Great Northern Equipment 20-Ton 2-Way Honda-Powered Horizontal Gas Log Splitter

I have 12 cords of nasty, twisted green ash to split and this machine makes it a pleasure. Some of this wood is so twisty that I simply can't split it, and I did 7cords by hand last fall of a different wood.

The Honda motor purrs nicely and I can do a full 2 cords per tank. My only beefs are: I can't get the wheel bearing covers on and I am not the only one with this problem. Hopefully LSD will send me a new set because I bent one of them before I gave up.

The plastic elbow at bottom of tank is asking for trouble. Tow it down a gravel road and if it breaks your hydraulic reservoir will be empty in a hurry. Lastly, no breather or filter on hydraulic system. This probably due to the price of the unit and I can easily rectify it for about $50.

I have 12 cords of nasty, twisted green ash to split and this machine makes it a pleasure. Some of this wood is so twisty that I simply can't split it, and I did 7cords by hand last fall of a different wood.

The Honda motor purrs nicely and I can do a full 2 cords per tank. My only beefs are: I can't get the wheel bearing covers on and I am not the only one with this problem. Hopefully LSD will send me a new set because I bent one of them before I gave up.

The plastic elbow at... more

I've been looking for a log splitter for awhile now. When I saw ones that split in both directions I decided this was the type I had to have, most were in the $2000 range, so I was happy to find this one. The sales staff were very helpful, they kept me up to date on the status of my order by email and gave me a tracking # when it shipped. I used the pay by check option for the discount and it took about 3 weeks for it to arrive. The lift gate charge was well worth it, the driver lowered it right in my driveway. The directions were easy to follow and I had it together in a day, the hardest part was lifting the ram, it took me and my son to attach it to the hydraulic tank. When I finished I added gas and engine oil and hydraulic oil and it started on the first pull! I put it to work and split 3 cords of Lodge Pole the first day with no problems.

PS... the only complaint I have is the height, for a big guy like me its hard on my back to "stoop" over however the problem was fixed by putting the splitter on a pair of car ramps, works like a champ!

I've been looking for a log splitter for awhile now. When I saw ones that split in both directions I decided this was the type I had to have, most were in the $2000 range, so I was happy to find this one. The sales staff were very helpful, they kept me up to date on the status of my order by email and gave me a tracking # when it shipped. I used the pay by check option for the discount and it took about 3 weeks for it to arrive. The lift gate charge was well worth it, the driver lowered it... more

This is my second review of the GNE two way splitter. I took the splitter to a buddy's place in the woods of Northeast Michigan to help him stock up on wood last weekend. We had about ten guys to all pitch in a hand with the work. The splitter was fast enough to keep three people consistently busy feeding it wood and loading the split logs into a couple of pickups all day. Seven hours of work used only two tanks of gas, and we split, hauled, and stacked over 20 face cords of firewood in that time. Everyone there was amazed with the speed of this unit. It is awesome! Before we started, I built a simple table to place over the engine and pump assembly to protect them from the occasional stick of split wood that may fall off of splitter's rack. I just used 2"x2" lumber to build a rectangular top 24" long by 20" wide. I used fencing staples to attach a piece of hog panel of the same dimensions to the frame to form a top that allows free air flow for the motor. Then I attached 4 legs made of 2"x2" lumber that raised the table top to 28" high. This little table fits over the engine and tank and matches right up with the rack already on the splitter. It fits in this space perfectly and will not allow any wood to fall on the engine or tank. The bonus is that it allows you to lay an extra piece of wood on top of it to feed the splitter. It works very slick! Hope this info helps some of you who had concerns about wood falling on the motor and oil tank cap.

This is my second review of the GNE two way splitter. I took the splitter to a buddy's place in the woods of Northeast Michigan to help him stock up on wood last weekend. We had about ten guys to all pitch in a hand with the work. The splitter was fast enough to keep three people consistently busy feeding it wood and loading the split logs into a couple of pickups all day. Seven hours of work used only two tanks of gas, and we split, hauled, and stacked over 20 face cords of firewood in that... more

Had this splitter delivered in no time - but man is it heavy. No way you can put together with one person, even two a challenge as you need to prop up back end when bolting together so third person helpful. After the main pieces are bolted together the rest is a snap. Wheel covers a bugger to get on, should have put in freezer, bent one trying to hammer on.

