WoodChuck WC/17 Disc chippers - Gas or diesel

[PMKing]

Thinking of buying a WoodChuck WC/17 Disc chippers. I have the option of either
i)4-cylinder Deutz turbo diesel engine
ii)a 300 Ford 6-cylinder gasoline engine.
Which one is better.
Any feedback welcomed
Thanks

 

[just_a_tree_guy]

my chipper has the ford straight 6 in it . awesome motor very dependable parts are easy to get and will not kill your bank account . i would take that engine over diesel any day !!!!!!

 

[emr]

One of our chippers has a Perkins diesel and the other has a Ford 330 (basically a V8 300) and I would choose the 330 any day. We have had major problems with our diesel and no issues with the Ford. Keep in mind that our diesel is our everyday chipper and the Ford is our backup. I do wish we could put that Ford 330 in our diesel chipper. They are good engines with parts easy to find and mechanics to work on them are plentiful.

 

[BigWood]

Gas engine

Woodchuck

Save your $ I've got a w/c I'll GIVE you. That's all I have t'say about that.
Seriously why?,not trying to be an a$s, just curious.
Hehehe they all puke at the same time

 

[brushbandit]

I agree, I wouldn't buy a Woodchuch. It's a poorly designed machine, if you have to service the clutch you cannot get the bell housing off without pulling the engine off the frame. That's just stupid.

 

[treecareinc]

My first chipper was a Woodchuck W/C 17 with a cummins 110HP diesel. I bought it as a factory demo in 1998 for $11,000.00. We did over 2 million dollars worth of tree work with that chipper. Had very few issues with it. I sold that chipper in 2008 for $10,000.00. It is still used everyday... I talked to the guy that bought it last week and he thinks it's the best chipper ever made...

Truth is it isn't in the same ballpark as the Woodsman Chippers we bought later... Once we got the Woodsman's it was a punishment to take a Woodchuck out. At one time I owned 3 Woodchucks. Their maintenance issues were no more for us than any other machine. The reason to buy a Woodchuck has to be $... but it will get the job done.

 

[pigwot]

Your good experience with the WC-17 is good to hear. I just got home and this was sitting in the driveway. I have been helping a young fellow get started in the business and he picked this up for about 3k.
Gas inline six/300 Cu. In. Ford

Engine started right up, sounds strong and tight, but bogs as soon as you try to chip something. Pulled side panels; first thing I see is the drive belt on the speed regulator (I think that is what it is; linkage directly to carb) looks to be too large and easily rolled right off. That component spins freely without any resistance. Is there a way to check if it is working. Is it centrifugal like I think I remember the one on my ancient Morbark Eeger Beever?

I appreciate any help or direction.

 

[just_a_tree_guy]

if your giving away a woodchuck ill take it for real !!!!

 

[BigWood]

Sorry too late, no takers so we pushed it out in front af a train. Look for the video comming soon!

 

[Sleepys_up]

my chipper has the ford straight 6 in it . awesome motor very dependable parts are easy to get and will not kill your bank account . i would take that engine over diesel any day !!!!!!

I have a 2000 woodchuck wc-17 with the ford 300 in it. I need a serial number for any year that has the ford 300 for parts. Ik the carburetor is the same as the 97. The title it came with comes up as a Diesel engine. I had my machine for about 10 yrs. I love the machine when it’s running but when it goes down it’s a pain to find the proper parts. Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Z'sTrees]

I had a woodchuck with the 300-6. I would pick that engine over quite a few diesels in a smaller chipper. If you're running it all day then the fuel consumption might be more of a factor than with a diesel. One thing to consider is that there are industrial 300's (chippers, tractors, ups trucks) and the ones in pickups. Same basic engine but alot of different parts that are getting a little harder to find. Certain stuff you can still pickup at any Napa, and they don't tend to need much in my experience.

 

[Jehinten]

I have a 2000 woodchuck wc-17 with the ford 300 in it. I need a serial number for any year that has the ford 300 for parts. Ik the carburetor is the same as the 97. The title it came with comes up as a Diesel engine. I had my machine for about 10 yrs. I love the machine when it’s running but when it goes down it’s a pain to find the proper parts. Any help would be appreciated.

Wish I could help but my wc17 has got the Cummins diesel 4b3.9

Can you get numbers right off of the carb itself? Most auto ones have a model number on them.

 

[matdand]

My first chipper was a Woodchuck W/C 17 with a cummins 110HP diesel. I bought it as a factory demo in 1998 for $11,000.00.

Wow !

 

[Sleepys_up]

my chipper has the ford straight 6 in it . awesome motor very dependable parts are easy to get and will not kill your bank account . i would take that engine over diesel any day !!!!!!

Do you have the serial number for your chipper. I have a 2000 WC-17 12” with the Ford 300. Finding parts is a headache because I have no serial number to cross reference parts for my chipper. It would EXTREMELY helpful if you or anyone reading this could get me.

 

[Sleepys_up]

Wish I could help but my wc17 has got the Cummins diesel 4b3.9

Can you get numbers right off of the carb itself? Most auto ones have a model number on them.

This is exactly what mine looks like. I have another picture with a serial number I can’t make out for the like of me. The carburetor is the D7JL-9510-a

 

[Sleepys_up]

Your good experience with the WC-17 is good to hear. I just got home and this was sitting in the driveway. I have been helping a young fellow get started in the business and he picked this up for about 3k.
Gas inline six/300 Cu. In. Ford

Engine started right up, sounds strong and tight, but bogs as soon as you try to chip something. Pulled side panels; first thing I see is the drive belt on the speed regulator (I think that is what it is; linkage directly to carb) looks to be too large and easily rolled right off. That component spins freely without any resistance. Is there a way to check if it is working. Is it centrifugal like I think I remember the one on my ancient Morbark Eeger Beever?

I appreciate any help or direction.

What is the serial number for that chipper?

 

[pigwot]

Sorry, just saw this. That chipper got an electronic speed control on it, and then was sold a while later.