morbark model 17 drum Chipper good for palm trees and oaks?

[jaystihl]

Hey guys, I almost just bought a disc chipper not realizing that those are horrible for palm trees. At least the smaller dis Chipper aren't anyways. I am now looking at a older morbark model 17 with a inline 6 Ford engine. We do a lot of pal we do a lot of palm trimming but also a lot of big pine and oak removals. Do you think this is a versatile machine for what we are doin for what we are doing?

 

[jaystihl]

Everyone seems to like the disk and the drum due to personal preference. Seems like there is equal pros and cons. We are in florida and do alot of palm trimming, but also alot of oak a nd pine removals. Just trying to figure out what the right chipper is. Seems impossible! ! Please, any palm trimmers out there that can help!

 

[stihl076]

we use drum chippers at work and they chip palm just fine

 

[jaystihl]

Thanks for the reply 076! Anyone else know about the morbark 17 and palms ? I know they can eat up some wood but palms? Anyone have experience with this chipper? ?

 

[stihl076]

Is that chipper your only option or do you have more options?

 

[jaystihl]

My only other option is is a bandit 200+ or a chuck and duck. I am told that the bandit wont have enough hp to chew up what i need (88 hp duetz). I was told if its a disk chip you need 115-130hp for palms

 

[stihl076]

Can you demo the machines? if you can i would demo both and see which one you like and suits your needs better. I have used older morbarks and there good machines but i prefer bandit. hope this helps

 

[jaystihl]

Thanks 076! my biggest concern is chipping palm fronds. they can be a real pain in the ass! I read somewhere that i could have a problem with clogging on morbark 17( chipping fronds). The machine will have an inline 6 ford. Does anyone know if this is enough hp?

 

[CalTreeEquip]

Palm is very stringy as you know. The fibers start rapping around the shaft over time and eventually wear away the bearing seals.
This is more prevalent with disc chippers than hydraulic drum chippers. However, many hydraulic drum chippers choke on light material.
Older Morbarks are famous for this. I don't think the hp's have much to do with it.
Non-hydraulic drum chippers are the best for palm. There is a lot of blade spinning real fast. There are plenty of companies that keep an old chuck-n-duck on hand
just for palm jobs.
Having said that, you can use other chippers for the job provided they have plenty of throwing power, sharp well adjusted blades and bednife,
and you keep the fibers cleared off the shaft.

 

[jaystihl]

Palm is very stringy as you know. The fibers start rapping around the shaft over time and eventually wear away the bearing seals.
This is more prevalent with disc chippers than hydraulic drum chippers. However, many hydraulic drum chippers choke on light material.
Older Morbarks are famous for this. I don't think the hp's have much to do with it.
Non-hydraulic drum chippers are the best for palm. There is a lot of blade spinning real fast. There are plenty of companies that keep an old chuck-n-duck on hand
just for palm jobs.
Having said that, you can use other chippers for the job provided they have plenty of throwing power, sharp well adjusted blades and bednife,
and you keep the fibers cleared off the shaft.

Thanks cal tree, so are you saying forget the old morbark? Go with a disc chipper?

 

[CalTreeEquip]

The old 17 probably isn't he best choice. The 200 is a nice overall machine.

 

[jaystihl]

The old 17 probably isn't he best choice. The 200 is a nice overall machine.

Ok thanks, i know a chuck and duck would probably be the best for palms but can only afford one chipper so just trying to figure out a machine that will be good all the way around. Seems impossible though. What kind of chipper do you use? I can only spend around 10,000 so i am kind of limited.

 

[CalTreeEquip]

I sell chippers and even when I did tree work I didn't work on palm, hate the stuff.
What I know is from my So Cal and Hawaii customers.
I do know one HI company that runs Vermeer BC1250's and say they do a pretty good job on palm.
Such a chipper would be in you price range. A BC1230A is very similar. Just keep that disc shaft clean.

 

[nk14zp]

Also remember any sweep in the trunk will use up a lot of the 17" on the morbark. That is if they are like the 22",27" and 30" these are the three I'm too familiar with.