Chipper PTO Chipper - Useful or misplaced?

[jlanglois]

I could use a good chipper. The commercial diesel engine units cost over 10K. Is there a PTO driven model that would fit a Ford 3000 that would make economic sense?

I don't want to tear up the tractor by asking it to do more than it was designed for, but this seems like a way to not have to settle for those dinky chippers at Home Depot.

I am open to new ideas.

Thanks.

 

[DocHeb]

I've been looking/dreaming/surfing, and my favorite from the many that I've seen is the Valby CH160 Chipper with Hydraulic Feed. Unfortunately, I only have theoretical knowledge about this unit since I don't own one /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif. These units run ~$6000, cheaper than the $10k you described, but a bit more than the HD units.

By the way, HD around here rents the $10k units for $150 a day.

 

[longway5]

If you want a commercial type chipper for a tractor, try a Morbark. They are expensive, but its a full-size chipper. We have a 2070 pto at work, and it'll suck down the better part of whole trees (whats left is good firewood anyway). Here is the link to their site. My guess is the 2060 would be a good match, although I'm not familar with a Ford 3000; our 2070 is usable on our NH 3930 (45 hp), but it would do better on a larger tractor.

 

[bebster]

I have the Mackissic gas-powered version of this and it works fine. Got the tractor afterwards, and if doing it again might consider the PTO version (see link). May not be big enough for you (only takes 3" logs), but the price is probably in the $2000 range.mackissic chipper/shredder

 

[GregJ]

I have a Kubota B7500 - 21hp (16 pto) with a Bearcat 70554. It's been a great machine for me. Easy to service and handles just about everything I give it. It's rated to 40hp, so your tractor could handle it nicely. It's just a little over $2000. I really like the fine chips it produces. It composts quickly and makes a great mulch for landscaping. I've attached a picture of one of the piles I've done with it. Last year I did about 30 yards of mulch with it and plan to do at least that much this year. It's not a commercial model, but I'm not doing commercial work with it. For 30 yards a year, this machine is more than adequate for me.

Greg

 

[TonyC]

Check out this thread on Chinese Chippers. They will crunch a 6" dia limb and can be had for $1200 to $1500.

 

[hayden]

'm on my seond PTO chipper, and I love them. The first was a 4" Patu DC40 with manual feed. I ran it off a B2400 and B2910 (24hp and 30HP respectively) without problems. It's a great machine and I'd recommend it as a lower cost starting point. They can be had for around $2500.

This year I upgraded to a Salsco 824 in order to get hydraulic feed. What a difference the power feeder makes! Much more gets chipped before I wear out for the day. Not cheap, though, at about $5000.

One word of caution, is to watch the weight of the unit. They are surprisingly heavy and the weight is very far back. I almost bought a Valbe CH160 with hydraulic feed and the dealer wouldn't sell it to me - said my tractor wouldn't lift it. I then got the Salsco which is lighter by a few hundred pounds and my tractor couldn't lift it either without alot of hand shoving. Turned out my lift relief pressure was off and once I set it correctly the Salco lifts, but it's right at the edge. To put it in perspective, the Salsco is listed as weight something under 700lbs, and the rated lift capacity of my 3PH at 24" behind the lift points is 1300lbs! It gives a sense of how far back the center of gravity is with the chipper.

Check out the thread on the chinese chipper. It looks very intersting and a much more cost effective alternative, asuming parts are available etc.

Bottom line - I'm a big fan of 3PH chippers. There's no comparison to a stand alone 8hp MTD.

 

[AndyMA]

I have the Valby CH160 with hydraulic feed. It works great on my Ford 2120. Prior to that I had a Valby 150, escentially the same "guts" without the feed. also worked well but you needed to do a lot more work to chip. The Valby will take a 30' foot 6 inch oak in one "swallow" without removing any of the branches. Also chips brush and grape vines well.

Andy

 

[longway5]

You make a good point. Our Morbark 2070 is very heavy, and although the tractor we use it on will pick it up, we had problems with the front end coming up off the ground when you came off the clutch or when you hit a bump. Makes steering interesting to put it mildly. We resolved it by putting a large amount of front weight on the tractor.

 

[SHIFTY]

Wallenstein (in Canadian ) makes a nice 6" chipper with adjustable shoot,They retail in the 2600 range in Newengland,So far I have heard very positive responses from the customers,It is not a self feed unit though it seems to suck in the branches without much asistance