Picked up a Bandit 65 this morning, not sure a good thing or not. Hopeful a good investment

[erwin]

If I were to buy this before I had my 250, it won’t be such a shocking disappointment when I first saw the 65 in person. My first chipper was the Vermeer 620 later repowered with a 25 hp engine. It served me well for 12 years.

the 65 looks more like a neat toy, the feed table is sooo small even compared to the 6” Vermeer. It’s a 2003 model, been sitting on n off outside for all it’s 13 year life. The guy bought it new. supper low hour homeowner machine with only 200 some hours on it. Will need a pair of wheel n tires, mufflers and fuel pump right away and maybe a good carburetor tune up. It has the smaller 23 hp Koehler. Paid 5500 for it.
This will b my backup for the 250. Was planing to get another 250 for backup, but this is much cheaper option.

besides changing out all the fluid n filters, what else should I do to it before put into daily use.

also, what is that square hole on top of the feeding wheel assembly?

 

[Jonny]

Pic of the square hole?

 

[erwin]

Only took pictureS from distance showing the whole chipper. Will take one with that hole tomorrow. It says to put yoke in there

 

[Jonny]

Is it to open the feed wheels with the tongue jack? Most I’ve seen are round not square.

 

[erwin]

it's definately square. Also, surprised to see no clutch (tensioner kind like the vermeer). when u crank start the engine, the flywheel spins too. Also, the flywheel is half as think as my 6" vermeer.

 

[evo]

Check your bearings.. eg try to wiggle the disk. Repack wheel bearings, inspect clutch, then just normal engine stuff..

 

[evo]

it's definately square. Also, surprised to see no clutch (tensioner kind like the vermeer). when u crank start the engine, the flywheel spins too. Also, the flywheel is half as think as my 6" vermeer.

Is it a lock? As in raise the feed wheels and slide a pin in to lock them open?

 

[Reach]

Is it a lock? As in raise the feed wheels and slide a pin in to lock them open?

Yes, if my memory is correct, the Yoke Lock Pin drops in there after you jack the feed wheel up, and prevents it from coming back down should something happen to the jack. The jack should mount on the side on the horizontal pipe that has the verticalish hole through it.

 

[Reach]

it's definately square. Also, surprised to see no clutch (tensioner kind like the vermeer). when u crank start the engine, the flywheel spins too. Also, the flywheel is half as think as my 6" vermeer.

Those chippers do not have a clutch, but seem to do quite well anyway. I’ve never run the gas version, but the diesel had no trouble starting. It just sounded a little funny on shutdown, dragging the engine with the disc until it all stops. I’m guessing they left off the clutch to keep the cost down, as that would add $1k at least to the cost new.

 

[erwin]

Great. Thx. So, there iS a clutch?? I did not see it.

 

[Reach]

Great. Thx. So, there iS a clutch?? I did not see it.

No, there is no clutch. Sorry if my post was confusing, I meant that the lack of clutch does not seem to cause any problems with the chipper or the engine.

 

[oldoakman]

I would love to find a machine like that at that price and hours. Couple months in the shop working evenings and it would look like a brand new machine. Would prefer the 35hp though.

 

[erwin]

So. No clutch. Guess I just have to make sure nothing left behind in the flywheel chamber before shut it down. There is no play on the flywheel nor the feeding wheel when I tried hard to wiggle them. Also the feeding wheel teeth look sharp so the hour count is true

 

[erwin]

Oldoakman, that’s exactly what I’m going to do to it. It’ll be a brand new machine after I replaced everything needed n fresh paint.
This might even become my primary chipper. The 250 is great. But the way I operate, every time we run the chipper I have to b there. Can’t trust my ground guy to it. He can run the 65 by himself while I’m in the tree since it’s the same size as my old 6” Vermeer.

 

[erwin]

Oldoakman, that’s exactly what I’m going to do to it. It’ll be a brand new machine after I replaced everything needed n fresh paint.
This might even become my primary chipper. The 250 is great. But the way I operate, every time we run the chipper I have to b there. Can’t trust my ground guy to it. He can run the 65 by himself where I’m in the tree since it’s the same size as my old 6” Vermeer.

 

[erwin]

Anyone know the engine options when it’s time to repower without major fabrication work, like direct bolt on?

 

[Jonny]

It’s be pretty badass if you could get a 30+ maybe 35hp Honda on it. I love Honda small engines.
Our old one had a shroud over the motor, helped keep a little of the weather off.

 

[evo]

Anyone know the engine options when it’s time to repower without major fabrication work, like direct bolt on?

I don't, but I believe the factory went up to a 30hp option +/- stock.. She'd be bad ass with a 35hp on it, perhpas just minor fab work to repower it is all that is required since it's a direct drive.

I'm curious what the mechanics look like inside the "bell housing" or output shaft area.

 

[Jonny]

I think it’s just a pulley on the shaft, belt goes from that to the disc. If the engine is running the disc is spinning.

 

[colb]

Anyone know the engine options when it’s time to repower without major fabrication work, like direct bolt on?

990-RC0839-421 Kohler CH740, 25 horsepower gas engine (Includes 3 year / 2,000 hour engine warranty) $ 2497.75
990-RC0949-531 Kohler CH980, 35 horsepower gas engine (Includes 3 year / 2,000 hour engine warranty) $ 3450.50
990-RC1194-775A Kohler CH1000, 37 horsepower gas engine (direct drive - NO clutch) (Model 65/75) (Includes 3
year / 2,000 hour engine warranty)
$ 3862.50
990-RC1166-747 Briggs & Stratton 27 horsepower gas engine $ 2420.50
990-RC0747-328 Vanguard 613477, 35 horsepower gas engine $ 3115.75

Don't ask where I got it, or if the pricing applies to guys like us.