Making this decision is tough for me. I have a Kubota B2410 and love it. I've been researching PTO Chippers for a while now. I've narrowed it down "I think" to the Wallenstein BX42 or the Bearcat CH5540. Main problem is that I can't actually see one anywhere around where I live. Does anyone have experience with "both" these machines. I think I like the Bearcat having belts but the Wallenstein has a big following, is a little smaller and folds up kind of for storing. Bearcat is more money but well built. I don't want hydraulic feed. Well let's here the pro's and cons of each. I should have bought an Asplundh Chipper when I worked at the factory for 20 years!!
Another PTO Chipper Thread!
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TractorTidy
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I have a Wallenstein BX42 and also sell them. Very fine chipper. Anytime you have a direct drive over belts, you're better off. Less to go wrong, less to replace.
Go w/ the Wallenstein.
Go w/ the Wallenstein.
Red Horse
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My 2 cents- I looked for used and ended up with a Valby 150. I think specs say 25 to 50 PTO HP. My son has a 2520 however with I think a little less than 25 PTO HP and he borrowed it and had no problem blowing through 3" stuff. the key I think is flywheel weight- On a Valby it weighs 210 pds. IMO whatever you buy, compare the respective flywheel weights. "Mass in Motion" works wonders! Also, a discharge chute vs. dropping straight down is another big advantage.
tractchores
Veteran Member
I have the wallenstein bx42 on a b2920 and so far have chipped about 20 hours with it in the last few months. Its been awesome. I did look at the bearcat, but passed because the discharge shoot was extra and made it very pricey. I also liked the opening on the wallenstein. Its. 4 x 10 opening so you can fit branchy material with no probkem and if you line up the forks with the wide portion the force of the blades sucks stuff right through. I've not had to really trim anything and a push with proper alignment is enough even for hardwood branches. Ive chipped mostly hardwood branches, trees and have run through a good amount of pine and fir. Clogs haven't been an issue and though its not the hydro unit it will self feed a whole tree at a decent clip. The only time i push is if there are branches that need to be bent to fit. The design is nice with easy access to the blades via a single bolt and its super simple with no belts or anything fancy to worry about. Having bought use another observation is that they sell VERY quick and don't go down much in price.
Thanks for the info! I've been leaning towards the Wallenstein but I sure would like to see one before jumping. My local Dealer in Doylestown Pa, Histands Supply told me he would call his Wallenstein Rep and see if he had a demo unit he could bring to their shop. I don't know if that will work but it sure would be nice....especially if it's orange! Another question I have for you fellows that have the BX42. Do you know how much it sticks out the back when connected to the tractor but with the feed table folded? Say from the swingarm mounts back? I'm trying to make sure it will fit into my garage mounted. It appears from pictures that folding the feedtable really shortens it up. I hope so. Thanks
tractchores
Veteran Member
I believe its around 31" long behind the 3 pt mounting pins. Heres a tgread about the dolly i built for mine, it has some dimensions and pics of it on the tractor. http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/236156-wallenstein-bx42-chipper-dolly-build.html
Sadly i didn't get tbe orange one because i bought it lightly used to save some $$.
Sadly i didn't get tbe orange one because i bought it lightly used to save some $$.
Not Retired Yet
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I've got a bx42 hooked to a ck27hst. I've got 20.5hp @ pto and it goes through anything I can fit in it. It's very simple design and VERY worth it I think.
That dolly looks good. I was thinking I would build something like it to be able to move the chipper out of the way when I have the BH on the machine. I built on for my BH and that works great. I will give my Dealer another call this morning and see if he contacted the Rep yet. If that doesn't work out I am really considering just having him order one for me. I could order one on line but not sure how I would get it off the delivery truck. I'll have to see what price my Dealer gives me. Thanks for the help! I'll let you know what develops
tractchores
Veteran Member
The dolly has been amazingly helpful. I made one for my BH as well (there's a thread on that too here somewhere). It makes hooking it up very easy because i can just wheel it into place and move it around to hook up the arms and pto shaft. For example yesterday because of the type of work I was doing I took the chipper off chipped, towed a boat with the tractor, put the chipper on chipped for 15 minutes, took it off again and switched to the BH and then put it on again. All of this in a span of about 3 hours. The hook / unhook part took a minute or too and being able to wheel the BH and chipper into place really cuts down on the time and difficulty.
For HP I can't comment other than you are still within the rating. I got the higher HP specifically because I knew I'd be chipping and maybe for a generator someday. I haven't found that anything slows the RPMS down (very heavy cutting wheel on the wallenstein helps with that). The only time I've been able to slow the RPM is if I put in a super hard piece of wood that's bigger than I should be attempting and half the time it'll jam in the intake shoot and I'd have to pry it out with a crowbar (I've stopped doing that). I think you'll be fine with that HP for most types of chipping based on the reading I did when I bought mine. Your best bet may be to search and ask around to see if someone with the same tractor has one. There's a ton of Kubota BX users with the wallenstein so you can find youtube videos and plenty of posts.
RoyJackson
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You'll run it, but you may not be able to chip stuff larger then 3" without the tractor bogging down. You may have to feed to slower for larger stuff.
But look at your alternatives...an 18 HP standalone (has it's own engine)chipper will cost you at least as much as a PTO chipper and have no more capacity.
Now, here's a guy running a BX24 (17.7 PTO HP) and a Wallenstein BX42:
[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GWdSaryxJI0[/ame]
Looks like he's doing pretty good...
Baby Grand
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I suspect as long as you get a direct drive chipper, HP won't be too much of an issue. I was really shocked that 4" hardwood didn't seem to pull the revs down at all with 26 PTO HP driving our Patu. Disk weight and an efficient chip removal system all help cut needed HP.
tractchores
Veteran Member
Very nice congrats! I have to say I'm jealous of your nice matching orange color. I got my bx42 used, so had to take what was available and it turned out to be JD green, which doesn't match my kubota orange very well!
