Chipper

[tonylumps]

Need a chipper.Will my 1860 have enough power for some light work around the house Or should I go with a self powered unit. Really do not want to deal with another gas Engine. Then again do not want to over tax my 1860. Was looking at Mighty Mac PTO and gas powered. Thanks Tony

 

[RoyJackson]

Your Kubota has 18 gross engine HP, which means your PTO HP is probably around 15 HP. That's pretty low for a chipper and will definitely limit the size of material you can chip (I'm going to estimate 2"-3" diameter branches...at most). The weight of the chipper will also be a factor.
So, what kind of material (and how big) are you planning on chipping?

BTW, while you're looking around, check out the DR chippers. No personal experience, but they're pretty light weight.

 

[oldballs]

I went with the MacKissic Mighty Mac free standing gasoline unit even though I own a BX2660. My reasons were/are...1. It can be towed by any vehicle around town to help my kids and relatives around their homes. 2. It can be set up in tight quarters to put the machine where the work is. I'm not commercial but have used it quite a lot in the past 3 years. If I remember right, this is their smallest unit that is road towable; thus it was the least expensive allthough the PTO unit of comparable capacity is cheaper since there is no engine. So far it has been trouble free with my penchant for maintenance. Around my 3 acres I tow it with my Case 448 (garden tractor) to where I want it set up then disconnect to give me the room to work. Hope this helps. Mike P.S. Actually the "shredding" aspect of the machine is probably used more than the "chipping". Over three inches, I burn it.

 

[BeezFun]

Unless you need it constantly, I'd rent one. The rental units are big enough to swallow a tree, they get the job done fast. Whatever you get be careful, these things are an accident waiting to happen.

 

[Jeff F.]

I use a PTO driven DR chipper on my BX2660 with out any problems. I normally only chip branches about 2.5 inch diameter or smaller. 3 inch diameter is usually firewood. I do not recall the recommended HP for it.

 

[tonylumps]

I just found a used like New Mighty Mac Gas powered with the 4 wheels ,10 horse power Retails for 1700.00 asking 975.00. I just don't like draining the carbs on them everytime I put the gas powered Equip. away for any length of time. With this corn gas you have to do it more often I have 2 motorcycles,snowblower, Leaf blower, Power washer, Generator What is 1 more gas engine gonna hurt I guess . Like I said don't want to hurt my tractor.Thanks Tony

 

[tractchores]

Need a chipper.Will my 1860 have enough power for some light work around the house Or should I go with a self powered unit. Really do not want to deal with another gas Engine. Then again do not want to over tax my 1860. Was looking at Mighty Mac PTO and gas powered. Thanks Tony

You'll be somewhat capacity limited by the low HP. You'll be in the lower end for some of the wallenstein chippers, and could probably still get some good work done with one. Check out youtube for some videos of them running on smaller tractors to get an idea... I've got a BX42 on my tractor and the heavy flywheel helps to keep it going through bigger stuff. I would check out the BX32 for your size tractor. The chipper openings on the wallensteins are much bigger (mine's 4" x 10"), which makes it behave like a much larger unit and helps with branchy stuff.

 

[dennisgw]

I have BX2200 (17 PTO hp) with a Wallenstein BX42. I like the heavy flywheel with 4 cutting knives (vs their BX32). Yes, I am on the low end of hp but have not encountered any problems. Should not be a problem for "light work". I usually stop chipping beyond 3 1/2" as I consider that firewood already. But $$ for infrequent, light use? Rental might be more cost effective.

 

[RoyJackson]

I just found a used like New Mighty Mac Gas powered with the 4 wheels ,10 horse power Retails for 1700.00 asking 975.00. I just don't like draining the carbs on them everytime I put the gas powered Equip. away for any length of time. With this corn gas you have to do it more often I have 2 motorcycles,snowblower, Leaf blower, Power washer, Generator What is 1 more gas engine gonna hurt I guess . Like I said don't want to hurt my tractor.Thanks Tony

Well, owning equipment entails maintenance of that equipment...that's the trade off.
That gas powered chipper sounds pretty good...I wouldn't hesitate too long if you're considering buying it. Good chippers sell fast.

 

[jeff9366]

I have a highly satisfactory Wallenstein PTO driven BX42s chipper driven by a Kubota B3300SU // 33-hp // 25-hp PTO tractor. B3300 tractor is an increment larger than yours and Wallenstein BX42s chipper would be too large for your tractor.

Wallenstein makes their model BX32 for your size tractor. This is Wallenstein's smallest PTO drive chipper and the only one which has a V-belt, which is used to increase the drive speed of the rotor on the BX32.

Wallenstein Canadian manufactured chippers are more money than a DR chipper but they are much heavier duty. BX32 weighs 320 pounds. Chipping is heavy work. You want the heaviest duty implement you can afford to avoid frustration.

I bought my BX42s new, via eBay, from Iowa Farm Equipment. Iowa Farm Equipment has direct comparison of Wallenstein chippers to DR chippers on their web page.

I consider DR stuff in the "home use" category. A little delicate for my taste....although DR sells a lot of units in many categories.

