Price of an Asplundh Chipper

[ChrHerrman]

I found an old Asplundh chipper that a lady wants to sell that has been in her barn for the last 7 years. Apparently they bought it 7 years ago for $2K and had the engine replaced with a "new" ( I believe a rebuilt) Chrysler industrial engine for $3K. It has not run in the last 7 years but has been in a barn and the engine oil looks good. It has 12" blades. She was thinking $4K and I was thinking more like $2K. She is going to have a farmhand get it all running and in shape before selling.

My problem with these old style chippers is that the chute is rigid and you can not move it side to side. I do not have a chipper truck and was planning on chipping into a dump trailer, but I would have to always unhook the chipper from my pickup before chipping. I can't afford a newer style chipper with a moveable chute, so

Those of you that have these chippers, what is it worth?

How do you like them?

Has anybody mounted a different chute on these to shoot the chips to the side?

Would I be better off just renting a new chipper for jobs instead of buying an old machine?

 

[Bigus Termitius]

I found an old Asplundh chipper that a lady wants to sell that has been in her barn for the last 7 years. Apparently they bought it 7 years ago for $2K and had the engine replaced with a "new" ( I believe a rebuilt) Chrysler industrial engine for $3K. It has not run in the last 7 years but has been in a barn and the engine oil looks good. It has 12" blades. She was thinking $4K and I was thinking more like $2K. She is going to have a farmhand get it all running and in shape before selling.

My problem with these old style chippers is that the chute is rigid and you can not move it side to side. I do not have a chipper truck and was planning on chipping into a dump trailer, but I would have to always unhook the chipper from my pickup before chipping. I can't afford a newer style chipper with a moveable chute, so

Those of you that have these chippers, what is it worth?

How do you like them?

Has anybody mounted a different chute on these to shoot the chips to the side?

Would I be better off just renting a new chipper for jobs instead of buying an old machine?

Pics?

I like these chippers fine, but it would have to be in great shape and running top notch (preferably with a diesel) before I would consider 4k. If I'm right about the overall condition,(2k, 7 years ago? plus having sat 7 years) and you're right about a rebuilt motor, I'd show up with 2750 in cash if it runs like a sewing machine, and offer to haul it off for 500 if it doesn't. What's the belt and tires look like? Engine belts? hoses? How many mice have lived out their lifespans to create 7 years’ worth of damage? I'd say generations.

Sounds like a can of worm, which is likely why it sat for 7 years in the first place.

If you paid 4k and had to sink a ton of time and hundreds to thousands into it, you're better off to take that 2K and go shopping with a nice down payment.

I've always wanted to design a deflector for these old units, but never got around to it. It certainly can be done, and will be once I get one of my own for a backup. (I ran a bunch of these for the ROW company I USED to work for.)

You might have jobs where renting a chipper will pay dividends or at least give you some insurance anyway. I have a large job in the works where I'm renting a chipper because so much of the tree will feed nicely and I don't want to stand around and fight it. I get killer rates, so why not. And if the rental has issues, I always have mine to fall back on to finish the job. It's far enough away and over the course of a weekend. However, relying solely on rentals is not a good bet. They can quit you when you need them the most, and on small jobs it is not cost effective to rent.