just about any split.
like the original poster, I am amazed at what the splitter can handle. yes there is plenty of big stuff I will still attack with my screw splitter, but for knocking big quarters down to a reasonable size, and everything I would otherwise need to split by hand, this splitter is the answer.
The price is still the same $299, (got to love sales tax free New Hampshire)

 

[BrotherBart]

I have those bumps on the rams of both of my electrics and hate'em. They tend to make the small splits go sideways instead of pushing them straight.