So as I ponder chippers you guys and gals get to answer all my annoying questions

Some more pics. As you can see I got a few things to work on.

Chip deflector
Pull out right brake light
Attach Bandit fuel tank, it's in my truck bed at the moment
Hose from air filter to carb intake
Add some whiskers so I can see the thing when backing up
Rain cap on exhaust pipe
 

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I don't think the zoning regulations will allow you to park it there. Nice score! Does the guy have any others like that? I would make a road trip for sure.
 
monkeylove said:
The search is done. I went with a 1993 Bandit 200. It has a second hand gas motor (Hercules 1991). Runs and chips, needs a little tlc. $3900, Mert you know the one. I'll post some pics tomorrow when the sun is back out.

Huge thanks to everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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I think you got a nice deal. I'm not familiar with that power plant but the rest of that machine is extremely simple and well designed! Bandit has parts at my door next day 90% of the time. I started with a 150 xp which is very close to the exact same machine. That machine will pay for itself very quick with time saved over hand loading brush or even a 6" machine.

Honestly, I rarely chipped anything over 8" with my 150xp(12"machine). However, I think the way to extend the life of anything is not to push it to the max at all times. That being said, I put over 10,000 hours on mine. Only major things I did to mine were 1 set of bearings on the disk, had to have a new shaft and coupler between one of the feedwheels and it's hydraulic motor, replaced the electronic governor and its controller, replaced the radiator and had to replace 3 head gaskets. Never got water in the oil. It would always blow the gasket on the exhaust side. It had a 4 cylinder 3.0 GM gas engine. Never replaced the clutch! No one could believe that. It had a twin disk clutch. Don't let the machine bog down and enjoy a lot more life from that machine.

As you grow, im sure you can get your money back out of this machine at the drop of a hat!
 
flyingsquirrel25 said:
Hey that's only a small list of easy stuff!! You are welcome to the use of my MIG welder if you want (it's a small one). I like the current fuel tank though!!!!
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The fixes should be simple. That temporary gas tank is priceless, but it does work. The Bandit tank he gave me looks much better. I foresee adding a few posts for protection and also a few for rakes and such.
 
Okay so the very first thing I need to do to the chipper is change the balance.

Either I need to add tongue weight plates or add jacks to the back of it so it can not flip up when you take it off the truck. Yep that point is hairline wide and right about parallel to the ground. Probably due to the gas vs diesel engine weight.

My current tongue weight feels like about 50lbs so I think it can use some weight. However it may still need rear jacks also to make me feel better. It flipped up today and once was more than enough for me.
 
monkeylove said:
Okay so the very first thing I need to do to the chipper is change the balance.

Either I need to add tongue weight plates or add jacks to the back of it so it can not flip up when you take it off the truck. Yep that point is hairline wide and right about parallel to the ground. Probably due to the gas vs diesel engine weight.

My current tongue weight feels like about 50lbs so I think it can use some weight. However it may still need rear jacks also to make me feel better. It flipped up today and once was more than enough for me.
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Holy smokes! That's an issue! The 150xp I had was 4 cylinder gas and had more than enough tongue weight! Maybe the axle was shifted back more on mine.

You could probably have a couple hundred pounds of plate steel welded around the tongue and add a couple of tube steel uprights in front of the radiator to protect it from the bed of the truck getting jacknived into it. If you add jacks to the rear, it could be something easy to forget and drive away with them down, creating another problem.
 
Definitely put on a leg/ foot if its light on tongue weight, for chipping while detached.

Typically, you should still aim for more tongue weight for towing.

I've had mine tipped back once while eating a big top, before I knew better, and recently had employees tip it while chipping (after the specific training, and reminder about having the 'foot' down if it's not attached to the truck, smh).

Putting a safety cone on the stowed 'leg' is a reminder to use it. Putting the cone next to the foot while deployed is the last chance reminder during the pre-drive walk around to stow it.

Having light tongue weight has never been a towing issue for me. It is nice to pick up the tongue (~100 pounds of tongue weight on a 4400 chipper) and spin the chipper 180*, at times.
 
Other good ideas could be a cone holder w/cones, vise for sharpening, or a tool rack like you stated before you would be surprised just a little weight up front does the trick.
 
I think having the gas tank on will help some also. Protection posts that double as a log dolly holder will also help. If I add a rear jack stand I figured I would also add a label by the key. That way every time you start or stop the machine it will remind me to check the jack. When I start working on it I will probably just fill a duffel with sand bags for the tongue and throw car stands under the back just to be safe. I don't want to add permanent tongue weight until the add ons are complete. Then I can reevaluate the balance.
 
monkeylove said:
Okay so the very first thing I need to do to the chipper is change the balance.

Either I need to add tongue weight plates or add jacks to the back of it so it can not flip up when you take it off the truck. Yep that point is hairline wide and right about parallel to the ground. Probably due to the gas vs diesel engine weight.

My current tongue weight feels like about 50lbs so I think it can use some weight. However it may still need rear jacks also to make me feel better. It flipped up today and once was more than enough for me.
Click to expand...
You NEED to add some tongue weight. With not enough tongue weight you run run the possibility getting into a violent side to side swap while towing. You should aim for 10% of the gross weight on the tongue.
 
I put a scale under my tongue jack on a new Bandit 90XP to find out what it came from the factory as. 355 lbs on a 5200 lb machine.

That way as I add a few tool holders etc I could keep tongue weight relative.
 
tc262 said:
You NEED to add some tongue weight. With not enough tongue weight you run run the possibility getting into a violent side to side swap while towing. You should aim for 10% of the gross weight on the tongue.
Click to expand...

Without a doubt. I like about 8-12% myself although many will argue 6% is okay. I think closer to 10 is better.
 
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