That's the problem if you don't split it when green the older it getsthe harder it is, a lot of oaks die from the centre out , I believe the oldest oak in the UK you can walk around inside it 🌳🌳
I'm going to be a contrarian. I think the bumperettes on Lightweights were really a bit of a fudge to cut down the amount of dirt being thrown forwards under the wings, or maybe to protect the gap that branches could get into. For various reasons...