Normet CH222 Chipper

WoodChuckDad · Mar 29, 2019

I have been looking for a used PTO chipper for a while. I wanted something substantial and almost bought several units in the 5-6 inch range but I kept holding out hoping to find a 9 inch chipper like the Vermeer 906 or a Bandit 90. Long story short, a Normet CH222 popped up on Craigslist. a little research showed that this is a 9x12 throat hydraulic feed with a 500 lb flywheel. This was exactly what I was looking for. An older model. I really don't know how old but I would guess 15-20 years. Emails back and forth with the seller gave me some really good info and additional pictures. I took the day off from work so I could drive out there and check it out. I had never been to this part of Virginia and didn't realize how much mountain driving would be involved. It was 40 miles thru the mountains with a 1400 lb chipper in the trailer.

Normet is the parent group of Valby and Farmi. So this same chipper has Valby stickers on it and has also been marketed as a farmi CH222CF.

I'm really looking forward to getting out there with this beast and doing some Chipping. I plan to get at least 1 spare set of blades.

I had a great day and got to spend the day in the truck with my Daughter who has become my road trip partner when I buy stuff for the farm. The Farmer I met was also really nice and interesting. He has a very high tech maple syrup operation in Highland county VA.

s219 · Mar 29, 2019

That thing looks like a beast. I love Highland county -- used to drive through that area a lot. Monterey is a cool little town and there are a bunch of real small crossroad towns out there. You're not joking about the mountain driving out there -- some of those roads are crazy.

WoodChuckDad · Mar 30, 2019

Northeast Implement is their USA distributor and have all the user manuals online. I already printed out the user manual for the chipper and the hydraulic feed unit. According to the documentation i have the older style hydraulic feed. I have no idea what date range that puts it. The parts diagram also gives me the part number to search for new blades. The blades on it are in good shape but need sharpening. I will probably call them Monday and order a spare set of blades

WoodChuckDad · Apr 1, 2019

There is a some surface rust on the chipper. So far I have only found 2 spots where it looks like rust or wear are really an issue. First is the hinge on the flywheel casing. It has been repaired with a thick weld. Then there is some wear on the rearmost edge of the bottom of the feed shute. I think both of those can be fixed easily. I will eventually want to sand it down and paint it completely, but I don't have a barn yet, and pollen, dirt, rain, etc prevent me from a proper paint-job outside. I am going work on sanding it down in the rusted spots, priming, and applying some rattle can or brush on paint a a temporary fix, to try to stop the rust from progressing. A barn or at least an overhang are on our short list of things to get done up here but that does nothing for me today.

WoodChuckDad · Apr 1, 2019

Need help on color, The closest thing I have seen in the stores to match this is "caterpiller" yellow. Anyone have a suggestion of a better match or a place to look, I took home a couple rattle cans of New Holland yellow and sunburst yellow and John Deere yellow (didn't know there was such a thing).
I didn't even take the caps off the paint. they were obviously not a match.

Here is a picture in the sunshine.

s219 · Apr 1, 2019

That looks close to cat yellow, which is sort of a generic yellow that a lot of implement companies use. Tractor Supply's house brand implements are cat yellow, which may help if you can compare to one of those.

I haven't seen NH yellow or sunburst, but JD yellow is much lighter and brighter than cat yellow, and not even close. You'll see JD yellow on their wheels and mower decks.

AndyMA · Apr 1, 2019

I have the Valby version. Works great

Andy

WoodChuckDad · Apr 2, 2019

AndyMA said:
I have the Valby version. Works great

Andy

Where do you buy your replacement blades?

ericm979 · Apr 2, 2019

Baileys has Valby knives

Captain Dirty · Apr 2, 2019

WoodChuckDad said:
Need help on color, The closest thing I have seen in the stores to match this is "caterpiller" yellow. Anyone have a suggestion of a better match or a place to look, I took home a couple rattle cans of New Holland yellow and sunburst yellow and John Deere yellow (didn't know there was such a thing).
I didn't even take the caps off the paint. they were obviously not a match.

Here is a picture in the sunshine.View attachment 598392

The inside of the infeed chute is a high wear area and may require relatively frequent re-painting. You may be able to burnish the steel on the chute while you feed brush.

Whatever color the paint is/was, it definitely looks faded. You may never match it without the expense of custom mixing. In my view paint is to protect the metal, color is not that important to me, and it fades anyway. Rustoleum makes a "Farm and Implement" enamel in a rainbow of colors including a number of yellows. I bought mine at Home Depot. Good luck and good chipping.