Whats alot of hours on a chipper

[zsteinmetz]

I just found a 1993 morbark eager beever chipper on a municipal auction for $2200. The bad thing is it needs a clutch which is about $400 bucks. Its a diesel with 3500 hours. Is this alot of hours?

 

[(WLL)]

I just found a 1993 morbark eager beever chipper on a municipal auction for $2200. The bad thing is it needs a clutch which is about $400 bucks. Its a diesel with 3500 hours. Is this alot of hours?

hours has little to do with it. it all depends on how well it was maintained.

 

[Mikecutstrees]

There is about 2,000 hours in the average work year. So your chipper in question has been running the equivalent of almost 2 years non- stop. Thats quite a few hours on a machine. I agree with WLL though it also depends on how it was maintained. Look for signs of abuse. Bent broken parts. Also see if the motor blows alot of smoke. It also depends on what model it is and what capacity it has. It may be a good deal you could get a few years of good service out of or it could be a lemon..... good luck... Mike

 

[zsteinmetz]

A guy who worked at the municipal said when they used it (which was mostly winter time )they would start it when they left the shop and it would not turn off until almost the end of the day. Sometimes running two hours or more with nothing going through it. Alot of idling hours he claimed

 

[frodo]

i would guess you got a good deal. the muni's usually take good care of their stuff. you got some old codger that's been working for the city for about 25 years running the maintenance shop, pumping that baby full of grease every time it leaves and comes back. i just sold a gas powered bandit 150 with 2600 hrs on it that ran like new and did not use a drop of oil. i asked and got 4000 for it pretty easy. replaced it with a 255xp, big ol honkin 140hp cat if i cant get at least 5000 hrs. out of it i'll be good luck

 

[thejdman04]

Not a bad deal at all, idilings hard on a diesel, lots of times esp in the winter, idling there wont be enough heat in the engine to keep the engine warm, rings expanded, and wet stacking can occur. (the diesel fuel doesnt burn completely and it disolves the oil on the cylinder walls.). I wouldnt worry too much usually municipal stuff is maintained well.

 

[treevet]

$2600...good price for any functioning chipper (after clutch) even a chuck/ducker. What size diesel? Autofeed?

 

[zsteinmetz]

its a model 200 morbark. Not sure the hp.

 

[zsteinmetz]

i meant to say morbark 290 not 200. I think its a hundred horse cummins.

 

[treevet]

Plenty of power. has it got an autofeed system, I am not familiar with that model. I am a Vermeer guy. How about a pict?

 

[zsteinmetz]

yes it is an auto feed. Ill try to get a pic.

 

[rbtree]

I've never run one, but know that the 290 is a very good chipper. Reconditioned, I'd bet a 93 could fetch $8000 or more from a dealer.


4000 hours is not a lot for a 15 yr old unit.

 

[Blakesmaster]

$2600...good price for any functioning chipper (after clutch) even a chuck/ducker. What size diesel? Autofeed?

+1

I wish I'd only spent that on my chuck n' duck but I'd yet to find this site and got the shaft.

 

[treevet]

I'd still prob use a Mitts and Merrill in the 16 inch throat if somebody gave me one with the big engine. You get slapped around a lot but it makes those nice small chips that take up less room in the truck. I think they had 12 staggered knives, a beahtch to change and I ached from torquing them for a day. I had one for 25 years. I think they still make them in upstate Ohio. You can roll them around the drive by hand if you are careful. Don't try to take my 2 vermeers in exchange tho.

 

[rbtree]

M&M, best hand fed chipper ever made, and still sold ( www.karlkuemmerling.com ) I only had mine for 11 years.

You can keep your Vermeer's, though, vet.....It would take 4 of them to get me to part with my 250XP.......

 

[treevet]

I can relate to being loyal to what does you good and what you took to the dance Rog. I have been Vermeer for 10 years in 2 chippers and 2 stumpers and the machines and service have been excellent. No competitors nearby anyway.

 

[treevet]

M&M, best hand fed chipper ever made, and still sold ( www.karlkuemmerling.com ) I only had mine for 11 years.

You can keep your Vermeer's, though, vet.....It would take 4 of them to get me to part with my 250XP.......

Little bird just told me you might like the BC2000 I got with 200 hp Cummins. It is kind of a manly chipper.

 

[outofmytree]

200 ponies......:jawdrop:

 

[treevet]

200 ponies......:jawdrop:

It's gonna get paint this spring but it runs and chips great.

 

[yahoo2]

With the chippers I have owned, always seem to be the hydraulics that wear far faster than the diesel engine. Even with good maintenance. Is the same as with an excavator, everything but the engine seems to go kaput first. For a chipper, those hours are high.