Chipper PTO Chipper - Useful or misplaced?

dmartin88 · Oct 16, 2003

Just talked to my local dealer about the Woods chipper for my BX22, his only concern was the ground clearance on this chipper when mounted on the tractor, have you found this to be a problem?

Dealer recommended a Mackissic TPH122 instead although he certaianly was willing to sell me the Woods unit, just wanted to be sure I knew it might be a tight fit?

I think the extra capacity of the Woods unit would be worth the $1000 difference in price but wanted to check with someone that owns the unit.

Thanks.

Junkman · Oct 16, 2003

Look around for a dealer that has one in stock and bring your tractor over to try it on.... I think that is going to be the best way to know for sure unless someone here has a BX 22 and the chipper.....

dmartin88 · Oct 16, 2003

I replied to the earlier poster "drcollie" who has the same tractor and just bought the Woods chipper but do plan to go to the dealer and take a look for myself. Thanks for the note.

drcollie · Oct 16, 2003

Not a problem at all with clearance on the BX22. In fact, it raises higher than I really feel it needs to. I posted (3) photos of the Woods 5000 on the back of my BX22. Go to the Kubota Owning and Operating Forum, and you'll see them there.

I felt I didn't need the SHREDDER part of the Woods 5000, but that's really turned out to be pretty handy to have as the smaller debris works better in that chute than the chipper.

I'd not hesitate to buy this unit again. Shop the price a bit, I paid $ 2,500 for mine ready to go. The Bearcat model 70554 (there's a dealer in Fredricksburg VA that has one on the ground) is identical as well.

-Duane

Junkman · Oct 16, 2003

after seeing the one in the Kubota forum, I did a web search and found that the average sale price is $2500. Just don't know if I can justify that expense for a item that I don't know how much use that I will get out of it.... Do you know if the model has been out for a while or is it relatively new to the market place? Possible to find a used one I wonder.......

dmartin88 · Oct 16, 2003

Thanks, took a look at the photos. Now will have to make a decision, the Woods unit with 5" capacity for about $2500 or the Mackissic with 3 1/2" capacity around $1400. I must admit, logs over 3 1/2" would probably be fine for firewood so may be large enough although the 5" capacity would probably make it a lot easier to chip bent or twisted smaller logs.

Will go to my dealer and take a look at both, thanks for the information and the pointer to the pictures.

GregJ · Oct 16, 2003

Junkman,
I think the 70554 has been on the market for some time. There could be a few used ones out there. As far as cost justification, this is how I looked at it. Every now and then, there is a burn ban where I live and it is nice to be able to chip debris before the pile gets too big. That's a convenience. It's also nice to dispose of debris without polluting the environment. That's good for the environment. Most importantly I can create mountains of my own mulch and compost that is much better than you can buy and works great everywhere in the landscaping and vegetable gardens. That's cost justification. Last year I had to buy a 10 yard load of the highest quality compost I could find at $34 a yard and it came with the added bonus of Morning Glory in it. Since then I have created close to 50 yards of mulch. At $34 for stuff of questionable quality vs. (basically) free for incredibly good quality stuff that I do myself, I figure my chipper will pay for itself in 2 to 3 years, no problem. Now, I go through close to 30 yards of mulch/compost a year, so in my case it's not a problem. If I were buying it just to dispose of debris, I would have a lot of trouble justifying it, because it is more work than burning. Just thought I'd share how I cost justified it.

Greg

GregJ · Oct 16, 2003

Dave,
I had a smaller chipper before my Bearcat. It was a 3.5 inch capacity. The reality is that a 5 inch chipper will do 3.5 inch logs really well and struggle just feeding a 5 inch, unless it is perfectly straight. The 3.5 inch will do 2 inch really well and really struggle with 3.5 logs. I found the small one almost unusable because of the lack of capacity. The Bearcat was a breeze to use compared to the small one. These chippers will work ya hard if they don't have enough "uumph".

Greg

dmartin88 · Oct 17, 2003

Ordered the Woods 5000 unit today, should have it late next week. Having the extra capacity seems like the way to go and at the price of mulch, figure it will pay for itself in a couple of years! Thanks to all for the information and feedback.

drcollie · Oct 17, 2003

Excellent, Dave !

You'll find it's a real nice match for your BX22 as did I. I'm grinding poplar with mine mostly over in Fairfax, VA and so far the Woods 5000 has taken everything I've thrown at it without a hitch. Just rev the engine up all the way to max. throttle before you start chipping and move the tractor when the pile gets up to the exhaust chute.

When you first install this on the back of your BX, try to do it on flat and level ground. The BX hitch has to really spread wide to accomodate and it helps to be on pavement for the install.

Let us know what you think when you get it.
-Duane C.

