Service & Maintenance of your TOMCAT Chipper

Servicing a chipper is the same as for any other piece of equipment or car that you may own. Regular and proper maintenance will ensure a dependable machine – minimizing downtime and optimizing production. TOMCAT Chippers are simply built which makes service and maintenance quick and hassle free. Maintenance intervals vary between the different chipper models and are indicated in the TOMCAT Manual.

General

- Ensure all bolts and nuts on chipper are always fastened.
- ALWAYS adhere to the recommended torque settings!
- No person should ever perform any maintenance on a chipper without the necessary training on the machine!

The Blades

- The blades should be checked each morning for damage and sharpness.
- Dull or severely damaged blades should never be used. Blunt blades will increase fuel consumption and vibration.
- Blunt blades will cause stringy chips and can cause the discharge chute to block.
- Use a Knife Saver daily to keep the edge of the blade as sharp as possible and ensure longer blade life.
- Never mix a set of blades. Always keep the two blades as a pair. This will keep your drum balanced and minimize vibration.
- Ensure that the engine is switched off completely and the drum comes to a complete stop before performing ANY form of maintenance, especially on the drum and blades!
- Use the correct bolts with your TOMCAT blades and torque them at the correct tension.


The Engine

- Filters, oil and water should be checked on a daily basis.
- Yamaha petrol engines should be given a full service every 100 hours.
- Perkins diesel engines should be given a full service every 250 hours.
- Ensure that the engine mountings are always fastened.
- Start a cold engine with the clutch dis-engaged and with the throttle on idle speed.
- Always wait for your engine to warm up before chipping.
- Always operate your chipper on full throttle – NEVER on idle speed!
- Makes sure all engine cooling equipment is always clean!

The Bearings

- The bearings should be greased daily at all the grease nipples.
- Refer to the TOMCAT Manual to ensure the correct amount of grease is applied.
- Lubricating the bearings regularly will ensure less wear and increase component life.
- Regularly clean the excess grease off the outside of your bearings as this will collect dust and dirt.

The Hydraulics

- The hydraulic pressure should never be increased without consulting your TOMCAT dealer. Higher pressure could damage the pipes, motors and/or the hydraulic pump.
- A little hydraulic sweat on the tank is normal.
- The hydraulic oil level should always be above the MIN mark and should be checked on a daily basis.
- The chipper must be switched off and chipping stopped when the oil level drops below the MIN mark.
This means there is a leak in the hydraulic system.
- Refer to your TOMCAT Manual for the correct hydraulic maintenance intervals!
- Hydraulic temperature should never exceed 100˚C.

The fact that TOMCAT Chippers are built in South Africa, enables you as a customer to have access to spare parts, service and accessories supplied to you by all our agents countrywide!

The Benefits of Wood Chippers

What makes wood chippers so valuable and effective?

PRIMARY USAGE: WASTE REDUCTION UNIT

Wood chippers provide an economical solution to clearing and reducing green waste.

• The same labour that loads material onto a truck, could be utilised to feed a chipper.
• A wood chipper works quicker and cleans up your site.
• No morning burning of “green waste” will be necessary.
• Fewer trips to the landfill will be necessary– saving you time and money.
• Chippers reduce the volume of “green waste” by up to 70% and therefore you will save on transport, time and ultimately money.

Drastically reduce the volume of your green waste into manageable wood chips.

SECONDARY USAGE: WOOD CHIP PRODUCTION

The wood chips which are produced can be utilized as:

• mulch
• compost
• pressed wood
• bio fuel

Basically it comes down to:

• saving money when removing “green waste” from a site and
• generating an income from the chipped product when you sell it to your market.

This combination will turn your wood chipper into a profitable investment and not only a piece of equipment that costs you money every month.

10 General Safety Guidelines/Tips for Wood-Chipper Operators:

1. Everyone within 30 meters of the machine, especially all operators, MUST wear safety equipment (safety glasses, ear muffs, gloves etc.)
2. Stick to the maintenance schedules of the wood chipper and ensure that all the bolts are tightened as specified in the Tomcat Owner’s Manual.
3. Never reach into a gravity feed wood chipper with your hands. Rather use a stick or switch the machine off.
4. Never get rushed with a wood chipper when operating or performing maintenance. This will only result in injury.
5. Never leave your machine unattended while running. Stay in range of all feed control and shut down devices.
6. Never stand in front of the discharge chute as the chips are blown at a high speed and can seriously injure someone.
7. Never allow anyone to get near the PTO shaft while the machine is operational.
8. Never open the drum area while the drum is still spinning. Make sure the drum comes to a complete stop first.
9. Never open the discharge chute of the wood chipper while operating. Make sure the chute is always closed and locked with the safety pin & R-clip.
10. Never allow children near a running wood chipper even when the chipper is switched off.

