Like most log splitters, my 35 ton Huskee log splitter has a stroke that accommodates a 24 inch log. My woodstove likes 15 inch logs, which is the length I have cut all my firewood to for the last 20 yrs.
At the completion of splitting each log, I always retract the wedge by pushing the lever until it locks in the aft detent. It automatically kicks out when the cylinder piston strikes the back of the cylinder, but that puts the wedge a log way from the back of the new log to begin the next splitting operation.
It has always bugged me that there is no way to configure the splitter to automatically stop the wedge retract sooner since it is a big waste of time moving it from the 24" fully withdrawn position to the back of the 15" log.
I created a mechanism that bolts onto the log splitter and automatically pushes the back of the lever to stop the retraction at any point you choose. The back of the retracting wedge strikes the "foot" on the left of this picture, which rotates the crank (5/8" rod) and presses the arm on the upper right into the back of the lever to bring it out of the retract detent position and stop the wedge in the same spot each time. You can add holes in the linkage to change this stopping position if desired.
![Image]()
Here is a top view showing the mechanism just after it stopped the retract. The foot is resting against the back of the wedge. You can see how much wasted stroke is eliminated when splitting 15 inch logs by stopping the retraction before it reaches the cylinder.
![Image]()
I was going to weld the main assembly to the log splitter, but changed to a design that only required me to drill and tap 3 holes into the log splitter (two 3/8" and one 1/4" bolts), and bolt it on.
![Image]()
Here is a picture from the side showing the assembly bolted in place and the "trip" arm up against the valve arm.
![Image]()
And another view of the modification.
![Image]()
Here is a short video showing the wedge retraction being stopped short.
At the completion of splitting each log, I always retract the wedge by pushing the lever until it locks in the aft detent. It automatically kicks out when the cylinder piston strikes the back of the cylinder, but that puts the wedge a log way from the back of the new log to begin the next splitting operation.
It has always bugged me that there is no way to configure the splitter to automatically stop the wedge retract sooner since it is a big waste of time moving it from the 24" fully withdrawn position to the back of the 15" log.
I created a mechanism that bolts onto the log splitter and automatically pushes the back of the lever to stop the retraction at any point you choose. The back of the retracting wedge strikes the "foot" on the left of this picture, which rotates the crank (5/8" rod) and presses the arm on the upper right into the back of the lever to bring it out of the retract detent position and stop the wedge in the same spot each time. You can add holes in the linkage to change this stopping position if desired.
Here is a top view showing the mechanism just after it stopped the retract. The foot is resting against the back of the wedge. You can see how much wasted stroke is eliminated when splitting 15 inch logs by stopping the retraction before it reaches the cylinder.
I was going to weld the main assembly to the log splitter, but changed to a design that only required me to drill and tap 3 holes into the log splitter (two 3/8" and one 1/4" bolts), and bolt it on.
Here is a picture from the side showing the assembly bolted in place and the "trip" arm up against the valve arm.
And another view of the modification.
Here is a short video showing the wedge retraction being stopped short.
