A massive amount of organic waste accumulates as a result of clearing the heavy vegetation around your yard area.
To get rid of this waste, you can throw it into a landfill facility, or you can put it on fire if it is permissible in your country, or you can recycle it into something useful.
If you are going to recycle your waste, then investing in a wood chipper is a wise decision. You can use these chips as compost or bed to protect your plantation.
Wood chippers that have large material capacity are best, and those are easily moveable. PTO wood chippers have these features.
Now, it is required to determine what kind of PTO wood chipper is best for you to make you familiar with it. We have gathered all the related research data here.
What Is A PTO Wood Chipper?
PTO is an acronym for Power Take Off. These types of wood chippers use energy that comes from an external power source from another device.
The power generation tool is specific to PTO wood chippers, tractors, or excavators. On comparative analysis, PTO wood chippers can transform much larger wood material into mulch than other wood chippers categories, including electric or gas-powered chippers.
PTO wood chippers are convenient for heavy-duty tasks. For example, if you are a farmer or you have a contract to keep the land maintained throughout, you might find this wood chipper a blessing for you.
However, they are not designed for light-duty operations, so this chipper is not friendly for your daily garden management.
Nevertheless, in today’s market, PTO wood chippers are also available for domestic purposes.
Based on different features, PTO wood chippers are classified differently. We compiled them below to give a brief understanding of each category.
Types Of PTO Wood Chippers W.R.T Function
It is best to assess your needs before picking up a wood chipper. Try to locate for what purpose you will be using it, and make a buying decision.
You may come across two types of PTO wood chippers on the market based on their function.
1. PTO Wood Chippers Without Shredder
This type of PTO chipper has a straightforward and common design. The cutting system entails a flywheel with multiple or single blades.
The system works after the flywheel achieves momentum. It decreases the power voltage on the vehicle and, as a result, reduces the power load on the motor.
The motor can handle around 3 inches in diameter of sturdy wood material. This chipper is the best option for converting large limbs, branches, and small trees. In addition, that mulch can be utilized for composting or as a garden bed.
2. PTO Wood Chippers With Shredder
This type of chipper’s features and working mechanism are precise as the PTO wood chipper is deprived of shredding function.
However, the difference exists due to introducing a longitudinally designed feeding hopper at the top of the wood chipper assembly.
The hopper helps to pulverize the small branches and twigs into mulch by taking about one-inch branches towards the cutting blades.
Types Of PTO Wood Chippers W.R.T Working Potential
You need to consider your chipping hours and the kind of work you will take with a chipper because it ultimately impacts the model you choose while purchasing the product.
According to the work handling, PTO choppers have the following three classes.
Light-Duty PTO Wood Chippers
They are suitable for light operations such as domestic purposes. In addition, they are convenient for seasonal cleaning of smaller wood materials, including bushes and branches.
Medium-Duty PTO Wood Chippers
These chippers are primarily applicable in rural areas for the need of farmers and property owners to clear the regular waste accumulated. The motor installed in these chippers has 20-100 HP power potential.
Heavy-Duty PTO Wood Chippers
The motor in these chippers has more horsepower to handle fibrous and dense wood material.
They have applications in forest management. So from a commercial and industrial perspective, this chipper is a good option.
Types Of PTO Wood Chippers W.R.T Feeding System
PTO chippers are divided into the following categories based on how the chipper takes in the feedstock.
Self-Feeding Mechanism
These machines work on the principle of gravity to pull in the material. In the case of PTO wood chippers, the flywheel and the rotating blades together create this impact.
Most medium-duty chippers have a self-feeding system. As a result, they can transform heavy loads, but their power efficiency is less than the hydraulic feeding chippers.
Hydraulic Feeding Mechanism
This feature is common in heavy-duty PTO chippers. Hydraulic power feeds the material and controls its operating speed in this system.
The rollers in the feeding system continually take in the material as long as the machine runs.
Therefore, it is not required to pull the feed material manually.
Benefits To Owning A PTO Wood Chipper
PTO wood chippers offer a significant number of advantages over other chippers.
- PTO wood chippers are considered more sturdy and robust than gas and electric counterparts. It can handle fibrous and dense material faster than other chippers. It can transform wood with leaves or without leaves efficiently without hassle.
- It possesses a durable carbon-steel flywheel to pulverize the wood. It helps to chip logs of even 8 inches in diameter.