Great splitter - well constructed, except for a couple vinyl fittings I will replace with brass. Other than that, well worth the money. Honda engine - can't go wrong.

Had this splitter delivered in no time - but man is it heavy. No way you can put together with one person, even two a challenge as you need to prop up back end when bolting together so third person helpful. After the main pieces are bolted together the rest is a snap. Wheel covers a bugger to get on, should have put in freezer, bent one trying to hammer on.

Great splitter - well constructed, except for a couple vinyl fittings I will replace with brass. Other than that, well worth the... more

I ordered my GNE 11571 on a Wednesday evening and it was delivered the following Monday afternoon. The freight company was very good about calling ahead to make sure our schedules matched up for delivery. The splitter arrived in good condition and seemed to be pretty well protected by the large foam insulated box it was packaged in. I unloaded the box and pallet with the forks on my farm tractor, but you better have help if doing it by hand, as the box is heavy and awkward to unload this way. My buddy and I assembled the unit in about four hours, but this was at a fairly relaxed pace and included a trip into town to pick up hydraulic oil, engine oil, and a can of gas for the splitter. All parts and hardware except one 516 nut were included. No big deal, I just grabbed one at the parts store when I went to get the oil. The rail that holds the hydraulic cylinder and wedge is quite heavy, so you should definitely have two strong guys to get it lifted, lined up, and bolted into place on the bottom half of the unit. Once this step is done, it is all downhill without anymore heavy lifting. I wish the hydraulic fittings mounted to the oil tank were metal instead of plastic, but none of them leak, they just seem out of place, with everything else on this splitter being quite heavy duty. I put in 2 gallons of hydraulic oil in the tank and put in about 20 ounces of engine oil in the Honda. Once I gassed up the motor, I choked it and it started on the first pull! It ran a little rough for about 30 seconds or so and then smoothed right out to a beautiful purr. Cycled the cylinder about a half dozen times to purge the air from the hydraulic system and added the rest of the oil. It held a little less than the full 3 gallons stated in the manual, so watch out not to overfill and leave a mess. I found out the hard way and left a little oil on the concrete. Oh well, just a few ounces. Run the cylinder all the way out and grease the surface of the rail on all four sides to lubricate. It is a little messy but seems necessary to avoid wear and tear. Now the best part of the story, trying it out! It runs very smooth and pretty quiet. Two of us split about a cord of ash in a half hour! We purposely put it to the test with the knottiest and most twisted pieces we could find just to see what it could do. It handled everything we gave it without even grunting. It easily handles the 24" long by 16" diameter wood it is designed for. The tables are a nice feature as they catch the falling pieces and allow you to lay the log you are about to split on top and easily position it. The two way wedge is as efficient as advertised, and this little splitter is fast! It can definitely keep two people busy. This splitter is awesome and I am totally happy I purchased it.

I ordered my GNE 11571 on a Wednesday evening and it was delivered the following Monday afternoon. The freight company was very good about calling ahead to make sure our schedules matched up for delivery. The splitter arrived in good condition and seemed to be pretty well protected by the large foam insulated box it was packaged in. I unloaded the box and pallet with the forks on my farm tractor, but you better have help if doing it by hand, as the box is heavy and awkward to unload this way.... more

I checked heavy as a con but I'm glad it is heavy. It is a well built machine. I will reserve the durable description for later on down the road. My wife enjoys splitting and with two people and the "split in both directions" feature you can really go through the rounds quickly. We split Ponderosa, Juniper and Oak up to 30 inches in diameter and I feel we haven't tested the GNE yet. The Honda engine starts easily and runs all day. Couldn't be happier so far.
Happy Splitting, Arizona Dave.

