Fixing issues with New bandit 18xp.

TreelineNH · Jan 10, 2018

Just purchased a new 18XP. Its an animal and performs like crazy. 170 hp Perkins T4I. Few Issues I have noticed from my first day of use. I can weld/fab but its kinda heartbreaking to do on a new machine. I wanna keep it factory as possible at least for the first year

-Safety bar is way out so bushy tops will hit the bar, causing it to go backwards. Its good to have a man by the chipper, but its also placing his hands in harms way to keep material flowing.

-No control valve. This thing is an animal, and almost feeds too fast. Has anyone ever put a control valve on? Maybe I just need to get used to using a real chipper.

-Finally winch has a safety. Things really screwy. Maybe it just takes some getting used to. I dont wanna make the unit unsafe, but it also needs to be functional.

CTS1999 · Jan 11, 2018

Off topic but I bet that chipper will fill that truck in less than half an hour.

flyingsquirrel25 · Jan 11, 2018

Congrats on the new machine! It’s a beaut! I would agree completely with the feed bar being too far out. Our 1390 is the same way, makes it tough feeding the chipper with one guy on the mini skid. It sucks to come back with a second top and the wheels are in reverse with half a top sitting there. Could you shorten the linkage between the bar and the valve? If you felt bad about it you could fabricate a new shorter linkage and keep the factory one for nostalgia!!
That new dynamic winch does seem to be a PIA. Everyone I’ve talked to says you get used to it after a while. But I still can’t believe it’s as productive as the old style with the selector valve. So many times I use the winch to assist the feed wheels in crushing the branches up and through and that silly docking station makes that much less effective. Other than getting the plumbing for the old style I think you’re stuck with that part.
I bet feeding a steady diet of soft wood he could fill that truck in 20 min! My low hp 1390 can do it in 45!

Evan_WI · Jan 11, 2018

It won't help at this point, but Bandit does offer an option for a "Heavy Duty" infeed that includes protection around the feed bar to avoid bumps from branches. My 1390xp has this and I rarely have an issues with limbs hitting the feed bar.

96coal449 · Jan 11, 2018

Congrats on the new chipper! I haven't used a Bandit regularly since '02-'03.
I know they're still a great machine. Was unaware of the new winch plumbing.

TreelineNH · Jan 11, 2018

Evan_WI said:
It won't help at this point, but Bandit does offer an option for a "Heavy Duty" infeed that includes protection around the feed bar to avoid bumps from branches. My 1390xp has this and I rarely have an issues with limbs hitting the feed bar.

Can you post a picture? Ill come up with something, but Im almost 100% sure it will involve welding and a rattlecan. Oh well.

TreelineNH · Jan 11, 2018

CTS1999 said:
Off topic but I bet that chipper will fill that truck in less than half an hour.

Building a international 4300 with 16' chipper body. This machine could fill my 550 in 10-15 minutes easily if I tossed everything through it.

Evan_WI · Jan 12, 2018

This picture shows a machine with the HD infeed. You can see the triangular tubing on the sides and top of the infeed chute. I'm not sure if this option is available without the fixed feed table or not.

flyingsquirrel25 · Jan 12, 2018

Evan_WI said:
This picture shows a machine with the HD infeed. You can see the triangular tubing on the sides and top of the infeed chute. I'm not sure if this option is available without the fixed feed table or not.View attachment 48864

Your picture also shows both winch systems as well. The blue chipper has the docking station with the new winch controls with the override button. The yellow machine is the old version with the selector valve.

CTS1999 · Jan 12, 2018

TreelineNH said:
Building a international 4300 with 16' chipper body. This machine could fill my 550 in 10-15 minutes easily if I tossed everything through it.

I just built a box on a International 4900 16' dump. Stopped the top at 12' back so it would be easy to load logs from the rear with Beaver Squeezer.

SuperK · Jan 12, 2018

I was getting excited to read your post thinking you might of got the v8, from what i have heard they sound awesome but loud. Glad you got a big machine i know you were looking for one for a while, hope it serves you well!!

dmd · Jan 12, 2018

I just took delivery of a gasser 18xp yesterday. It is pretty sweet.

TreelineNH · Jan 13, 2018

SuperK said:
I was getting excited to read your post thinking you might of got the v8, from what i have heard they sound awesome but loud. Glad you got a big machine i know you were looking for one for a while, hope it serves you well!!

Thanks brother. I have been looking far and wide basically all summer/fall. It was getting towards the end of the year, and needed to make a purchase. Im glade I decided to go new. The machine is a wicked animal. I got the Last Tier4I.

TreelineNH · Jan 13, 2018

CTS1999 said:
View attachment 48865
I just built a box on a International 4900 16' dump. Stopped the top at 12' back so it would be easy to load logs from the rear with Beaver Squeezer.

Good looking body, but you hitch looks way far in? They are chopping the frame on my 4300 next week. It was an 18' box truck. Should come out sweet.

CTS1999 · Jan 13, 2018

TreelineNH said:
Good looking body, but you hitch looks way far in? They are chopping the frame on my 4300 next week. It was an 18' box truck. Should come out sweet.

We run a Bandit 1590 with the tongue extended. You can jackknife it 90 degrees and the bed won't get into the chipper.