Chipper Bearcat 70554 PTO Chipper

LAGEORGE · Feb 1, 2004

Hello everyone purchased a Bearcat 70554 PTO chipper and have been impressed with its performance. For longer than I have owned my tractor I have needed a chipper. I had been renting them form the local rental house. They have a real nice small tow able Vermeer? The problem I had with renting was the cost of the rental plus the limitation to a 10-hour day, plus I could not get it to where I really needed it. Our terraces are really steep and awkward at times. My lovely sweet wife wanted me not to spend a dime on a chipper so my budget was a little limited. She wanted me to a gas powered 8 HP unit. I told her we really needed a PTO model since we own the tractor and would get better performance from a bigger chipper. Long story short I found the money needed to pay for the chipper (Thank you Oscar and all of you that watch TV). /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
The chipper came to me assembled behind a John Deere 4010. Gee it sure looked small compared to my big New Holland TC 24D. I did notice that the John Deere was much quieter than my TC 24D. The nice delivery person drove the chipper off the trailer with the tractor and asked me where I wanted it. I then hooked up to it and away to the tool shed I went. The PTO drive shaft was way to long, almost 5 inch’s! So out came the Sawzall it made quick work of that issue. Chipper started fine and everything looked good so away to the orchard I went. Did notice what a warm nice day it was, not like that bad cold stuff back East. The first branch I chipped really impressed me then the fact that I had a chipper where no had been before that was cool. The 4-blade system that Bearcat uses in this model really does and excellent job of self feeding and making nice chips. I am not impressed with the shredder part of the unit thus far. It clogs really easy and if you shove branches into it if tends not to chip them but rather just spit out twig size chunks. I will have to call my dealer and ask him "dude what gives". I think I may have to get a medium screen to solve that issue. I considered many chipper even the Chinese ones but I decided to give that MADE IN USA thing a try again. The Bearcat chipper was not cheap but also not all that sophisticated either. I guess they have very expensive insurance coverage and they are nice enough to pass it on. I wonder if the 2-speed blower option would enhance it use. I have to moving the tractor to clear an area for the chipper to discharge.
All in all I am happy to have a PTO chipper and even happier to see that my New Holland TC 24D has not one problem powering the chipper. In matter of fact it does not even slow down. I am now saving money and so much work, the unit is just awesome. If you have the means I would urge you to buy a Bearcat, it is so choice. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

George

GregJ · Feb 4, 2004

LAGeorge,
I have had my Bearcat for about a year and a half now. So far I am very impressed with it. I have probably chipped about 50 yards of mulch so far with it. I recently purchased a wet grinder to sharpen my blades. The blades are really expensive, but they stay sharp a long time. I really don't have a problem with my shredder like you talk about. The only time I have clogged is when I put a lot of wet stuff in. Instead of chipping, it just turns into mush.

I save all my chips for compost/mulch for landscaping. The chips that come from this chipper are so small they compost quickly.

As far as the blower, my dealer recommended against it because he said they had problems with them clogging.

Greg

Pks · Feb 4, 2004

Guys,

If you want to learn a little bit more about the clogging and blower issues, go to the Bearcat web site and look in the FAQs for this model#. You will find some details that might be of interest. Nothing bad, just good to understand.

rdbrumfield · Feb 4, 2004

I have a 72854 bear cat. Ir has a 9 inch capacity and is hyd fed. I had some clogging problems with cedar branches and other leafy matter. I cut the chute back about 8 uinches. It seemed that when the matierial went around the bent part and out the straight, it would tend to build up on the straight part and cause a clog. I cut the straight part off and reinstalled the deflecter. It made a big difference.
I am with you about taking it anywhere the tractor can go. I tried the trailered rigs and they are so heavy that they are hard to get around with off road. On right of way clearing for pipelines I get into some pretty steep country.

gkk2001 · Apr 20, 2004

I picked up a well used Model 70554 from E Bay a couple months ago and rebuilt it with new shredder kit, blades, new paint, stickers etc. Just got it going on a JD 4100. The shredder has a large hole screen (golf ball size almost) and yes it truely shreds, does not cut everything up. Bearcat offers several screens, some so small to almost pulverize to a dust if you want it that way. A few twigs won't be an issue for me thou. The chipper is more than I thought it would be. I chipped dead dried out elm branches that went through it without a hickup. Its truely a good unit for the small compact tractors.
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envirochipper · Aug 17, 2004

We are a Bearcat Dealer and have been selling them for 20yrs now. If anyone needs any parts, service, or just has questions please give us a call at 1-800-287-2048. We also resurface knives and sell them at discount prices.
Levi Chamberlain
800-287-2048