Bark Buster™ PTO Auger Type Log Splitter (Banned by US Government)

Description

I bought this
Bark Buster™ PTO Log Splitter
about 15-Years ago from some nice folks in Minnesota.  I was familiar with this unique log splitter from when I played cowboy in Southern Illinois, back in the '80's.  We heated the house with wood and I split a lot of it.
The
Bark
Buster™ PTO
is potentially dangerous, so I would tuck my scarf inside my coat so it would not wind around the auger and effectively winch my face down to the business end.  The manufacturer didn't want the operator to wear gloves, but I didn't think that was necessary and the weather I was working in definitely required gloves. It was a little scary at first, wondering if that auger was going do something to me. Apparently, it did something to somebody as the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission issued Recall 91-060 recommending you dismantle and disable this wonderful machine.
Why is it so wonderful? It splits logs in a fraction of the time of a hydraulic log splitter. What's not wonderful?  Well, if you slipped and fell into the auger it would not be pretty.  One way to stop an impromptu human drilling operation would be to fashion a pipe with a large handle that is fastened to the PTO engagement lever to quickly disengage it if things are going South. Some
Bark Buster™ PTO
owners on YouTube® have created various remote activated ignition kill switches. You could always have someone standing by the tractor PTO lever, but they may succumb to boredom and not be paying attention to your screaming. Have I scared you away?  That's fine, I'm looking for a rugged individual that has what used to be common sense.  This thing is not for everyone.  I may even cancel the sale if I get a bad vibe.  The
Bark Buster™ PTO
needs to be owned by the right person.
It would appear the
Bark Buster™
came along just at the point our litigious society was going into full swing. The US CPSC estimates there were approximately 8000 of these dangerous little gems produced between 1977 & 1989. (That may have been the power take off and engine driven versions combined.) I'm guessing most of them languished and died from exposure as once it was disconnected from the tractor, it was a pain to move. That's why some enterprising and resourceful individual added wheels to the stabilizer legs on this one. (They can be unbolted if they are not your thing.) In most earthy settings this may require something like a thick board or patio blocks to keep the wheels from sinking into the muck.
So, if it is so wonderful, why am I selling it?  Simple, my plan to retire to North Florida and live out in the sticks has been eclipsed by my newfound love of surfing.  I'm not just selling this log splitter—I'm selling everything.  I do hope it goes to someone that can appreciate it, preferably somebody that doesn't have kids, or at least kids that detest manual labor.
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Why is the price so high? The
Bark Buster™ PTO
retailed for 0 in 1979. Prices, on average double every 13.5 years. So, 45-years divided by 13.5 = 3.33 doubling periods. 0 in 1979 became 0 in the summer of 1992. That became 00 in 2005. 13.5 years later, the summer of 2018 that became 00. Add 6-more years proration of the next doubling period = 22.  I'm guessing your income did not follow that trajectory—I know mine didn't.  Anyway, in theory, that log splitter would have been 95.95 if it was manufactured today. (Harbor Freight would have done it for way less, but there is no way their insurance carrier, much less the Consumer Product Safety Commission will allow this product to be manufactured and foisted on the American public!)
So, the short answer is, I'm asking all the market can bear so that I can finish my stealth camper and follow the waves. Don't forget, I'm including the shipping to anywhere in the contiguous United States.  It comes to you in two cartons that have been reinforced and packed by yours truly. The main one weighs 97 lbs and the other weighs 64 lbs.
Don't like my price?—Make me an offer—I won't get mad at you!