need your opinion on a vermeer bc1400

NCTREE · Jan 25, 2011

I'm posting this here to see if I can get more feedback. I posted it in the equipment forum too.

Im looking at a 06 bc1400xl with just under 3000hrs on it. (i know 3000 is alot) It has a winch and hydraulic feed shoot adjustment. It had 1 owner. It started fine no rattles or leaks. The feed wheels looked good and so did the drum. It has a few minor issues he made me aware of: The hydro feed shoot isn't working, motor works fine but isn't touching the gears on the shoot enough to turn. Seems like a simple fix. It hit something like a stump in the back and bent the metal below the infeed and broke the lights off. Again doesn't seem like a big deal. The only thing that is in question is the drum belly underneath has a six crack in it from hitting something. It's not open up more then a 16th of an inch. Looks like a good weld would fix it. Is this something to worry about?

Is there anything I should be looking at before I decide to purchase?

What do you think is a reasonable price for something like this?

Thanks NC

jefflovstrom · Jan 25, 2011

Can you get a history of the maintenance. Oil changes,..etc. The hydraulic oil should be changed every 5th service. Belly pan is no big deal. Alot of guys leave it open while chipping and clean up underneath after and close it for transport. Save some wear on the bearings. Check the frame for cracks.
Jeff

capetrees · Jan 25, 2011

I have never seen on in action nor have owned one but some time back, I was interested in one and asked the same questions and was told, in here, that the1400s rattle themselves to pieces. Apparently that's not the case with 3000 hrs unless there are a number of cracks that have been welded and painted. 3000 seems high for an 06, no? That being said, I looked ion Tree Trader and found some ranging from an 04 with 1400 hrs for $19K to an 06 with 800 hrs for $23K.

good luck

alpineman · Jan 25, 2011

I have a '02 1400 and I haven't had too much trouble with it. As far as it rattling apart, not sure where that comes from. I have a new 1500 and it is definitely "tighter" from not being used. I haven't had anything fall apart so far on the 1400. I blew a turbo but that was probably out fault for not cleaning the air filter enough. Have the engine checked out if possible. With 3000 hours, I wouldn't pay more than 13-15K.

NCTREE · Jan 26, 2011

capetrees said:
I have never seen on in action nor have owned one but some time back, I was interested in one and asked the same questions and was told, in here, that the1400s rattle themselves to pieces. Apparently that's not the case with 3000 hrs unless there are a number of cracks that have been welded and painted. 3000 seems high for an 06, no? That being said, I looked ion Tree Trader and found some ranging from an 04 with 1400 hrs for $19K to an 06 with 800 hrs for $23K.

good luck

That was one thing I read about them, I used a bc1000 a couple of times and it rattled. This one was surprising quiet. I am told the rattling comes from the belt and only having to blades on the drum. Stuff always seems ridiculously over priced in tree trader.

NCTREE · Jan 26, 2011

jefflovstrom said:
Can you get a history of the maintenance. Oil changes,..etc. The hydraulic oil should be changed every 5th service. Belly pan is no big deal. Alot of guys leave it open while chipping and clean up underneath after and close it for transport. Save some wear on the bearings. Check the frame for cracks.
Jeff

It is a vermeer dealer selling it. I ask about the service records and he said the company did their own servicing so he doesn't have any records. The previous owner is a long running customer with the dealer if that means anything. I really thought it would be in worst shape then it was when I went to look at it, I was surprised.

flushcut · Jan 26, 2011

I bought my 03' 1400 from a dealer two years ago it had 1120 hours on it with new bearings. It does not have a winch which I wish it had but I paid 19k and change. I would not go any higher than 13 with that many hours. I am very happy with the chipper I have not had any major problems with it just stupid little stuff like a radiator hose clamp that let go, clogged fuel filter, and other BS but nothing big.

NCTREE · Jan 26, 2011

it actually has 2600 hrs

ducaticorse · Jan 26, 2011

NCTREE said:
it actually has 2600 hrs

Mayby look for another chipper..Does it have a cummings? I'd say 12-13 private sale tops..

ducaticorse · Jan 26, 2011

NCTREE said:
That was one thing I read about them, I used a bc1000 a couple of times and it rattled. This one was surprising quiet. I am told the rattling comes from the belt and only having to blades on the drum. Stuff always seems ridiculously over priced in tree trader.

I'm in the process of buying a 97 bandit 1890 with og paint, (awesome) and 3xx og hours with a 200p cummings for 17.5. Tree trader has the ident machine with a K more hours for 36xxxK.... TT overpriced exactly.....

capetrees · Jan 26, 2011

http://www.arboristsite.com/large-equipment/63092.htm

This is what i was refering to when I mentioned the rattling with the 1400

NCTREE · Jan 26, 2011

capetrees said:
http://www.arboristsite.com/large-equipment/63092.htm

This is what i was refering to when I mentioned the rattling with the 1400

Yeah I read that thread too. Yah know I ran bc1000 over the summer and it had a rattling issue when it was idled. Look at another bc1000 over the summer and it rattled too. This bc1400 am looking at was surprising quiet as far as the rattling goes. You would think with that kind of hours on it it would be rattling but it wasn't.

