Chipper Can't get new chipper to work...

[Jason977]

A friend of mine bought a chipper that appears to be a Jinma/Clone and never took the time to set it up properly so I told him I'd get it working ,in exchange for using it, of course.

I have the pulleys aligned, set screws tightened, and anvil set 0.025" from the blade at the closest point. The blades are still practically new. Even after all this, the chipper will not cut up more than a couple inches at a time on its own. If the branch is long, I can push it very hard into the machine and it will feed a few more inches, but of course I'm uncomfortable doing this without a few feet sticking out of the machine. Otherwise, the feed roller simply spins on the branch.
I've tried adding additional down pressure to the feed roller, but that doesn't help. I wonder if the bark/ irregular shape of the branch is hanging up on the uneven surface at the bottom of the chute. Especially now that there's a 1/4" gap behind the anvil where I moved it towards the blades.

I've tried a variety of limbs, from 1" to 4", sweetgum, oak, pine, and yaupon, all freshly cut.

Anyone else have this problem? I was expecting great things from this machine, but after many hours of dickering with it, all I've got is a lot of frustration and about a gallon bucket full of chips.

Any ideas?

 

[moeh1]

Are you certain that the blades aren't in backwards. That might account for your troubles?

 

[Treemonkey1000]

I am not that familiar with that chipper. But it should be pulling in branches without you shoving them in. What do the chips look like coming out of the chute? They should be angled like a knife edge as the cutting blade comes around and slices them off against the anvil. Is there plenty of air coming out of the chute indicating the chips are being blown out. Can you see the flywheel spinning when branches are fed into the unit? Is the feed roller hydraullic powered? Make sure it is pulling in branches. Another thought is your PTO is engaged and up to Speed? How strong of a PTO do they say to use on that Chipper?

 

[Jason977]

I don't believe the blades are in backwards. The flat (widest) edge is against the limb being pushed in.

There's plenty air coming out, and as soon as it gets a bite and starts feeding it spits chips out immediately, but then stops feeding within seconds. The flywheel and feed roller (belt drive) are working properly, and all the belts are adjusted. The feed roller just spins on the limb. In fact, it digs in pretty well but still does not move the log without help. I've experimented with different PTO speeds, all with the same results. Horsepower has not been a problem, it never lugs the engine.

The first time I tried to use it without the anvil adjusted properly (~1/4" clearance) it would make a curved cut at the end of the branch, resulting in a narrow, uncut "flap" at the bottom. I thought this was my problem. This "flap" would push against the flywheel impeding forward motion, but the knives would only temporarily move it out of the way without the shearing function of the anvil. This no longer seems to be an issue, since the cut end is now smooth and square.

Perhaps my next step is to remove and inspect the knives, but they sure seem sharp. I know when I was adjusting the anvil, between the two did not seem like a happy place for my fingers to be.

 

[tatra805]

dont know anything about these chippers but...

can it be the feed roller is in backwards? (like 180 degrees turned, or left side right) If it has angled teeth to drive the wood it would not grab and only digg in under pressure.

wild gues

 

[Treemonkey1000]

Good call Tatra. That would make sense.

 

[LarryD]

Otherwise, the feed roller simply spins on the branch.

Jason, It sounds like you have the chipper set up well and it just will not pull in some of the branches or is it any branch?

I find many times that a branch 90º to the feed roller wiil cause it to just sit-n-spin and a little twist on the material causes it to start feeding again. It isn't so much of a problem for me but there are times when I turn to throw in more material and the last peice is still hangin' out there.

Maybe 3RRL will chime in about his feed roller and it's effectiveness. I believe he (maybe the misses?) took a grinder to the feed roller and sharpened the teeth along the axis of the roller. I thought that sounded like a good idea and if I get frustrated with mine at any point I will proably do the same.

 

[wedge40]

Just my 2 cents. First I'd check to make sure the tractor PTO is spinning clockwise as you look at it. (I think this is right, if not I'm sure I'll be corrected). Once you figure out that the PTO is spinning in the correct direction turn around and face the PTO on the chipper. It will spin counter clockwise. Now spin the chipper by had to get the fly wheel moving and look inside to make sure the knives are in correct. Like what has been said you can tell a lot by what the chips look like. If they are crushed pieces of wood, it's a good bet that the knife is on backward or the PTO is running backward. I've heard there are some tractors that the PTO does run backward. Some photos of the wood chips, tractor and chipper might help some here. Besides we love photos.

Wedge

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

I've heard there are some tractors that the PTO does run backward. Some photos of the wood chips, tractor and chipper might help some here. Besides we love photos.

Wedge

The PTO running counter clockwise was my first thought. But, if that was happening the feed drum would be running backwords also........ his post did not mention that ???


Your right, some pictures/video may help ??

Jason, Which Jinma clone do you have ??


Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

 

[kruszert]

I have a Jinma chipper with about 40 hours of chipping time - - - great chipper but if there was one thing I would change it is the feed roll teeth. In fact I did sharpen them slightly with a grinder to improve feeding. It takes very little to stop feeding a branch with the flat bars they have on the feed roller. the bars just spin on the bark and then just slowly scrape into the green wood. Usually turning the branch a little or lifting a fork off the end of the feed chute does the trick but it is not just put the branch in the feed roll and walk away to get the next branch. The high end machines have hydraulic feed systems that will pull in just about anything but then you pay a lot more.

Assuming all things are working correctly like rotating the correct direction, etc. I would suggest grinding the edges of the flat bars to get a better bite in the branch - - it did improve the feeding on my Jinma.

Reggie