Chipper pto driven wood chippers

[KenB2920]

We'll have to disagree on that one. After using my manual feed chipper for over 10 years I can't see the point in power feed for homeowner use. For professionals with heavy usage, sure. But not for occasional use. It's not needed in my view, costs more, and provides more moving parts to fail.

Lol, I guess we differ in opinion. Just thinking of tens years of use how much it would save my body is worth a few hundred bucks in itself.

Maybe your occasional use and mine would be different. Plus, I WOULD take it to some jobs.

Couple hundred bucks for time saved and ease of use, No brainer ....

 

[bob11x]

Eric - I cannot wait for your review of the 9900. They look like a winner but I would like some real world input. Please let us know!!

 

[KenB2920]

Eric - I cannot wait for your review of the 9900. They look like a winner but I would like some real world input. Please let us know!!

I am very curious too!!! Seems like a sweet machine

Comparing the WM-8h to 9900

10pound more overall
20 pound heavier flywheel
1.75" bigger intake wheel
1" bigger throat

.... Board feet is the same 0-75' per minute
Requires 6 more hp minimum to run

$2k more in price. Some parts are bigger on spec sheet but overall only weights 10 more pounds why to me would mean they cut somewhere else? I can't imagine this.

Either way they both look sweet. Anyone know how many hours these are rated for?

 

[5030]

I guess what works for you will,... work. It's not the feed rate, but the flywheel. My thinking is wouldn't it be more efficient to use inertia to your benefit at 540 than to sacrifice some to straight power? Kind of like jump starting a car with a dead battery, you let the "business end" do the work (charged battery / flywheel) than relying too much on the transfer of power ((cables / PTO shaft). I'm no engineer and I could be way off but it's what I understand how the chipper functions.

The first time, I engaged my electronic pto at higher revs and I erred. Second was revving it up too quickly. Of course, it makes no sense to shock it. Like you, I engage at the slowest engine speed and rev it up slowly.

Lets see, I would presume you have 35 horses and probably about 45 pounds feet of torque (which is really what imparts the driving force to the flywheel. I have 90 ponies and about 210 pounds feet of driving force so no need in running at 540 pro speed and wasting diesel when around 300 rpm pto is plenty for air flow and ejection. Now if I stuff in an 8" diameter log, I'll bump it up to 540 just for the mass factor but then my knives are always razor sharp and ground at the proper angle too. Sharp knives and grind angle are what counts, not flywheel rpm, so long as there is sufficient rpm for air movement and chip ejection.

 

[Gordon Gould]

We'll have to disagree on that one. After using my manual feed chipper for over 10 years I can't see the point in power feed for homeowner use. For professionals with heavy usage, sure. But not for occasional use. It's not needed in my view, costs more, and provides more moving parts to fail.

I have to agree with Terry on this. I also have a Bear Cat with a blower. It is manual feed but it actually feeds itself. Put in the branches, logs, or whatever and they get pulled right in as long as it will fit in the shute. Sure, something like a whole Christmas tree needs a little help because you have to force it into the shute if you don't just go down the truck with a chain saw.

gg

 

[CalG]

I run he chipper off the 1000 rpm PTO and throtte back. full tractor HP into this garden chipper would/could tear things up.

Completely aggressive self feeding on large solid stuff, and less so as the knives and counter knife loose their crispness.
Anyone who "always has razor sharp knives" either isn't working the machine much, or sharpens for a hobby. I get no more than 20 hours before the edges go dull. For a garden chipper, that's a lot of time

 

[KenB2920]

I have to agree with Terry on this. I also have a Bear Cat with a blower. It is manual feed but it actually feeds itself. Put in the branches, logs, or whatever and they get pulled right in as long as it will fit in the shute. Sure, something like a whole Christmas tree needs a little help because you have to force it into the shute if you don't just go down the truck with a chain saw. gg

Well, I guess that's why we get to disagree. This guy won't be using manual feed.. Lol

It's to the fire pit for now or if needed again it will be hydro all the way.

I had a small stand alone years ago ... Had it for real occasional use and it was fine but knowing what I know now, it was a joke using anything of the sort. Maybe I'm just more than an occasional user.





Fire or hydro for me.

 

[5030]

I run he chipper off the 1000 rpm PTO and throtte back. full tractor HP into this garden chipper would/could tear things up.

Completely aggressive self feeding on large solid stuff, and less so as the knives and counter knife loose their crispness.
Anyone who "always has razor sharp knives" either isn't working the machine much, or sharpens for a hobby. I get no more than 20 hours before the edges go dull. For a garden chipper, that's a lot of time

I guess I do then . I have 3 sets. One in the machine and 2 sharp to go in the machine. I just happen to have the surface grinder and angled jig so running knives is pretty quick and if they don't get all beat up, about 3 passes on each restores the edge. I do all the local tree companies as well. Morebark, Chipmore, Asplundh, CMC, you name it, if it has knives and it's commercial, we can run them. Nice little side business but it requires the proper equipment.

I don't do the little ones (other than my personal chipper).

I change mine out every fall btw.

 

[5030]

One thing thats never mention on this thread is hearing protection. You could go deaf from chipperitus......

 

[RoyJackson]

One thing thats never mention on this thread is hearing protection. You could go deaf from chipperitus......

Yes...hearing, eye, head and face protection are important. I wear forester's helmet when I'm operating the chipper. The mesh face shield has prevented few chunks from hitting me.