Morbark Chipper Won't Start

[NickfromWI]

I dunno if these issues are the fault of the product, or the operator, and if the latter, then changing from product A to product B may not accomplish much over the long haul.

Dude you're totally right. I know that my understanding of chippers and engines is very limited and minimal. But when I bring it to two dealers and then engine guys, when I get it back it should be....close to new? Now all that can be said about it is "it has the ability to chip some things."

I guess I'm kinda hoping bandit or vermeer will be better at managing my deficiencies! ��

 

[Mick!]

Dude you're totally right. I know that my understanding of chippers and engines is very limited and minimal. But when I bring it to two dealers and then engine guys, when I get it back it should be....close to new? Now all that can be said about it is "it has the ability to chip some things."

I guess I'm kinda hoping bandit or vermeer will be better at managing my deficiencies! ��

Part of it is they don't test the machines properly after a repair, you know, with wood. As far as they're concerned engine starts, rollers and flywheel turns, it's good to go.
Keep at them, get the anvil turned for starters.

 

[NickfromWI]

That part actually pisses me off. I know it's annoying for them to keep a pile of brush nearby for testing purposes ...but you know what else sucks? Paying my employees to drive the chipper to all these different repair shops. There needs to be a one-stop chipper repair shop. Maybe I need to start ChipperCareLA


love
nick

 

[NickfromWI]

I better hire a mechanic first though


love
nick

 

[SouthSoundTree-]

Can you send your chip truck filled with some brush? Dump, chip into truck, good to go? If its not good to go, they're going to have a pile of brush in the parking lot until its fixed!

 

[Pelorus]

Dude you're totally right. I know that my understanding of chippers and engines is very limited and minimal. ��

Hey Nick - no slight intended on my part. Seems like unless someone is running a BIG operation, and can afford to employ a full or part-time mechanic / bookkeeper / salesperson / etc, in addition to a crew of monkeys, then you either gotta be a jack of all trades in this biz, or find reliable, competent people that are your "go to" people when you need help.
I hate getting ripped off, and try to fix anything and everything I own (and break), even though my time would often be better spent churning out treework and leaving the fixit mechanic stuff to a shop.

 

[Cobleskill]

Hard to find honest competent mechanic or shop. I bet there is someone of a back yard caliber in your area who would be happy to keep your stuff fixed Nick. Networking maybe?

 

[sotc]

Totally agree, part of why I want to get my shop emptied out and my stuff in it!

 

[pete mctree]

I had an agreement with a mechanic when I ran my biz. He dropped everything when I had a problem & I paid him well over the odds. Worked well as I reduced my downtime drastically. He did all the usual servicing etc at normal rates. Might be worth a punt if you can find the right garage. I'd look at truck mechanics as they usually have a better idea fixing plant.

 

[Altissimus]

I have never touched the Anvil on mine...

 

[Mick!]

Most chipper and grinder mechanics is child's play to agricultural engineers.

 

[Altissimus]

Most chipper and grinder mechanics is child's play to agricultural engineers.

...Yep , including Diesel. Morbark salesmen calls Chippers "Giant Corn Choppers"

 

[NickfromWI]

Agriculture? What's that?


love
nick

 

[FireFighterZero]

A friends corn chopper was so worn out that the knives were welded to the drum because the bolt holes were wobbled out. They traded it off that way.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Altissimus, how many hours without touching anvil?

Bandit has anvils available that are of a harder or more wear resistant steel supposedly. It starts with a crisper/sharper edge like cold rolled steel stock as opposed to hot rolled with a little more radius.

It's not going to survive steel and rock incounters as well.

 

[Altissimus]

Machine is a '97 ... Salesman said adjusting Anvil clearance w knife change is critical ... Techs said nope , just makes a slightly bigger chip w knife wear.

 

[Merle Nelson]

Huh.

 

[SouthSoundTree-]

Never heard that. I bet it chips better with the right shape to push against. I've never changed my blades without changing my hexagonal anvil. I know how much better it chips with fresh knives and something to push it against.

Adjusting the clearance is critical if you are putting longer knives in, like a new set, especially because they are max size. You need to maintain minimum clearance.

 

[Jed]

Yup. Forgot to ask you in return, Sean... What percentage of Pruning/Removal do you do? Any more State Parks wedge pounding?

 

[SouthSoundTree-]

I quit SPs on my 40th birthday, about 2.5 years ago, as a present to myself. Way too dangerous. Poorly run in a lot of ways. I liked working with my boss a lot, though.

half and half, roughly. Maybe more pruning. A lot of the removals are hazards compared to ones people don't want. I got sick of killing trees this summer, working on a laminated root rot pocket at my daughter's preschool.

 

[Jed]

I get it. Anyone know what causes Laminated RR?

Working for the company that I do, I'd rather cut stuff down, partly because I don't like the way that they bid their pruning.

Sorry for derail.

 

[SouthSoundTree-]

Phellinus sulfurescens, previously Phellinus weirii, previously to that, the soil-borne fungus was known as Poria weirii. Old loggers sometimes call LRR simply "poria" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poria_weirii

I know a bit about it. Dealt with it a lot.

 

[NickfromWI]

learn something new every day!

 

[NickfromWI]

Check out this awesomeness




love
nick

 

[Mick!]

Tell us what it's like Monday.