clogged whisper chipper

[buzzardroost]

I have an old and newly rebuilt whisper chipper with 12" drum and 300-6 engine. Made the mistake of turning off the motor and then feeding a small red cedar. It stauled the drum with only the limb tips left but now I can't move the drum. Limbs are 1/2 inch or such. It is really jammed.

Any suggestions on clearing it out? I tried a sawzall and serious beatings but no luck yet. Maybe something that would eat the wood?

 

[derwoodii]

Can you unbolt drop away the anvil from underneath. I used a few of these with Asplund 10 years back. Sorry just cant recall how they where bolted up. Whisper? no way those things howl.

 

[buzzardroost]

Unfortunetly, no. Last resort would be to unbolt the drum at the pulleys. I have the shut off so the drum is right there. Guess I just need to keep sawzalling it but the curved drum sheath is a problem. Don't have a supply of acid on hand.

 

[derwoodii]

Hmmm.. Ok how about a big bar/lever/pole onto the drum shaft belt side and lever/wind it backwards. Good luck I share your pain sport, done similar and spent hours trying to fix.

 

[buzzardroost]

Yeah, I'll try something like that. Like you say, it will be a real hassle, so trying to see if there is an easy fix. . . don't expect one.

 

[B-Edwards]

Use as big a piece of wood as you can to lever the drum into turning. Hook the bar ( small tree trunk or piece of limb) under the blade and place a piece of wood under that to give you an advantage. Sometimes the drum stops at a place where it is hard but mine have been stuck many times by people who didnt understand how to use it and I never had a time where I couldnt get it un-stuck this way. It was harder sometimes than others but I always got it. Good luck and lesson learned.

 

[treemandan]

Use as big a piece of wood as you can to lever the drum into turning. Hook the bar ( small tree trunk or piece of limb) under the blade and place a piece of wood under that to give you an advantage. Sometimes the drum stops at a place where it is hard but mine have been stuck many times by people who didnt understand how to use it and I never had a time where I couldnt get it un-stuck this way. It was harder sometimes than others but I always got it. Good luck and lesson learned.

You are doingthe pulling?

Sounds nasty. I did it once, I looked at it for about a hour then soaked it in gas and stuff and slowly smoldered out the lodged piece to the point it just fell out, it worked pretty good. It took some time and care to keep the thing SLOWLY burning, we used a blower on low to help. once we got the circulation right we used the smolder to eat the chunk out. It was rather easy to soak the piece with gas and lighter fluid which only had a chance to ignite something else if mishandled but it worked. I did not want to take the thing apart, no I didn't, I really didn't.

You can try bumping the clutch on high rpm but only if you know how and only once but be careful prying on it.

 

[tree MDS]

I have an old and newly rebuilt whisper chipper with 12" drum and 300-6 engine. Made the mistake of turning off the motor and then feeding a small red cedar. It stauled the drum with only the limb tips left but now I can't move the drum. Limbs are 1/2 inch or such. It is really jammed.

Any suggestions on clearing it out? I tried a sawzall and serious beatings but no luck yet. Maybe something that would eat the wood?

Cant you just tie the branches off to a tree or something and drive away slowly, with the truck in low?? the piece went in , it should come out no?

 

[Dadatwins]

You need to open the top as if changing the blades and clear all debris from back side of rotor. Make sure shute is clear. be careful hammering anywhere near the blades, you do not want one to crack and them fly out while spinning. The board and prying the wheel in reverse is probably safest option. You can get in there with a torch but be careful not to heat up the bearings.

 

[clearance]

Use as big a piece of wood as you can to lever the drum into turning. Hook the bar ( small tree trunk or piece of limb) under the blade and place a piece of wood under that to give you an advantage. Sometimes the drum stops at a place where it is hard but mine have been stuck many times by people who didnt understand how to use it and I never had a time where I couldnt get it un-stuck this way. It was harder sometimes than others but I always got it. Good luck and lesson learned.

Yep, never was defeated by them old things, the Energizer Bunny of chippers.

 

[NWRick044]

Curious if you had any luck. Just had mine apart for blade sharpening (also the whisper chipper) and put all back together and adjusted for weekend work. Maybe like the process of removing the blades, open up the front chute and see what she looks like. Might be able to trim off enough to rotate the drum backwards. Then at the same time take a look at blade settings and condition. Gives an opportunity to check your rigs condition. For myself after sharpening and installing the blades (rotated cutter bar as well) she cuts like a champ, was running hemlock, fir and alder through with average branch diameters 4" through 6". Filled the dump to the back gate. Hope all went well, let us know what ya did for the fix.

 

[buzzardroost]

Thanks for all the suggestions. Just got it unclogged by using the lever method. Took a 4x4 with 4x4 piece under as fulcrum about 6 inches from drum on feeder side. It rolled right back. The limbs were quite small but doesn't take much to jam it without the power and momentum.

 

[buzzardroost]

And, yes, it is a good opportunity to check blades and cutter bar.

 

[CalTreeEquip]

That's the trick.

Just for the record guys, that is how to do it, wood lever and fulcrum.
You just have to get the angle right.
Try unclogging a 16" drum that shut down at full speed from to big of Euc branch, that was a fun one.

WWW.CALIFORNIATREEEQUIPMENT.COM

 

[treemandan]

aww, no fire?

 

[buzzardroost]

I would use fire as a last resort. Excessive heat can soften the metal and potentially cause problems like quick dulling and easy bending.

 

[B-Edwards]

aww, no fire?

Lmao , I'm with "The Dan" , never ever thought of burning it out.

 

[treemandan]

Lmao , I'm with "The Dan" , never ever thought of burning it out.

Actually we tried to tie the stuff off and pull it out but no go, I was afraid to get a big prybar on it cause if it slipped...

The fire was not a " rager" by any stretch and it was a whole lot easier than trying to take apart a 25 year old boat anchor. The machine was ready for work the next day.