Chipper PTO vs Gas Chipper

[fd1122]

I am ready to pull the trigger on a Wallenstein or Salsco chipper for my L3200. I was in a small engine dealer today and the dealer was telling me about the pros of some of the DR gas powered chippers. I am just wondering about the reliability and speed of some of the 3000k gas powered chippers vs PTO driven? Also wondering about the economic pros and cons of both.

 

[murphy1244]

You cannot compare a DR machine to a Wallenstein.

 

[hslogger]

That is like comparing a hot dog with a steak.

 

[fd1122]

guys I understand there is a difference PTO vs Gas and thanks for the replies. I suspected that there is a major difference. But wanted opinions on this from those who know better then me.

 

[amigauser]

There is no comparison between one of the DR's and a PTO powered one. The torque provided by the diesel on even a smaller subcompact tractor is way ahead of the DR's gas motors. The DR PTO version of their chipper though is owned by some TBN folks who seem to like them.

If you were talking a gas tow behind such as a Vermeer 620 or 625 with auto feed or a larger tow behind then that would be a different story.

 

[oosik]

I have had both types of chipper. Self powered chipper/shredder and a pto powered chipper. There is no comparison. The chipper/shredder had a 10 horse gas motor and my current Wallenstein is attached to my 55 pto hp tractor. The chipper/shredder did the best it could but it just had a lot of trouble with the green pine trees and all the sap and sappy needles. The Wallenstein or any other good chipper will work much better when attached to 55 pto hp. Its just like Amigauser said - the torque of a diesel engine is way ahead of a gas motor - unless you are dealing with a larger gas tow behind. I assume you are already aware of the advantages/disadvantages of PTO vs tow behind and have chosen PTO. On my tow behind the area was so rough I had to transport the chipper/shredder in the bucket of the tractor to get it anywhere. Otherwise, towing it - it was always tipping over.

 

[Piston]

A friend of mine bought a $1500 self contained chipper with a 2" capacity. He brought it over to my house one day when we were milling some logs. While he was running the mill, I muscled it down and out of the back of his truck, got it started pretty easily, then took a 1" square pine sticker and put it down the chute. It had all it could do to chip that sticker. I figured I'd try a branch, a SMALL branch, maybe 1" in diameter but with a lot of twigs on it, I actually couldn't get the chipper to chip it.

I then proceeded to muscle it back up into the back of his truck, and left it there, I never used it again, and I don't believe he has either, this was years ago.


I now have a Vermeer PTO chipper, and I can put a 5" diameter small tree into the chute, hit the hydraulic feed and walk away, by the time I get the next limb loaded, that one is already turned to mulch. I would never consider a self contained gas chipper like that again.

Like amigauser said, if it was a self contained diesel like Vermeer or others, then that's a different story.

 

[newbury]

and the dealer was telling me about the pros of some of the DR gas powered chippers.

Other than having an engine so it will operate independently and the profit the dealer would get, what were the "pros" for someone with a 30hp engine to move it around?

Most of us on TBN have tractors with PTO and plenty of power to run small equipment. Just like a tiller. Although my $1800 Jinma chipper is not in the same "class" as a Wallenstein it will chip 6" hardwood fairly well paired with my M4700.

And when chippers get that size (800 lbs) I don't think I could move them around over moderately rough terrain without a tractor.

If you notice, at the DR website they show lawn tractors, ATV's and trucks towing the chippers.
Why no tractors?
Because if you had even a 20HP (PTO) tractor it would be a waste of $$.

 

[RoyJackson]

Definitely go with the PTO driven chipper!

Self powered chippers, other then the big commercial units (which cost ten's of thousands dollars), are quite underpowered. Twigs and small branches are all they can handle...but you pay more for one then you'd pay for a PTO driven chipper (of the same capacity) since you're paying for the engine.

 

[s219]

I think the little gas powered units would be a waste of money for anyone who can run a PTO unit.

 

[Ken45101]

I would much use an existing diesel engine than an additional gas engine (fuel storage, carb problems). That said, I hate having the tractor sitting there running at high rpm while running a PTO attachment.

If you buy a standalone unit and only use it a few times a year, you are more likely to have gas and carb problems than with a diesel tractor that gets used frequently.

