BearCat Chipper/Shreader Any Good?

[Artisan]

I gave a refundable deposit. It is as good as mine. The deal is he is to deliver it :thumbsup:, we will hook it up and test it on the spot. If it has issues or is missing any parts I can get my deposit back, but, I do believe it will be all good. Him delivering is AWESOME. For me to load my tractor into the trailer and pull it all that way and work on it away from home and driving home is worth a LOT of time and effort and bucks to me. Fuel alone to go
and get it would be at least 100 bucks. Wear and tear on my rig, that
much again. Miss a day of potentail work, a possible thousand+ bucks.
Someone wants me to have this chipper...it is falling into my lap.

I have never hung a new, nor hooked up a 3 point hitch yet. I have a brand new one from Kubota in the box waiting for its first use...any words of wisdom for me before I do the deeds?

 

[RobertN]

- Don't get anywhere near the PTO unless the tractor is OFF
- Read the directions; you may have a standard 3pt or a deluxe(extending arms). It is not a guy thing to do, but sometimes it is worth doing
- Take your time the first few times thru
- Watch for pinch points.
- I like to keep a piece of 2x4 handy, to nudge things if necessary
- Start someplace level; it is MUCH easier to hook all this stuff up on a level surface. This is especially true if you ever remove your quick-attach loader...
- If you're near a dealer, stop by and ask for a demo
- Once everything is hooked up, double check everything
- Get some extra lynch pins; you're bound to lose one now and then.
- Start and stop the PTO at low RPM
- If you're not sure, ask here. When I started here, there were only a few users and sometimes it took days to get an answer; now it takes minutes most times

I have never hung a new, nor hooked up a 3 point hitch yet. I have a brand new one from Kubota in the box waiting for its first use...any words of wisdom for me before I do the deeds?

 

[jshwhite]

-
- Start someplace level; it is MUCH easier to hook all this stuff up on a level surface. This is especially true if you ever remove your quick-attach loader...

Level, and concrete. It's amazing how much easier it is on a smooth concrete surface - lets you slide the implement around a little.

 

[J_J]

Artisan

I have that same chipper and have had it for over 15 years.

It does an excellent job.

However I did have an accident with it due to the chips clogging the discharge grid which are about 1 in holes.

I had gloves on and thought I was safe brushing the outside of the deflector grid.

Apparently it grabbed my glove and pulled my finger in a bit and befor I could even think, it cut several slices in my finger. Did it ever hurt.

I now have the blower attachment on the chipper and it will throw the chips wherever you aim the chute.

It is down right now for a bearing replacement.

My Kubota has two speeds, and I use the 540 rpm, and have tried it at the 750 rpm, and it just seems to run faster.

I have also used it to spread pine straw, using a flex hose.

 

[Artisan]

J_J once again YOU DA MAN! HA!

So I called bearcat this morning and they tell me the 554 and the 70554
are the same machines. They ran out of numbers in production...

The 554 is from 1996. It originally came w/ triangular shaped blades.
Those are no longer available and a guy has to upgrade to the
rectangular style to the MSRP tune of $295.00.

J_J do you have triangular shapped blades or rectangular?

Good Advice RobertN. Yes, it amazes me that many a man will shut machines
off at full throttle. I ask them, "Would you shut your car off at full throttle?"
and usually a light will come on...

 

[J_J]

I believe mine are triangular, and possible serrated. Will double check later.

The blower is worth the money to put those chips where you want them.

I believe there are three different grates. lg = 3/4 in

This pic is from another TBN member.

 

[Artisan]

I believe mine are triangular, and possible serrated. Will double check later.

The blower is worth the money to put those chips where you want them.

I believe there are three different grates. lg = 3/4 in

This pic is from another TBN member.

Those are triangular. The way i understand it, you have to upgrade if you
need to replace...

 

[J_J]

Rather than go to the expense of a total replacement, I would try to sharpen them or make some out of sickle bar blades.

One of the TBN members had a machinist make him up a set.

 

[J_J]

I found these. Perhaps could adapt.

 

[jake98]

I have never hung a new, nor hooked up a 3 point hitch yet. I have a brand new one from Kubota in the box waiting for its first use...any words of wisdom for me before I do the deeds?

