Regular maintenance and care are crucial for keeping your electric wood chippers running safely and efficiently. Neglecting routine service can lead to blockages, wear and tear, performance issues, and potentially dangerous operating conditions. By following some key maintenance practices, you can extend the life of your electric wood chippers and ensure optimal performance.
Cleaning the Machine
Keeping your electric wood chipper clean should be one of your top priorities. A build-up of debris, sap, and dirt can cause:
- Blockages leading to jamming and motor overload
- Overheating due to poor ventilation
- Corrosion and rust
- Wear of components
- Risk of fire in extreme cases
Get into the habit of clearing out debris from the hopper feed, chute, chipper housing, and discharge unit after every use. Pay special attention to the areas around the chipper blade, making sure no material wraps around the blade shaft.
Cleaning the Exterior
Use a damp cloth to wipe down all accessible external surfaces. Remove any built-up debris, dirt, grease, or sap. Be careful not to scratch any painted or printed decals.
For a deeper clean, use a power washer to clean the feed tray, hopper, discharge chute and other external parts. Take care of any electrical components or warning decals.
Cleaning the Blade
With the electric wood chippers turned off and unplugged, carefully scrape any debris wrapped around the blade using an appropriate tool while wearing thick protective gloves.
If sap or resin has built up on the blade, you can use a solvent like acetone on a rag to dissolve it, taking care not to damage the blade.
Cleaning Inside the Housing
With the wood chipper off and unplugged, and wearing protective gloves, carefully reach inside the chipper housing and clear out any debris. Use a vacuum cleaner attachment or small brush if helpful.
Fuel Filter and Fuel Tank
On gas-powered chipper models, regularly check and replace the fuel filter as needed. Debris entering the fuel tank can clog the filter. When cleaning the surrounding parts of your chipper with solvents or power washers, cover/protect the fuel tank cap area.
Sharpening Blades
Sharp chipper blades are essential for fast, efficient chipping action. Blunt or worn blades can slow your feed rate to a crawl. They may also cause jamming, leave uneven chips, require more power draw, and add strain on components.
When to Sharpen
- You notice a significant drop in chipping performance
- Chipping leaves long splinters instead of fairly even chips
- Feed rate slows down compared to earlier performance
- Blades appear visibly nicked, worn or deformed at the edges
Safety Precautions
- Turn off the wood chipper and unplug before inspecting or removing blades
- Wear sturdy protective gloves when handling blades
- Secure blades in a vise or clamp when sharpening
- Work cautiously to avoid cuts or abrasions
Sharpening Angle
Refer to your electric wood chippers’ manual for the exact sharpening angle. Generally a angle of 30-40 degrees is recommended depending on the style of blade. Maintain the original bevel angle as you sharpen.
Sharpening Methods
Hand File
For occasional sharpening, a file with a handle allows reasonable control and angling. Draw the file smoothly across the edge at the prescribed angle with moderate pressure. Work your way around all edges.
Grinder or Sander
For fast removal of nicks and damage, an electric grinder or disc sander can reshape and sharpen blades efficiently. Maintain proper angle as you work. Cool blades in water to prevent loss of temper. Be very careful not to overheat edges.
Wet Wheel
A wet sharpening system that runs on a slow grinding wheel with continual water flow is ideal for keeping blades cool while sharpening. Wet wheels allow precise control of angles needed for quality results.
When in Doubt, Seek Professional Help
If damage or wear is extensive, or achieving the proper angles proves difficult, consult a sharpening service to avoid ruining blades. Proper sharpening is a critical factor in chipper performance and safety.
Checking and Cleaning Air Filters
Air filters play an important role in engine performance and efficiency. By trapping dust and debris, they prevent premature wear on pistons, cylinders, bearings and other internal parts. But clogged filters can restrict airflow and impact engine function.
Check Weekly
Check your chipper engine air filter at least weekly when in frequent use. Look for accumulated dirt, nesting debris or damage:
- Foam filters: inspect for tears, gaps or saturation with oil/fuel
- Paper filters: check for heavy staining or holes
Follow your electric wood chippers’ manual for the recommended service intervals and procedures for your filter type. This may involve cleaning foam filters or replacing paper cartridges.
