Chipper for 8N

[lastcamp2]

I have a Troybilt chipper/shredder which works pretty well, but I think I need to move up to something that handles bigger stuff faster.

I have looked at chippers that will blow the chips up and into a trailer or truck bed, and which are 3-point mounted for the back of the N. They seem to fall into two categories: running from PTO or running from their own separate engine. Curiously, they cost about the same.

I am looking for advice from people who have experience with such chippers. PTO or separate engine? Who makes the better chippers?

 

[Sean Feeney]

With out sounding like a wise guy, the only people that have chippers in my area are the tree removal company's that get paid well to remove everything.
When I cut down trees for the stove, and its not worth burning for indoor heat. I burn in a brush pile when needed. just wondering why you chip it up?

 

[souNdguy]

In some cases, the chipper 'head' is the same.. with a different power scheme.

However.. i've never been satisfied with 'lawnmower' engine ran equipment.. you'r N can cick mid 20's hp out that pto.. very reliably.. and has good rotational mass to back it up... compair this to a small 20's hp lawnmower engine.. yeah.. the same ones you se ein lawn tractors that claim 20hp.. etc... the ones that 8" of tall grass chokes down and makes them stall... lawnmower engines are usually rated with unrealistically high test hp numbers achieved in a lab.. with no aux equipment ont he engine.. running higher rpm than the consumer would use, with different fuel mixes, and carb settings thant he consumer would use.. and then they clock it at the highest observed hp befor ethe machine explodes on the test bench.. they them mark that down as the hp of that engine.. compair that to your N's hp...

I'd go pto myself.. etc. ( you can always borrow a bigger tractor to run it on... not so with a lawnmower driven one.. )

soundguy

 

[GunPilot]

I have a 6" PTO Jinma-like chipper that works quite well on an N. I say "Jinma-like" because it is a modified version of the Jinma sold by someone else. The Jinma is Chinese, and has some well-documented problems that are not hard to fix. There are a few outfits out there that take a Jinma, fix the issues, and call it their own. That's what I have.

It has been working very well for me. It has a power feed which is a must have for the bigger stuff. I have chipped some pretty big stuf, admittedly not 6" because that's firewood to me.

It's rated for 25-45 hp tractors, and the 8N has no problem running it.

Do a google search for Jinma chipper and you'll find a bunch of info, including the problem fixes and where to buy the clones.

 

[Kenster]

(quoted from post at 09:21:30 08/07/08) just wondering why you chip it up?

Well... around here there seems to be a burn ban much of the time so a bonfire is kinda out of the question. Chipping, on the other hand, means mulch. I can use mulch in all the flower beds as well as on all our walking paths cut through the woods.

That said, I don't have a chipper of any sort and can't really justify the cost, especially for a big three point rig.

 

[Anonymous-0]

I have a wallenstein pto chipper built in Canada. It's a heavy duty model. I have mine on my 47m j.d. Just keep rpm wound up.

 

[D Squared]

I don't have a chipper and can't afford the one that I would buy. But It reminds me of the road widening project on my frontage several years ago. My contract stated that I got all the firewood. I went to work one day and returned to everything but one tree gone. The crew came out with this monster deisel chipper with a crane that fed it. They chipped everything under 9".

 

[Kenster]

When our local electric crews are out trimming and removing trees from their easements they always leave behind nice 18-24 inch logs neatly stacked along the fence or road. It's a shame to drive by months later and see that good firewood just sitting out there rotting. It's tempting, sometimes, to make a midnight run with my pickup. At least the wood would be put to good use.

They also chip the brush and scrap and if you ask them to, instead of shooting it into their truck, they'll pile it up on the ground for you to use as mulch.

 

[lastcamp2]

Fair question.

First, to burn, I have to load it on a truck or trailer and take it to a burn site, usually out in the field after the crops are taken off. So, I have to handle it twice. With the chipper, I can cut and chip right on the spot and only handle once. I also have to dance around the "no burn" ordinance. Supposedly there is an agricultural exemption, but you are supposed to let them know ahead of time, etc.

Second, I create mulch by chipping, and I can put it to other uses. Like mulching. Or, I can just leave the chips on-site and have done with it.

Yes, I keep the larger stuff for firewood for the fireplace, etc.

 

[D Squared]

Our burn rules are you cant burn within 1000 feet of an ocupied structure. There is a 200 house subdivision across the street from me on 1/4 acre lots and 84 condos on my back line on 1/4 acre lots and a business district to my south and most notably 4 houses to my north before you get to the fire depertment. I have 7 acres and can't get 1000 feet from an occupied stricture.

 

[Dell (WA)]

Camper........RENT ONE, don't buy unless yer in the business. Why? 'cuz a good 3-point mounted self-fed chipper will cost you $3000+. More than yer tractor. 'course when you rent, gitt the insurance too. Infact 'round here, you can't rent one with-out insurance. That should tell you why you don't want to own one, they gitts abused and are fragile.

The problem with renting a chipper is, it will run you ragged keeping the dang thing fed.

