Chipper Anybody using a Liberty Chipper?

[benmaser]

Well, I finally figured out the problem with plugging of my chipper. At the end of the shoot there is a black hood that was loose and lying almost all the way down. Was not allowing chips to easily exit and they would back up in the chute. I now prop the hood up and have had hours of plug free chipping. I have to say that with that problem fixed, and after a LONG wait for the machine, it does work quite well and i am happy with it.

 

[DavisHollow]

The only good cedar is dead cedar.

 

[buckeye4life]

I just bought a Liberty. Haven't used it yet. The purchase experience was BAD. Ordered Jan 4, told i would have it by the end of January. Just got it April 10. Was charged in full on the day i purchased it. Was told I would be called when it shipped. I had to call to get any answers. Told 3 different arrival times and had to have staff waiting all 3 times which cost me $. Was told i would be upgraded to the 8 inch because of all the screw ups. Shipping label said they were sending a 6 inch, but Alex, the general manager, assured me an 8 inch was on the way. Haven't been out to my property to see it yet, but if it is a 6 inch, i will be pissed. Will repost when i see how it works. Overall, they get a 1 out of 5 on customer service so far. if the chipper is a 3 of 4 out of 5, i'll be happy. If not, i will not...

Liberty really needs to work on customer experience. As it stands, it sucks.

I'm experiencing same issue. I purchased a backhoe and chipper back in mid March and didn't receive hoe till a couple weeks ago after being told it had been shipped several times when it had not. The chipper delivery keeps getting postponed. Now they are not expecting a delivery to their facility till early June. As another person said, A good deal is not such a good deal if you don't receive the product. What's worse, is they require full payment at time of ordering. Anyway, I have been given another 2 years added to the warranty of the hoe and later to the chipper and a $75 credit ( have yet to receive ) due to delay of shipment of the chipper. By the way, the hoe works great. In case you are interested in going with Liberty, keep in mind that they are backordering and you may not receive the item when you are execpecting.

 

[reprosser]

Has anyone replaced the blades on the 8" Liberty Chipper before. My blades are dull, and I want to rotate to the sharp side, but getting to the bolts to remove the blades is difficult.

Manual says to remove the inspection plate on the side opposite from the cute - and I can see the nuts on the blades, but 1 of the 4 nuts is still inside the unit, so I cannot use a socket to loosen. It seems very awkward trying to reach around thru the chute with an allen wrench to hold the head of the bolt while loosening the nut with a socket for the 3 bolts I could reach. Not sure how I am going to get to the 4th bolt without further dis-assembly of the unit.

My chipper has worked pretty well, but I have broken the linkage between the feeder and gear box multiple times (once my wife dumped the clutch with high PTO rpm, so that was not the fault of the chipper). Replacing the linkage was not too difficult, but it seems to be a weak spot on the machine.

Replacing the belt from the flywheel to the gearbox required removal of the gear box because the pulley wheel is located very close to the chassis and you can't slip the belt between them.

One complaint I do have is that most of the bolts don't have lock washers, so they tend to loosen and fall off. I need to get an assortment of lock washer sizes and add them all around.

 

[moot]

Has anyone replaced the blades on the 8" Liberty Chipper before. My blades are dull, and I want to rotate to the sharp side, but getting to the bolts to remove the blades is difficult.

Manual says to remove the inspection plate on the side opposite from the cute - and I can see the nuts on the blades, but 1 of the 4 nuts is still inside the unit, so I cannot use a socket to loosen. It seems very awkward trying to reach around thru the chute with an allen wrench to hold the head of the bolt while loosening the nut with a socket for the 3 bolts I could reach. Not sure how I am going to get to the 4th bolt without further dis-assembly of the unit.

My chipper has worked pretty well, but I have broken the linkage between the feeder and gear box multiple times (once my wife dumped the clutch with high PTO rpm, so that was not the fault of the chipper). Replacing the linkage was not too difficult, but it seems to be a weak spot on the machine.

Replacing the belt from the flywheel to the gearbox required removal of the gear box because the pulley wheel is located very close to the chassis and you can't slip the belt between them.

One complaint I do have is that most of the bolts don't have lock washers, so they tend to loosen and fall off. I need to get an assortment of lock washer sizes and add them all around.

Sure I'm a little late but... see my posts:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-liberty-chipper-post1496770.html#post1496770
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-liberty-chipper-post1504464.html#post1504464
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...-liberty-chipper-post1509892.html#post1509892

But to my update on the Liberty Implements WC-8A (I unfortunately bought):
The welds on the bottom access door broke and the door fell inside the chipper! Darn bad design. Here are pictures of the result.

As you can see in the picture of the bottom door, it was folded in half and stuck in the chute. The fins from the flywheel where ejected through the chute... except the whole one... that stayed inside
I have tried for three days to get a parts list and availability of a new flywheel... no results... either parts people where not available, out on service call, etc...
I would not recommend anyone even considering Liberty Implements... or whatever they call themselves... BUYER BEWARE!

So, anyone know where I may be able to find a flywheel that will work as a replacement? Anybody know what it may cost... or should I just resign myself to having <$50 of scrap iron...

Learned a lot about chippers and what to look for when I buy a new one...

 

[DeeDubya]

They went to a 4-blade flywheel on some of the 8" chippers. I imagine they cut a little smoother than the 2-blade like mine. I haven't used mine in 2 years. No telling what will come apart. I'll probably have to replace belts.

 

[moot]

They went to a 4-blade flywheel on some of the 8" chippers. I imagine they cut a little smoother than the 2-blade like mine. I haven't used mine in 2 years. No telling what will come apart. I'll probably have to replace belts.

I'm getting ready to order from Affordable Tractor Sales. Can you tell me where I can get more info on price and availability? and if it would fit the Liberty WC-8A?

I'm searching, but have not found anything else yet... and Liberty still has not returned my calls...

 

[DeeDubya]

I'm getting ready to order from Affordable Tractor Sales. Can you tell me where I can get more info on price and availability? and if it would fit the Liberty WC-8A?

I'm searching, but have not found anything else yet... and Liberty still has not returned my calls...

It seems that Liberty should be able to give you some direction finding a dealer. High Quality Chippers & Implements

 

[moot]

Update on repair... I was finally able to get the blades off the flywheel.
I broke two hex sockets (Husky from Home Depot... got them replaced for free... HD said I had to go direct to Husky, but when I called Husky they said HD sold do exchange).
I was able to brake the threads free by drilling a spot on the bolt head and used a punch and 2lb sledge hammer.

 

[moot]

It seems that Liberty should be able to give you some direction finding a dealer. High Quality Chippers & Implements

One would think... Well I just ordered the flywheel from Affordable Tractor... Liberty lost the sale... guess they are just to fat to care...
Well I hope this works out... I'll report back when I get the flywheel and get it installed... probably 10+ days...