Chipper Chinese Chipper Review

TonyC · Feb 9, 2004

You are correct there. There isn't much in it. It does have an exploded view drawing with part numbers and a parts list. That may or may not come in handy. There are virtually no assembly instructions. It basically says, "Step:1 - Assemble chipper". It would have taken me days to assemble it without the benefit of your web site. Thanks again!

I assembled mine yesterday. A few minor issues and observations. For some reason all of my bearings have only one zerk each where yours has two. I'm not sure why that is. I'd rather have the two.

Another issue is that the feed roller cross connect rod hits the frame when I go to disengage the feed roller. Does yours? From your photos it looks like it might.

Also, on the lift pins, when I assembled the unit I bolted in the bars with the lift pins so they were sticking all the way out which is the way it appeared to me in your photos. When I went to hook up, the drive shaft was too short. I ended up shoving them all the way back. The drive shaft is now connected and I ran it but I'm not so sure it has enough engagement. Did you have any issues with yours?

In any event I ran it some yesterday. It will eat up a bunch of wood in short order! I started out with an oak that was 4" Dia at the base and about 20 feet long. It gobbled the whole thing down like it was candy. They sure are fun to use!

DIYGuy · Feb 9, 2004

I'm not sure which rod you mean. There's the lever on top, the horizontal member that connects it to the lever to the lever that disengages the feed roller.

The roller itself uses 2 bolts in the side of the hopper as stops to prevent the roller from being lifted to high. The big heavy frame hits these bolts.

None of my mechanisms hit the frame however. A picture would really help.

My shaft and lift pins are set as far back as I could. Although it looks like there a lot of ajustability there, it's really pretty small. I had the advantage that the parts all had dents in the paint from factory assembly. Made it a little easier to put together.

Jinma assembles and tests everything 1st. Then those for export are disassembled and crated.

MajMac392 · Feb 11, 2004

Well I am curious about what you guys with the Jinma Chipper think about it after using it awhile. I know DIYguy thinks a lot of it and has written some good info for the rest of us to read. Did Ken4210 ever get his back together? He had some problems with that shaft/joint. Would you all buy one again? It seems like just a few people have written in about them so I wonder how many are out there being used.

NM_Mike · Feb 12, 2004

DIYGuy,

I read your new addition to your articles regarding knife changes. I haven't tried this yet, but if the bolts on the side of the hopper (the roller stops) are removed, the roller could be propped up even further which would allow a hand to be easily inserted from the side of the hopper and under the roller to undue the allen bolts. Instead of using a board to prop up the roller, I have been tying the roller bar to the roller stop controller bar while the roller is in the up position. Next time I have to change the knives I try this method and let you know.

MAJMAC392 - I have about 30 hours on the chipper and I am still impressed on it's functionality. The only issue that I had so far was the drive belt twisted on me. I make this up to not having it adjusted correctly. I am currently thinning 6 acres of pine, juniper, oak and scrub oak and couldn't imagine doing it without some sort of self-feed mechanism. For the money, I think this chipper is the "best buy".

thanks for all your help,
Mike

ken4210 · Feb 14, 2004

Majmac392 - I did get mine back together and functioning. Still don't know the exact cause of the problems with the drive joint other than what appeared to be an incorrectly installed retaining ring, and maybe to large of a tree inserted into the chipper. In any event after replacing the retaining ring with one better designed for the application, I haven't had any additional problems with the unit. But in all fairness I haven't been out trudgging through the snow to use it much lately. I would not discourage anyone from buying one of these Jinma 6 units. They work great, have realitively simple mechanics, and are a fraction of the cost of anything else I looked at.

GrayBeard · Feb 14, 2004

I'm going to look at one this weekend.
A person about 45mi away started to handle them and has 2 in stock.
He said he would assemble and adjust. Also he will take care of all warranty work.
We're still talking price but he may deliver.
After reading all the posts , is there anything in particular I should look for while "kickin the tires" on a new machine ?
GrayBeard

DIYGuy · Feb 14, 2004

You should be able to turn the machine by hand from the lower pulley on a properly adjusted unit.

Ask to pull the shroud on the roller drive mechanism and make sure that the release lever does indeed separate the square key from the drive roller shaft.

If this is set up properly, then they probably got it right.

They are simple machines. 6 bearings, 3 springs, 1 gear box, two ball and socket joints, 6 belts, 2 knives, and a PTO shaft.

GrayBeard · Feb 15, 2004

My tractor/loader is about 2500 lbs with 21 pto hp.
Do you think that would handle it ?
GrayBeard

DIYGuy · Feb 16, 2004

The implement wieghs ~850 lbs. It's always quoted as crated weight of ~900. The crate weighs ~50.

My tractor is about 3000# and if I'n not careful starting uphill, the front wheels will lift, even with 200 lbs of front wieghts.

As long as you can lift it, it'll work. Just be very careful moving it around.

TonyC · Feb 19, 2004

</font><font color="blueclass=small">( I'm not sure which rod you mean. There's the lever on top, the horizontal member that connects it to the lever to the lever that disengages the feed roller. )</font>

DIYGuy,

Sorry for the big delay in responding...been kinda busy. Here is the photo. Steel rod hits and is deflected by the red feeder bar over it's entire travel (when it is disengaged).