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.