chippers-what do you like best?

[John Paul Sanborn]

I'll agree with Mench on the knife/anvil maintenance. With those smaller engines it is even more important.

Also keep an ear on the rpm durring operations, they are easy to bog and stall real quick.

Cut curfs in all crotches or the branches wont feed in, this is more true the wider the angle.

One of my pet peaves with the smaller units is that you need to spend so much more time getting the debris ready to chip.

I know, I'm not footing the bill

 

[Climbing mike]

I have had a vermeer 1250 turbo perkins for about 6 years. The side rollers work petty good but they will sling brush left or right. The main problem with the rollers is that they are only conected on the top. If you feed low wide stuff (like saw mill slabs) the motor shafts can break. I have not broken a shaft but the main no greaseable bearing on the shaft was total gone at 1000 hrs. I use mine a grat deal on big wood it has held up pretty well. If the chipper will chip it we put it in. I think the feed rollers need to pull stronger but mine is a 1991 model they may have work on that. I also had a 200+ bandit and loved the hydraulic top roller. Overall id give the 1250 a 8 score out of 10.


Mike

 

[arborguy]

We run bandit 200+. But seem have a terrible time with rust. Within 2-3 years of being new the tin worm starts to take over. We have a 1995 that is "rust" colored. We also recently had one sand blasted and painted looks great, but for how long?

 

[YUKON 659]

Arborguy, the Bandit 65 that I just got seemed a little rusty for it's age....oh well, as long as it chips good I guess it doesn't matter.
JPS...I'll start with a small one and maybe work my way up...anything is better than hauling brush!!!!!

Jeff

 

[Matt Follett]

Yukon

Congratulations! hope it works well for you, and as I said earlier, keeping up the routine maint. and it will surely help keep things running smooth. Watch for things like moisture in the bearings if you let it sit for a while... make sure you purge the greese fittings if it's idle for more then a week or two. Keep up on those oil changes, and check the levels frequently for the first while until you get a feel for how things run then you will be able to notice oddities... (problems lurking) Check your hydraulic oil type... I know mine is spec'd to use straight 10W30, and not hydraulic fluid..., oh and here is a personal experiance note, make sure whoever takes it to the fuel station knows to watch the filling process if they don't do it themselves,... as fuel in the hydraulic tank is a nightmare to change on site!!!!!!!

 

[YUKON 659]

Matt, thanks for the heads up!!! Fortunately the chipper came with a manual and I'll be sure to check it out.

Jeff

 

[John Paul Sanborn]

When i ran a crew, I got decals for all the chippers and put them by the respctive tanks "GAS" "OIL", "HYDRAULIC".

One more thing I noticed with the 65's is that they ar not built for hyway use, at least the 2 I ran. We went through a lot of springs. IF you do loose one (Inspect regularly, though sometines the cracks form real fast.) get heavier ones installed right away.

Trailing behind a International they seemed to spend more time in the air then on the road.

 

[YUKON 659]

John, the 65 seemed to trailer pretty good for me. I live in N.Y. and I purchased the chipper in Delaware....about a 425 mile return trip. Seemed to hold the road good behind a 3/4 ton pick up. I'll keep an eye on the springs...thanks.

Jeff

 

[Tim Kasulinous]

Bandit 150 great machine. 12 in diameter and eats almost anything. ( although if youyr into clearing land I would definately suggest going with at least a 17 inch model)