Chipper PTO Chipper - Useful or misplaced?

[GregJ]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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]

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).