Chipper brush chippers

Anonymous Poster · Mar 23, 2003

Hi folks,
I posted over in the <font color="orange"> Kubota </font> operation forum about running a brush chipper off of a bx2200. Interested in hearing from owners about price, quality, and operation of units they have. The bx produces 16.7 PTO hp.
Any and all info would be appreciated.
Thanks,
DaveL
<font color="orange">Kubota bx2200, 54"mmm, fel, Woods 40" GTO tiller </font>

Steve_in_Ont · Mar 23, 2003

Dave - There are some nice PTO - powered brush chippers out there... but they certainly are expensive. It seems that the nicer small engine - powered units sure are more reasonably priced, and your tractor will still be free to do other jobs.

I currently have a 5hp MTD that I bought used for less than the value of the B&S motor. It's not great, but it gets the small jobs done.

Dahammer · Mar 23, 2003

16 hp should get you limbs around an inch or two chipped with no problem. I've used 65 hp chippers that are good around 4 or 5 inches and usually rent a 210HP Jdeere powered machine twice a year for the big stuff (up to 9 inch trees, whole). My 40HP tractor can do about 5 inches according to the dealer and Veemer. Figure on about 10hp per inch of diameter..or so I'm told. With 16 hp I would probably just get a small stand alone machine and not tie up my loader...If you are going to be chipping the small 1 to 2 inch stuff that should be fine..anything bigger and just rent or get another 30 PTO hp or so... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

Anonymous Poster · Mar 24, 2003

I have a 10 HP stand alone chipper/shredder (TroyBilt with a Sears label) that does a good job for me. Last spring I had a 55 foot pine and a 40 foot willow blow over in a storm. I chipped everything two inches and less. It will take up to three inches but I burn everything over two in my fireplace. As long as you are chipping green wood it will handle it almost as fast as you can feed it. Dry, dead wood is tough to chip and it dulls the blade faster.

John

jhgnag · Mar 25, 2003

I've been looking for a PTO chipper as well for about 6 months. Was hoping to pick up a reasonable used one. I purhased a used Bolens a couple weeks ago, but the dealer called & told me there were some problems with it and gave me my money back.

Settled on a standalone MacKissic Mighty Mac 12-PT. Set me back $1300, but it seems to be a nice unit. I ran it all weekend & I was pretty impressed. You need to balance how big you want to chip vs. what you are willing to spend. I think this is one of those tools that you can't buy too big. $1300 was way more than I wanted to spend, but I wanted something that I didn't want to trade in 6 months from now. They also make a PTO driven model PTH-122. Do not get the PTH-12 PTO version (older model, also sold by Northern Tool). The company told me that they are not really designed to run off a 540 PTO (the PTH-12). The new PTH-122 was updated to run off the 540 PTO.

Mine chips up to 3 1/2" which is about right for me. Much bigger & I'll burn it. Keep in mind that if you have a 3" piece with bends in it, it will be difficult if not impossible to feed it unless you cut it at the bend.

Funny the PTO model runs $1600, but the gas powered runs $1300. I wanted PTO, but I like this one just fine. I see the advantages both ways.

WCarlson · Mar 25, 2003

I am extremely happy with the trailerable electric start 18 HP DR chipper. It will handle hardwood to 4 inches. I looked at PTO driven, however chose the DR as the PTO chippers were too large to easily maneuver in the woods and I like being able to chip into the FEL bucket vice into the woods and then try to load a pile of chips. Chipping into the FEL also necessitated a break to empty the chips every half hour, or so, which was most welcome at my age. I consider maneuverability and the ability to use the tractor to spread chips a bucket at a time or for any other emergent task while chipping to be well worthwhile in my case. There is a thread on DR Chipper from April 2002 that went into a lot of detail.

Bill

Anonymous Poster · Mar 25, 2003

Thanks for all of the info!
I was surprised that PTO chippers aren't more common, but I guess you're right, its' one implement that is probably more usable as a seperate item. The wife even understands your logic. Maybe, if I try, I just may talk her into that bh! Will wonders never cease /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif!
Thanks again,
DaveL

Chipperman · Mar 26, 2003

Figure on about 10hp per inch of diameter..or so

DaveL:
as far as gravity feed chippers I would agree. But I would take issue with that in regard to power feed chippers.
A good PTO chipper will not only eat more material than the Troybilt, MTD, Bolens etc. but even more important you should get significantly longer blade life and in the long run the pto chipper will last longer (with out break downs). Your BX should be capable of runnig a four inch Valby or Bearcat gravity feed chipper. It would run a Salsco four inch power feed chipper (especialy if it had feed sensing) but would have dificulty lifting it. Do not get me wrong for some people the small (5-12hp) home chipper/shreder is great. And the Quality PTO chipper will definately cost more. You need to decide what you need to acomplish how fast your need to do it and what that is worth to you.
Good luck
Chipperman

rdbrumfield · Mar 26, 2003

I'm funning a bearcat that will handle up to 9 inches with selfcontained hyd feed. I realize that is a bit big for your hp, but the bearcat 3pt chipper line is a good bet if you do much.