Chipper Bearcat 73554 Chipper Demo - Very Disappointing

clarksvilleal · Oct 5, 2009

I was very eager to purchase a lightly-used Bearcat 73554 that was advertised on Craigslist for $2500 - with only about 20 hours of use - right in my backyard - 20 minutes away. Went over today for a demo. Considering all of the accolades the 73554 has gotten on some of the posts on this forum, I was expecting to be wowed by its performance. But in fact I was very disappointed in what I saw

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Oh, it can spew out finely cut chips from here to kingdom come. But the chipper opening (down at the bottom) was so small the owner could not put some modestly branching limbs through it without first cutting off some of the side branches. In addition, even though he said he had just turned the blades around so they presented a newly sharpened cutting edge, the self-feed did not seem to work all that well. He had to force some of the branches in a ways to get them going.

After seeing the demo, I have decided to take another look at the Wallenstein BX42 and BMX42, both of which have a 4" x 10" chipper opening. In the end I'll probably opt for the BX42, because of the big difference in price, and the fact that I really don't think I need the shredder feature, though it would be nice to have once in a while, I can't see paying $1000 more for it. Plus the BX42 is direct drive, so no belts to adjust, wear or break.

BTW, the 73554 is still for sale, so if anyone in or near Maryland really craves having one for a great price, you might want to go take a look at it. It was in really good condition, almost like new. I think the Craiglist post has expired, but if you send me a private message within the next week or two I'll give you the seller's contact info.

Ductape · Oct 5, 2009

You'll like the Wallenstein, they make a great chipper.

skidsteer.ca · Oct 6, 2009

There is alot to be said for the power feed option too.
Ken

studor · Oct 6, 2009

I bought a Bearcat 554 from Craigslist about a month ago for less than half that price

. I had read about chippers extensively and had used Wallenstein, Jinma, Befco (very pricey) and Bearcat machines beforehand. If you truly want a self feeding machine, try the Jinma or Befco-- the others do not have feeders so some pushing is required. Regardless of make, unless you go with the big industrial chippers, you will get your exercise using these machines

I find that it works well for stuff that is not firewood and for cleanup of yard waste prior to composting.
With a little patience you will probably find one that you like for a better price -- seems people often sell them after they discover how much work it is to chip versus pile it and torch it

clarksvilleal · Oct 6, 2009

studor said:
I bought a Bearcat 554 from Craigslist about a month ago for less than half that price. I had read about chippers extensively and had used Wallenstein, Jinma, Befco (very pricey) and Bearcat machines beforehand. If you truly want a self feeding machine, try the Jinma or Befco-- the others do not have feeders so some pushing is required. Regardless of make, unless you go with the big industrial chippers, you will get your exercise using these machines
I find that it works well for stuff that is not firewood and for cleanup of yard waste prior to composting.
With a little patience you will probably find one that you like for a better price -- seems people often sell them after they discover how much work it is to chip versus pile it and torch it

Can't torch it legally here, unfortunately. Not interested in the Jinma based on what I've read. Without the power feed, which I am not willing to pay the required king's ransom for (at least on a new machine), I really want the extra large chipper opening that a machine like the Wallenstein has. I don't really want to expend that much energy trimming side branches, and I would expect the pushing required to be somewhat easier with the larger opening. However I might reconsider the 73554 if I could get one for that low a price. So I'll keep looking. Thanks for the advice.

amigauser · Oct 6, 2009

studor said:
If you truly want a self feeding machine, try the Jinma or Befco-- the others do not have feeders so some pushing is required. Regardless of make, unless you go with the big industrial chippers, you will get your exercise using these machines

I agree completely. Pretty much all of the PTO chippers (regardless of brand) that work on a cut are going to require the side branches be trimmed on hardwoods. Softwoods like pine self feed fairly well depending on the size of the side branches. All will require some pushing without power feed.

Although I am not a big fan of Chineese goods the Jimna and clones appear to be the best bang for the buck if you want a PTO powered unit. A used tow behind industrial unit is probably the second best option.

smfcpacfp · Oct 6, 2009

I have the Wallenstein DX 42. I like it, but I think you will disappointed with it also, because many of the branches have to forced in. I have chipped mostly jack pine which has pretty nasty branches, and I definitely get a wrkout.

ChuckinNH · Oct 6, 2009

I have the Wallenstein BX42, and power it with my B2620. At first I had some problems with it plugging when fed very limber small branches, or small limbs that were mostly leaves. I first solved the problem by running it at the 960 pto setting, and then another member here suggested that I should check the factory knife clearance setting. When I did I found the clearance to be much more than the manual suggested so I readjusted it. Now I see no real need to buy the shredder option. ( I have fed armloads of weeds through mine with no problems) Do you have to help the feed a bit with wildly branching limbs like some apple trees, yes, but the wider opening makes it possible, and it still beats the alternatives both price, and storage wise. I've gotten a lot of use from mine, and like it a lot. It will feed most moderately branched limbs with no assistance. I'm cleaning up some small things in the pictures, but they were long enough to enable me to stick them in the chipper, get out my camera, and take the pictures while they were feeding themselves as you can see by the chips coming out of the chute.

ChuckinNH · Oct 7, 2009

smfcpacfp said:
I have the Wallenstein DX 42. I like it, but I think you will disappointed with it also, because many of the branches have to forced in. I have chipped mostly jack pine which has pretty nasty branches, and I definitely get a wrkout.

Why don't you simply add the power feed to your chipper? It can be done at any time, and you certainly can afford it.

smfcpacfp · Oct 7, 2009

ChuckinNH said:
Why don't you simply add the power feed to your chipper? It can be done at any time, and you certainly can afford it.

So do you have the power feed?

I actually don't mind the workout. I didn't mean to imply it was horrible, but jackpine is nasty stuff with most branches at 90 degress to the limbs. Most things go through very easily. I couldn't be happier with the chipper. Just lugging the branches out of the pile to the chipper is a bit of a work out. I recently cut down about a dozen jackpines and the power company cut down a dozen or so, so I have some serious chipping to do when we get from a 10 day scuba diving trip to Honduras this Friday.