 

[TerryR]

I had an early 8 HP self-powered Troy-Built chipper/shredder for many years when I lived in NJ. They are great for someone with a suburban lot that has a few trees and a little brush to clean up, and even do well with leaves that have been piled over winter. I wore it out, and sold or gave it away (don't remember which) to a neighbor who I knew would know how to deal with the repairs it would need.

But if you have enough property to support a real tractor they are totally inadequate. Get a well-built PTO unit with a blower. Get automatic feed if you have money to burn, but in my experience it's unnecessary unless you are doing a whole lot of chipping. Manual feed works just fine for most users:


For doing normal cleanup on a couple of dozen acres they aren't worth the money unless you just want a nice toy.

Terry

 

[Piston]

I would much use an existing diesel engine than an additional gas engine (fuel storage, carb problems). That said, I hate having the tractor sitting there running at high rpm while running a PTO attachment.

If you buy a standalone unit and only use it a few times a year, you are more likely to have gas and carb problems than with a diesel tractor that gets used frequently.

That's the entire reason why PTO's even EXIST on tractors???? :confused3:

 

[Ken45101]

That's the entire reason why PTO's even EXIST on tractors???? :confused3:

It's different when you are continuously using the PTO, like for bushhogging or tilling. OTOH, running a tractor full out for a log splitter with a 20% duty cycle seems like a waste (and a lot of fuel). The 20% duty cycle is because I'm too slow keeping it fed.

I guess it's not a big deal if you can keep the attachment busy.

 

[RalphVa]

I have NEVER EVER had my PTO chipper bog down to a stop. Have had gas chippers stop several times. Lots more torque from a diesel engine driving a PTO one.

 

[RalphVa]

Think if you check DR or MacKissic (think DR's are MacKissic), they're the same price for a PTO one or gas one that'll do up to 3 1/2". Go with a PTO one, one less engine to maintain as well. Can get a DR or MacKissic that'lll do up to about 5 1/2", too.

 

[mikehaugen]

So how do you guys load the large logs with the tractor/loader tied up? I have considered a gas powered one because anything over about 1 1/2 inches I would keep for firewood. The chipper would be for small branches and brush that I wouldn't want to deal with... and even that would only be when I am away from home where I could just drag them to the brush pile to burn later. For me anyway (away from home) it would be easier to transport a small gas powered rather than a tractor with chipper attached.

 

[Piston]

So how do you guys load the large logs with the tractor/loader tied up? I have considered a gas powered one because anything over about 1 1/2 inches I would keep for firewood. The chipper would be for small branches and brush that I wouldn't want to deal with... and even that would only be when I am away from home where I could just drag them to the brush pile to burn later. For me anyway (away from home) it would be easier to transport a small gas powered rather than a tractor with chipper attached.

Mike,
I load my PTO chipper the same way I would load the self contained one, by hand You can't really use the tractor to load a chipper so it doesn't matter if the chipper is on the back of it, when you need more brush, simply pick up the chipper, and drive to the new brush, or pick up a grapple load and dump it where you want it, spin around, and start chipping :thumbsup:

Your correct that it is easier to transport a small gas powered chipper, but of course if you only bring your chipper, then you don't have the tractor to help out. :confused3:

I'm sure there are situations where a small gas powered chipper is more advantageous than a bigger, more powerful, more reliable, longer lasting, and more capable PTO version, but I haven't been able to think of any myself.

 

[mikehaugen]

I was asking about the large logs, like the 6" ones people are saying that they chip. I am not a small guy, but I can't imagine picking up a 6" 15' log and dragging it into the chipper, maybe there is procedure that you guys use, but the way I am thinking about it doesn't sound like fun.

All I am saying is that for my needs, where I cut down a tree for the wood I would only be chipping stuff smaller than 1 1/2 inches... I think a smaller one would be more useful and economical. If I had 100 acres of woods to maintain or a tree business where time is money and you just want to get rid of the wood, the bigger one makes more sense.

 

[RoyJackson]

I was asking about the large logs, like the 6" ones people are saying that they chip. I am not a small guy, but I can't imagine picking up a 6" 15' log and dragging it into the chipper, maybe there is procedure that you guys use, but the way I am thinking about it doesn't sound like fun.

My chipper handles 5"...I normally cut the trunk or branch length to 8-10 feet. If the chipper intake chute is parallel to the ground, feeding a longer length might not be a hassle, but some chipper intake chutes (including my Woods 5000) are at a 30 to 45 degree angle from the horizontal. Shorter lengths of wood are easier to handle.