Bandit's New Feed Wheel Engage

[mpriley02]

Bandit\'s New Feed Wheel Engage

I got an email from Bandit today. They've come out with an "operator presence" control for their hand fed chippers. It's a foot pedal that needs to be pressed in order for the feed wheels to engage. I guess it may keep someone from getting sucked through, but I can see how it would drastically cut efficiency in chipping.

It seems like you would have to keep one foot on the pedal while trying to load branches, and then stand there until the whole thing was chipped. I don't know about you, but as soon as the feed wheels have the branch, I'm off to get another one. You would also have to be pretty good at balancing to try to stand on the pedal and maneuver some of the gnarlier branches out there.

It's a good concept, but I won't be retrofitting my chipper with one. I bet there will be some larger companies out there that will spec their chippers with the device and expect their operators to use them. I suspect that the crews will realize what a hassle they are, which will lead to tampering with the mechanism and probably some injuries.

 

[southsoundtree]

Re: Bandit\'s New Feed Wheel Engage

I bet that people will disable the device, and there won't be any new injuries above normal chipper mis-use (foot pushing brush into chipper).

I guess the feed wheel would stop if the pedal operator started to get pulled in.

Sounds like a huge hassle.

Then again, I don't think a chuck and duck is a big deal to use (you just chuck from the side, and duck keeping moving so the protective side shield will continue to do its part. DON'T watch it eat the brush really quickly). Same for any chipper, feed from the side or way out at the tip of the brush, and stay away from the front of the tray.