Nevermind on this. I just saw the thread below (hard to pay attention to browsing while at work) on everyone having a heck of a time finding parts. Think I'm going to have to forget this one. Too much trouble unless someone has some words of encouragement and/or the machine is worth all the trouble.

If it's in good shape and has a newish motor - I'd say go for it.

Mine's a 1991 model w/8hp B+S which I bought a couple months ago for $300 that has seen very little use. Stored in a dry barn by the PO and is in near-new condition. Chipper blade is very sharp and all the flails show no signs of wear. Gas was sitting in it for a number of years - so I cleaned the tank and fuel lines, rebuilt the carb (20. kit), hooked up a new battery (electric start model) - it starts instantly and devours piles of brush and tree limbs.

The shredder (top hopper) takes branches up to about 1" to 1-1/2" and the chipper (side hopper) takes up to 3" limbs - but does that slowly . . . fairly fast up to 2-1/2" dia. It's essentially self-feeding - whips material through the top hopper very quickly, so unless you like getting cuts and scratches on your arms and hands, wear gloves + long sleeves. Be sure to also wear goggles and ear protection - very loud with clutch engaged.

I really enjoy using it and have produced several 20 cf cart loads of mulch - and, processed much material for composting the gardens. The single chipper knife is removable by two bolts and seems to be easily sharpened by using a bench grinder and honing stone. The flails are double-ended so reversible and replacements are available from a number of sources. Check the bottom link for one resource.

Here is a link that might be useful: Chipper parts

Hey pintopkp,

The people asking for parts tend to not look on their own or not know where to look for parts. There are very few parts specific to the Tomahawk. The sheet metal won't wear out for decades of use. The engine parts for a Briggs I/C 8 horse are common as mosquitoes in a swamp. The bearings can be had at any bearing distributor for less than 15 bucks each, the blades and flails can be found or made by a professional sharpener worth his salt. Mine had a bad main shaft and I had it made at a local machine shop for 50 bucks. As long as it's in good shape now and you maintain it, it'll last you your lifetime. Have that blade professionally sharpened. It cost me 5 bucks to have mine done at a local professional sharpener.

I wouldn't hesitate to buy another Super Tomahawk if I had a need. I sold mine after I bought a BIO-100 for my BCS 850.

Bill

I honestly think the Super Tomahawk is one of the best homeowner units out there. I have great respect for the Mackissic and Kemp units as well. I have two Super Tomahawk units (one for each property) and have only good things to say about them. My Kemp unit was very good as well but I would say that the swinging flail design of the Troy-Bilt brings much more energy to the job where fixed hammers do the work a little slower but create less vibration.

I recently bought my second Super Tomahawk to maintain my Florida property. I got it off ebay for 350.00. It looked like new in the pictures but I came to find that the flails were heavily worn but never flipped or reversed. If they had been rotated through out their use, I would be in good shape but in this case they are worn so bad that I will replace them because of balance issues.

OK, where to get the parts? I found that I could get all the stuff I need on ebay. The new flail set was 50.00, new chipping blade for 30.00, and I bought an assortment of optional screen sizes for 25.00 up to 45.00, and a spare belt for 15.00.

So, the stuff we need is out there and the machines are going pretty cheap. I don't know what it is about chipping and shreddng stuff but I have been "hooked" for about 24 years. I think I like the shredding and composting (making the dirt) more then actually growing the veggies! Yeah I know, ... I'm twisted! LOL.