2004 vermeer bc1400

[deevo]

Anyone use one of these chippers? Good bad experience? Looking at an 04 with 1600 hours Cat Diesel powered. We were looking for a 12", but this one is avl local.

 

[NCTREE]

Here this might help you out

http://www.arboristsite.com/commercial-tree-care-climbing/162769.htm

I was looking at buying one but decided to go with a 2010 bandit 990xp. I'm happy that I went with this machine, it offers the hydro lift cylinder which is very nice. The 1400 doesn't seem to offer this.

Good luck

 

[NCTREE]

Just a thought to check into......

A salesman I have been dealing with at my Vermeer dealer has been honest enough to steer me away from buying one of their used bc 1400's.

He mentioned the 1400's are seeing heavy vibration.....more than usual on a chipper from a problem with the Caterpillar engine being poorly internally balanced while running.....he mentioned the John Deere engine is not having this excess vibration problem.

The 1400 model is no longer in production you may note! I like Vermeer....every manufacturer has an engineering problem here and there.

However.....I don't know if this crack or break you're speaking of is from the 1400's ongoing "SHAKING TO PIECES" problem or from a foreign object being run through the drum....or bad bearings.

I'd be careful regardless on that purchase.

NEW bc 1200xl......anybody have knowledge of how these Vermeers are holding up. They are a new model as of 2009 dealer tells me.....I'm looking at a new bc1200 because it fits my nitch.....1300 lbs less than the 1500 (easier on lawns and hauling/fuel costs). Have winch with 12" capacity and optional 110 hp John Deere. Problem is I'm not hearing of anyone running them?

here's something I found for ya

 

[deevo]

here's something I found for ya

Okey dokey then! Thanks for that! We have a lead on a 12" morbark nearby as well. We will be looking at it next week. Thanks NC

 

[s197man]

The BC1400's had many design flaws when first released. Vermeer released many IK-Kits (or update kits) to correct most of the original problems. If the unit you are looking at has had these updates performed, it should be comparable to other similar size Vermeer chippers in reliability. The biggest issue w/ the BC1400 was the CAT engine. The engine chosen has more vibration than, say, a John Deere (which is used on the replacement BC1500's). The CAT is a good engine but not the best choice for it's application in a chipper due to it's tendency to "shake" the machine to death. Look for stress cracks in the frame and around the cutter drum housing. The BC1400 is a great chipper, but you just have to make sure the original owner did not ignore the updates. Ask for service records from their local dealer showing that the updates were preformed, if they cannot provide them, stay away.