Top 10 Tips for Maintaining Your Wood Chipper
1. Keep Your Machine Clean
Often overlooked, but essential for making it easy to check over your machine before use. Keeping your machine clean can also prevent debris entering the fuel tank when refuelling. Debris entering the fuel tank can lead to blockages within the fuel filter and result in poor running of your wood chipper.
Note: If you use a pressure washer to clean your machine, take care around the engine, electrical components and decals to prevent avoidable damage.
2. Keep your blades sharp
Not only will you reap the benefits of better productivity, you will prolong the life of your machine. Blunt blades lead to bigger impact forces which places stress on your machine.
Before changing your blades make sure you refer to your Timberwolf manual for the correct torque settings for the blade bolts.
After removing your blades make sure you thoroughly scrape the surface of the rotor (and the back of the blades if you are reversing them).
Whilst changing your blades, check your wear indicators to ensure they are still safe to use and check the condition of the securing nuts for the blade bolts.
One last thing: back that torque wrench off to zero when you’re done or the calibration will be out next time.
3. Keep your brakes adjusted
Many wood chippers have an over-run braking system which will need adjusting from time to time. A guide as to whether your brakes need attention is if your handbrake has a lot of travel. The other sign that adjustment is needed is when the wood chipper thumps into you as you brake. The brakes not only help keep the wood chipper in place when unhitched, but they also assist you in stopping while you’re on the road.
4. Use genuine parts
The manufacturer of your wood chipper has taken time to test the durability and performance of each component. Yes, you can probably cut corners here and there, but if you have a failure later and that is somehow linked to a non-genuine part you may have difficulty with a warranty claim.
All Authorised Timberwolf Dealers carry genuine Timberwolf Parts. Find your nearest dealer here.
5. Check your Chips
Have you looked at the anvil? It is more durable than the blades but will still wear over time. When it does you can experience issues feeding material in to your wood chipper and a deterioration of your chip quality.
If you have concerns regarding your anvil, contact your nearest Timberwolf Dealer for advice.
6. Use the lock on your tow hitch
This is an obvious one but worth remembering. You’ve worked hard to get your equipment; you wouldn’t leave your truck unlocked, so make sure you’ve used the hitch lock to stop opportunists from helping themselves.
7. Grease those bearings
All Timberwolf wood chippers feature a centralised greasing point, making it easy to maintain all the bearings and splines on your machine. Detail of when and how much grease to apply to your machine can be found in your owners manual.
In dirty and dusty conditions or during periods of hard work, greasing should be done more regularly than stated in your manual. Early indicators of insufficient grease include squeaking or knocking rollers. If the bearings and splines are allowed to run dry this can result in premature wear and lead to a breakdown and the need for replacement parts.
8. Clean your Air Filter Regularly
Your wood chipper works in a dusty environment so keep a check on your air filter. A daily air filter check will prolong its life and improve your fuel economy.
If you’re working in a really dusty environment check your air filter regularly throughout the day and clean it before it clogs up and causes your engine to overheat.
9. Keep a push stick handy
Your wood chipper chips wood! A good habit to get into is to cut a suitably shaped stick to act as a pusher for those times that you get something awkward stuck in the feed funnel. If it’s taken by the rollers you’ve just lost a push stick, no drama, but if you were using a rake or a shovel instead, the story would have a very different outcome…
10. In cold weather...
Check the radiator coolant mixture to protect from frost; if the mixture is too weak, the engine block will be damaged if it freezes. Has the battery been checked for condition and power? You don’t want to be let down on starting. Check the lights are working correctly for the darker nights and check the condition and pressures of the tyres.