- Automatic feed roller application in the chipper can reduce your manual work.
- It could be pocket-friendly if you already possess a tractor or excavator.
Drawbacks Of Having PTO Wood Chipper
Any machine has its drawbacks that limit its market, and so has the PTO wood chipper. These chippers possess the following bad points.
- The PTO chippers, which are not hydraulic, require high manual work.
- A compatible vehicle is mandatory to power these chippers. Tractors with an engine of 16HP or more are consistent; however, you cannot use lawn tractors for this purpose.
- They are incredibly robust but are very noisy and costly, and sometimes they may overkill your land area. It produces around 110 decibels.
Maintenance Of PTO Wood Chipper
In the case of PTO wood chipper, maintenance is often required on a tractor or excavator because it derives its power from these sources.
Instead of this, general maintenance is necessary to retain the warranty and increase the shelf life of a wood chipper. With routine care, you can avoid costly repairs to the machine.
- After several hours of operation, check all the bolts, screws, and corresponding parts to ensure they are securely connected.
- Lubricate the connections as per schedule, including pivot tube, idler arm, driveline u-joint, rotor shaft, and shear bolt joint.
- Inspect the rotor, discharge chute, and cutting blades for foreign waste.
- Inspect the feed hopper lid to avoid flying chips
- Replace the damaged or worn labels to avoid any hazard.
Troubleshooting Of A PTO Wood Chipper
Here are a few tips about troubleshooting drum wood chippers. Just scroll down and read more about drum wood chipper troubleshooting.
1. Self-Feeding Reduces Or Stops
If the self-feeding mechanism is affected, immediately fix the problem to avoid an accident.
Follow these below steps to overcome the challenge.
- If the knives or blades are found weary, replace and sharpen them. Make sure that knives are pointed at the proper angle.
- Minimize the clearance between the knife and knife hedger.
- Set the speed of the tractor at an appropriate rate.
2. More Power Requires Operating Or Halting Unit
In this condition, several factors are responsible, including material and machine-related. However, below mentioned instructions may resolve this issue.
- Check the power of the tractor engine.
- Check for the blade system if it needs replacement.
- Minimize the feedstock load and check the material size is appropriate as claimed by the manufacturer.
- Clean rotor housing and exit chute if any debris is present.
- Go for blade ledger maintenance.
3. Chipper Assembly Is Shaking Vigorously
This condition may cause serious injury if left unresolved because more violent shaking dislocates the unit.
The blade system and rotor require a complete inspection to manage this situation.
In the cutting system, check both knives are present, tighten the blades if they are loose, and re-sharp the knives if one of the two weighs more than the other.
In the rotor, debris and foreign particles clogged the device, clean it to clear the rotor. The rotor shaft must be straight. If the rotor shaft is bent, replace it.
4. Rotor Refuses To Start
If the rotor is not current, check the following parts to start.
- Make sure that the driveline is connected correctly.
- Replace the shear bolt in the driveline if it is damaged.
- Inspect the V-belts for their loose spring or damage.
- Check the rotor housing.
5. Driveline Shakes
The universal joint connecting the chipper and the tractor becomes dull as time passes. Replace the joint if it is worn for smooth functioning.
Safety Guidelines For PTO Wood Chipper Users
Despite being professional in operating a tractor, there is still a significant risk in handling a PTO wood chipper.
Every year three deaths occur solely related to mishandling in PTO wood chippers. The safety features associated with PTO chippers can prevent serious injury only if you learn how to work safely described below.
- Following personal protective equipment should be worn during operation for operator safety. Chainsaw fitted helmet, ear defenders, elasticated wrist gloves, steel toe safety shoes, face mask, close-fitted outfit counts in necessary PPE.
- Avoid wearing any accessories.
- Study thoroughly about your feedstock as some plants are harmful to humans. It is best if you chip this hazardous material in an open yard.
- Before any maintenance and adjustment, ensure that the tractor engine is stopped, the ignition key is removed, and the PTO shafts should be disconnected.
- Ensure that the chipper unit is connected to a tractor pin hitch and a flat base.
- The engine in the tractor is set at the required speed to transfer power to the PTO chipper.
Conclusion
We have provided you with all the possible avenues that can click in your mind when purchasing a PTO wood chipper.
The PTO wood chippers available on the market are very similar in their designs and mechanisms, with a few features.
Therefore, you have to analyze which one suits you most with these distinctive features.
