Frequently Asked Questions

Our horsepower ratings are based on gross engine HP.

This can be done. However, care must be taken to avoid shoveling too much in at once. The shredder will clog risking equipment damage. The same applies to leaves as well.

Wood chippers and chipper-shredders are designed to work with wood and brush. Shredders will also work with leaves and vines. We have not tested them on other materials, nor do we recommend doing so.

Wood chippers are designed to be strong enough for both the capacity and the tractor or skidsteer power required to run the chipper. A small chipper will not be able to handle the forces put on it by a large tractor. A large chipper will not work efficiently with a small tractor.

The BX42H does not have a clutch or a case drain. The hydraulic hoses for the motor feature a checkvalve protected parallel circuit which allows the rotor and motor to wind down together once the hydraulic power is turned off. This prevents damage to the motor.

The Intellifeed system works by measuring the rotor RPM. Once the rotor is up to the programmed start speed, the electronic control module allows forward feed when the feed control handle is placed in the “forward” position. Once both conditions are met, the control module signals the solenoid on the forward / reverse valve to shift into forward.

If the rotor slows down too much, then the control module signals the forward / reverse valve to reverse to pull the wood away from the rotor, giving the rotor the opportunity to speed up. Once the restart speed has been reached, forward feed resumes.

Reverse can be manually controlled with the feed control handle as well. The system allows reverse as long as there is electrical power to shift the solenoid and hydraulic flow. The rotor does not have to be turning for reverse to work.

There are many differences between the self-feed versions and the roller-feed versions. The feed hoppers, the mountings to the rotor housing, the rotor housing themselves and the rotors are all different. It is not possible to add roller feed to a self-feed chipper.

Three-point hitch models are more economical to purchase, operate, and maintain. They are easier to transport around a property and through a bushlot. Their disadvantage is that they require a tractor to operate them.

Trailer models are more easily transportable from site to site. Their disadvantage is that they are more costly to purchase, operate and maintain due to the engine, clutch / drive system, tires, and lights (if equipped) .

Wood chippers are better for larger diameter brush. The larger chips they produce are better for pathways, decorative use or simply blowing into a ditch. However, they can by clogged by small green brush.

Chipper-shredders are better for finer brush and plant material. The fine fiber they produce is better for garden bedding material, and so on. However, they cannot process larger-diameter material.

The Intellifeed system allows the engine and chipper to work more efficiently by ensuring that the engine does not get bogged down by feeding too quickly. This allows a smaller engine to be used. It also removes the necessity of having someone at the feed control bar at all times.

The roller feed arrangement allows adjusting the feed speed to prevent bogging the tractor on a 3-point hitch model, or the engine on a trailer model.

The feed rollers pull in brushy material that jams in the feed hopper of a self-feed model.

The feed hopper is lower and level, making it easier to put wood in.

The big disadvantage is the cost and complexity of the hydraulic drive components and the electrical components of the system. Some consider it a disadvantage that the hydraulic system requires constant flow of fluid from the tractor, or from our optional PTO pump kits. The electronics also require 13.5 volts and 1.5 amps from the electrical system of the tractor on a 3-point hitch model.

The big disadvantage is the cost of the hydraulic drive components. Some consider it a disadvantage that the hydraulic system requires constant flow of fluid from the tractor, or from our optional PTO pump kit on a 3-point hitch model.

The chip size varies widely for several reasons. The species of wood, grain, moisture content, size of wood, feed rate, rotor RPM, knife condition, and clearance between the rotor knives and the ledger knife are all factors.

Generally speaking, the chips are 1/4" to 1" wide X 1/4" to 2" long X 1/8" to 1/4" thick.

The PTO pump kit consists of a hydraulic tank with internal pump and filters, a drive pulley with a drive key and a taper bushing, a driven pulley, drive belts, and all necessary fittings and hardware. The drive pulley mounts onto the PTO input shaft of the rotor with the key and taper bushing. The driven pulley mounts to the pump shaft at the tank. The tank mounts to the chipper frame using slotted holes for belt tension adjustment.

The Biomass Kit is used when a more consistent chip size is required, such as when burning wood chips in a furnace for heat. It is a chip and twig breaker that bolts across the exit for the discharge chute from inside the rotor housing. It breaks up the larger chips and twigs until they are small enough to pass through. This allows the chips to dry faster and burn more consistently.

Chippers use 2-4 knives mounted to the face of a rotating disc. These knives work with a stationary knife mounted to the housing, to chip small pieces off the face of the log. These chips are about 1/4”-1” wide, 1/4-2”long. 1/8”-1/4” thick in size.

Chipper-shredders add 3 horizontal rows of flail knives to the rear of the rotor operating in a separate chamber of the housing. The flail knives create fine fibrous mulch. On the chipper-shredders, the chipper section is fed through the end and the shredder is fed through the top.

The “S” indicates Self Feed. These models have no mechanism to feed wood into the blades. The feed hoppers are angled up to allow gravity and the chipping action to feed wood.

The “R” indicates Roller Feed. These models have feed rollers powered by hydraulic motors to pull wood in and push it into the blades.

Any tractor within the “HP Range” will operate the chipper. However, the tractor will start bogging down or even stalling once the log size reaches about 75% of capacity unless fed very slowly.

Any tractor within the “HP Required for Maximum Capacity” will operate the chipper at full efficiency right up to full capacity.

The screens hold the material in the shredder housing until it is fine enough to fall through. By changing screens the operator can change the final size of the shredded material.

There is much variation in the placement of tractor output shaft, and length of 3-point hitch arms. Because of this, we supply longer PTO shafts than may be necessary. Your Wallenstein owner’s manual contains instructions on how to measure and cut your shaft to the correct length.

The BX-R series of roller feed PTO woodchippers from Wallenstein are designed to run on either an open or closed center hydraulic supply from the tractor. However, please note that the chipper feed rollers should not be left in the STOP position for more than five minutes at a time on a closed center system. If the work cycle requires a stop of more than five minutes on a closed center tractor, the tractor should be turned off. Hydraulic flow requirements should be observed for either type of system. Too much flow will always generate excess heat in any hydraulic system.

The BX-RI series of chippers are not compatible with closed center tractors. To use a BX-RI chipper on a tractor with closed center hydraulics, order our optional PTO pump kits to make the hydraulics self contained on the chipper.

All the 3-point hitch chippers and chipper-shredders, with the exception of the BX102R model and its versions, work with a Quick-hitch. The PTO shaft and the hydraulic hoses may be not be long enough, depending upon the exact quick-hitch.
Wallenstein does not offer shaft or hose options. John Deere iMatch quick-hitches may require bushings for the pins, available from your John Deere dealer.