GregJ · Oct 17, 2003

Duane,
I just recently put my Bearcat on a small dolley that I keep in my shop. I had the dolley sitting around for years and it was always in the way. When I set the chipper down, that was where it stayed because it is HEAVY and it was always in the way.... and then there was that magical moment of "Well Duh!". Why don't I put the chipper on the dolley. Then I can move it around the shop and it's not always in the way and it also makes it WAY easier to hook up. Thought I'd share one of my epiphanies.

Greg

cisco · Oct 17, 2003

OK guys, I don't need a monster chipper, but sure would like to knock off some brush piles. I've twice so far rented a self-contained Vermeer (18hp) unit to work on particularly large accumulations of stuff. Given that there will periodically be more branches/brush, I've considered a pto chipper. A number of months ago we had a thread re. the pto DR Chipper (www.countryhomeproducts.com) that seemed fairly favorable. The unit, which I just looked up, requires a pto of 19 to 45hp, and it weighs 185 lbs. The claim is 4.5 inch branches, though I side with a prior post about the advertised maximum being fiction (unless you have a very straight branch and a lot of time - the Vermeer was rated at 4", but ....). Cost is listed at $1600 with $130 delivery. Anyone have recent experience with the DR unit??

GregJ · Oct 17, 2003

Cisco,
One thing that concerned me about the Dr. Chipper is that it seems to be a bit light weight. It weighs 185lbs. total and the flywheel rotor only weighs 33lbs. The Bearcat weighs 450lbs. and the rotor is 125lbs. The weight of the rotor does a lot to keep the momentum up for my tractor. I only have 16pto hp, so the extra momentum really helps. Just something to consider. I paid just a little over $2,000 for mine a little over a year ago as part of my whole tractor package.

Greg

BXMMCC · Oct 17, 2003

Does anyone have experience with the Salsco line of chippers? This one looks like it may work with a BX - any comments?

Salsco small chipper

drcollie · Oct 17, 2003

I looked real hard at that Salsco unit and talked to them on the phone twice about it. It's very well made and sells for about $ 1550.00. In the end, I decided that 3.5" capacity just doesn't cut it and forked over the extra grand for the 5" model Woods/Bearcat. Glad I did, too! I'm finding WAY more debris larger than 3.5" down in the woods that goes into the chipper.

Also, I agree 100% with Greg on the flywheel weight. My BX22 has 22 hp at the engine and about 16 HP at the PTO. That heavy flywheel is often the only thing that finishes the larger sticks (close to 5") in the chipper. A lighter flywheel model like the Dr. Chipper never would chew up those that are close to max. size unless you were to cut them in tiny pieces...and what's the point of that?

Buy the most capacity, and the highest quality you can afford. Resale will be better and performance will be superior.

Thanks for the dolly tip, Greg!

-Duane C.

BigDave · Oct 17, 2003

Dave,

I guess I'm a little late to the thread, but congrats. I have a Woods chipper and I am quite pleased. I have used it much more that I initially planned. My only complaint about the unit is the lack of a chute, since the chips due accumulate. Have fun, but be safe.

Junkman · Oct 18, 2003

Just back from their site and I like the looks of the Model 824, but don't know if it might be too big for the BX to handle given that it weighs 675 pounds. I think that I might take a ride over to their place and look it over since it is only about an hour from here. Who knows, they might have a scratch and dent sale going on....... If the price is close to the Woods, I might consider it.... Salsco Model 824 ......

drcollie · Oct 18, 2003

They have no Model 824's on site, they're all at the trade shows (I called them last week and asked since I was headed up that way next week with a Freightliner and had room to bring one home) Also, the price is $ 5,150, no deals and they have no demo models.

I was pretty jazzed on that unit but had to draw the line at that price point. The Woods 5000 was half the price and gets the job done fine.

-Duane C

hcarter62 · Oct 19, 2003

I just order the dr chipper for my 21hp New Holland. I will let you know how it works. Should be here this week.

cisco · Oct 19, 2003

I hear you folks re. the flywheel weight, and that's why I'm asking. I've a reasonable amount of torque (pto of 29 hp) and if the tractor rpm is up in the 2400 range, I think, but don't know, that the chipper unit will have sufficient torque going into the flywheel to keep things turning. The free-standing 18 hp Vermeer I've rented needs a large flywheel, but whether I will with an L3410 is the question.
It'll be good to learn from someone with a DR unit how such fares with a 4.5 inch in diameter hardwood branch. If it cuts that reasonably quickly and without fuss, I'm sold. I've a DR Tirmmer (6.75hp), and it is a well made unit. DR stuff tends to be very good, but also overpriced so I'm intriqued about the chipper, which seems reasonably inexpensive (and possibly not up to the task).