Chipper pto driven wood chippers

[5030]

Why not?

I don't like them either simply because loading a long heavy limb can be an exercise in weightlifting and thats not for me.

 

[newbury]

no vertical hoppers for me.

Why not?

I don't like them either simply because loading a long heavy limb can be an exercise in weightlifting and thats not for me.

Vertical hoppers are great for wood chippers/leaf shredders. You dump the leaves in the hopper and chip sticks on the side thru a hole. But with 6" OR 8" chipper picking the dang tree up is a royal pain.

I've chipped a whole bunch of "saplings" about 15 foot or so long and could not imagine standing them up, some were a pain to just drag the butt end into the chute.

 

[daugen]

First of all, I don't do leaves and my chipping would all be trees in the under 4 inch range, except for pine. Otherwise, I use the hardwood for firewood. Secondly, I have severe arthritis, a fused neck and lots of back operations. About a 30 pound weight limit for vertical lifting, so I need a unit that is very easy to load with the least vertical lifting.

 

[bcp]

About a 30 pound weight limit for vertical lifting, so I need a unit that is very easy to load with the least vertical lifting.

They make a chipper for you.

Bruce

 

[Gittyup]

The unit I recommended has a horizontal chipper input plus a big vertical hopper for quick brush disposal. And, of course, you can put brush in the chipper input if you want (but the hopper is many times faster). Do they actually make a vertical chipper for branches over a couple of inches? I don't think I've ever seen one.

 

[newbury]

<snip> Do they actually make a vertical chipper for branches over a couple of inches? I don't think I've ever seen one.

Not quite vertical
[video]http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid2368655542001?bckey=AQ~~,AAABrbZSuok~,H_WTaxB _AQ-R8USVuNNebPTfK547YOxs&bctid=1924946259001[/video]

for up to 5.5 inch diameter

/edit
This is the one Drew mentioned in his post.

Note it's about chest high on somebody to get the stick in.

and from the site:

Our PTO Chipper is designed with this attitude in mind. For example, it has a large vertically oriented hopper opening that requires less pruning.

 

[RoyJackson]

Do they actually make a vertical chipper for branches over a couple of inches? I don't think I've ever seen one.

The chipping chute on the Woods 5000 (and it's Bearcat counterpart) is about 40 degrees or so off the vertical. This unit takes up to a 5" branch or trunk.
If it's a long (>10-12 feet) and consistently close to 5" diameter, I part it to 7-8 foot lengths. It really depends on the wood. Some is more dense (heavier) then others.

 

[daugen]

Not quite vertical
[video]http://link.brightcove.com/services/player/bcpid2368655542001?bckey=AQ~~,AAABrbZSuok~,H_WTaxB _AQ-R8USVuNNebPTfK547YOxs&bctid=1924946259001[/video]

exactly Newbury, thanks. Besides, leaves aren't my issue, just tree branches and if softwood, the whole thing.
Roy, understood, smaller pieces easier to pick up and more manageable. Probably safer... Trying to get away from design of typical pull behind chipper, you know the ones with the hitch and 6-15hp engine on it, that seem mostly oriented to dumping things into the chute. Fine for leaves but my needs are for the design like big chippers where you drag the junk up to the chipper on the ground. It's hard enough for me to pick up a day's worth..picking it up again to load it into the mouth of the chipper just seems like extra work.
I'm trying to let the machinery work harder, not me.

I must admit the non hydraulic models do seem to suck the pieces in just fine, but I think if I bit the bullet on this, I'd probably go for a smaller hydraulic feed unit.
And I guess my budget would then start with a three.
Funny, this is going to hinge on another implement...my next door neighbor was given a rear rototiller for his 2 series JD, which he promptly sold and now has an old TSC grade five foot tiller. I need a six foot tiller but five might do, particularly since to begin with it's to till less than an acre to put in sunflowers. My neighbor wants to give me the tiller and I'm going to hook it up this week to see if it works. If yes, I've just saved two grand for a tiller, and I might use half of that to go up a model on the chipper.

I can think of a bunch of guys who would want to borrow a chipper from me. I'll loan out my wood splitter, hard to hurt that thing, but a chipper?
The liability for injury would far outweigh the thanks of friends. And if it takes half an hour plus plus to change those knives, if others are less careful than me, I'm going to be changing knives often. Wonder what a little barb wire would do if sucked into one of these?

more studying and Youtube video watching needed.

/edit
This is the one Drew mentioned in his post.

Note it's about chest high on somebody to get the stick in.

 

[newbury]

<snip>

exactly Newbury, thanks. Besides, leaves aren't my issue, just tree branches and if softwood, the whole thing.
Roy, understood, smaller pieces easier to pick up and more manageable. Probably safer... Trying to get away from design of typical pull behind chipper, you know the ones with the hitch and 6-15hp engine on it, that seem mostly oriented to dumping things into the chute. Fine for leaves but my needs are for the design like big chippers where you drag the junk up to the chipper on the ground. It's hard enough for me to pick up a day's worth..picking it up again to load it into the mouth of the chipper just seems like extra work.
I'm trying to let the machinery work harder, not me.<snip>

There were a number of times I wished even the Jinma was built closer to the ground so I didn't have to lift the stuff to be chipped up to waist level.

