Hand-fed chippers have a lot of moving parts, and left unchecked, any of them can slow down your crew. Most hand-fed chipper troubleshooting comes back to the same five areas: knives and anvil, belts, clutch, lubrication and the engine. Here's what to look for in each one, and the simple habits that keep your chipper running at its best.
Why Do Chipper Knives and Anvils Cause the Most Problems?
The knives and anvil are the heart of any chipper. When they're not in good condition, everything suffers, from chip quality and safety to the overall life of the equipment.
The good news: routine maintenance and knowing the warning signs will keep both in top shape.
How Long Do Chipper Knives Last?
Like any cutting tool, chipper knives wear out. How fast depends mostly on the material you're cutting. To get the most life out of every set:
- Use only new Bandit-approved knives or professionally sharpened knives.
- Always follow the correct knife angle and grinding procedures.
- Don't let the heel of a knife sit inside the knife pocket.
- Use only factory-approved bolts and locknuts.
- Keep knife bolts and nuts properly torqued.
- Replace knife bolts and nuts after every 4 to 5 knife changes or rotations.
Why Does Knife Sharpening Matter So Much?
Keeping the correct angle on your chipper knives lowers fuel use and extends the life of your chipper. Dull, worn knives take more power to chip. That extra power means more vibration and more feeding problems.
Over time, that vibration can crack components throughout the chipper and shorten its service life. Sharp knives are the easier, cheaper path.
Always sharpen to the original OEM-specified angle listed in your owner's manual. An angle protractor makes it easy to confirm the angle after grinding.
What Is a Knife Saver?
A Knife Saver is a handheld sharpening tool, a lot like a kitchen knife sharpener, that touches up chipper knives without removing them. It's an affordable, practical way to extend knife life between full sharpenings. Ask your nearest Cal-Line location about adding one to your toolbox.
How Often Should You Adjust the Anvil?
Check and adjust the anvil every time you replace or sharpen your knives. For heavy users, that's often. Excessive vibration, long slivers in the chips, too much dust or uneven pieces usually point to the wrong anvil-to-knife clearance.
Your owner's manual lists the correct anvil-to-knife clearance for your model.
Watch Gavin walk through knife and anvil maintenance tips:
How Often Should You Check Chipper Belts?
After break-in, check your belts every 50 hours of use or once a month. Chipper belts can stretch and crack, and poor alignment or tension leads to slipping that cuts into performance.
New belts, including the belts on a new chipper, stretch a lot at first. Plan to adjust them several times during the first few hours of use.
What Happens if the Chipper Clutch Isn't Adjusted Correctly?
A clutch that's out of adjustment can slip under load and cause serious feed problems. A burnt-up clutch is not covered under warranty, so follow the adjustment steps in your owner's manual.
Like belts, a new clutch needs several adjustments during break-in. Never engage or disengage the clutch at high RPM, and never use it to clear a jam.
What Parts of a Chipper Need Regular Lubrication?
Bearings, pivot points, hinges and chains all need regular lubrication. Skipping it is one of the fastest ways to hurt your chipper's performance. Follow the schedule in your owner's manual.
The slide box on the feed system also has to move freely. If it binds, the feed system won't work correctly.
Slide box tip: Use 10W/30 motor oil on the metal-to-metal surfaces and the slide-to-angle-iron surfaces. Never grease the yoke slide box.
How Do You Keep a Chipper Engine From Overheating?
Keep the engine breathing. Chipping kicks up dirt, chips and dust that clog filters and screens. Neglected engines overheat, lose power and can suffer damage that isn't covered under warranty.
Check, service and change these items as the engine manufacturer's manual directs:
- Air and fuel filters
- Radiator and radiator screens
- Coolant level
- Water separators
- Oil and oil filters
In demanding conditions or tough material, you may need to check these several times a day.
Hand-Fed Chipper Troubleshooting FAQs
How often should I replace chipper knife bolts and nuts?
Replace knife bolts and nuts after every 4 to 5 knife changes or rotations, and use only factory-approved hardware.
When should I adjust the anvil on my chipper?
Check and adjust the anvil each time you replace or sharpen your knives. Your owner's manual lists the correct anvil-to-knife clearance for your model.
How often should chipper belts be checked?
New belts need frequent adjustment in the first few hours of use. After break-in, check them every 50 hours of use or once a month.
What should I use to lubricate the feed system slide box?
Use 10W/30 motor oil on the metal-to-metal and slide-to-angle-iron surfaces. Never grease the yoke slide box.
Is a burnt chipper clutch covered under warranty?
No. A burnt-up clutch is not covered under warranty, so keep it adjusted per your owner's manual and never engage or disengage it at high RPM.
Need parts, service or a Bandit chipper demo?
As a leading Bandit distributor, Cal-Line carries hand-fed chippers, stump grinders and more, plus the parts and service to keep them running. Shop chipper parts online, browse rentals or contact our team to schedule a demo.
Questions? Call 800.992.3656