PTO Chippers??

[Ghost Hunter]

Anybody have experience with PTO wood chippers?  Working on thinning & pruning a few acres, prefer to chip the slash rather than burning.  Tractor has 35 HP PTO, so no problem there for the size I need.  Won't be chipping anything over 3 1/2" - 4".   I'd be interested in a used one if price, condition, and specs were right for me.  Renting doesn't appear to be practical.

[Knocker of rocks]

A lot to think about.  Top or flat load?  Hydraulic feed?  There are some nice ones out there.

[Ghost Hunter]

Flat load and mechanical/hydraulic feed would be a priority.

[hollymaster]

Tagging along 

[Knocker of rocks]

The one thing I wonder about is that modern tractors generally use an electric PTO cluth and it is very much I/O, where the older machines allowed one to feather in the manually operated mechanical clutch.   

I guess one just get a high quality PTO slip clutch and let it do its job?

[Ghost Hunter]

JD 830 with manual PTO 540rpm.  Here's a couple with hydraulic feed I'm considering.  I like the design of the Woodland Mills.  PTO w/sheer pin included.  Pricey, but it wouldn't take long to have that in rent.

https://woodlandmills.com/product/wc68-6-pto-wood-chipper/

https://betstco.com/hydraulic-feed-wood-chipper-fh-wcrf8/

[Knocker of rocks]

I wouldn't think of the Bestco as flat-fed in that you have to lift the material up-over-and into to feed the beast.   The Woodland Mills does look to be a flat feed.

No matter what the manufacturer supplies, a slip clutch PTO shaft is always nice

[BDildine]

830 as in an old 2 cyl 830?
you'll be able to do a lot more than you think, them thing have torque for days
My family bought a mech PTO drive years ago, was used Primarily w a JD B, and now a model 40, 420 and similar
I dont remember the brand off hand (its blue), but we've run more stuff through it than a normal person would. Been great. The only issue, if you can call it that, is splitting the machine every few years to send the knives out for sharpening. When it was new you could toss a 3" branch in the chipper chute, and it would pull it out of your hands self-feeding. Just have to clear out below the outfeed every 5 min or so (bottom discharge)
Also, it uses a 3 rib v-belt and a pulley system, so if something jams, the belt will slip (and smoke) but to my knowledge in 15+ yrs, havent had to change it
Hopefully all this helps

[BDildine]

Just remembered its a "Goosen" brand. Looks like this

[Ghost Hunter]

830 as in an old 2 cyl 830?
you'll be able to do a lot more than you think, them thing have torque for days
My family bought a mech PTO drive years ago, was used Primarily w a JD B, and now a model 40, 420 and similar
I dont remember the brand off hand (its blue), but we've run more stuff through it than a normal person would. Been great. The only issue, if you can call it that, is splitting the machine every few years to send the knives out for sharpening. When it was new you could toss a 3" branch in the chipper chute, and it would pull it out of your hands self-feeding. Just have to clear out below the outfeed every 5 min or so (bottom discharge)
Also, it uses a 3 rib v-belt and a pulley system, so if something jams, the belt will slip (and smoke) but to my knowledge in 15+ yrs, havent had to change it
Hopefully all this helps

Newer JD 830 (1975) 3 cyl.  I want to leave the chips spread/scattered for compost, chute discharge best option for me.


"No matter what the manufacturer supplies, a slip clutch PTO shaft is always nice"  Thanks, Will be looking into this.

[Knocker of rocks]

The Australian made Bare Co. PTO shafts are quite nice in quality and ease of both installation and maintenance. They were carried by Washington Tractor a couple of years ago. I don’t know if you have a three-point quick hitch or not, but they sure are nice.

http://www.bareco.com.au/files-pto2002-index

[Ghost Hunter]

The Australian made Bare Co. PTO shafts are quite nice in quality and ease of both installation and maintenance. They were carried by Washington Tractor a couple of years ago. I don’t know if you have a three-point quick hitch or not, but they sure are nice.

http://www.bareco.com.au/files-pto2002-index

 

I don't.  Got to set a limit somewhere.  Wife has been great on this little adventure.     She is starting to raise her eyebrows.    

[KFhunter]

Your JD has a wet clutch PTO, the chipper has a sheer pin, you'll be fine without upgrading your chipper with a fancy slip disk shaft.   

Engage the chipper when the engine is at idle, feather it in if you can (depends on your adjustment on the PTO clutch) then throttle up to chipping speed. 
I think you have a brush hog, if you can spin that up to speed the chipper will be easy by comparison. 

As with all new PTO equipment..just make sure the PTO shaft is the correct length and doesn't bottom out when you raise the 3pt up making the shaft level with the output shaft.  That'll be your shortest distance on the PTO shaft.  If the shaft bottoms out (too long) it'll shove a massive ton of pressure into your PTO drive and could mess stuff up bad.  If anything I think your shaft will be too short (did I just say that?)  as your tractor is more of a class II even though it's HP rating is lower. 

Also make sure the shaft isn't too short, you want no possibility of the shaft flying apart when you lower the 3pt arms expanding the PTO shaft to its longest position.   I got a small PTO tiller that if I drop the tiller too low the shaft is fully extended and there isn't much room left so I need to get a longer shaft at North 40.  but I'd rather get a bigger tiller 

[M_59]

Odds are that the 830 has a continuous running pto clutch with a  dry clutch disk. Would only be wet if equipped with an independent pto.

