Chipper Bear Cat Chipper Questions

   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #1  

bobnewjersey

Bronze Member
Joined
Feb 15, 2002
Messages
96
Location
(Wantage Twp) Northwest New Jersey
Tractor
New Holland TC40D
Does anyone own the Bear Cat PTO chipper model 72854 hydraulic feed or the 71854 manual feed? My local dealer carries only Bear Cat (in PTO versions), so I am giving both of these machines a hard look. Please share your experiences with these machines.....positive or negitive. Many thanks!
 
   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #2  
I looked at these models last year and ended up buying a Salsco 826 a couple of weeks ago. I didn't have overpowering reasons for preferring the Salsco:
1) It was available at two of my "preferred" dealers
2) One of them runs a rental business. They ran them for a year in the rental business before picking the line up.
3) I liked the Salsco feed setup - it has a 6"x12" throat. Crooked stuff and limbs go through with no problem. Every other blade on the feed roller is a cutter (available with all cutters). This works well for feeding trees with limbs still attached (it saves the delimbing and a lot of bending over). It is supposed (I haven't tried yet) to work well with stock that has vines on it.
4) The discharge chute seems munch longer than the Bearcat. I can blow stuff a long way from the chipper. Just don't walk in front of it - I'm glad I've got a hardhat with a face screen.

It appears that you are in New Jersey. Salsco's factory is in CT.
 
   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #3  
Bear Cat just opened a new plant 15 min from my house,I'll have to go check it out/w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
 
   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #5  
I ran the Salsco for a while today and found out the very best feature - My (almost) 18 year old son admitted that "it wasn't so bad" to chip with the L48/Salsco. It is really nice to have him for company - so much so that I let him do most of the driving.

My old chipper was a 10 HP Troybilt and it was REAL work to use. We chipper more in 3 hours than we could have chipped in 3 weekends with the little machine.
 
   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #6  
Hi David i'm also from N.H wondering what you paid for chipper and if there is a web sight or name of dealer in area
Thanks edt
 
   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #7  
I paid $6,500 at Chappel Tractor in Milford. RN Johnson in Walpole also carries them, but at a much higher price. Salsco just came out with a smaller 3 pt version this year, its not even on the web site yet. Chappel normally keeps both in stock.

Salsco's web site is www.salsco.com. Be warned, it is even worse than Deere's and Kubota's site. For instance, to find the 826, go to "Products, then "Tree", then "Chipper, Models 8625, 8630 & 8633", scroll to the bottom and them click on "3-Point Hitch Chipper". Your best bet is to take a look at one in person - everything on it is very heavy duty.

The problem I had with looking for chippers is that none of the dealers will demo them. I had previous experience with a little one, but none with anything like this. I called Salsco directly last year and they invited me to a farm show where they were giving demos. I had a schedule conflict, but I think that would have been worthwhile.
 
   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #8  
Thanks David that helps out a bunch I have a chappel dealer
by me in kingston will check thans again edt
 
   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #9  
I've priced out Bear Cat in my area. Very $$$!!! Wow!!! I'm now going to see if I can track down a local dealer for these guys <A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.gmeidaho.com/>GME</A>. Their product may be worth checking out too.

Kevin
 
   / Bear Cat Chipper Questions #10  
I finally remembered to grab a picture...
 
 
 
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