Review Of The MTD Chipper Shredder
Today we are looking at the review of the MTD chipper shredder. Petrol chipper shredders start at around £500, we have a range of chipper shredders on our website. They are great for composting and ideal for chipping prunings etc. I wrote another post about the MTD chipper shredders here
The reviewer has a larger 15 hp Titan chipper, but prefers the MTD chipper shredder for shredding work. It can obviously chip larger branches, having more power than the 5 hp MTD. The spindly types of prunings do not chip very well; that’s where the MTD chipper shredder comes in.
The MTD is a capable machine that will chip pruning’s up to around 4 to 5 cm. However, for shredding purposes, up to half an inch, in other words, just over a centimetre, is ideal for shredding.
You Can Find More Petrol Chipper Shredders Here
Four-Stroke Petrol Engine
This particular MTD petrol chipper is powered by a 5 hp overhead valve 4-stroke engine. The 5 hp Tecumseh engine is now getting harder to find parts in the UK. The fuel tank is becoming a bit worn, although it’s not leaking at the moment. If I have to order one, I will probably have to order it directly from the US. Although the engine is several years old, it runs on unleaded fuel.
The actual machine in the video has had a new carburettor and a new fuel line added. The carburettor is off an old Qualcast Suffolk Punch engine. The original carburettor had a primer on it; the original one was moulded into the carburettor! It seems to start okay without the primer, I just use the choke now, which is controlled through the throttle cable.
I added a new fuel line due to a few cracks, as the fuel line was weeping slightly. The old float in the carburettor was also sticking, hence the new carburettor.
The MTD chipper shredder is quite compact and ideal for loading into a van. I take it to all sorts of different places, especially in the wintertime when I am doing lots of pruning.
As you can see in the video, I have some light laurel prunings that I will put through the shredder. The great thing is that all these prunings, after they have been chipped or shredded, they can all be composted and put back in the garden.
The MTD Petrol Chipper Shredder
As you can see in the video, all I have to do is to drop the prunings into the chute. Sometimes the prunings may need a bit of gentle persuasion to allow them to be shredded.
This particular machine was purchased cheaply as it was sold as a non-runner. However, with a few basic repairs carried out on the engine, it appears to work fine.
You Can Find More Petrol Chipper Shredders Here
Starting The Engine
To start the engine, we need to open the choke and then pull the recoil starter. The cutting head is permanently engaged, so there is some resistance when we pull the recoil starter. Once the engine is running, the choke can be released. After a few moments of warming up, the MTD chipper shredder is ready for use.
Using The MTD Chipper Shredder
With a small machine like the MTD chipper shredder, it takes time to shred and chip the material. It’s not like a commercial machine where you can keep feeding it and leaving it to pull the material in. There are no rollers to assist you; it’s purely gravity fed.
The larger material is being chipped and the smaller material is shredded. It’s important to lay out your material neatly, ready for chipping, it saves a lot of time in the long run. The chipper works better just by feeding in one piece at a time. With the shredder, handfuls of small material can be placed in the hopper. The material is quickly shredded and ready for composting.
Moving The MTD Chipper Around
Fortunately, the MTD chipper is provided with transport wheels, making it easy to move around the garden. The large handle which is attached to the hopper makes it very easy to manoeuvre the chipper around the garden.
The shredder hopper can be placed at different angles, making it easier for the operator to use the machine. This can also be useful for storage purposes, as the hopper can be completely removed.
To Conclude
I’ve always liked the idea of having a chipper/shredder in the garden. I like to try and put everything I take out of the garden back. With the chipper, there is no need for any more bonfires; everything can be chipped and shredded and then composted.
The MTD chipper shredder is a relatively small machine, we do have larger machines available on our website. These machines are definitely a good investment for any garden. As always, buy the best machine you can afford.
