Need Help Identifying an OLD Chipper

[Gauge]

I think I posted my question in the wrong forum. This is an old "commercial" chipper. I would love to find out who made this. I posted pictures, but so far no can recognize it. It has an air cooled Wisconsin V4 engine.

Thanks for having me as a member.

http://www.arboristsite.com/homeowner-helper-forum/168362.htm#post2852385

 

[Gauge]

Well, I've confirmed that the engine is a Wisconsin VG4D - rated at 37HP and 96 ft. lbs. of torque. I still can't ID the chipper itself.

 

[VA-Sawyer]

How about a few more photos ?

 

[TimberMcPherson]

It could have been built by an engineering shop or even by a fabricator who had a buddy in the tree game who needed a chipper made. I know of a few home built chippers in my city.

 

[treeman82]

I've seen one just like it sitting across the street from a friend's place. Almost looks like a small OLD morbark though.

 

[capetrees]

WOW!!! I haven't seen that in years. I used to run one of those at least 15 years ago and mine looked exactly the same. Look on the chip chute for a name. I think it started with an R but might be wrong. The motor is a Wisconsin VG4D and it uses and oil bath in the bottom of the air filter. Keep a can of some sort on the exhaust so water from rain doesn't get into the motor. (Found that out the hard way) The manifold is up top and rain gets in.

It's a 6" capacity disk chipper, manual feed. Pretty good for small cleanups. I bought it from a campgrounds that used it after storms on the property. Ga smotor wasn't too bad either.

 

[Gauge]

I think it started with an R but might be wrong.

Capetree - I think you might be on to something. I only found one tag on the entire chipper it says, "Rover Chipper - Patented Rotary Anvil". The tag is on the outside of the chipper down near a "cylinder" where the wood enters the blade. Like I said, it's a disk chipper, but next to the disk is this round cylinder, (the "rotary anvil"). The cylinder is stationary, but it can rotate. When the revolving disk grabs the wood, it gets squeezed between the turning disk and the round cylinder. Did anyone ever hear of a "Rotary Chipper"?

This machine looks like it's at least 50 years old and I would say it was used and ABUSED, but it fires right up with no smoke. I fed in some 3" branches and it grinded it up like it was nothing. Seems like a very strong yet simple machine.

 

[capetrees]

Yes, you got it. It is a Rover and the rotary anvil is just as you describe. The round vertical cylinder spins as the branch is fed into the blades. If you have the manual, your clearance will be the measurement between the round anvil and the blade edge. Too big of a space and the blades take too much wood and it will bog down the motor. Too small of a clearance and you will be feeding it all day, slow but sure. The right clearance will allow the branch to be fed in almost by itself, the more it eats, the more it will fed itself. Might be tough getting parts. I remember the final straw of mine was when I stripped the threads in the chipper disk when changing the blades. The bolts screw into the disk and hold the blades by pressure, not bolt holes. Tightened too much and they stripped.

BTW, the engine was made in the late 70's to give some perspective on age.

 

[Gauge]

Capetrees - Looks like we've confirmed that it is a Rover Chipper. I opened the machine, (three wing nuts and it opens like a clam) and the four blades are attached to the cutting disk exactly as you described.

I DON'T have a manual for it. Do you know where I could get one? Is this company still in business? Did someone buy the company?

Assuming I cannot get any information on this machine, do you know what the space between the "anvil" and the cutter disk is suppossed to be? What's the width? I can adjust the opening with a wrench, but I have no idea what the width should be.

Also, I know nothing about chippers, (this is my first one). Can you give me any information about this machine based on your experience. Is it a good machine? What are it's weak points? Anything you think of that I should be aware of?

Thanks for the info. I appreciate it!

 

[Gauge]

By the way - there is a "Rover Mower" company, but it looks like they only make small push mowers and brush chippers and they are located in Australia.

 

[capetrees]

I was just sitting here and it came to me. The comapny name is Royer, not Rover. The company is still around but I haven't found anything regarding a wood chipper. They are into the recycling materials idea now, soils and compost. I believe the companys name is Royer Foundry and Machinery out of PA.

As far as weak points and specs., I really didn't get into it too much. I had a manual and it went with the machine. I gave the machine to a guy in the next town over from me. I'll see if he or the chipper are still around.

I CAN'T SAY THIS STRONGLY ENOUGH. BE CAREFUL AROUND THIS MACHINE. IF IT LOOKS BEAT, BE EXTRA CAREFUL IN THAT YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT IT COULD THROW AT YOU. I haven't the faintest idea what the gap is supposed to be between the anvil and the blade edge and also keep in mind the blade extends out from the disk so that gap needs to be set correctly also. Then you have bolt tourque and the list goes on and on. BE CAREFUL!!What scared me the most was the fact that the blades were held in place by pressure and not a bolt through a hole.

 

[Gauge]

Captures - Thanks for the warning. I plan on completely going through the machine before using it and I plan on treating it like a "chuck and duck".

Regarding the name I think you are right again. The tag is so worn, the bottom of the "Y" is not visible and I thought it was a "V".

Any info you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Gauge]

Capetrees - Also, I bought the chipper in Pennsylvania and brought it to New Jersey.

 

[Gauge]

Here a few more pictures of the chipper.

This picture is the rotating cylinder anvil as seen from the outside of the chipper:
View attachment 177764

 

[Gauge]

This picture is where the cutting disk meets the rotating anvil as seen from inside the chipper box:

View attachment 177766

 

[Gauge]

This is the right side of the chipper:

View attachment 177767

 

[Gauge]

This is the left side of the chipper:

View attachment 177770

 

[Gauge]

The internet is amazing. I was able to find the original patent filed by Royer for the "Rotating Anvil Chipper". It included a description of how it works as well as diagrams. The patent was filed in 1973.