Looking at buying a chuck n duck. What to look for?

cody.matthees · Sep 7, 2014

Long story short I'm in the market for a relatively inexpensive chipper now for my small business.

I have experience operating an FMC model 16 but as far as older chippers go that's the only one I have used.

What things should a person look for on these machines besides simple things like condition of the engine, frame, tires, knives, belts etc?

I looked at one yesterday and engine seemed to run good but when he engaged the drum that thing was one of the loudest pieces of machinery I've been around. He claimed it was the mufflers but I was skeptical. It was a Olson (woodchuck) with a ford 330 V8.

The FMC I've used is noisy but nowhere near that bad so I'm wondering what should be considered "normal".

pro94lt · Sep 7, 2014

Running old equipment can make or break you... many months I could have been better off with new... With that said you need to look at the bearings and shafts and at least do a compression test...

Mowingman · Sep 7, 2014

I don't know anything about chippers. However, I do have a lot of experience with the 330 Ford industrial engines. They are really great engines and can take a lot of abuse and still keep going. As mentioned, a compression test would be a good place to start, and maybe even an engine oil analysis. As far as the engine goes, the 330 is a fine engine, if it has received even minimal maintenance during it's life.
Jeff

cody.matthees · Sep 8, 2014

Yeah I know that about running old equipment...that's the part that concerns me but I want to be more efficient. Having to make multiple trips to dump brush sucks. Then again so does having a piece of equipment that's always causing headaches....

Yeah those old fords seem to be near indestructible. How is parts availability for them?

CalTreeEquip · Sep 20, 2014

Run the thing up then disengage the clutch and turn off the engine. That will tell you where all the noise is coming from.
You'r better off finding one with a Ford 300 engine. The 330 is a great engine but not many of them around anymore. 300's are very common and much easier to maintain. Plenty of power too.

gdavis24 · Sep 20, 2014

Noise like that is probably bearings. Way separate from condition and life of the engine.
Ford 330 industrial was used in a common line of trucks as well, I think Hertz med duty rentals.
At the parts counter try asking for a 1975 Ford 450 truck, which will show that engine option, and march on.
Also way better to find a parts store with an old guy who can still pull out the paper books. Young folks at Advanced Auto are lost without a computer data base.

CalTreeEquip · Sep 21, 2014

I think they stop putting the 330 in trucks around 1968. I don't think I'v ever seen one in anything beyond the 60's anyway. Had one is a 65 and 66 F600. They used them into the 70's in chippers. Very few around now.