Chipper Jinma 6" chipper's feeder problems

Pete in FL · Feb 29, 2008

We all know the feed mechanism problems this machine has as it comes from the factory. I changed the drive shaft to a much stronger one and that works fine. However, now there's big trouble with the phony metal-to-metal clutch mechanism. The two halves keep slipping apart [declutching] under the slightest load. The edges are now worn off, so they disengaged even easier. It seems to me that a better system would be to clutch the drive belt with an idler sheave, like on a riding lawn mower. Has anyone done this? If so, how? Any other ideas for solving this clutch problem? Thanks in advance.

wedge40 · Mar 1, 2008

Since the clutch is already rounded, not sure what could be done to fix your problem. But if it seems to disengage easily I'd try and pin the spring back so it would offer more tension, or get a bigger spring.

Wedge

Ranch_Hand_Supp · Mar 1, 2008

I only have experiance with the Originial Jinma chippers.

The spring around the feed drum drive shaft is what provides the pressure to keep the clutch engaged on the factory drive shaft set up.

Maybe your replacement drive shaft set up is not doing that ??

I have not had that problem yet with all the chippers I have sold.

Sounds like there is no spring pressure holding it there or something is pulling it apart ??

Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

Phineas7 · Mar 1, 2008

I am having the same problem but not quite as bad.
What I've noticed is that once it disengages the spring doesn't re-engage it when the feed roller is down. I suspect that the shaft and the inside of the clutch have machining marks that are binding.
It is my intention (when it gets to the top of the list) to smooth them such that the spring will re-engage them even at the extreem angle and reshape the edges or possibly re-cut the clutch to increase the engagement overlap.

Treemonkey1000 · Mar 2, 2008

Not that I am an expert. Do you have any pictures of those parts?
Jim

Pete in FL · Mar 2, 2008

I'm sorry that I don't have photos. I can certainly try to post a few. Today I replaced the factory spring with a much stronger one. I'm thinking that a further help would be to put a block behind the lever to just barely prevent the bolt heads on the lever mechanism from running hard on the driven half of the clutch piece. Otherwise this new spring is going to wear the bolt heads off real quick.
Ultimately I still think that a clutch system based on tensioning the drive belt would be better. Space is a concern plus I'm no welder, unfortunately.