Chipper Purchased a Dr Chipper

[dillo99]

Just ordered a DR 3ph Chipper. I have been considering this for awhile. I have lots of shrubby trees and many trails that i want to improve with mulch - especially this year with all the rain! I thought about the Jimna Chipper - I know that many of you are very happy with it but it is a little large for my B7500.

Anyway, I'll let you all know how it works out. Can't wait to chip!!!!

 

[Slippy]

Probably a good choice for your tractor. Yes, let us know how you like it.

 

[Boondox]

I've had one for two years and have been happy with it overall. Had a defective belt snap and was disappointed with customer service when they told me it would be three weeks before I could get a replacement...when the manufacturer was three miles away from them! But the unit is pretty durable and all the fasteners are one of two sizes so maintenance is easy. And even customer service redeemed themselves last year when I upgraded my tractor and the PTO shaft wouldn't reach -- they swapped my short used shaft for a brand new long shaft at no charge!

The rated capacity is obviously for softwood. With my hardwood it can handle about 2 1/2 inch diameter...but of course anything bigger than that is firewood. And it also doesn't like angles in the wood you feed it, so use your chainsaw to cut branches at the bends. Be careful with bundles as it tends to grab; best to keep a stubby push stick handy.

Happy chipping! Pete

 

[RalphVa]

Boondox,

I'd find an industrial belt place and buy replacement belts there. I did this on my TroyBilt. Was getting them initially from the TroyBilt dealer. They lasted a couple uses. From the industrial belt place in town, they'd last the entire season.

Ralph

 

[Ledgemere Farm]

congrats on your purchase. I have been considering one also.

 

[Boondox]

Boondox,

I'd find an industrial belt place and buy replacement belts there. I did this on my TroyBilt. Was getting them initially from the TroyBilt dealer. They lasted a couple uses. From the industrial belt place in town, they'd last the entire season.

Ralph

That's is exactly where DR purchased theirs. My gripe, being a local, is that they didn't even know that. I had to track them down on the Internet. There are spares in my toolbox now, but I've never broken another one. Dumb luck!

 

[cisco]

There's lots of posts on chippers, including the DR. I've had a DR for 3 years, on a 29.5 pto hp L3410. It works fine, within reason. I'm not sure it'll take 4" in hard wood, but 2.5-3" is OK (provided there is adequate pto hp). Hand feeding can get tiring, but for non-commercial chipping for mulch one usually isn't spending all day, every day. Keeping the blade sharp, say with a change out every 10 hours, does help with speed of chipping, noise coming from the unit when chipping big stuff, and the size of the chips. Remember to clear chips as they pile up towards the chipper outlet, as any backpressure on that outlet causes the chipper to clog, and clearing it out can be a chore.

 

[dillo99]

Thanks guys - I appreciate all the advice...now I just have to wait for my toy to arrive.

 

[Slippy]

Lets us know how you like it, and remember, be careful, these things are dangerous.

 

[dillo99]

IT ARRIVED! 3 Business days and it was here - I am impressed.

So I picked it up at the shipping depot at around 4:30pm. Of course I had to immediately get it set up and even though it was dark I had to test her out so I did a little night chipping - awesome! I am gonna like this.

I already told my wife we aren't going to her sister's house for T-giving until I get a little chipping time.

 

[rico304]

Congrats on the new chipper! I have read many good things about the DR.
They wouldn't still be in business with their return policy if they weren't nice.

 

[jbrumberg]

dillo99:

Be careful with the chipper and with the wife- you might end up in your new chipper Jay

 

[LarryD]

Congrats on yoour new toy, it really does make disposing of limbs and brush easier.

After our big blow last week, I hitched up the chipper and in less than 2 hours, I had both my neighbors trees and mine all chipped up. Total was 4 big Firs, a couple Alders, and lots of branches. Just drove around and chipped em' where they lay.

 

[dillo99]

Okay....a quick review.

This thing works great - I am very impressed. My tractor is only 21hp and it did not even bog down at all. I ran some pretty big stuff through it too - some green and some brown - really no difference at all. I would guess that the biggest I ran through was 4" with no difficulty at all - but I am not chipping anything that hard. My woods are mostly maples and birch plus some scrub trees which is mostly what I am chipping. I did chip some red maple branches - no problem at all. The birch are a brown birch that is pretty hard - chipped with no problem.

The input chute is short and the inside opening seems to be fairly large so I did not have too much trouble with curved branches. You do need to make sure there are no Y's over say 4-5"s but other than that, it accepts wood pretty easily.

One issue with the hand fed chippers is the vibration on the hands. The DR. works pretty well with gravity especially with larger stuff - so you just need to hold it from falling out. The little stuff requires a little pressure and there is definitely hand vibration but nothing too bad.

I got the lower priced of the 3ph models...the one without the discharge chute. I just could not see the extra expense for that metal tube. Most of my chipping will be done right where I want to leave the chips - or I will use the loader to move them. I may attempt to add a custom chute - looks to me like it would be pretty easy to do.

The spread on the 3ph pins is smaller than normal - this would not fit my harbor freight quick hitch (yet. modifications will be made).

Ordering was a breeze and as I mentioned above, it arrived in just three business days which is very impressive. I did the shipping depot method (free right now) but they will also deliver to your driveway for $50 more. There was minor assembly required (Attaching the chutes plus drive shaft).

Below are some pictures. The one with the chips is showing chips from all brown wood - which it tends to chip a little smaller. The chips from green wood are a little larger.

I should also mention that the color is perfect too!!!

 

[Glowplug]

That's pretty sweet. That's a good sized log in the chute. Looks like that thing can definitely pull its own weight. Not too shabby for a small PTO chipper. I would love to get one. But the tractor I am looking at is 85hp with a Cat II hitch. Many of the PTO-driven chippers that I have looked at that are comparable to those specs are the big professional industrial things that cost in the neighborhood of $9,000. But I would be able to turn a whole forest into wood chips if I wanted.

Hey, post some action shots if you can!!
Have fun.
And remember. . .It's all fun and games until someone looses an arm!!

 

[Tom_H]

This thing works great - I am very impressed. My tractor is only 21hp and it did not even bog down at all.

Excellent. I have a BX2200: 22 hp, but 16.7 at the PTO. The MacKissick and Salsco are so much bigger and call for 15-45 hp at the PTO. I never did understand why the DR is smaller, yet calls for 19-45 hp at the PTO. That made me nervous. Your report made me decide to go for it. I ordered the less expensive model last weekend. Can't wait. (And you're right, $450 extra for that directional nozzle is nuts. I just couldn't justify that either.)

 

[dillo99]

(And you're right, $450 extra for that directional nozzle is nuts. I just couldn't justify that either.)

Tom,

I have an idea to create a directional nozzle...I will probably tackle it in the next few weeks and I will be sure to post it.

 

[mark4Jesus]

I have been looking the this chipper also. I have one of their trimmer mowers and it works great. I noticed your chainsaw holster on the ROPS, is that of your own making? Looks pretty handy!

 

[dillo99]

No I purchased that chain saw holder. You will find it here:

Mad Dog ATV Chainsaw Carrier

 

[Tom_H]

Well, mine arrived this week. Hope to assemble it and give her a test run this weekend if the weather holds. Will post a report as soon as I get a chance.