Auxiliary Hydraulic Hook-Up

[JohnyMac]

I want to buy a hydraulic powered 3-point hitch log splitter. I took a gander of the rear of my new MX5200 Kubota tractor and I did not see an Auxiliary Hydraulic Hook-Up like many tractors do. My tractor does have a front loader.

My questions are:
1) Is there an after market auxiliary hydraulic hook-up I can buy and install on the rear of my tractor? I am sure I can take it back to the dealer and they will gladly install one BUT there will be, pick-up and drop-off costs plus I can only imagine the price of a OEM Kubota part.
2) Can I hook the log splitter into the existing front loader hydraulic lines some way? If so where can I go for direction and the needed additional parts?

Thanks,
JohnyMac
Susquehanna, PA.

 

[Dave_eng]

Why would you want to run up hours on an expensive tractor doing a job a 5 to 8 hp gas engine would do.

Get a gas powered splitter and save your tractor for serious work where you make use of its power.

The Kubota service costs of a 50 or 300 or 600 hour service for your new tractor will be equal to the cost of a gas engine and hydraulic pump.

Running a diesel engine for hours at light load can lead to a condition called "diesel slobber." Google this term. Diesel engines need to be generating high cylinder pressures to seat rings and keep them seated. High rpm, low load operation will lead to problems.

In Canada, adding a rear remote hydraulic connection will cost about $1,100 to $1,500.

A very high quality Honda engine hydraulic power pack with two stage pump, reservoir, valve and filter is about $1,000

http://www.fostermfgcorp.com/page/gas/basic_5_13_hp.html

Dave M7040

 

[billrigsby]

DITTO

You beat me to that one

 

[Dave_eng]

It is a bit like getting your first new car. Driving around with or to see your friends all seems like a no cost activity. Trips see cheap compared to air or train travel.

After about a year, suddenly you need tires, your brakes are worn out and now you realize that all those "cheap" activities with your new car were actually quite expensive.

A new tractor can be intoxicating. All that power, the ability to power implements and attachments hydraulically. Easy to get carried away and forget just what the real operating costs are.

I have certainly done both with car and tractor and others have too.

Just hope a new owner can accept some simple truths.

Dave M7040

 

[BAP]

Instead of chewing you out for wanting to use your tractor and spending your money how you want , I will point out that your tractor's hydraulic system will run a splitter but will be slow. The reason it will be slow is that the gpm of the hydraulic pump is much lower than a pump on a motor driven splitter. Tractors of this size don't have large volume hydraulic systems. For best performance, an engine driven hydraulic splitter will work better because all of the components are sized to perform well.

 

[nickelplated5s]

I rent a splitter once a summer, 35 bucks. No need to do maintenance or store it. We burn a lot of wood and it would still take a lot of years to recoup the cost. The bucket is great for moving the split stuff around though.