Current project

[Dan Hunter]

I have a DR chipper and gave some thought of selling it but reconsidered. I have a JD3720 showing up the first week of May. Rather than sell the chipper for a pto unit that just puts hours on the tractor engine, I'm converting the DR unit to lift off a mover's dolly onto an iMatch or a boom from an eye-bolt onto the trailer. I'm ordering some square tubing to match the existing bits of the chipper to fab the 3pt adapter with a bolt on assembly and powder coat it to match. Though it's road tow-able, I've never done so and really didn't enjoy maneuvering it behind the truck. The existing tires/axle/hitch assembly will get re-purposed on a friends wood splitter project. Photos to follow.

 

[Dan Hunter]

I've removed the towing bits and have bolted 4X4 treated posts to the bottom to work as skids. I'll start building up the 3 point/lifting eye hardware this week.

 

[jake98]

That's not a bad idea, you could set it down where you need it and do other things like tow the branches to it. When I'm operating in the woods I'm always worried about backing the chipper into a stump. I've toyed with the idea of setting mine up with a separate engine, my pto is a little underpowered for it.

 

[jenkinsph]

I have a DR chipper with the 3PH pto setup and like you didn't want to run up hours on the larger tractors so it has sat until last year. I now use it behind my x749 which allows me to get into some tight places with it. Seems to be a good match for a 24hp garden tractor.

I like your idea to put a 3PH on your self powered model as it would make it a lot easier to move around.:thumbsup:

 

[Dan Hunter]

I need a little advise.

I purchased some steel to match the framing for the chipper - 2"X2"X.125" square tubing and a stainless steel lift bolt rated to 2100 pounds.

What I'm struggling with is how much room to allow on the implement adapter for pins. The JD website gives ranges and I'd thought of just going with tabs on my adapter that match the settings that generates the greatest gaps for the iMatch to couple to ease engagement. This chipper will be dropped off and the tractor driven away so a little slop doesn't seem to be a problem.

Or is it?

 

[jenkinsph]

Dan,
Why not det the pins and bushings in the IMatch J hooks evenly spaced and measure the distance in between the pin shoulders. i can't remember the distance off hand but that is how I usually do it.

 

[Dan Hunter]

I made some headway on the project. I have to figure out the CG and then it's off to powdercoat.

 

[jenkinsph]

Dan,
Looks like very good workmanship, welding looks great.:thumbsup:

My only concern would be the lower attachment points, the flatbar the pins are connected to is rather small. If you hang the IMatch on it see if you can add additional flatbar to make it a clevis type hookup.