[KFhunter]

Odds are that the 830 has a continuous running pto clutch with a  dry clutch disk. Would only be wet if equipped with an independent pto.

Thanks for the clarification and correction 

[Ghost Hunter]

It is a continuous running pto.  Lever shift, pto engages with clutch before gear drive.

[Knocker of rocks]

So is the PTO always running if the clutch is out?   You have no way to drive the tractor without the shaft turning?   That could be a PITA.

[Ghost Hunter]

So is the PTO always running if the clutch is out?   You have no way to drive the tractor without the shaft turning?   That could be a PITA.

No, there is a lever to engage or disengage.  When it is in on position, the clutch must be fully depressed to disengage the pto.  The pto engages before the transmission drive train.

[KFhunter]

My Dad an older Kubota like that with a 2 stage clutch. 
 
press the clutch pedal in 1/2 way and the drive train stops but the PTO keeps going, keep pressing it down further and the PTO disengages.  There was a stopper you could flip over so you couldn't press the clutch into the PTO side if you didn't have anything hooked up.   


I prefer that design for things where I might need to disengage the PTO quickly, like hitting something with a brush hog that stops the blades or plugging the swather/baler.   You always step on the clutch first thing anyways, so it worked out well....  *BAM!*  stomp the clutch to the floor and everything is stopped.

Now I've got a small lever hidden back behind me that I have to fumble around trying to find quickly while things are smoking 


I rebuilt the older 70's Kubota two stage multi disk clutch, it was expensive and the tolerances were tight when measuring the gap to get the two clutches disengaging at the right time but it ran perfect when I was done.  If the gap was too big the drive train clutch would slip, gap too tight and the pto side wouldn't disengage.  It was fun, enjoyed fixing that 

[Knocker of rocks]

No, there is a lever to engage or disengage.  When it is in on position, the clutch must be fully depressed to disengage the pto.  The pto engages before the transmission drive train.

My Dad an older Kubota like that with a 2 stage clutch. 

That'll be fine for a chipper, you'll be able to bump and feather the big heavy disc just fine.   And you will be OK without a PTO slip disc.

I've never heard it refered to as a continous PTO, I've heard it refered to as non-live or transmission PTO, but I see that Deere, thence TractorData refers to it as continious too. That is exactly what I have in my 1983 YanDeere 950, along with the two stage clutch that KF mentioned (although mine has never really worked as such).

The slip PTO shafts are most needed with the electronic clutches of modern tractors with live PTO systems.   There you don't really have an oportunity to feather the clutch, the best you can do is bump it on and off a couple of times and then hang on.

[KFhunter]

 

My newer tractor is an in or out kinda deal too, I can kind of feather it in but its an aggressive engagement.   I throttle way down, sometimes to idle if it won't kill the engine, then throttle up after its spinning everything. 

brush hog is the worst to spin up

[Ghost Hunter]

Went all in today.    I'll be able to give a review on the 6" Woodland Mills in 2 - 3 weeks after I run a few trees thru it.     If it works as good as I hope it will, I'll be taking bulk orders for sausage in the off season.      

[KFhunter]

Nice!

[Ghost Hunter]

 :drool:Sitting waiting for freight truck now.

[Ghost Hunter]

Bring this back up for a review.  So I got the Woodland Mills chipper and have put well over 100 hours on it to date.  It will take anything you can throw into the 6 x 8 throat.  Keep the blades sharp and one person can't feed it too fast.  Small, green, and wet will be biggest problem material.  7 acres done, and lined out on next five.  Delivery and service is over the top. 

[KFhunter]

Bring this back up for a review.  So I got the Woodland Mills chipper and have put well over 100 hours on it to date.  It will take anything you can throw into the 6 x 8 throat.  Keep the blades sharp and one person can't feed it too fast.  Small, green, and wet will be biggest problem material.  7 acres done, and lined out on next five.  Delivery and service is over the top. 

nice review!  You been working hard man 

[Rob]

Hey Ghost Hunter, still happy with your Chipper?

Toying with getting something similar this season or possibly next

[Boss .300 winmag]

Bring this back up for a review.  So I got the Woodland Mills chipper and have put well over 100 hours on it to date.  It will take anything you can throw into the 6 x 8 throat.  Keep the blades sharp and one person can't feed it too fast.  Small, green, and wet will be biggest problem material.  7 acres done, and lined out on next five.  Delivery and service is over the top. 

Pics?🤔

[Ghost Hunter]

Interesting see this pop back up.  Just got a call from my DNR rep this morning.  Sounds like they are ready for more projects post cocid.  Will be gearing up for another run with the chipper.  Might order a set off blades, and look for best places to sharpen the two sets I have.  I used it for a little cleanup last year.  Old dry stuff doesn't work well.  Pieces get hung up.  Also cedar branches need sharp blades to keep it from stringing and clogging.  Let them lay several weeks.  I can look for pictures but Woodland Mills has good video on their website.  I couldn't have made a better investment.

[Rob]

great to hear!

[Ghost Hunter]

If you want a demo, you know where I am.   

[Rob]

Like I said, let me know if you have a project you want help with and I will head on over!  I am closer now that I am in Sandpoint

[Whitpirate]

Just remembered its a "Goosen" brand. Looks like this

I have the same chipper that I used on a JD 850.  Works fine and I cut anything 3.5-4" and up into firewood.  Shredder function is nice for when I'm doing a bunch of leafy stuff.