Cleaning Foam Filters
Foam air filters can be cleaned by hand to remove debris. Follow these steps:
- Remove the filter carefully to avoid knocking anything loose into the carburetor inlet
- Clean outer surfaces with a rag, brush or air nozzle if not too dirty
- For heavy dirt, soak in soap and water before rinsing
- Allow to dry fully before reinstalling
- Check condition and replace if torn or overly compressed
Paper Filter Replacement
Paper air filters cannot be cleaned like foam ones. Follow your manual for details on model-specific replacement intervals and part numbers. Generally:
- Remove old filter carefully
- Inspect inlet duct for debris; clean if necessary
- Install new paper filter securely
- Check condition after 8-10 hours initial use
Performance Effects
Keep your chipper engine breathing freely. Clogged air filters can cause:
- Hard starting
- Rough idle
- Loss of power
- Reduced fuel economy
- Potential engine damage over time
Lubricating Bearings
The bearings in your wood chipper enable smooth rotation under load in the critical drive systems. Without proper lubrication, excessive heat and friction builds up, eventually causing bearing damage or failure.
When to Lubricate
- New chippers: lubricate bearings after first 5-8 hours of operation
- Periodically: every 40 hours of typical use
- Heavy use conditions: daily lubrication recommended
- Dusty conditions: lubricate more frequently
- Squealing/noisy bearings: inspect lubrication
What Grease to Use
- General purpose lithium or molybdenum disulfide grease
- NLGI grade #2 viscosity
- Meet or exceed Timken OK load rating
Always check manufacturer specifications for grease type suitable for the ambient temperatures your chipper operates in. Using thicker summer or winter grade grease as appropriate prevents leakage or separation.
How to Lubricate Bearings
- Clean grease fittings with a quick spray of brake cleaner before lubricating
- Apply grease via grease gun until fresh grease purges from seals
- Wipe away any excess grease
- Refer to your manual for all grease points and intervals
Bearing Inspection
Anytime you lubricate, manually turn shafts and pulleys and listen/feel for smooth spins without grinding sensations. Noisy, rough bearings should be replaced.
Proper lubrication prevents premature failures and extends bearing life significantly. It takes little time for big dividends in wood chipper reliability.
General Maintenance Tips
Alongside major maintenance tasks like blade sharpening and cleaning, following some broad troubleshooting guidelines pays off in keeping your chipper running reliably:
Check Oil Level
For gas-powered chipper engines, check the oil dipstick level weekly when in frequent use. Top up as needed with recommended grades. Let the engine cool first before getting an accurate dipstick reading.
Inspect for Loose Parts
Before each use, take 5 minutes to visually inspect your wood chipper, checking:
- No broken or missing guards/shields
- Feed hopper, wheels securely attached
- No loose bolts or fasteners
- Wheels turn freely
- Discharge chute clear
Tighten any loose bolts and have damaged parts replaced/repaired promptly.
Listen for Unusual Noises
As you work, stay alert to any odd or loud mechanical noises coming from the chipper internals that may signal a potential failure point. Have concerning noises inspected and repaired immediately by an authorized service center before catastrophic damage can occur.
Use Genuine Spare Parts
While generic replacements may seem cheaper up front, knock-off components often fail quicker while causing ancillary damage too. Invest in quality original parts for a longer service life.
Consistent care and maintenance taps into the engineering in your wood chipper for productivity over the long haul. Don’t let a lack of basic servicing cut into your machine’s lifespan.
Conclusion
Getting top performance from an electric wood chipper for years involves making maintenance a habitual priority. From vigilant cleaning to sharpening blades, lubricating bearings, replacing consumable parts, and following manufacturer guidelines – properly caring for your chipper leads to optimal function.
While some maintenance requires shop tools and mechanical skills, any owner can develop the basic daily and weekly habits that spot little problems before they become big expenses. Your efforts maximize runtime and return on your investment.
So beyond learning proper operating techniques, devote attention to your chipper’s care regimen too. Build robust routines into your schedule so critical tasks never get overlooked until equipment fails when you need it most. When maintenance becomes second nature, your wood chipper delivers consistent, hassle-free service for the long run.