Vermeer model 606 PTO Chipper

[Piston]

I REALLY need to stop "browsing" Craigslist!
During my last "browsing" session I found myself convinced that I needed to buy this chipper. It wasn't completely spontaneous as I've been searching Craigslist for a while now for a chipper. The majority of the ones I've found were mostly manual feed, and I wanted hydraulic feed. I did see some hydro feed models but they were out of my price range.

I came across a Vermeer 606 PTO chipper with hydraulic feed. After some back and forth with the owner, we negotiated a price that we were both happy with.

I really don't know much about PTO chippers, and even less about Vermeer chippers. I didn't even know they made PTO models until this one found its way into the back of my truck!

Does anyone have any experience with Vermeer? (especially a 606?)
I'm interested in any info good or bad about them.

Also, any ideas what the HP rating and max diameter may be for something like this?

I'll probably have more questions as time goes by.
Thanks guys.

-Matt

 

[murphy1244]

Here is a site for owners book Vermeer 606 Brush Chipper Operators Manual | eBay

 

[RoyJackson]

Do a web search...
Looks like the capacity is 6" diameter, but that's about all I found.
Vermeer 606 three point chipper | no-reserve auction on Thursday, October 25, 2012 |

I also suggest you contact the manufacturer for more info. Good luck and BE SAFE with that chipper.

 

[Piston]

Do a web search...
Looks like the capacity is 6" diameter, but that's about all I found.
Vermeer 606 three point chipper | no-reserve auction on Thursday, October 25, 2012 |

When I googled the chipper before posting this thread, that same link was pretty much the only info I found on this chipper as well. There isn't a whole lot of info online about it.
I also tried calling the manufacturer but couldn't get a contact number off their website.

Much to my surprise, the owner found the manuals for the chipper and sent them to me. This will come in really helpful!

Here are a few pics of the chipper.
My dad picked it up for me as I had to go back to work and didn't have time. Now I wish I picked it up as the owner told him to load it himself since he wouldn't be around. He loaded it with the guys crabbed M9540! My dad was in heaven running that tractor and I know I would have been too!

 

[Piston]

The specs for the 606 say it is a 6" capacity chipper and lists the weight at 1350lbs! This I a pretty beefy unit! I'm a little concerned that it is too much for my tractor but I think it will be fine. I handle my 6' 1200lb rotary cutter just fine and this isn't much heavier.
My 39PTO HP is right inline with the range they recommend.

The chipper has an adjustable hydraulic feed. It is self contained to the unit and doesn't have any hoses going to the tractor. Is this typically how the hydro feed chippers are setup? I thought they usually plugged in to the tractors hydraulics but like I said, I don't know much about these!

 

[Agent Blue]

Little late to ask questions now.... its in your garage. Vermeer is a premium name in the chipper business. I would not worry about their quality. Generally chippers do not get anot of usage and look in the condition of this one. What was the asking price on CL ? I have a 8" Bear Cat PTO gravity feed. I don't see a huge task in lowering the intake and adding two hydraulic motors, flow control and direction control to make it automatic. What HP are you using to power it ? I have a 55hp New Holland and the chipper could use more for larger material. Knives must remain sharp for proper operation. Next will be a stump grinder. better start looking now !
Reading your post more closely 39hp may work for small diameter limbs but it really takes power for the larger diameter wood. There has to be a hydraulic line to the tractor to power the feed. Look closer... maybe the line is capped off. There is no other power source and it doesn't work by itself.

 

[aczlan]

There has to be a hydraulic line to the tractor to power the feed. Look closer... maybe the line is capped off. There is no other power source and it doesn't work by itself.

There is a filter on the side of the chipper, so I'll bet that there is a pump that runs off of the PTO shaft...

Aaron Z

 

[RoyJackson]

There is a filter on the side of the chipper, so I'll bet that there is a pump that runs off of the PTO shaft...

Aaron Z

That's what it looks like to me too...the pump and hydraulics are integral to the machine. I suspect this chipper requires no hydraulic hook up to the tractor.
Looks like a great chipper and very robust!

 

[Piston]

Agent Blue,
The asking price on CL was $3,850. It caught my eye because it had a hydraulic feed, was a 6" capacity, and was a good, reputable name. I looked into some of the cheaper makes but ultimately decided I'd rather spend the same amount of money on a good used, well known, and reliable brand name chipper with hydro feed, than I would on a brand new lesser quality chipper.
I didn't want to spend nearly 4k for a chipper, so I called and chatted with the owner, made him an offer that was certainly less than the value of the chipper, and explained to him that I know it's worth more than I can give him, but if he doesn't sell it to let me know and my offer stands. He absolutely had to sell the chipper to pay for a snowpusher that he just purchased from a friend, and ended up selling me the chipper for the initial price I offered. I believe I got a pretty good deal on it, but more importantly, I am happy with the purchase, even if I ended up overpaying a bit. Ultimately I wanted a hydraulic feed chipper with a 5" or more capacity, of a well known name, for under 3k, and I even exceeded my own expectations.

As for the hydraulics, I believe Roy and ACZlan are correct, the hydraulic feed is self contained and run off the PTO shaft. Unfortunately, I am away at work right now and won't be able to use the chipper for another 3 weeks, so I can't answer many questions on it yet. I'll give it a good test when I get home after I go through it. I'll have my wife take some more pics for me and I'll post a few more.
I was comparing this chipper to the Wallenstein BX62R because that is the chipper I was really looking for. Spec wise, it seems a little more rubust than the BX62R but isn't rated for as high HP. If I could have found a bx62R for anywhere near what I paid for this, I would have bought it, but I think I'll be happy with the Vermeer, maybe even happier!
I was pretty amazed at how much the hydraulic feed added to the cost. I believe the bx62r is close to 7k dollars, or 4k without the hydraulic feed.

My father checked it over pretty good and said it doesn't look like it's had much use. I found that they stopped making these chippers around 2002 so it certainly isn't 'new' by any means! However, I don't think there is too much that can go wrong with these.


I feel like a kid on Christmas morning that was able to open his present but can't play with his new toy! :laughing:

 

[Piston]

Just found this quote from another thread on here, regarding the 606...

I have had a 606 for several years. Very well built. Very heavy. No problems. Paid $10,000 new.

A 27PTO HP tractor will handle 6" pine at the slowest feed, but not hardwood of that size. The 40 PTO HP tractor handles 6" pine at fast feed, and 6" hardwood at medium feed. 6" hardwood at full feed would probably take 60 PTO HP. But medium feed is about as fast as I can work anyway.

Also,
My father unloaded the chipper, read through the manual, went through the chipper, and hooked it up to the tractor. He sent me a couple pics and videos of it in use. He said that I am going to love it! He put a few pieces of brush through it and he said the tractor handled it fine, never hiccuping at all, although he didn't put a 6" log through it either. I'll see if I can attach a video, never done that before.