Only benefit to owning is, you can chip at yer time and leisure under the supervision of SWMBO ......Dell

 

[lastcamp2]

The Troybilt chipper/shredder I have I got at an auction for $225. It has an 8 hp engine, and does a pretty good job, although it does have its drawbacks. One is the discharge chute, which is only about 6" above the ground, which makes it inconvenient to collect the discharged chips. I think it was made to be used with a collection bag. It will eat up 1 1/2 inch limbs pretty well, maybe also up to 2" if it is the right kind of wood. Some say anything bigger is firewood anyway. I have used it for a couple of years, and I think I have gotten my money back out of it.

Google "Troybilt Super Tomahawk" and you can probably find one to give you an idea of what I am talking about.

My point is, you can get a good buy on some of this stuff which might not be your heart's desire, but will get you by. Yes, the PTO chippers can be a couple of grand or so, which means you have to do a lot of chipping to get it to pay for itself.

 

[lastcamp2]

Good point. I haven't looked into renting, and have no idea what they charge.

My problem is, I usually do this work a couple of times a year in spells that go a few days at a time. Also, I generate a HUGE amount of brush on this 140 acres, 12 of which is woods, all of which is grown up in the fence rows. A lot of places I can just leave the brush behind to rot, others I can't.

Your remarks about fragility. Makes me think that buying new would be the way to go, rather than buying someone else's problems. If I don't rent....

 

[Anonymous-0]

You might wanna check the archives. There was one participant a few years ago that had a PTO chipper he ran off his 8N. Maybe that person is still around??
Good luck.....don t. .....

 

[calico]

Hey there,
I have the same chipper, but have not used it for two years. It did not come with a manual and I have not been able to start it this year. I can't pull the starter. Did I forget where one of the "safety's" is? Appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Beth

 

[sedanpilot]

(quoted from post at 12:42:48 08/07/08) Hey there,
I have the same chipper, but have not used it for two years. It did not come with a manual and I have not been able to start it this year. I can't pull the starter. Did I forget where one of the "safety's" is? Appreciate any help.
Thanks,
Beth

[color=darkblue:73f8959097]Had the same problem after letting it sit for a year, thought the engine was frozen, but I found a piece of tree limb had jammed the cutter... Took it apart, removed the limb and it worked...

DVD[/color:73f8959097]

 

[calico]

Thanks,
I'll check as soon as I can and get back to you. I am staying with my dying friend at the hospital 12 hours daily for now.

 

[lastcamp2]

Be sure the "clutch" (belt engagement lever) is disengaged. Otherwise you are trying to turn over the whole chipping mechanism, in addition to the engine. Hard to do.

And, as was said, they do tend to get some stuff tangled in the drive shaft, by the flywheel, and after it sits, the shaft freezes up. Then the engine wont turn over the flywheel, knife, and flails when you try to engage the belt. I usually just turn the shaft a few rotations with a wrench applied to the outside nut (9/16, I think) and that frees it up. Spray on a little WD40 or penetrating oil, which also helps. Also, you may need to clear out the shredded limb parts that wrap around the shaft. Sometimes you need to take the input chute off to get to it.

 

[Rick H.]

I recently purchased a two year old MacKissic chipper/shreeder to run with my 9N. It is a bottom discharge model, which I was hesatant about at first, but now that I've used it I like it. Simply but a tarp down under the chipper, and once the pile gets up to the bottom of the machine you can raise it with the 3pt and dump the trap where ever you want. The chipper is rated for limbs upto 4.5" but it really won't take anything over about 3". The 9N just sings right along. The MacKissic is a very heavy built machine, nice bearings and frame. No clutch though, you have to use the tractor clutch to start stop it. It is avalible now through Northern Tools under the name of MerryMac. Nice machine, plus it's red to match the tractor! Added benifit of the tractor mount is the added stability while in use and it is really manuverable, much easier in the woods than a tow behind.

 

[Sean (TX)]

(quoted from post at 12:04:00 08/07/08) Good point. I haven't looked into renting, and have no idea what they charge.

My problem is, I usually do this work a couple of times a year in spells that go a few days at a time. Also, I generate a HUGE amount of brush on this 140 acres, 12 of which is woods, all of which is grown up in the fence rows. A lot of places I can just leave the brush behind to rot, others I can't.

Your remarks about fragility. Makes me think that buying new would be the way to go, rather than buying someone else's problems. If I don't rent....

I rent them at home Depot. They run about 180 a day. I abuse them :lol:
They are vermeers. I pull them from spot to spot with my N

 

[PhilipIN]

Here is a post I wrote on November 25, 2003. Philip.

I finally got to use my PTO chipper this weekend. I had a work day at my house on Saturday, 5 guys showed up to trim limbs and cut trees. I ran the 8N for 6 straight hours with the chipper. The chipper is a Bearcat model with 5" capacity. The 8N and the chipper worked well together. It amazes me that my tractor, designed in 1938, can use implements purchased in 2002. What a great design by Harry F. The chipper has a 120 pound flywheel, lots of inertia, does not take much power to turn. When you put in a 5" branch, the rpm's drop, the governor kicks the throttle plate open, the engine starts poppin, and the rpm's come back up, just like it is suppose to work. Neat to stand back and see. The chipper is a nice tool, but it will work you to death. Philip.