JohnInCA
Bronze Member
Mine is a belt drive arrangement without the slip clutch. Works great. I have no knowledge of the direct drive units. Even the 80hp, 13" capacity "monster" I've rented was a belt drive.
Chipper Chipper shredders (CS) revisited
- Thread starter patrickg
- Start date
- Views: 16612
Anonymous Poster
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 29,678
Haven't posted before, however, am an avid reader. I also went through the pros and cons of the various chipper options. I went with an 18 Hp DR stand alone from Country Home Products. It is on a trailer mount and being articulated allows me to move it easily through thick woods. The PTO versions were massive and unwieldy and were not as maneuverable. The 18 HP DR will handle anything up to 4.5 inches (maple and hickory are no problem). The biggest problem is getting out of the way when it starts to suck in a 15 foot long 4.5 inch branch. An additional positive is that it doesn't tie up the tractor. I normally place the FEL under the dischage chute and chip until it is full then move the mulch where I want it. A big plus is with periodic forced breaks, I can chip for a longer time without wearing out.
W (Mr. Carlson?),
Thanks so much for your post. No one else had anything nice to say about a stand alone. Have you used it much? About how many hours do you have on it? Is there a blower option for the output. Maybe I wouldn't need a blower, just do like you and catch chips in the FEL. Could then load a trailer or truck if it is too far to shuttle back and forth with the tractor. Any details would be appreciated, cost, waranty, ease of starting, and on and on...
Patrick
Thanks so much for your post. No one else had anything nice to say about a stand alone. Have you used it much? About how many hours do you have on it? Is there a blower option for the output. Maybe I wouldn't need a blower, just do like you and catch chips in the FEL. Could then load a trailer or truck if it is too far to shuttle back and forth with the tractor. Any details would be appreciated, cost, waranty, ease of starting, and on and on...
Patrick
Anonymous Poster
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 29,678
Patrick,
I, too, am trying to get out of the multiple small engine maintainence business, BUT...I didn't want to spend $5000+ if I didn't have to.
I bought the 10hp (B&S)Troybilt chipper/shredder--seems like $900. In about 25 machine-hours, I've chipped about 40 cubic feet (chip volume)of primarily Siberian Elm, as well as other species. I've shredded about 20 bales of old hay, and I don't know how many small branches(<1/2"). It feels like I'm half-way to sharpening the chipper blade. I'm at 6500 feet, and even with a 20%+ drop in HP, I've only bogged the engine a few times.
I have been really impressed with the performance--unlike that of the MTD models. Chips are still less than 1/4". You can get different screen sizes, but this size works well for me.
The downsides-only 3" capacity on the chipper, and you do have to move it after about 3/4 cubic ft of chips, but that little break is welcome.
I've been raking it into a pile, and then moving the C/S adjacent to the previous line(edge of the pile), loading it in the FEL, and going wherever.
When starting, there is a clutch handle, which frees the engine from the blades, so you only need to start the engine, and then release the handle to start the blades.
Warranty is 3yrs on C/S, and 2 yrs on engine.
I, too, am trying to get out of the multiple small engine maintainence business, BUT...I didn't want to spend $5000+ if I didn't have to.
I bought the 10hp (B&S)Troybilt chipper/shredder--seems like $900. In about 25 machine-hours, I've chipped about 40 cubic feet (chip volume)of primarily Siberian Elm, as well as other species. I've shredded about 20 bales of old hay, and I don't know how many small branches(<1/2"). It feels like I'm half-way to sharpening the chipper blade. I'm at 6500 feet, and even with a 20%+ drop in HP, I've only bogged the engine a few times.
I have been really impressed with the performance--unlike that of the MTD models. Chips are still less than 1/4". You can get different screen sizes, but this size works well for me.
The downsides-only 3" capacity on the chipper, and you do have to move it after about 3/4 cubic ft of chips, but that little break is welcome.
I've been raking it into a pile, and then moving the C/S adjacent to the previous line(edge of the pile), loading it in the FEL, and going wherever.
When starting, there is a clutch handle, which frees the engine from the blades, so you only need to start the engine, and then release the handle to start the blades.
Warranty is 3yrs on C/S, and 2 yrs on engine.
TomP
New member
Sorry--that was from me, but I did't sign in----bad dog, go to your room.
Anonymous Poster
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Sep 27, 2005
- Messages
- 29,678
Patrick,
I neglected to say it is an electric start. I have about 60 hours on it to date, with no problems at all. It does not have nor need a blower. All kinds of data available at www.countryhomeproducts.com. Great warranty, including thirty day free trial. I have been able to process and move up to 63 cubic feet of hickory and maple chips in a three hour period. Downside is that it gives you one more B&S gasoline engine to maintain. The ability to not tie up the tractor is critical to my usage.
Bill Carlson
I neglected to say it is an electric start. I have about 60 hours on it to date, with no problems at all. It does not have nor need a blower. All kinds of data available at www.countryhomeproducts.com. Great warranty, including thirty day free trial. I have been able to process and move up to 63 cubic feet of hickory and maple chips in a three hour period. Downside is that it gives you one more B&S gasoline engine to maintain. The ability to not tie up the tractor is critical to my usage.
Bill Carlson
pennwalk
Veteran Member
Patrick,
I had cut down 20-25 6" to 3" mulberries. My wife was cutting them in to chipper sizes pieces with loping shears and I was chipping them up and running the chain saw as needed. I can't say how many linear feet it was but it took around 4 hours with breaks and lunch. I sure wouldn't hire an old guy to do this kind of work. They work too slow
Chris
I had cut down 20-25 6" to 3" mulberries. My wife was cutting them in to chipper sizes pieces with loping shears and I was chipping them up and running the chain saw as needed. I can't say how many linear feet it was but it took around 4 hours with breaks and lunch. I sure wouldn't hire an old guy to do this kind of work. They work too slow
Chris
pennwalk
Veteran Member
Hayden,
The township guy was telling me about the chipper they use which will chip up to 17"!!! I don't need that. A little more tractor power would run the Bearcat better but it works like it is. I also have a Troybuilt 4 horse chipper/vac. What is hard to believe is that that little toy will actually do some work. Just right for the back yard. It works real well reducing the volume of leaves in the fall which we compost. Seems like you have to match the tool to the job.
Chris
The township guy was telling me about the chipper they use which will chip up to 17"!!! I don't need that. A little more tractor power would run the Bearcat better but it works like it is. I also have a Troybuilt 4 horse chipper/vac. What is hard to believe is that that little toy will actually do some work. Just right for the back yard. It works real well reducing the volume of leaves in the fall which we compost. Seems like you have to match the tool to the job.
Chris
WSchubert
Member
I purchased a used Techwood Williams (chinese import) chipper two years ago for $1200. Its PTO driven and has a mechanical feed. This unit will handle up to 6" logs and has worked out real well for me. It does require a bit of horsepower when running the bigger stuff. I have been running it on a tractor with 57hp at the PTO. I just got a Kioti DK45 with 38 hp at the PTO, but havent tried it on that tractor yet. From what I hear this company has gone out of buisness, but I have extra blades and the unit seems a very simple design if I need maintenance. There is no comparison between this unit and the stand-alone chippers I've tried if you have a lot of bigger stuff to chip.
