Help with chipper blade adjustment.

wedge40 · Feb 17, 2008

Ok I've finally got the chipper together. Takes a tad more time when you're just one person. Now have a stupid question about the chipper blade adjustment.
Just where is this gap measured from?

Here is the view from the PTO side of the chipper?
As I look at this photo does the flywheel turn clockwise or counter clockwise?

Here is from the chipper side.

Or am I going to set the distance between the blade and flywheel?

Sorry for the stupid question.

Also the plane of the two drive pulleys is out by a about .050". Is this a big deal or should I take the belts off and re-align the pulley's?

TIA.

Wedge

driver444 · Feb 17, 2008

If you are looking at the PTO shaft on the chipper from the angle of your first picture, it would spin counterclockwise. (the PTO shaft on the tractor turns clockwise as you are looking at it.

Also, I would absolutely align the belts. That's true with any belts, or you'll wear the edges out much faster, and on v-belts, it's those edges that drive the pulley.

Not sure on the blade adjustment.

weldingisfun · Feb 17, 2008

The blade gap adjustment is between the edge of the blade, on the flywheel, and the anvil, fastened to the frame, behind your feed roller. You will have to disconnect the tension springs on the roller and raise it up to do this. The gap is probably .010" to .025". Check the manual. I found an old ID card that is perfect to use setting the blade gap on my Jinma Chipper.

JerryK · Feb 17, 2008

If you are in no hurry to use the chipper, and have the time...... I would pull the feed roller completly out of the unit before you try to adjust the blade clearance. That will give you more room to work, and you should disassemble and grease the feed roller driveline, anyway. You should also check the to make sure the set screws on the pillow blocks [the two bearings that the cutting disk's shaft rotate on] are tight. And also go thru the rest of the nuts/bolts everywhere else and check. Before you attempt to set the clearance, you want to make sure the two cutter blades are torqued to spec's. Then adjust the stationary anvil they cut against to the proper gap. I back the anvil way back and snug up the bolts, then slowly pry it forward with a large screwdriver until it is close. You also want to check the gap with both blades, in case there is a little runout between the two. I also replaced the cheapo nylon metric locking nuts with US made metric locking nuts. The ones that came with the unit had small 'flats' that the wrench/socket made contact, the US ones were beefier in this area. Good luck, Jerry...

wedge40 · Feb 17, 2008

I've read the manual. Looked at the parts list. No anvil listed. I'm new to this so please bear with me. Can you describe the location of the anvil. Second photo I posted shows blade from the chute side. Anvil the milled gap at the top or the huge hole at the bottom? I plan on using a 4" joint knife and grind the edge square.. That should give me a gap of about 0.020. The spec in the manual is 0.010 and 0.030. That will be right in the middle.

Sorry for making this so difficult, but it would help if the manual had a just few more photos or drawings. Especially in the flywheel/anvil area. Also blow up of all the locations that should be greased. As I figure this out I'll post photos so any other newbie can "see" what needs to be done.
Thanks for the replies so far. I'd love to work on the thing today, but it's raining and the outdoors is my garage for now.

Wedge

JerryK · Feb 17, 2008

That is one of the two reversable knife blades that is in the picture. The hole you see at the front edge of the knife is where the 'chips' exit after they are cut. The chips end up being blown out the chute by some cast in fan blades at the rear of the disk [tractor side]. The anvil, or stationary whatever you want to call it, is located at the bottom of the chute. If you take your feed roller guard off [I recommend removing the feed roller, too] and look down, you will see the stationary part and it's three bolts that hold it in place. You can also look underneath the chute, and see the three nylon lock nuts that are associated with this stationary part [ and the adjustment slots]. As you look into the chute, the disk rotates clockwise, and the knife blades cut downward on the wood. It's also a good idea to trace around both of your hands before you start and compare the before outline with the after outline when you are done working on it. Goot luck !!!! let us know how it turns out. Jerry

wedge40 · Feb 18, 2008

Update. Even though it's dipped back down about 32 I couldn't stand not knowing. I went outside, took the springs off and lifted the feed roller. Hey guess what. There's an anvil at the bottom of the chute. The blade being vertical and anvil being horizontal.

Here is a couple of photos.

Now all I have to do is wait for warm/dry weather. I need a set of metric allen wrenches too. Guess I'll stop by Sears on the way home from work tomorrow.

Oh ya.. I think my gap is about 1/4". And there's wood in the system so they must test these things before they head out the door.

Wedge

weldingisfun · Feb 19, 2008

With a 1/4" gap, you will be smashing the wood to pieces.
Your chipper looks to be a Jinma, if so, your gap setting is .010" to .030". If your chipper is like mine, your blades will not be exactly the same. Rotate the flywheel to find the one with the least amount of clearance and set your gap on that one. If you set the one with the most clearance, the other will hit the anvil. Trust me on this one. You can, if you have the time, inclination and means, shim your blades. I lacked the inclination and mine works just fine.
You will also find that this is easiest done with two people. It can be done by yourself, but a helper will make the task much easier.
Hope this helps. Good luck and have fun with the chipper. I have used mine about 30 hours with out any major problems.

wedge40 · Feb 19, 2008

weldingisfun said:
With a 1/4" gap, you will be smashing the wood to pieces.
Your chipper looks to be a Jinma, if so, your gap setting is .010" to .030". If your chipper is like mine, your blades will not be exactly the same. Rotate the flywheel to find the one with the least amount of clearance and set your gap on that one. If you set the one with the most clearance, the other will hit the anvil. Trust me on this one. You can, if you have the time, inclination and means, shim your blades. I lacked the inclination and mine works just fine.
You will also find that this is easiest done with two people. It can be done by yourself, but a helper will make the task much easier.
Hope this helps. Good luck and have fun with the chipper. I have used mine about 30 hours with out any major problems.

How long will it take to adjust the blades with two people. I will have a buddy out to see and help with the chipping the first time. I want to get the pulley aligned and everything greased. Then set the blades and start to get rid of the piles of brush I've collected over the years. I dont think I've mentioned but I live in the middle of 11 acres of woods, with about 1 1/2 acres cleared.

Wedge

weldingisfun · Feb 20, 2008

wedge40 said:
How long will it take to adjust the blades with two people. I will have a buddy out to see and help with the chipping the first time. I want to get the pulley aligned and everything greased. Then set the blades and start to get rid of the piles of brush I've collected over the years. I dont think I've mentioned but I live in the middle of 11 acres of woods, with about 1 1/2 acres cleared.

Wedge

Doing it for the first time, maybe 20 - 30 minutes. This is assuming you have all the required tools on hand.