Photos of a BCS BIO-100 Chipper?

[kavisiegel]

Hey guys,

My first post here. I bought a BCS 730 last year with some attachments and I'm quite happy with it. The chipper I bought was missing its chute, and I'm hoping anyone might be able to post some detailed photos so I can try and reconstruct one.

So the photos of the chute is the main reason I'm posting, but the chances are, in 3 years if anyone is searching for photos, this thread will come up.. so I might as well lead by example. Here's mine:

Here it is when I brought it home:


Took it apart to explore:




It, unfortunately, didn't match the drive type of my newer BCS tractor.. but no fear, the CNC lathe took care of that. It so turned out that the spline on the BCS snowblower is the same spline on the old mainline tractors. I was able to order the part from Earth Tools, along with a quick-connect setup that made making the adapter so much easier.





Here's a video of it running: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B9UOu0Url5NremxoU1pVNlp3cGs/view
I find it processes the green materials a lot quicker if you feed it wood and greens at the same time. The wood kind of pulverizes the greens. No I do not condone inserting one's hands into the chute.

 

[farmerboybill]

Very nicely done on that adapter! There's actually a part missing, but you did an bang-up job of making a replacement part.

The previous owner apparently hated the stock chute (for good reason), and mounted that little chute. While considerably less safe than the original chute, it should be much better for feeding sticks. If you don't feel safe using it, just extend the chute a little. The only reason the factory chute is so long is so a person doesn't put their hands in the blade. Unfortunately, it also makes the chipper almost useless at chipping limbs unless they're broomsticks, or considerable prep work is done to eliminate all bends, forks, and twigs.

 

[kavisiegel]

Very nicely done on that adapter! There's actually a part missing, but you did an bang-up job of making a replacement part.

The previous owner apparently hated the stock chute (for good reason), and mounted that little chute. While considerably less safe than the original chute, it should be much better for feeding sticks. If you don't feel safe using it, just extend the chute a little. The only reason the factory chute is so long is so a person doesn't put their hands in the blade. Unfortunately, it also makes the chipper almost useless at chipping limbs unless they're broomsticks, or considerable prep work is done to eliminate all bends, forks, and twigs.

Thank you! Which part am I missing? Hope it's not too critical. I do know that in the future I want to remove the 4 setscrews holding it on and instead use the slot in the original shaft casing/PTO hookup to give it some range of motion. It certainly would travel better across terrain!

Anyways, it's not so much the safety factor, but I miss the functionality of being able to shove an entire small limb with branches through the thing. With more of a chute, as I push it'll bend or snap the small twigs and leaves inward.. kinda a funnel effect. With the little box I got in there, I have to wrap my arms around it to get it through, or waste my time cutting off 47 twigs by hand. Particularly for spruce branches... ow, my scraped up arms.

Good to know that the stock one is a bit too much, though. Perhaps I'll build one at half length and a bit wider. I also have to get a slightly steeper angle on it too, the angle now is trying to cut across the grain rather than with it.

 

[farmerboybill]

You replaced it with your well-made adapter.



The feeding difficulties come from the size of the unit. There's really nothing you can do to increase the capacity of a BIO-100. If you put forth the effort to build a variable speed force-feeder, you could get better efficiency, but that would take considerable effort. I had one I used for many hours before I sold it out of capacity frustration. I now have a CONSIDERABLY bigger unit - a Valby 231 8 inch capacity hydraulic feed chipper for my 125hp John Deere 4430. Even it is too small for my needs at times.

When a manufacturer talks capacity, they're talking MAX capacity. Caravaggi ( one of the past manufacturers of BCS's BIO-100) is no different in that regard. The only way to get that capacity is to chip broomsticks or 2X4s - straight, brushless wood. You may as well half their specs to get what would be reasonable capacity. You'll notice in their propaganda video that they're chipping very straight, soft, green wood.

Now, the Caravaggi BIO-90 is a different story. It has 2.5" capacity, but has a 6 inch infeed. You need to exert self control when using it because you CAN put too-big branches into it, but it will take much brushier material than the 3" capacity BIO-100. If you're adventurous, you may be able to cut the infeed hole bigger on your BIO-100 and make a chute to match it. You'd be able to feed much brushier stuff, but you'd have to be very careful not to overfeed it with too-big branches. AND keep your hands out of it, too!

 

[UTCenturion]

Very nicely done on that adapter! There's actually a part missing, but you did an bang-up job of making a replacement part.

The previous owner apparently hated the stock chute (for good reason), and mounted that little chute. While considerably less safe than the original chute, it should be much better for feeding sticks. If you don't feel safe using it, just extend the chute a little. The only reason the factory chute is so long is so a person doesn't put their hands in the blade. Unfortunately, it also makes the chipper almost useless at chipping limbs unless they're broomsticks, or considerable prep work is done to eliminate all bends, forks, and twigs.

here here. i have a stand alone chipper i am trying to sell and i hate those funnels. I would remove mine it i wan't trying to sell it.

 

[CodeMonkey]

Hope these help you

 

[kavisiegel]

An update to this thread! I finally looked into just buying one and you know, for the price it was darn worth it. Under $80 for the chute and the brace, vs at least 10 hours of my time plus materials. I'm glad Joel at Earth Tools helped me out! My chipper is about 40 years old, and the brand new parts bolted right up with only one minor adjustment: I had to drill a hole next to an existing hole.