One last comment: Wallenstein PTO chippers personify the KISS PRINCIPLE. Keep It Simple, Stupid. Do you want to maintain a GAS engine on a stand along chipper? Torque on a gas engine is NOTHING compared to torque on a diesel tractor engine. And torque is what turns your PTO...and chipper rotor.

 

[PeterK]

I use a PTO driven DR chipper on my BX2660 with out any problems. I normally only chip branches about 2.5 inch diameter or smaller. 3 inch diameter is usually firewood. I do not recall the recommended HP for it.

I had an 18hp DR tow behind before getting my BX24. That sold and I now have a DR rapid feed PTO chipper. I chip as large as the opening will take (4-1/2") sometimes. Green pine no problem but large dry wood will slow down the engine a little but never bog it down. As everyone already commented, I too burn all hardwood over a couple inches so it fits my use well.

I've owned several DR products over the years and the all are very well engineered and built and they stand behind their products.

nfi but real happy with mine. It's not large volume commercial use but that's not what I am using it for and it works very well IMO.

 

[Iowachild]

I run a Wallenstein BX-42 on my B2320, I believe 19 PTO HP, and have chipped hemlock right up to the max of 4" with no problem.:thumbsup:

 

[bota23]

I'm running a Wallenstein BX42 on my Kubot 2360 and have had absolutely no problems with over working the Kubota. I chip up to 4" material with it. Purchased it at Woodward Crossings near State College and saved shipping cost by driving there with a utility trailer. Very good people to deal with. Look at their web site.

 

[AStanton]

If you ever move up to a B series, your pto chipper might look like this:

 

[newbury]

For those of you running chippers what's the size of the chip?
For a GEK gasification unit the particle size needs to be between 0.5-1.5 inches (13-38mm) at length.
GEK Wiki / Biomass Feed Stock Preparation
Are your chips in that size range?

 

[tractchores]

For those of you running chippers what's the size of the chip?
For a GEK gasification unit the particle size needs to be between 0.5-1.5 inches (13-38mm) at length.
GEK Wiki / Biomass Feed Stock Preparation
Are your chips in that size range?

Mine tend to be in that size depending on the material. The biggest chips would be 1 - 1.5 if you're putting through dry hardwood at max size. The chips are very uniform, which is nice and I find they're very usable.

 

[wrooster]

Torque on a gas engine is NOTHING compared to torque on a diesel tractor engine. And torque is what turns your PTO...and chipper rotor.

I dispute your assertion that "Torque on a gas engine is NOTHING compared to torque on a diesel tractor engine."

The OP has a BX. This is a clue.

Prove me wrong using the OP's D722-E3B diesel engine and a comparable power (or displacement) gasoline engine as examples.

Wrooster

 

[CHDinCT]

Well, looks like the OP made his decision, but I've owned a DR PTO chipper and now a Wallenstein BX42s. Ran the DR behind my old BX1860 as well as my current BX25. Loaned the DR to my BIL last summer and he loved it so much he bought it from me, so that's when I got the BX42s (ordered it from Woodward Crossings last year just before hurricane Irene - was a good call :thumbsup.

Anyway, the DR holds its own against the Wallenstein better than you might think. Both do a good job, though the DR is a little better suited to smaller material whereas the Wally handles the larger material better. The Wally will plug with smaller stuff much easier than the DR while it will self feed the larger material better than the DR. As someone I think mentioned, the DR uses a belt and flyweel to increase the speed of it's smaller size rotor compared to the Wallenstein, so it's a better mach to the smaller hp BX1860. The Wally is direct drive and runs at straight PTO speed. I don't like to run my BX25 at full RPM (more like 2500-2600 for chipping) so I never make the full 540 PTO speed spec'd for the Wallenstein. Still, it has handled material up to the 4" max without stalling my BX25 so far.

As you can see in the pic's the DR is much less substantial than the Wally and weighs maybe half what the BX42 does, yet as stated, it held it's own fairly well for me. I believe they now offer an optional top discharge chute, though one that does not rotate. I was able to store the DR in my shed on a wheeled dolly; the BX42 is too large and stays on a pallet outside under a tarp (hate to leave it out, but no option right now to do otherwise).

Anyway, hope some of that helps anyone looking at these two chippers.

 

[tonylumps]

Well the guy never did get back to me with the Mighty Mac. So I called my dealer and he sells Mighty Mac. He said the Model TPH-122 is a good Chipper for the 1860 He will mount and cut the shaft for me. A little more than I wanted to spend but They are close buy and good people to deal with In case I have any problems Thanks For your help I will follow up when get to use it. Now how do I explain it to the Boss.Tony

 

[CHDinCT]

Sounds good. I like that the TPH-122 has a shredder too. The twiggy stuff should get mulched better going through the shredder. I find the twiggy ends of branches, even if they are 1"+ at the base, end up coming out like long toothpics vs chips when going through either my old DR chipper or my new Wallenstein. Let us know how it works for you.

As far as the Boss goes, you know the old saying, better to ask for forgiveness than permission.