Wood Chippers: 4 Maintenance and Storage Tips

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Landowners who actively manage their acreage rely on tools like capable, durable wood chippers to help them get more done in less time. Fortunately, wood chippers aren’t the most maintenance-intensive equipment out there, but there are still a few things you can do to keep your wood chipper and other forestry equipment in good working order. 

3 Point Wood Chipper

It’s unlikely that you’ll be able to find the time to deep clean your wood chipper after each use, and this isn’t necessary anyway. But it’s well worth taking a few extra minutes to remove debris, perform preventative maintenance as scheduled, and properly store your wood chipper to maximize its lifespan.

Here are a few simple yet essential tips for tidying up your wood chipper after each project, storing it the right way, and enjoying its capability for years to come.

Keep Your PTO Chipper Clean

As with all equipment, it pays to perform a deep clean every now and then. You can do this with soap and a damp cloth. Avoid other household cleaners that may damage or degrade your chipper’s plastic and rubber components.

In between deep cleans, you should clear debris from your PTO chipper after every use. Never attempt to clean or maintain your wood chipper while your tractor engine is running—it’s best to turn the engine off, remove the ignition key, and disconnect the PTO shaft before you clean or work on your chipper.

Check the Hydraulic Pump Belt Every 30 Hours

How you keep track of the hours you’re putting on your wood chipper is up to you, but after 30 hours, you need to inspect your hydraulic pump belt. Take a look at both the condition of the belt as well as its tension.

If there’s no apparent damage to the belt and it’s not worn out, check that it’s firmly tensioned. If you find free slack in the belt, adjust the eyebolt connected to the spring to achieve the proper tension.

Worn belts should be replaced, especially if you hear a squealing sound during operation or if the infeed roller isn’t rotating. Disconnect the PTO shaft before accessing the belt. To replace the belt, loosen the eyebolt hex nut on the spring, unhook the spring, swing the belt tensioner out of the way and remove the belt from the pulleys.

 Get the Most Out of Your Reversible Blades

The best-valued wood chippers in the industry use reversible hardened steel blades. The advantage of these blades is that you can simply flip them around to utilize the other cutting surface if you don’t have time to sharpen them at that particular moment.

On the other hand, it’s wise to keep them sharp so you always have the second cutting surface ready to go should you need it. As with all chipper maintenance, disconnect the PTO shaft from the tractor for safety before beginning.

Apply Grease Judiciously to Wood Chippers

Each grease point on a new 3 point wood chipper arrives pre-greased from the factory, which means you don’t need to add grease before you use it for the first time. You’ll find two grease points on the flywheel bearings, one on the infeed roller bearing, and three on the PTO shaft.

You should check each grease point before using your wood chipper and add grease as necessary. Just be careful about how much you use, because adding too much grease can compromise your bearing seals.

About Woodland Mills

 When mechanical engineer Josh Malcolm realized he would need his own bandsaw mill to tackle the list of projects on his new farm, he was surprised to find so many overpriced, underperforming sawmills on the market. He called his childhood friend, Neil Bramley, and asked, “We can just build our own, can’t we?” That was the beginning of Woodland Mills. Now, over a decade later, Woodland Mills is an industry leader due to products that deliver outstanding value through innovative design and efficient manufacturing. From the flagship HM126 portable sawmill to new Loglander log arches, backed by world-class customer service from the Woodland Mills team, Woodland Mills products help you make your mark.

Discover durable, capable wood chippers from Woodland Mills at https://woodlandmills.com/

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