NCTREE · Jan 26, 2011

ducaticorse said:
Mayby look for another chipper..Does it have a cummings? I'd say 12-13 private sale tops..

It has cat in it

NCTREE · Jan 26, 2011

ducaticorse said:
I'm in the process of buying a 97 bandit 1890 with og paint, (awesome) and 3xx og hours with a 200p cummings for 17.5. Tree trader has the ident machine with a K more hours for 36xxxK.... TT overpriced exactly.....

thats a big boy. 97 with 300 are you sure seem kind of low.

ducaticorse · Jan 26, 2011

NCTREE said:
thats a big boy. 97 with 300 are you sure seem kind of low.

Thats what everybody says... here are the pics, OG paint..

ducaticorse · Jan 26, 2011

NCTREE said:
thats a big boy. 97 with 300 are you sure seem kind of low.

TOO bad its 200 horse an XP (heavy duty frame), and 9900 lbs. Basicaly I'll be towing a loaded 1-ton around everywhere I go, but for what I am paying it's a no brainer. Never been reg'd either, still has the CoO that says it's 1100lb wet. And if and when I ever get a crane, I won't have to worry about upgrading..

ducaticorse · Jan 26, 2011

NCTREE said:
thats a big boy. 97 with 300 are you sure seem kind of low.

I'm looking at the certificate of origin. It is a 98, purchased in August of 99..

imagineero · Jan 27, 2011

we have a BC1000 wth 1500 hours on it and it's holding up pretty well, about 6 years old. I'm constantly surprised by what it will chip, it takes some huge wood for its size. If it runs well and sounds good then I'd go for it; the whinch will be a huge plus.

Just watch out with Vermeer that parts are very expensive. If you need a new drum and bearings for example you're looking at some big $,$$$. Nice machine though.

Shaun

Bigus Termitius · Jan 27, 2011

I had a 06 bc1400xl at my disposal up until late last year. I still have a new set of blades that I tried to sell on eBay, but I might list them here.

This one had a cat and a winch. I'd like to get another one, it was awesome.

Parts are expensive, but good, and with a dealer just down the road I see no other reasonable alternative.

The belly I'd weld and go. The infeed is not a simple fix, unless you plan on your own fab design. Ours had that push button option originally, but then someone went to a manual crank afterwards. That worked until the teeth wore on the worm gear and on the shoot. I kept adjusting and filing to get more adjustment. I had to reweld the brackets a couple of times as well. I was considering giving it my personal upgrade when it went down the road.

This is all due to the fact that they experience lots of vibrations. Look to see the switches that the infeed control bar actuates. If they are black plastic with what looks like a metal shaft with a wheel on the end, consider a $400-$500 factory upgrade to all metal switches.

Ours had the plastic switches and they have a tendency to break. I designed and built brackets that reinforced and essentially housed the switches. Problem solved.

3000 hours seems excessive for an 06. Sounds like an old ROW runner. We ran ours alot and ate trees constantly, but I suppose it's possible that someone kept it running all the time, and if it is tight, maybe not working too hard.

Still with that many hours, I'd think about 10-12k tops. Good luck, if you don't get it, let me know where it is.

NCTREE · Jan 28, 2011

Bigus Termitius said:
I had a 06 bc1400xl at my disposal up until late last year. I still have a new set of blades that I tried to sell on eBay, but I might list them here.

This one had a cat and a winch. I'd like to get another one, it was awesome.

Parts are expensive, but good, and with a dealer just down the road I see no other reasonable alternative.

The belly I'd weld and go. The infeed is not a simple fix, unless you plan on your own fab design. Ours had that push button option originally, but then someone went to a manual crank afterwards. That worked until the teeth wore on the worm gear and on the shoot. I kept adjusting and filing to get more adjustment. I had to reweld the brackets a couple of times as well. I was considering giving it my personal upgrade when it went down the road.

This is all due to the fact that they experience lots of vibrations. Look to see the switches that the infeed control bar actuates. If they are black plastic with what looks like a metal shaft with a wheel on the end, consider a $400-$500 factory upgrade to all metal switches.

Ours had the plastic switches and they have a tendency to break. I designed and built brackets that reinforced and essentially housed the switches. Problem solved.

3000 hours seems excessive for an 06. Sounds like an old ROW runner. We ran ours alot and ate trees constantly, but I suppose it's possible that someone kept it running all the time, and if it is tight, maybe not working too hard.

Still with that many hours, I'd think about 10-12k tops. Good luck, if you don't get it, let me know where it is.

Thanks for the info.

I think the switches are plastic so I will see If I can rig something to keep the, from braking. The outfeed problem they said they take a look at and if its nothing big they'd fix it. I'm taking the chipper on an as is basis so i'm getting a good deal on the price. If the outfeed problem persists I think i'll try to get a manual system fabed for it and do away with the hydro.

The deal is all but set in stone so soon it will be mine. Can't wait to chip with it.

I'll post some pics when i get it.

need your opinion on a vermeer bc1400

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