metalbender
Veteran Member
Planning a chipper/shredder purchase, specfically the Champion 338 cc model 100137. Any one have this model? Pros and cons? I'm not doing large stuff, branches 2" and smaller. Anyrhing bigger goes into the stove.
Chipper/shredder
- Thread starter metalbender
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Michael Aos
Gold Member
I have the ~$400 Harbor Freight model.
It's been great for me. Definitely works better with fresh green limbs than old dried up stuff.
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It's been great for me. Definitely works better with fresh green limbs than old dried up stuff.
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CalG
Super Member
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- Sep 29, 2011
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- vermont
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- Hurlimann 435, Fordson E27n, Bolens HT-23, Kubota B7200, Kubota B2601
I have the largest McKissick's tractor mounted chipper shredder.
We don't have a large holding, but try to compost and build soil tilth as much as possible.
The tractor mounted unit is "just enough: when putting material through that is at all wet, green or stringy.
The screens clog (and I'm running the most open style)
It just takes horsepower to churn that stuff out. I try to mix in old and new branches and woody clippings to clear the screens. I even keep a small pile of 1-2 inch hardwood to run through the chipper while using the hammer mill shredder.
If everything goes well. A 3 yard pile of garden waste can be processed in an hour or so. Really, that is too much time and fuel. But BOY! The gardens are doing GREAT! with the amendments.
We don't have a large holding, but try to compost and build soil tilth as much as possible.
The tractor mounted unit is "just enough: when putting material through that is at all wet, green or stringy.
The screens clog (and I'm running the most open style)
It just takes horsepower to churn that stuff out. I try to mix in old and new branches and woody clippings to clear the screens. I even keep a small pile of 1-2 inch hardwood to run through the chipper while using the hammer mill shredder.
If everything goes well. A 3 yard pile of garden waste can be processed in an hour or so. Really, that is too much time and fuel. But BOY! The gardens are doing GREAT! with the amendments.
BLSXJ
Gold Member
I wouldn't waste my money on a unit like that.
a friend of mine bought a "forest king" chipper shredder, of a similar design. on the second time out it broke. the good news it was covered under warranty, but he asked me to help with the repair. They only sent him parts.
When we took it apart we realized the cutting wheel/fly wheel/ shredder assembly was only supported by the engines crank bearing! there were no shear pins, clutch plates or pillow blocks supporting the business end of the machine. So when the chipper was "over loaded" it snapped off the end of the crank shaft.
really bad design. designed by an accountant not a experienced user or some one that might have a pinky ring
a friend of mine bought a "forest king" chipper shredder, of a similar design. on the second time out it broke. the good news it was covered under warranty, but he asked me to help with the repair. They only sent him parts.
When we took it apart we realized the cutting wheel/fly wheel/ shredder assembly was only supported by the engines crank bearing! there were no shear pins, clutch plates or pillow blocks supporting the business end of the machine. So when the chipper was "over loaded" it snapped off the end of the crank shaft.
really bad design. designed by an accountant not a experienced user or some one that might have a pinky ring
OP
metalbender
Veteran Member
Hey BLS, good point, with the tunnel vision that occurs with a new toy, never really gave that a thought. With the number of units manufactured that way, it doesn't seem to be a common failure item though. The Champion has the largest engine of the bunch, also has a two year warranty. I bought this one at our Canadian Tire store, they have a good reputation for customer service so I feel confident. Still made in China, prob 99.9% of them are.
RalphVa
Super Member
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- Dec 19, 2003
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- JD 2025R, previously Gravely 5650 & JD 4010 & JD 1025R
I wonder about maintaining something like that. I inherited a Troy Bilt Tomahawk when we bought the house in Baton Rouge parish. The Tomahawk worked well, but removing the chipper blade and rotating the hammers was a much bigger job than they should have been.
When I got my JD 4010 in 2004, I bought a MacKissic TPH-122 from the local JD dealer, built very much like the Tomahawk but a different story regarding maintenance. Still have it. Have removed the chipper blade numerous times to the point where I need to replace the one blade next time (have blade and a spare, rotating the two back and forth). I've also rotated the hammers 4 times and have replaced them since they were rounded on all 4 corners. Rotating or replacing the blades on the Mac is about a 30 minute job vs. around 4 hours to hammer, swear, hammer the shafts out of the Tomahawk to rotate the hammers. I've even replaced the (1 out of 4) non zerked bearing on the main assembly shaft once, and this was, again, about a 30 minute job.
They have to be maintained. You need one that makes this job easy. These cheaper rigs likely aren't going to do this for you.
Ralph
When I got my JD 4010 in 2004, I bought a MacKissic TPH-122 from the local JD dealer, built very much like the Tomahawk but a different story regarding maintenance. Still have it. Have removed the chipper blade numerous times to the point where I need to replace the one blade next time (have blade and a spare, rotating the two back and forth). I've also rotated the hammers 4 times and have replaced them since they were rounded on all 4 corners. Rotating or replacing the blades on the Mac is about a 30 minute job vs. around 4 hours to hammer, swear, hammer the shafts out of the Tomahawk to rotate the hammers. I've even replaced the (1 out of 4) non zerked bearing on the main assembly shaft once, and this was, again, about a 30 minute job.
They have to be maintained. You need one that makes this job easy. These cheaper rigs likely aren't going to do this for you.
Ralph
OP
metalbender
Veteran Member
Bought the Champion at Canadian Tire. On sale $100 off. Used it for about 1 1/2 hrs. Chipped and shredded a large cedar bush. Chopped up the trunk sections up to 3 inch without a hitch. Bigger bits go in the stove. Did have to remove the rubber disc in the chute, didn't want to feed the bushy stuff well. The chipped material is much finer than a small gas chipper I already had, just sold that one. Didn't really need a pto model, looked at them though.