How to take proper care of your Tomcat blades

TOMCAT MODEL 1000 Drum and Blade

Taking proper care of your Tomcat Chipper blades is essential! Chipper maintenance does not have to be a drag, just a few minutes each day will do the trick. Following  these guidelines will save you heaps of time and money spent on repairs, your blades will last longer and your work environment will be safer.

INSPECT YOUR BLADES FOR 5 MINUTES EACH MORNING

• Check the blades for dullness.
• Inspect the blades for cracks and chips.
• Flip your blades when necessary:
• On a drum-style chipper your blades should last from 20-30 hours per side.
• Disc-style clipper blades should be flipped every 25-30 hours.
• Remove debris that may have become stuck underneath the blade.
• Clean out the pocket with the dull side of the blade before putting the other side down or installing a new blade.
• Ensure the blade is torqued to your specific TOMCAT model.
• Above all make sure that you never run your chipper with a cracked or untightened blade. This is very dangerous and can result in blade breakage or even destroy your Tomcat Chipper.  

AVOID CHIPPING DAMAGING MATERIALS

• The type of material chipped will have an influence on the wear of the blades. Try to avoid chipping material that contains rocks, pebbles or even mud.
• Hard wood such as oak or maple dulls the blade quicker than soft wood like pine.

SHARPEN YOUR BLADES REGULARLY

• A blade in good condition can be sharpened up to 8 times per side.
• Do not use a handheld grinder to sharpen blades. Rather use an industrial grinder to ensure an even cutting edge at the correct angle.
• Keep the blades cool during sharpening. If the blades are too hot they could wear out prematurely.
• Check for chips and cracks again before fitting a newly sharpened blade. Even the smallest imperfection can cause blade failure.

CHECK FOR ANVIL CLEARANCE

The anvil is another key component that needs checked on a daily basis.

• Check for anvil clearance every time a blade is changed.
• Proper tolerances between the blade and anvil must be maintained for a smooth chipping process.
• Use the anvil setting tool supplied by us to set the correct distance between the blade and the anvil.
• Our anvils have 4 sides and can be flipped 2-4 times, depending on their condition.
• Ensure that the anvil bolts are properly torqued as specified on the chipper or in the manual.

Simply follow these guidelines and also check your Tomcat Owner Manual, and you will reap the benefits of long-lasting chipper blades and a high quality end product. 

New 100mm TOMCAT blade

The Perfect Mulch

Mulches are layers of materials such as compost, wood chips or leaves that are used to cover the soil surface in gardens or agricultural areas.

Wood chip mulch can be used to make an attractive garden path.

 The practice of mulching serves many purposes:

• it helps retain moisture (up to 50%more),
• assists with weed control,
• adds nutrients to the soil (as organic mulches decompose),
• insulates the soil to control the temperature,
• reduces erosion,
• and even improves the appearance of the area.

Apart from the benefits mentioned above turning a pile of wood into wood chips can also reduce the danger of fires on a farm.

Mulch around trees allows them grow in an optimal
environment, similar to being planted in a natural forest.

We are often asked whether Tomcat Chippers can be used for mulching and composting. Our chippers are actually ideal for mulching. Tomcat Chippers produce great quality wood chips for composting and mulching purposes. Contact us to find out more about how to use our machines effectively for mulching.

 

Tomcat Chipper Mulch

Tomcat launch the new Model 750 CDT

We are excited to introduce the new Model 750 CDT! This strong, heavy duty machine is constructed to handle any brush up to 75mm. It’s the best chipper in its size range and ideal for garden services, plant hire, nurseries, Fynbos farming and small holdings.

FEATURES INCLUDE:

5.5Hp Yamaha petrol engine

75mm capacity disc chipper

2 double-sided blades

All working parts are locally available and training and delivery are included in the price.

Contact Tomcat Chippers for a free quote or demo anywhere in South Africa.

http://www.tomcatchippers.co.za/contact