I checked heavy as a con but I'm glad it is heavy. It is a well built machine. I will reserve the durable description for later on down the road. My wife enjoys splitting and with two people and the "split in both directions" feature you can really go through the rounds quickly. We split Ponderosa, Juniper and Oak up to 30 inches in diameter and I feel we haven't tested the GNE yet. The Honda engine starts easily and runs all day. Couldn't be happier so far.
Happy Splitting,... more

We recently purchased the GNE 11571 log splitter. The additional $50 delivery charge was paid to enable the 375 lbs. package (cardboard box) to be off-loaded from the semi-trailer to our gator, because our local road and gravel lane could not accommodate the large vehicle. From there, the package was transported to our garage. The instructions were read to determine the tools (ratchet set, Teflon tape for some of the hoses, etc.) and liquids needed (3 gallons of hydraulic fluid, 0.5 liters of 10W-30 oil, gasoline, grease lubricant, etc.). The splitter was assembled in approximately 3 hours with the help of our neighbor (two people minimum to lift the rear axle steel assembly and the splitting bar steel assembly). Some motor/vehicle maintenance experience is helpful, because some of the connections are not intuitive.

While assembling the splitter is a fair amount of work, it is worth the effort. The engine starts easily, and the splitter runs smoothly & efficiently.

We recently purchased the GNE 11571 log splitter. The additional $50 delivery charge was paid to enable the 375 lbs. package (cardboard box) to be off-loaded from the semi-trailer to our gator, because our local road and gravel lane could not accommodate the large vehicle. From there, the package was transported to our garage. The instructions were read to determine the tools (ratchet set, Teflon tape for some of the hoses, etc.) and liquids needed (3 gallons of hydraulic fluid, 0.5 liters of... more

I have only used the splitter twice since receiving it, but can say that it is very easy to assemble and very easy to use.
I have split about 2 cords so far with flawless results. It is compact enough to roll right in the garage next to the other tools. I love it so far. Honda motors are a must. Another great feature are the holding racks. They save your back by not having to catch each piece before falling. I thought the cost was a little high at first, but have since changed my mind. It is worth it!

I have only used the splitter twice since receiving it, but can say that it is very easy to assemble and very easy to use.
I have split about 2 cords so far with flawless results. It is compact enough to roll right in the garage next to the other tools. I love it so far. Honda motors are a must. Another great feature are the holding racks. They save your back by not having to catch each piece before falling. I thought the cost was a little high at first, but have since changed my mind. It is... more

I spent 3 weeks looking online and reading reviews until I finally made my mind up to purchase the GNE 20 ton log splitter. There were 2 main reasons and they were 1, it had a Honda engine which I was looking for in the splitter, and the size is just perfect. It's not real long and bulky. I used it for the first time last weekend and after splitting about a cord of logs in about an hour I ran out of wood to split and was looking for more. I had a great time using it. The height of the machine is just right, no back breaking. I brought home another trailer load of logs today to have some more fun this weekend. I highly recommend this GNE splitter to everyone..

I spent 3 weeks looking online and reading reviews until I finally made my mind up to purchase the GNE 20 ton log splitter. There were 2 main reasons and they were 1, it had a Honda engine which I was looking for in the splitter, and the size is just perfect. It's not real long and bulky. I used it for the first time last weekend and after splitting about a cord of logs in about an hour I ran out of wood to split and was looking for more. I had a great time using it. The height of the machine... more

Great shipping, communication, and helpful service.

I've always resisted the urge to buy a splitter before, until arthritis raised it's ugly head. I've dabbled with other splitters before and found them all wanting- too d**n slow.

The guy who designed this 2 way splitter is a genius. The machine is fast, powerful and super efficient. I have my wife run the lever and when we get the rhythm down, there's a constant flow of split Douglas Fir.

It's actually a pretty good workout keeping up. In way less than an hour, more like 45 minutes, a cord of wood is split and now, 6 cords of wood are split and stacked.

I've never had all my wood in this early in the year.

I've always resisted the urge to buy a splitter before, until arthritis raised it's ugly head. I've dabbled with other splitters before and found them all wanting- too d**n slow.

The guy who designed this 2 way splitter is a genius. The machine is fast, powerful and super efficient. I have my wife run the lever and when we get the rhythm down, there's a constant flow of split Douglas Fir.

It's actually a pretty good workout keeping up. In way less than an hour, more like 45... more