Chipper Recommended Chipper Suggestions

[m2kopp]

We have a Deere 4400 compact tractor, 35 HP, 28.5 hp at the PTO. We are in the market for a well built, durable, PTO chipper. Our use is residential as we live on 20 acres and will use the chipper for frequent chipping of pruned planted laurel hedges, birch trees, rhodies, etc, as well as numerous young alders, hemlock, cedar and fir limbs/branches. And of course the occasional huge task of cleaning up after the really big windstorm. Our desire is to be able to chip without having to prune or use a chainsaw to hack into smaller pieces in order to feed. We definitely will be going with hydraulic feed.

We have been evaluating the Bearcat CH9540, 9x9 feed opening, the Salsco 627XT, or 826, or the Valby 160 or 170. Valby does not have a local dealer in the Seattle area but is having a 40% off msrp sale. Salsco and Bearcat have a local dealer but are offering only a modest discount off msrp. From reading previous posts all manufacturers produce a good product...we just need some assistance in getting it 'right' to our needs.

As these are not try before you buy products we welcome any feedback or suggestions. Thanks!!

 

[rdbrumfield]

I have a 9inch hyd feed bearcat. I can tell you that you are going to be using a chainsaw for delimbing even with hyd feed. I run mine with a 50hp jd and it is barely enough for anything over 4inches unless you control the feed speed. I did cut my chute back a bit. With cedar limbs it would plug at times. Taking about 8inches off really helped.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I have a densely wooded 13 acre parcel (about 7,000 trees). I did a fair amount of research on this before buying a chipper. The 9" Bearcat seems a little stout for pruning.

I bought a Wallenstein BX-42, they also make a BX-62 (4 and 6" respectively) with, or without hydraulic feed. I saw one without the hydraulic feed in action and decided I didn't need that option. After 20 or hours of use I am quite satisfied. It certainly is well built. I have had zero problems so far. I also use wood heat, so anything bigger than 3" is going to be burned. Bearcat and Salco makes equally good machines. I don't know anything about Valby.

I try to minimize using my chainsaw, but you sometimes have those stout branches at 90 Degrees to the branch that you are cutting, that require a chainsaw.

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Since you are in the Seattle area check out Issaquah Honda Kubota. Let them Demo what they have there. I am a big fan of my commercial Vermeer tow behind 6" chipper. It has the hydraulic feed which governs the motor to stop feeding for a moment if the RPM's drop.
As mentioned in other post even with a 6" or 9" opening branches that stick out at angles may still need to be sawed off.

 

[CharlieR]

I own a Salsco 8416, self contained chipper/trailer with the hydraulic auto feed system and am really happy with it.
I happen to live about one hour away from the factory but have only gone back for blade sharpening.
They are nice people to deal with and build very good products.

 

[GE222]

I looked at buying a used Vermeer 6". I was all set to buy one when a 6" Morbark unit became available. The Vermeer is a nice machine, but the Morbark 2060 cyclone has a feed opening that is about twice as wide with the same 6" capacity. I got the Morbark unit from a rental shop that used both brands. He said that both machines chewed up about the same, but people often got tree limbs stuck in the Vermeer, while the Morbark machine never had that issue. The Morbark has seems to be a stronger built unit as well.

With regard to the original post, my unit has a 25 hp Kohler twin. With auto hydraulic feed, it works pretty well up to around 4" limbs. It is rated for 6". I rarely put anything larger than 2" or so as larger wood goes for firewood.

I have several close friends who will cut up and remove wood for free to be used for firewood, which means that all I have to deal with is the heavy brush.

The Morbark unit is around 2200lbs so it can easily be moved with a pickup.

I originally wanted a larger unit, but I have to say that I am really happy with mine.

 

[ayelvington]

I have the Wallenstein BX-42 too, and I'm very happy with it. I have mine on a smaller tractor than yours, and it has chewed through 4" stock very well. It's from eastern Canada, so that may add some shipping charges.

One thing that I liked about the Wallenstein is that the steerable deflector chute is standard with their chippers; others consider a moveable deflector an option.

I don't think you would be disappointed.

 

[daveinnh]

We have a Salsco 627 XT - 6" capacity w/ hyd. feed mounted on our Kubota L4310HST. I wouldn't mount on a much smaller tractor though - 1,000 lbs. hanging 5ft. off the back of 3PTH is pretty heavy. Try one of the chippers on yours and drive thru the woods before purchasing.

The chipper works fine and the feed tray lifts easily. When shopping, I recall that the Wallenstein tray was verrry heavy (for transport mode) and the some-what higher tray angle (need to lift brush higher).

A neighor has a Valby that is well made, but he doesn't have hyd. feed and after blades get a liitle dull, he has to push brush in.

Regarding your woodlot, any chipper will clog when feed 100% dead logs and branches. You have to blend in any dead with green so the chipper can thru it out. Have your vendor demonstrate how to clean out. The Salsco is OK, Valby somewhat easier, but haven't tried others.


Above all, don't chip when after you become tired and wear safety glasses!!

 

[Dead Horse]

I have a valby dual stage that I run on the back of my Kubota 3710. It is an ANIMAL!

Set the feed art the4 rigt speed and it will pull anything in......beech tree limbs 4" plus... straight stock up to 8". turns it all into mulch......

great machine and easy to maintain. bsed on yout description og use you will get several lifetimes of use out of it.

Mine works like a rented mule.. is in my avatar picture...... here are som e more.

 

[Oldchuck]

Mine works like a rented mule.. is in my avatar picture.

Huh? Didn't know mules chewed up brush.

I have a Salsco with the hydro feed and run it off my L4400. Have not had it hesitate once it gets a bite. However it does not like crooked branches which tend to jam either in the hydro rollers or at the knives. Plugs up occasionally but not too badly. Probably about the same deal as any quality chipper. Don't really need the variable speed much but it can be useful.

My biggest issue is that the tractor waddles like a duck with that thing on the back. It carries the load okay but unbalances the tractor. Can't really use the tractor for anything else when it's on. That thing is heavy. Once you set the chipper on the ground it is fine.