Chipper chute

burtonbc1400 · Jan 18, 2023

I am trying to repair this chute with worn worm gear teeth, I was trying to convert it to a manual crank, but I'm starting to feel doubtful it will engage.
Should I bother trying to build the teeth up, or just make another method of rotating the chute, eg a pin.
Any ideas, pictures or advice of what works for you guys.
Thanks

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Mike H · Jan 19, 2023

I have the same chipper. The worn out chute rotation started after a few years. I have never repaired it because I chip into the truck and don't need to rotate 180° while transporting.
I solved the chute's tendency to move while chipping or driving with two opposing ratchet straps attached around the deflector. Both straps need to be slacked to make adjustments, but it works

flushcut · Jan 19, 2023

What chipper?
I had a bc1400 with a similar problem. It wasn’t a wore out gear it was the bracket holding the gear assembly. It was bent and not engaging the ring gear completely. Some heat and beat with some gussets welded in and that fixed the problem.

Merle Nelson · Jan 19, 2023

That sounds plausible. Or is the shaft worn and is movable, up and down, in its two holes? (Looks like wear in the picture.) The edges on the worm gear look fairly crisp.

On a friends old self loading log truck it does wear out the gear over time - or chip off a tooth or two. He welds it up, re- machines it, and is back in business.

burtonbc1400 · Jan 19, 2023

flushcut said:
What chipper?
I had a bc1400 with a similar problem. It wasn’t a wore out gear it was the bracket holding the gear assembly. It was bent and not engaging the ring gear completely. Some heat and beat with some gussets welded in and that fixed the problem.

Yes it's a BC 1400
The worm gear itself seems ok, the teeth on gear are worn on the chute. The bracket would also need a bit of adjustment. I'm just considering whether building up the teeth and adjusting the bracket is worth it, or if some guys have success making a even more manual adjustment, I was thinking like a drop pin with indexed holes.

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flushcut · Jan 20, 2023

I would double check the alignment of the bracket holding the worm gear assembly first. But I have a feeling the bracket is bent.
It’s a fairly easy fix if you have the tools.

Merle Nelson · Jan 20, 2023

If it's the gear on the chute that is worn another thing occurs to me. Have that gear cut off and another one of appropriate hardness welded on.

Two possible sources for the gear. One would be from an otherwise crushed chute - there is a used chipper parts guy who posts on the Buzz. If he doesn't have one he may know how to get one. Second I had "teeth" water jet cut out of some hardened 3/8 steel to weld onto my root grapple teeth to beef up their rigidity. Ten dollars each for ten of them. All they wanted was for me to supply a drawing of the tooth.