Finally got a PTO chipper

[fruitcakesa]

I have been searching for one for last few years and this one showed up on marketplace a couple of days ago. The price was right so I immediately went over and bought it. It’s a beast Woodland Mills WC88.
So far I have run up to 6 inch logs through it and it really does a great job.

 

[Torvy]

Good timing for me.

We treat out purchases like a business. Big purchases ($1000+) get a Capital Expenditure Plan and lots of research.

I'm putting together potential spending for next year and a PTO chipper is one under consideration.

Iirc, they make a twin flywheel version of some sizes.

Keep posting your thoughts, good and bad, as you break it in.

 

[fruitcakesa]

This machine was used when I got it but according to the last owner, it was used minimally. 2017 model year.
A little dusty and surface rusty but otherwise seems very solid. Worth the wait and price.

 

[Gordon Gould]

I have been searching for one for last few years and this one showed up on marketplace a couple of days ago. The price was right so I immediately went over and bought it. It’s a beast Woodland Mills WC88.
So far I have run up to 6 inch logs through it and it really does a great job.

Congrats on finding a chipper that fit the bill for you I found one the same way 15 years ago. I have a lot of roadside with a young forest which makes for a lot of trimming. A chipper comes in handy. Good luck with your new to you WC88!!

gg

 

[fruitcakesa]

GG, I was fortunate to be able to find one relatively near by, 1hr+. I’ll never run out of small wood to chip

 

[fruitcakesa]

Well, after running a few loads of logs through it, the most important thing is to trim the stubs close before putting them into the machine. I’m using 4 to 6 inch logs that have been trimmed, but only enough to fit in the feed opening and most of them will get grabbed and feed smoothly.
But I have had 2 pieces on separate occasions get jammed under the feed head and stop the machine while the belts spin and smoke on the locked pulley until I could run around the machine, open the tractor door and disengage the PTO. It was a scary few seconds TWICE!!
A valuable lesson and thankfully no damage other than some life taken off the belts.
I did adjust belt tension afterwards as correct tension is essential for optimal feed performance and there was some room for adjustment.

 

[CalG]

Well, after running a few loads of logs through it, the most important thing is to trim the stubs close before putting them into the machine. I’m using 4 to 6 inch logs that have been trimmed, but only enough to fit in the feed opening and most of them will get grabbed and feed smoothly.
But I have had 2 pieces on separate occasions get jammed under the feed head and stop the machine while the belts spin and smoke on the locked pulley until I could run around the machine, open the tractor door and disengage the PTO. It was a scary few seconds TWICE!!
A valuable lesson and thankfully no damage other than some life taken off the belts.
I did adjust belt tension afterwards as correct tension is essential for optimal feed performance and there was some room for adjustment.

You can get the PURRRFect gas powered chainsaw for knocking off those limbs for around $100!

There is a thread about them on these forums.

"What was I thinking" .......

I use the little clown say every time I chip now!

 

[fruitcakesa]

I carry my 562 Husky on the provided saw mount on the chipper and my ax is now close to hand

 

[oosik]

OR you might be fortunate - like me - and only have Ponderosa pine. Every couple years I go out and thin a few more pine stands. Down the chute of my Wally BX62 S chipper. Limbs and all in one fell swoop. 800 to 1100 small trees - under six inch.

 

[ZiggyD]

Well, after running a few loads of logs through it, the most important thing is to trim the stubs close before putting them into the machine. I’m using 4 to 6 inch logs that have been trimmed, but only enough to fit in the feed opening and most of them will get grabbed and feed smoothly.
But I have had 2 pieces on separate occasions get jammed under the feed head and stop the machine while the belts spin and smoke on the locked pulley until I could run around the machine, open the tractor door and disengage the PTO. It was a scary few seconds TWICE!!
A valuable lesson and thankfully no damage other than some life taken off the belts.
I did adjust belt tension afterwards as correct tension is essential for optimal feed performance and there was some room for adjustment.

Hold on, isn’t there both a forward-reverse-disengage lever on the side, as well as an emergency shutoff on the entrance to the hopper? Or is yours a gravity fed chipper?

 

[fruitcakesa]

It does have a F N R control and I did try it during the event but the log hopelessly jammed and required disconnecting the tension springs that keep the feed roller tight to the log and using a lever to pry the roller away from the stuck log so it could be pulled back out.
No emergency shut off.

 

[Hughman]

I have the smaller WC68. I found the feeder tension springs set way too tight from the factory. It works much better once I loosened the up a bit.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I have the smaller WC68. I found the feeder tension springs set way too tight from the factory. It works much better once I loosened the up a bit.

That’s interesting. I just tightened mine per the troubleshooting guide which indicated when chipping slows down it may mean the belts are slipping so I increased tension closer to the 1/4” adjustment spec.
I must say that occasionally the log won’t feed and the feed roller will jump and not grab. I have to rotate the log or end for end it to get a surface it will grab. I suppose heavier tension could be a factor.

 

[Chanceywd]

I have the WC68. I found that the jams happened enough I didn't care for the spring detail.

I spotted the original jack from my 1993 ford ranger sitting on a shelf. I was able to adapt a crank from a trailer jack and then with the PTO shut down this jack would fit between the housing and the feed roller frame. I could crank it up and easily remove the jam. I added a little metal to a snow brush so I can pull small chunks out too.

Probably you could use a small hydraulic jack on its side there.

I since then added a hydraulic ram to take the place of the jack and run that off a rear remote.

Bill

 

[TGM5040]

Got a used older 9" Crary Bearcat pto driven chipper not too long ago. The paint wasn't even worn off the chute. I think the previous owner gave up on it because it wouldn't chip that well. The knives were very dull, but on one side only, so I just flipped them around and then it worked great.
Took about 2 days to chip up a brush pile of Russian Olives about 7' H X 9' wide and 80' long, mostly because I made the mistake of smashing the pile down as I stacked it which tangled it up. Shot the chips into a dump truck for several loads. After chipping that dried out pile which had sat around in the dirt for a few years, the blades were dull again. Local place charged $46 to resharpen them. I expect that they will last awhile longer on clean green wood.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I have the WC68. I found that the jams happened enough I didn't care for the spring detail.

I spotted the original jack from my 1993 ford ranger sitting on a shelf. I was able to adapt a crank from a trailer jack and then with the PTO shut down this jack would fit between the housing and the feed roller frame. I could crank it up and easily remove the jam. I added a little metal to a snow brush so I can pull small chunks out too.

Probably you could use a small hydraulic jack on its side there.

I since then added a hydraulic ram to take the place of the jack and run that off a rear remote.

Bill

Smart setup. It sure beats slacking off the springs and levering the roller up.
I might have a jack kicking around

 

[Chanceywd]

I made this jack holder out of pvc pipe and a couple of those large 3" magnets from harbor freight to hold it so It is always there and handy.

Also the right wrench to open up the cutter housing is in the manual tube.
I have plugged the shoot a couple times with branches that have a lot of leaves and having the right size box end is better than the crescent wrench I keep on the tractor.

Bill

 

[Torvy]

Just ordered the WC88. I was about to get the 6" "Pro" model with the twin flywheel, but the price difference just didn't seem worth it for our uses. The extra 2" should be of more use to us.