New Chipper

Bernard Keays

We've got a new 15" Morbark. We've had nothing but trouble with it. Its been in and out of the workshop for repairs ever since we purchased it. Has anyone else had trouble with theirs? The dealer has told us that you can't put anything in it larger than a 12" log.

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Bernie

Eric Frei

What sort of troubles Bernard. They look a sturdy machine.

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Steve Tipton

I have used Morebark 13" drum and 9" disc. Both would not feed well and the 13" constantly blocked the discharge chute.

Eric Frei

I suppose palms would really block the shute then?

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Steve Tipton

Yep, and clog the rollers also. vermeer 1800 handle palm ok, but is hard on blades.

Bernard Keays

Where do you start? When it arrived it wouldn't start. Dealer went and got another battery. No problems. Later found out chipper was factory fitted with winch and dealer took this off as we didn't ask for this (I thought this was standard...my mistake), then wanted extra for it to be put back on $4000 or $5000. About month later it was hard to start again. Mechanic looked at it and said it was dusted. Dust had got into motor. Anyway sat idol for weeks...months while Dealer, Morbark and Engine manufacturer claimed it wasn't their fault. Apparently someone had modified the air filter housing and was letting dust in. Later I was told everything was OK (turbo was shot) and returned fix.....Seemed ok. Later...about a week later something else wasn't right. Thought balance. Apparently water got into the drum and put everything out of whake. Dealer phoned to say that chipper was fixed....later claimed that one of the feed rollers and drive shaft were bent. Dealer claimed that a 12 inch log was stuck behind feed roller causing damage. This has happened to me before but no drama's. I said 'so what its a 15 inch chipper'. I actually wanted an 18 inch chipper but we shouldn't go their. We're careful not to put stones, metal through it...check for nails. Anything dodgy taken to tip...crane truck or bob cat. We just want to keep the machine on the road..better than hand loading.

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Bernie

Eric Frei

Crikey mate,

If the friggin thing cant take more than a certain dia log then the manf is negligent for allowing a wider mouth! Make it 12" then.

What is up with these chipper designers, have they never fed one?

Shit happens out there, like Vermeer put a set of lights above the feed table, no guesses for what happens to them, not to mention that bloody bump bar.

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cut-right

what year morbark 13? I just bought a 1999. A friend has a 98 and its a beast. Only has the single feed roller though. Mine has double, w/auto feed. SOLID built chipper.

cut-right

We always put large slices of wood in the morbark13. As wide as the opening, which is 20". Or roll in 13" diameter logs that wide. They spin and chip well.

OutofMytree

Have a Morbark 12" with similar feed problems. I believe the machine is underpowered and that more horses would go a long way to solving the problems I have encountered. Interestingly enough, the Cat powerplant is none turbo... I feel the need to modify!!!!!!

The other issue I have encountered is the poor throw from the waste chute when chomping palms or similar gluggy stuff. Ended up cutting the chute in half and installing a hinge on top. Now it can be run with half or full chute. The waste falls a little short of the tailgate of my truck but its still way faster than unblocking the chute every 15 minutes.

TrevMcRev

Got a pic of that???

I think i know what you mean, like you can fold it on top of itself, halving the chute length = better flow, less restriction....

I run a vermeer 1800a and it blocks on some palms, some twiggy conifers and trees in heavy fruit.

OutofMytree

You have the right idea. Will get you a decent picture shortly.

Urban Treecare NZ

A friend of mine has a 12" morbark and has had similar problems, he has previously worked with larger 18" morbarks and says that bandits of smaller capacity such as 12"and 14" preform alot better than larger capacity morbarks. I personally have a 9" bandit and it will take a 10 or 11" log with no problem, also the aspect of not been able to close off the infeed has been a problem as nothing can be stored in the feed tray on those tight capacity jobs lol.

Steve Tipton

2000 model.

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Heightmaster

OutofMytree

This tally's with my experience of the two brands. Bandit use a much larger drum than morbark in models up to 15". Both machines use vanes fitted to the drum to produce airflow and as such, the bigger the drum diameter the greater the airflow. The larger drum also means greater momentum, which in turn means it is easier to get larger diameter hard wood logs through without stalling.

If you compare the 18" models of both brands the difference is much less obvious. I still lean towards the Bandit for large logs because the gap between the feed rollers and the drum is half the Morbarks and this means less potential jamming when the log rolls beyond the feed rollers.

Did I mention a Bandit 1890 is on my christmas list?

OutofMytree

As promised, the modified 12" chipper chute. Closed it works as per normal. Open it allows us to chip cocos palm logs, the "bunches of grapes" from cocos palms and other "soft" plant bits. Its also really handy when u block the chute for cleaning!

