adding feed rollers to a chuck'n'duck?

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imagineero

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Just wondering if anyone's seen it done? Chuck'n'ducks are non compliant with OHS rules here in aus, and you can get in big trouble from workers comp insurance for running one. For this reason, they sell for as little as $1000 with plenty of spare blades etc. By comparison, a clapped out 12" chipper with feed rollers goes for $15k-$20k. You can get a decent 12" chipper for $35k.

I'm thinking that feed rollers can't really be all that hard to retrofit. You'd need to add a hydraulic pump to the engine, and a stator to drive the roller. A needle valve to control the flow, and another valve for forward/reverse/stop. There would be no autofeed. Adding lift/crush would be harder, but plenty of 12" chippers get by without it. Has anyone seen it done?

Shaun
 
I have never heard of or seen it done but then again anything is possible if you have the mind to do so.
 
Actually, I'm not sure it would be all that hard to do. Here in the US, I think I could get the pump, hyd motor, tank, valves etc for about $2000 or less. A single feed wheel system would be my choice if I were doing it. You basicly have to:

Cut off the back of the chipper just aft of the drum.

Fabricate a box to hold the feedwheel system as close to the drum as possible without contact.

Add pivot system to allow the feedwheel to raise and lower as needed for size of material.

Mount the pump,( Could be belt driven) and hyd tank.

Make a Safety Bar and rig to control valve.

Add electric flow control and feed rate valve. Electric valve keeps feed from running on startup.
use latching relay and Push buttons to safely Engage/Disengage system.

Reattach the feed table aft of the feedwheel box. Keep in mind..... need for service access.

Will probably need to modify axle position and or size for capacity and balance.

Could add Raise/Crush for $400-500 and Simple autofeed for another $200-300


It sounds like too much to be cost effective, but if you can spread the design costs over multiple chippers of the same make and model, then it might be well worth it.
I've been giving this idea some thought for over a year, as I know a guy that would like to convert his c&d for safety reasons.
I think a good fab shop, combined with somebody that knows chippers, could do OK doing the conversions.

Rick
 
Last edited:
jefflovstrom said:
Rick, You would have to change the drum. Roller fed chippers are designed to feed that way, chuck and duck is different in drum, knive;s and speed.
Jeff
Click to expand...

I don't think they get it but I gotta say they about got me convinced myself. Go for it guys!:popcorn:

Would be funny to see the looks on their faces when they go to use it and realize.
 
jefflovstrom said:
Rick, You would have to change the drum. Roller fed chippers are designed to feed that way, chuck and duck is different in drum, knive;s and speed.
Jeff
Click to expand...

I really don't think so. You can change a lot about how a c&d chips by changing the knife heigth. I think it will work pretty well with a lower heigth. It probably won't produce as much chips per hour as a $40,000 chipper, but I think it would do a good job and increase safety.

Rick
 
VA-Sawyer said:
I really don't think so. You can change a lot about how a c&d chips by changing the knife heigth. I think it will work pretty well with a lower heigth. It probably won't produce as much chips per hour as a $40,000 chipper, but I think it would do a good job and increase safety.

Rick
Click to expand...

I need a drink.:bang:

You do realize... ahh forget it, where are the limes?
 
jefflovstrom said:
Rick, You would have to change the drum. Roller fed chippers are designed to feed that way, chuck and duck is different in drum, knive;s and speed.
Jeff
Click to expand...

I still have an old Woodchuck chuck 'n duck, and often wished it had an infeed roller, and used to daydream about adding one. Never got further than the dreaming stage, which used to occupy my thoughts mainly when getting slapped across the back of the neck when chipping beech, oak, etc.

I don't know why adding a roller wouldn't work. I don't think the roller would have to be positioned very close to the drum, since the knives are chipping across the entire drum width, and should still be able to "grab" any piece that got turned sideways.
 
Pelorus said:
I still have an old Woodchuck chuck 'n duck, and often wished it had an infeed roller, and used to daydream about adding one. Never got further than the dreaming stage, which used to occupy my thoughts mainly when getting slapped across the back of the neck when chipping beech, oak, etc.

I don't know why adding a roller wouldn't work. I don't think the roller would have to be positioned very close to the drum, since the knives are chipping across the entire drum width, and should still be able to "grab" any piece that got turned sideways.
Click to expand...

How come its not nearly as funny when I'm the one getting strapped by the thing.:msp_angry:
 
I know the drum is gonna try to rip the limb through the infeed roller, causing the roller to want to overspeed. So, I'm wondering if you could add a cushion valve (or whatever it is called) to prevent that. The same thing is on a stump grinder, that provents it from running away when going down a steep hill or ramp.
 
Pelorus said:
I know the drum is gonna try to rip the limb through the infeed roller, causing the roller to want to overspeed. So, I'm wondering if you could add a cushion valve (or whatever it is called) to prevent that. The same thing is on a stump grinder, that provents it from running away when going down a steep hill or ramp.
Click to expand...

I think you are starting to get it Blade size, rpm, etc,,
Jeff
 
Yeah, I get it, Jeff.
Would be nice to tame the mutant shrew though, which is why the daydreaming comes in.
Actually gave up in the idea of revolutionizing the Chuck and get Thrashed industry years ago and just went and bought a little diesel Bandit, but in the back of my mind, the idea lay dormant.....and then I read this thread.
 
I think the original Chuck & Duck designer was a sadist who hated human life.
 
Pelorus said:
Yeah, I get it, Jeff.
Would be nice to tame the mutant shrew though, which is why the daydreaming comes in.
Actually gave up in the idea of revolutionizing the Chuck and get Thrashed industry years ago and just went and bought a little diesel Bandit, but in the back of my mind, the idea lay dormant.....and then I read this thread.
Click to expand...

LOL, You can some good deals down here because of CARB.
Jeff :cheers:
 
I should just get rid of my Woodchuck which just sits unused month after month, but it's got this emotional stranglehold on my psyche or something. That sucker is like tethered to the Mother Ship. I used to actually enjoy feeding it mountains of soft white pine limbs whose needles would gently caress my ears/neck/back as they got gobbled up. Gotta confess I just got overwhelmed by a feeling of nostalgia, but I'm ok now. Sadly, the good days were outnumbered by the bad days.
 

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