Reverse conversion - PTO chipper to standalone engine drive?

[gallonoffuel]

Good morning folks. I noticed a lot of threads on this site talking about converting their standalone chipper/shredders to PTO drive. I've learned a lot from that but nothing I saw matched exactly to what I'm looking to do.

I don't own a tractor, although I think I will need one someday to maintain my property. I have been looking for a chipper/shredder for a few months and happened upon a Troy Bilt PTO drive for a decent price, knowing I would have to hook it up to a power source in some way. After exhaustive searches, I came to the conclusion I need to ask the experts.

Is there any way to convert a PTO driven chipper/shredder to run on a small standalone engine? I can surely think of ways to do it mechanically but I'm unsure of things like weak links/shear pins, clutch requirements, things of this nature.

I'm beginning to think that it would make more sense to sell this unit I have and buy a standalone unit with its own power source, but I figured I'd find out from the folks that work with these things every day.

Thanks!

 

[Rob-D]

Hi,
I don't own a shredder but I think you will find a few problems.
For one PTO's run 540 rpm's so a direct hook up to a gas engine isn't an option. You can get geared down engines but they cost more.

The other thing is the PTO hp to run the specific shredder you're interested in. You should find out what PTO hp is required. This will give you a ball park idea of the engine you will need.
As far as shear pins they can go two ways. Incorporated into the shredder or on the PTO shaft itself.

My advice is to bite the bullet and get a shredder with a dedicated engine built and designed as a unit. You'll have less trouble and probably be happier in the long run. The only way you will come out ahead is if the shredder is free.

Rob

 

[gallonoffuel]

Thanks Rob for the reply. I was researching 6:1 gear reduction engines for this application and they do get pricey fairly quickly. I then got to wondering if the yoke on the shredder could be removed and replaced with a pulley such that a regular non-reduced engine could drive the shredder with the right pulley selection.

You've confirmed my suspicious so far so I appreciate your feedback. I suppose it's either buy a tractor or sell the shredder at this point!

 

[Rob-D]

Thanks Rob for the reply. I was researching 6:1 gear reduction engines for this application and they do get pricey fairly quickly. I then got to wondering if the yoke on the shredder could be removed and replaced with a pulley such that a regular non-reduced engine could drive the shredder with the right pulley selection.

You've confirmed my suspicious so far so I appreciate your feedback. I suppose it's either buy a tractor or sell the shredder at this point!

Do you have a neighbor with a tractor that you can run the shredder from to see it in action? This might give you a better idea of what you need to do.

It seems to me if you sell it you could put the money toward a dedicated machine which might offset the cost enough not to justify rebuilding what you have.
Just my two cents,
Rob

 

[jmanatee2]

Why not double or triple stacked belt drive? Pulleys are cheap and its easy to do a 6 to 1 ratio They would slip if jammed to shear pin needed.

 

[gallonoffuel]

Why not double or triple stacked belt drive? Pulleys are cheap and its easy to do a 6 to 1 ratio They would slip if jammed to shear pin needed.

I had that idea but there are a few things I'm not sure of, like how the yoke comes off the chipper, if it does at all, and if this is relatively safe to build. I will take a better look at the unit and see what I can come up with. I think even with a significant engine investment, if I can make the power transmission work, it'll be a higher quality chipper than I could probably buy as a unit. Thanks for the replies so far!

 

[jmanatee2]

I think you will gain 6 times your horse power with the 6 to 1 ratio (a little less because of power transmission)

 

[JohninCT]

It might cost you a few bucks, but you could build a hydraulic PTO drive to hook up to the chippper without any mods to it at all. Get a decent sized engine from an old lawn tractor (20 HP or more if possible). Connect a hydraulic tank and pump to hook up to the engine. Get a hydraulic PTO motor, motor spool valve, and tractor drive shaft (if the chipper didn't come with one) to drive the chipper. Surplus center should have all the piece parts you need to do the job.

Surplus Center

 

[RobKinNH]

Can you post pics of what you've got. It sounds like a chipper that was built to work with a Troy Bilt tiller set up. If it is I had one that I was looking to run off of a tractor PTO, but the rotor direction was backwards. If this what you've got than their pretty hard to find as they are not made anymore. I'd go find a used Troy bilt tomahawk chipper for $300-$500 and avoid the chippers with the rotor attached to the motor. Either way post pics so we can see what you've got.

 

[gallonoffuel]

I believe that is what I have. I didn't realize the rotation direction was backwards. So this cannot be run on a tractor PTO? That is worse than I thought.