TrevMcRev

Yeah, thats as i thought, what a nifty idea!

tree c

Recently I tested every 14 - 15 inch chipper on the market in Australia worth testing. Vermeer,Morback,Bandit,Rhyco,Chip Star and Dynamic .
two things came out of that excise. 1 the salesman in this industry are ......, all but chipstar turned up blades blunt ,bits hanging of them ,fresh weld marks, not serviced,
Vermeer - good machine unfornately there world on a deal meant nothing so did not think they would keep there quality up.
Morbark - under powered with 125 hp on 15inch ,sprayed a lot of small chip back at people feeding chipper safety issue ,had fresh weld mark where infeed shut had cracked and needed fixing,mulch qualitiy not great (due to blunt blades )
bandit - great machine only that it turned up blunt blades ,belts slipping .anvel needed ajusting ,and all controlls on wrong side but to be honest it was a good machine considering how i got to demo it. cost $20,000 more so could not justify it.as was all parts ex usa
Rhyco -[/B][/COLOR] light waite looking machine ,cracks in main under carrage,but if you where doing soft wood all day pretty good machine as had some great features on it. :
dynamic - what a pile of crap. did not help that this is there demo machine and it turned up with more weld marks and bits hanging of it you would have thought it was 40 year old.also the bloody salesman saying this machine wine take anything even bananna palm with out blocking . 3.2 sec later blocked on coca's head .
Chipstar - well the only machine to turn up ready for work, the only machine with all the controll levers on the right side , mulch quality was excellent , power by 140 so had heeps of grunt , solid uderframe , product of australia meant all parts you could get anywhere and standard sizes ,overall great machine
When we test these machines ,we stored 5 piles of wood for 2 months ,
palm pile , soft wood (pine, tulip) medium hard ( gum ) hard wood (leopard , iron bark ) and brush , all chippers did same materials as i wanted an apples for apples result.
Anyway that is what i thought cheers simon

ArborealTerror

Simon,
Where are the results for the Bandit?

kimtree

im thinking about buying a 1800a or 1800xl,what's the difference between these two and does anyone think ones better than the other,i'l be chipping coconut and african mahogany which is a semi hardwood up to full capacity?

OutofMytree

Dude if you put 8 week old wood within yards of my chipper I would feed you through it. Feet first, slow speed.

I have to wonder why the first post you make in our forum just happens to be a comprehensive flaming of all the major chipper manufacturers and their representatives except for one. Are you by any chance a paid representative of Chipstar??

As a note to anyone purchsing any major piece of equipment. Do test them out. Make sure you are comparing apples to apples by doing the same kind of work with each machine. Of course ensure each machine is primed and ready to work and if by some remote chance a machine does turn up below standard, send them away without even starting it up. You will never have a re-occurence if you circulate that story every time you talk to a dealer.

As to engine power, all the chippers I am testing have a choice of motors. If you feel the machine you tested was a good performer in all other area's then order a bigger motor for it. Let's face it. The chipper is the hardest working piece of equipment we own. Except for socks, of course.

Steve Tipton

Tree C, did you try a Carlton? A friend of mine recently got a new 12" Carlton disc, It's like a 250 Bandit on steroids! Strong as hell and works great. I think they are making bigger machines as well.
We recently had a demo of an 18" Rayco. Built like a brick scheisen, but didn't feed well, looks like a design fault in the in feed area..

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Heightmaster

Red Roo

BOLD ITALICS MINE

Hi Simon,

Would have thought we would have qualified with both the 2012 disc unit against a Chipstar and 750X against the others mentioned.

You will have the opportunity to run these machines at Arbor Camp.

It is an excellent opportunity for people to evaluate all competitors equipment on an even playing field and allow them the opportunity to make an informed decision without the smoke and mirrors.

Cheers

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Tree and Landscape Equipment Australia by Red Roo

Commercial Wood Chippers | Stump Grinders | GRCS

Our Thread At Treeworld | Our Videos At Treeworld

Eric Frei

Redroo,

Were you in that test event he posted about?

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Red Roo

Hi Ekka,

I was aware that tree c was in the market for a new unit, but my understanding was he was going to demo equipment during the upcoming Arbor Camp.

At present, the answer is no - but as I mentioned previously, I hope to have him (and others) behind our equipment next week!

Cheers

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Tree and Landscape Equipment Australia by Red Roo

Commercial Wood Chippers | Stump Grinders | GRCS

Our Thread At Treeworld | Our Videos At Treeworld

Bernard Keays

Ekka,

Had a few more problems today. Check out these attached photo's.

Attached Thumbnails

           

 

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Bernie

Red Roo

Hi Bernard Keays,

Hope no one was injured!

What brand of blades were they? New or how many hours / amount of sharpening?

Cheers
Sean

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Tree and Landscape Equipment Australia by Red Roo

Commercial Wood Chippers | Stump Grinders | GRCS

Our Thread At Treeworld | Our Videos At Treeworld

Eric Frei

Heck, that's bad and dangerous.

Wonder why that happened?

Thanks for the pics, keep us updated.

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Steve Tipton

Ouch!

I had some new after market blades in a vermeer 1250 once that shattered first go, but not as severe as yours. It turned out that they had been over hardened or not tempered, don't remember which. The supplier, Forrest Machine Knives, replaced them. The replacements were good.

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Heightmaster

Bernard Keays

Know one was injured. Can't say anymore. I've been gagged.

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Bernie