PTO chipper x PTO hp needed ??

WFM

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Premium Member

Equipment
L3800
Apr 5, 2013
1,359
705
113
Porter Maine
I'm looking at buying a new PTO chipper. One dealer tells me my L3800 has 30 HP at the PTO so I can only use a 3" chipper. Another dealer which I bought the tractor from recommends up to a 6" chipper.
What the hell....I sent Wallenstein chipper a email asking and waiting for a reply. If you look at the different sizes it says rated for PTO size 15 hp to 45 hp depending on the size chipper. That just seems like a really really wide range there. Any input from the experts here is welcomed....
 

mdhughes

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Equipment
L3901DT
Dec 10, 2014
1,259
756
113
Ste Geneveive county, MO
Woodmaxx's WM-8M will work with your tractor. They say you need 19 hp. minimum. I used one on my L3901DT and have chipped some 8" limbs, but I have to keep an eye on it when I do. I do 4" oak all the time and the tractor doesn't have any problems with them. They also have the WM-8H that has hydraulic feed and you can change the speed that it feeds the wood into the chipper.

What type of stuff are you looking to chip?
 

85Hokie

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BX-25D ,PTB. Under Armor, '90&'92-B7100HST's, '06 BX1850 FEL
Jul 13, 2013
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2,581
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Bedford - VA
I'm looking at buying a new PTO chipper. One dealer tells me my L3800 has 30 HP at the PTO so I can only use a 3" chipper. Another dealer which I bought the tractor from recommends up to a 6" chipper.
What the hell....I sent Wallenstein chipper a email asking and waiting for a reply. If you look at the different sizes it says rated for PTO size 15 hp to 45 hp depending on the size chipper. That just seems like a really really wide range there. Any input from the experts here is welcomed....

Your L3800 does have 30HP at the chipper - and it will run a 6" stick through it .......under the right conditions! ;)

I was all into buying a nice 3 point chipper -looked at all the top names, hell I wanted one that I could run behind my B7100! (good luck with that !) - I ran across a pull behind self contained that I could not pass up however. It says it will handle a 4" diameter branch.......mmmm......not if it is 8' long:p!!!!!

when you are dealing with chippers on a 3 point, you have to run the rpms at the rear at the correct setting, you have to get that flywheel up and spinning or you'll be sad that you bought the machine. Also - the feed rate, sure - you can shove a 1" right down the throat of the machine and it will never cough..... but if you do the same thing with a 3" branch it will get a little pisssy with you !!! AND it is simple math - the 3" branch is 9 TIMES bigger in circular area than the 1".....thats right - 9 times bigger! A 6" diameter branch, is a mere 27+ times larger than the ol' 1" branch!

Are the limbs freshly cut? Are these pine? OR maple? Take a dried limb of maple and place in in a chipper.........mmmmmm, or hickory......something that is "green" will chip up a little easier than something that is very dry.

Sharpness of blades, huge factor, how MANY blades are spinning is another huge factor. Size and weight of the flywheel is another huge factor.

I would not want to run something like a 6" branch through a chipper, I would cut it to length and burn it! (assuming it is a hard wood)


Most of us use chippers to clean up the mess after the trees are fell and the logs pulled away, unless a commercial outfit - chipping up branches past a 4" would be asking a lot of any machine.

Any chipper that will fit YOUR budget and needs will run behind your 30 HP at the pto....... I just would not throw the whole tree in the chipper! It all boils down to knowing the limitations of the machine and correct way to use it.:)
 

Tughill Tom

Well-known member

Equipment
B3200
Dec 23, 2013
1,235
1,401
113
Turin, NY
I'm looking at buying a new PTO chipper. One dealer tells me my L3800 has 30 HP at the PTO so I can only use a 3" chipper. Another dealer which I bought the tractor from recommends up to a 6" chipper.
What the hell....I sent Wallenstein chipper a email asking and waiting for a reply. If you look at the different sizes it says rated for PTO size 15 hp to 45 hp depending on the size chipper. That just seems like a really really wide range there. Any input from the experts here is welcomed....
I run a Salsco Chipper on my B3200, 26Hp @ the PTO, handles 4" dried Pine with no issues. Salsco is direct drive no belts. also two knife's and the flywheel weighs 150lb, And made in America. Great bunch of guys to deal with, Call and ask for Sal and he'll answer any question you have.
 
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WFM

Well-known member
Premium Member

Equipment
L3800
Apr 5, 2013
1,359
705
113
Porter Maine
Thanks for the replies.
My dealer said Salsco was the best chipper made. of course he sells them. A lot of folks I hear say get power feed if you can. I don't have rear hydraulics on my machine. BUT searching I see WoodMaxx has self contained power feed. I like that. I'm going to look into there chippers a little further.
 

Tughill Tom

Well-known member

Equipment
B3200
Dec 23, 2013
1,235
1,401
113
Turin, NY
Thanks for the replies.
My dealer said Salsco was the best chipper made. of course he sells them. A lot of folks I hear say get power feed if you can. I don't have rear hydraulics on my machine. BUT searching I see WoodMaxx has self contained power feed. I like that. I'm going to look into there chippers a little further.
I did the same as you last year, looked at everything out there. It came down to quality and where it was made. everything else out there was made in China(un-good in my book) This thing is build like a tank, Salsco has a power feed but it adds $$, for my use manual feed works what we do. Also picked it up at show and saved some coin's.