Chippers can be purchased in all colours, sizes and makes, but one thing remains constant, they all need regular maintenance to remain in safe, reliable service.
Choosing the machine will depend on several considerations such as size (if it is propelled by a tractor, is it compatible with the tractor’s horsepower?) amount of work to be done and of course the cost, not just to purchase but also to maintain.
I have a 17 hp. Kubota so the selection of 3-point chipper units was somewhat limited as I wanted as heavy duty a unit as possible. These requirements led me to purchase a Wallenstein BXM32 chipper/shredder. Although small, this built in Ontario unit is a formidable piece of equipment that is manually fed for both the chipper and shredder as opposed to the larger ones that have a hydraulic feed.
Doing a basic routine after each use reveals small issues before they become a major maintenance problem which reduces the risk of injury and expensive bills. And, it really doesn’t take a whole lot of time as everything is very accessible.
After using the chipper, I blow the exterior off with compressed air and then open it up. A nice feature with the BXM32 is that one bolt holds the shredder chute and attached chipper shroud in place. After removing the bolt, I only have to hinge the top of the unit over and all the shredders (in one compartment) and the chipper wheel (in another) are exposed for ease of maintenance.
With another blast of compressed air both compartments are cleaned out. Occasionally stringy bark such as cedar will entangle itself around the shaft near the bearings. This has to be removed, or the bearings could be ruined. A check of the shredder knife mounting bolts is next and then the chipper knife is also checked for tightness.
Before I close the top I spray the shredder knives and chipper plate with diesel oil. It over sprays into the two chambers and prevents any rusting. This is easier than touching up the paint which will just scrape off again with the next use, and it helps prevents wood pitch from sticking to the cutting surfaces. I had to paint portions of the outside after a few years of service to prevent any rust, which is easy and allows the unit to retain its resale value. It may seem overkill to go over all the attachment points to ensure tightness but these units vibrate probably more than any other piece of equipment due to the type of work done and it is easy for things to loosen.
Because of the height of the shredder chute, I installed a piece of household water pipe insulation foam along the top edge. This is to prevent bruising of my forearms when loading debris. The foam is held in place by drilling a few holes through the chute and the use of nylon ties. When loading debris in the shredder, long pieces tend to open the hatch and the knives grab the debris pulling it in along with your arms which strike the side of the steel chute, hence the foam insulation. If the debris pulls the glove from your hand it will end up in the knives. That's another tangle to clean.
The secondary drive on the BXM32 uses two matched belts, which I check next for tightness and any digression; then I give the bearings the cheapest maintenance product available, grease. All the onboard bearings get a loading of grease including the drive shaft U joints, drive shaft halves and drive shaft safety shroud. Always wipe off the nipples before applying grease, this prevents any grit from being injected into the bearing. Only apply enough new grease to push out the old grease then wipe off any excess.
Auto feed units “auto feed”; that’s what they’re supposed to do, and are equipped with a safety shut down grab bar. Manual feed units are not so equipped and operators should be constantly vigilant.
I have used my BXM 32 safely for several years now with great ease and success converting many trees and unwanted brush into useful garden mulch. This is due in large part to reading the manual, establishing a sound work ethic, paying very close attention to the warning signs and staying alert while operating this equipment.
Operating my chipper for a few hours is quite a workout and I tend to get a little punchy, so another small thing I do when starting a job is to keep a section of a branch to use as a “push stick”. It comes in handy for unplugging brush that gets backed up in the chipper chute.
When putting the unit to bed for the season it is a good idea as with any primary/secondary belt drive pieces of equipment to loosen the belt tension to prevent premature stretching of the belts over prolonged storage.
- Dan Kerr