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!