Plan on spending twice as long as you would expect installing a BX 3 point hitch. If it's anything like the BX22, it's an oddball. Probably gets easier the more you do it, I only had the pleasure once.

 

[jshwhite]

I believe mine are triangular, and possible serrated. Will double check later.

The blower is worth the money to put those chips where you want them.

I believe there are three different grates. lg = 3/4 in

This pic is from another TBN member.

Just wanted to mention that these are not as they should be in this pic (I took it ). They should all be hanging and spin freely - these were rusted and this photo was before I got them all freed up. Also wanted that they are reversible, so they will last a long time.

I've also considered whether you could make some out of sickle bar blades...metal might be too hard though.

 

[J_J]

I think a plasma cutter could cut out the proper holes in a short time.

Yes, I already knew my blades swung freely.

 

[RobertN]

You would have to replace them all. Otherwise the balance would be totally off, and the thing would shake itself apart, damage the bearing, or both.

I've also considered whether you could make some out of sickle bar blades...metal might be too hard though.

 

[Artisan]

Well, it will be today or tomorrow I thunk when I meet up w/ the current
owner. I have looked and looked and looked and looked and looked and
looked and looked and looked and looked and looked I do not think this is
priced too high, providing, it is as represented. The seller said he had 2
different "companies" look at the unit and both said it was in great shape.
The seller does not own a tractor...they have never run it and yes,
condition of sale is I can hook it up and test it.

I hope the pictures are not hiding anything, I guess I will find out. It has
to be all good at that money. I priced the blades, the new style
rectangulars are $265 for the "kit", and the blower attachment is
$869.00, both are in stock. Not sure if I want either, just covering bases,
well, I am sure I would want the blower, I will have to check things out
first and make sure I really don't only need the lower business end and
fab my own tubes...

I need to find a U Tube of a 70554 or 554 or 73554 working properly to
see what "proper" is perhaps...well, sorta. Gosh I wish I were wealthy
and could just buy everything new....

 

[bigtiller]

It's been 5 days since the original post and it hasn't sold yet. I am beginning to think there is something wrong with the Bearcat. Good ones don't stay for sale this long.

 

[RoyJackson]

It's been 5 days since the original post and it hasn't sold yet. I am beginning to think there is something wrong with the Bearcat. Good ones don't stay for sale this long.

It may not even be advertised. IIRC (from a previous post), the chipper belongs to Artisan's (the OP) neighbor.

 

[Artisan]

I gave the guy a 100 buck refundable deposit pending me finishing a large
job, no time to do the deed. I just now got caught up, removed the BH
and threw on the 3PT hitch assembly, now I attempt to get ahold of him.
Thought I would check my thread again and here we go!

 

[Artisan]

Wow, these things are substancial pieces of machinery! So the gent
arrived and we got it unloaded and I could see the blades were rusted,
we strated to hook it up and found the PTO shaft was too long, pulled the
shaft and shortened it. The tractor keep dieing when I go to engage the
PTO. I gave it a lil more gas and gently eased into the PTO and she
started spinning. I Threw a few small limbs thru the top and shut it down
to look and see if the knives were all now free, and they were, so I lubed
them again.

I Started it again and I grabbed a 3.5" diameter piece of Green Mulberry
and put it in the lower chipper end and it just bounced around. The edges
of the blades are VERY dull. It did not perform. It was agreed that I will
bring the unit to a BearCat service center in the AM for opinion and see
what it will take to make her do her deeds w/o issue. Whatever that costs
comes off the top of the price of the unit...

I pulled off the shroud over the belts and the belts are good. Nothing
visually seems wrong anywhere. I did find that there are 2 PTO Set
Screw holes at the unit end of the PTO shaft, one screw hole is right over
the key and the key has a screw divot in it, and the other is missing a
set screw.

The guy seems to be up and up, he is a bit bummed it did not perform
and it is going to cost him a little, I will do what I can to keep it real,
I would have anyways but he is a vet. We'll be sure to do him right.

I am going to go take a few pics...

 

[Artisan]

Pics...Some left larger format..

 

[Artisan]

More pics...

I left the PTO Covers and the Shroud cover off on purpose...