Steve,

I recommend the MacKissic model 12PT10. A lot has been written about chippers here in this forum.

MM

Thanks Maine - The Mighty Mac is over our budget, any other suggestions in the under $1,000 range?
Thanks,
Steve

Howdy Steve, if'n you dont mind me asking, why is the t'hawk getting to be a PITA to use?

Hi Dave -
The belt/clutch does not stay engaged (I've adjusted every which way) so I hook a bungee cord to keep it snug; engine is a bit touchy and the output chute area gets backed up with chips so I have to keep raking them away. When I do that I am right in front of the muffler and the hot, smelly exhaust (not to mention noise.) We also have to stomp a lot of things down the chute so it is normally a two-person operation. (Don't expect too much, do I?!?!?)
Can I take the screen out so the chips would be bigger and stay more clear of the chute area?
Thanks,
Steve

Hi Steve,

I too have a Super Tomahawk. Do you have the bar grate? I purchased a bar grate for mine off ebay and it has helped a little with the issue of plugging but makes larger chips. I've also noticed that the twigs sometimes end up shot into the ground right through the grate instead of being ground up. That problem would be worse with no grate at all. I've run with no screen in wet leaves and corn stalks that plug even the bar grate. I actually leave the grate on but pull the pin on the far side of the feeding area. It's worked ok but I have to shred some stuff twice. I've been looking for a screen with inch and a half or two inch holes to see how that would work.

As far as clearing the discharge area, you'll be doing that with any chipper if you run a lot of stuff through. A 6 tine manure fork works great. Scoop it up and toss it aside.

The experience I've had with an MTD chipper was a bad one. It won't solve your plugging problem with wet material. I was shutting the chipper down about every five minutes and digging stuff out of the discharge by hand. This was an older MTD. Maybe they've redesigned them to be better by now.

A visit to the shop would solve your touchy engine and clutch engagement for a fraction of a new chipper. My B&S 8 HP I/C start withing 5 pulls and runs as long as I need it. It does seem kinda thirsty...

My Super Tomahawk has treated me well but I'm gonna upgrade to a chipper to mount on my BCS tractor this summer. That option is pry gonna be outta your price range...

hi steve, the answer to your problems could be as simple as a carb adjust, belt adjust, and flipping the flails and sharpending the chipper knife.

I went out yesterday at lunch and fired the old Tommy up. Sitting for over 6 months and started on 5th pull. (Recoil didn't rewind so well but some oil will take care of that.) Carb leaks gas but you are right, a little rebuild can take care of that. It did tear up the belt, probably old and dry from being outside, so I got a new one and will try it this weekend. I turned the hammers last year so they are sharp again. I don't have the bar grate just a 1" screen. I'll try it this weekend with and without the screen and see how things go.
Thanks for the feedback - might save me a bunch of $.

I bought the 10hp Troy-Bilt(not Gardenway, but MTD) about 3-1/2 years ago. The impeller assembly has come apart twice. I thought it was due to something I put into it that was too large. I'm now convinced that it was the design of the impeller assy to begin with. The replacement impeller assy has a different design. I have not replaced the second one yet, but am hopeful that it will not self-destruct like the first two. I am planning on trying to get the old one off tonight.
Lowes now carries a 14.5 hp model, it has the new impeller design.
When it was running it did a great job of shredding the stuff.