Chipper/shreader

[vaking]

My neighbor moved to the city and left to me his chipper/shreader. It is an old (20 years) Troy-built unit, very heavy with 4hp Tecumseh engine. The engine is dead and needs replacement - looks like it fell and the cast case is broken. Other than the engine - the chipper seems in working order. The documentation even says that unit was seriously reworked 3 years ago by authorised dealer. I know original Troy is out of business and the name was bought by MTD. I live in the suburbs of NYC, have not too much of a property, some hedges, no major acres. My wife loves gardening and wants a shreader but I am afraid that this unit with its 3" branch chipping capacity is an overkill for me.
Questions:
Do you know of a source of such engines? I was able to find some places on the Internet and I am estimating I can get a replacement for about $200.
Do you think it is worth a trouble or is it better to simply buy some electric unit from HF for same money? 1" chipping capacity instead of 3" but simpler.

[JR]

I don't want to go all Tim the Tool Man Taylor on you, but you want serious HP here!

I've used a chipper/shredder on my small properties for about 15 years. Once you get started you'll realize how much yard waste there is to mulch. 3" is pretty small, as is 4hp, but it will chew up shrub and tree trimmings, which is helpful. Any twig or branch sized stuff simply will not break down if you don't chip it.

The shredder bin (I assume it has one) is useful for the smaller stuff. Don't be afraid to put autumn leaves through there, too. That stuff makes excellent soil ammendment.

BTW - sawdust out of your dust collector is helpful here, too. Put all that stuff in your compost bin, add some kitchen waste, some soil now and again, and a handful of fertilizer when the mood strikes and you'll have a compost mix your gardener will love.

JR

[LCHIEN]

A 4 HP motor is lawnmower-sized, I think.
A local mower shop can give you a quote on repair.
Lawnmower engines can regularly be found at HF, www.use-enco.com,
www.grainger.com and www.msdirect.com. and those types of industrial HW stores.

6.5 HP Briggs and stratton at HF, $159:
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=92830

maybe a lawnmower shop have rebuilt engines?

[Jim Boyd]

Tractor Supply also carries motors in the stores.

[gerti]

I bought one of those home-owner type shredders years ago, and it was a perfect waste of money. IIRC (the thing rots in a back corner in a shed) it was a Yardman. It chocked all the time and I probably spend more time on it trying to dislodge wood than it actually ran.

So as JR said: Bigger is better. The smallish units seem to be pretty pointless.

[Pappy]

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/w...s=P_Brand&N=76

3-4 pages of Tecumseh engines.

[rg32]

Alex whatever you’re decision you have a very desirable piece of equipment and as goes with anything bearing the older Troy Built name.
Based on what sounds like limited usage I’d check a few of your local small engine repair shops as many have rebuilt engines and take offs often at a good savings.
I heard him fire it up last weekend ready to till his garden, my neighbor has a Troy Built tiller that has steel wheels and is believed to have built sometime in the 40.
They don't make them like they used to!