 

[5030]

There were a number of times I wished even the Jinma was built closer to the ground so I didn't have to lift the stuff to be chipped up to waist level.

That's funny, I had to raise mine 9" to get it in line with the M series PTO. I still prefer horizontal feed over vertical or angled for heavy branches and knots.... The Nortrack in the pictures is direct drive. Can't see that munching up a 5.5" diameter limb unless it's softwood or the input power is sufficient and that don't mean a CUT either. Chippers are power intensive if direct drive. Looks like a royal PITA to change knives on too.

 

[s219]

When I was shopping for chippers, I looked at that Nortrac, but it had a bunch of negatives. At the time, a Wallenstein was just $400 more, and it was a no brainer to go in that direction.

Aside from paint, the Nortrac is identical to the DR PTO chipper (which sells for a lot more -- way overpriced):

3-Point Hitch Wood Chipper | DR Power Equipment

 

[s219]

As far as chute angle and height, one of the things I liked about the Wallenstein is that the chute is fairly low when the chipper is lowered to the ground. I rarely have to put any effort into getting wood into the chute. The rate at which it will suck in material is surprising.

 

[Code54]

When I was shopping for chippers, I looked at that Nortrac, but it had a bunch of negatives. At the time, a Wallenstein was just $400 more, and it was a no brainer to go in that direction.

Aside from paint, the Nortrac is identical to the DR PTO chipper (which sells for a lot more -- way overpriced):

3-Point Hitch Wood Chipper | DR Power Equipment

WOW - that is pricey, your not kidding!!! For a couple hundred bucks more you can get the Woodmaxx 8" hydro unit....

 

[RoyJackson]

Roy, understood, smaller pieces easier to pick up and more manageable. Probably safer... Trying to get away from design of typical pull behind chipper, you know the ones with the hitch and 6-15hp engine on it, that seem mostly oriented to dumping things into the chute.

It really depends on what your needs are...

When I was looking for a chipper, several years ago, I wasn't looking for a chipper/shredder. I found a lightly used Woods 5000 on Craigslist list for $1000. Although I was going to offer $700-$800, I was quite impressed with the condition and performance and paid the full asking price (very rare thing for me to do).
In the years since I bought this implement, I've found I use the shredder more then the chipper (60/40 or 70/30) since I'm doing yard clean up, not clearing a wooded acre or three.

As far as the pull behind units, as you described....they're a lot more money for the capacity I'd need (5" or so) as well as another engine to maintain. If I had a quarter or half acre suburban yard...that's one thing. I had a fairly heavily wooded area in my last PA home and about 9 acres here in Vermont) which has a lot of trees around (fallen branches and such)

Added: One thing I would like (with the Woods 5000 and Bearcat equivalent) would be a chute. A blower chute is optional, but it costs as much as what I paid for the unit itself. I just don't chip enough material annually, to justify the cost of the blower option (which might not even work with my older chipper/shredder)

 

[newbury]

When I was shopping for chippers, I looked at that Nortrac, but it had a bunch of negatives. At the time, a Wallenstein was just $400 more, and it was a no brainer to go in that direction.

Aside from paint, the Nortrac is identical to the DR PTO chipper (which sells for a lot more -- way overpriced):

3-Point Hitch Wood Chipper | DR Power Equipment

WOW - that is pricey, your not kidding!!! For a couple hundred bucks more you can get the Woodmaxx 8" hydro unit....

HEY! It's a Dr. PTO Chipper, you've got to pay for the education.

 

[5030]

When I was shopping for chippers, I looked at that Nortrac, but it had a bunch of negatives. At the time, a Wallenstein was just $400 more, and it was a no brainer to go in that direction.

Aside from paint, the Nortrac is identical to the DR PTO chipper (which sells for a lot more -- way overpriced):

3-Point Hitch Wood Chipper | DR Power Equipment

If it's badged DR, it's overpriced but I'm sure someone buys them or they would not be in business. 2400 bucks is insane.

 

[Glrret]

Well, I expected a breakdown at some point during my ownership of a Woodmaxx 9900 but not this soon. I have about 10 hours on it and the pulley on the hydraulic pump that drives the intake roller has failed. I took the unit apart and I need someone to look at some pictures and provide some feedback on what I've found. Based on my observation it don't appear that a key was installed in the key-way or it came out. I would think that if a key was present, there would be more damage to the pump shaft, it just looks like the pulley was spinning free. But there also seems to be a mark on the key groove where a key was driven in, maybe the key slid out because the set screw was not tightened down.

Any experts have an thought they care to share?

 

[newbury]

Any experts have an thought they care to share?

Looks liked the set screw backed out. Does the manual show a key in the parts list?

 

[Glrret]

The unit did not come with a full parts list or diagrams, only consumable list. I've looked on the Woodmaxx site and I haven't found one yet.

 

[Glrret]

Much to their credit I have received an email response from Woodmaxx already this morning, and I'll share with you all.

"Hi Gary. I'm not sure how that happened but I will get you the parts you need immediately. They will go out priority mail today. Look for a tracking number in your email. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.
Sincerely,
Will"


I have also already received the Order confirmation.