Yes, if you let go of the handle the ram retracts. This is a good thing for when the machine doesn't completely split the wood and you need to interrupt the operation and have the ram retract for another attempt at splitting the wood. Plus, if you every got your free hand caught up in the wood (or the ram), you just let go of the handle and the operation resets. You can see the operation in my other video.

when splitting wood if you let go of the handle before the log is completely run through will it stop? Or can you just engage the lever and let it go? I hope it keeps going by it self but in all of the videos everybody keeps their hand on the handle. Seems like a pain to hold it all the time. Thanks for he help.