Forst ST6P common issues?

[kram]

If its a weak machine I could weld a baffle to reduce the size of the hole by an inch. Sounds like these are running a bit near their maximum and feeding it easier work might double its life?

[Mike Hill]

  On 14/02/2025 at 20:59, kram said:

If its a weak machine I could weld a baffle to reduce the size of the hole by an inch. Sounds like these are running a bit near their maximum and feeding it easier work might double its life?

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No.

If it's not doing what you want,slow down the feed rollers or buy a better machine.

 

Forst is a lightly built chipper with alot of corners cut in building them.

 

Grind out the crack.weld it up and give it a couple of runs over your new weld.

 

Put some stiffners in it too if you like. They go almost over where it cracked funnily enough.

[Mike Hill]

If you do take the cutting disc out,it's vital that you scribe around the pillow bearings before unbolting them from the mounts. They have to go back mm perfect .

 

You should get that disc out in a couple of hours easy,lift it out with engine hoist. I just welded them in situ but if your taking it to a welding shop they might appreciate better access.

[Rich Rule]

I am not a welder or an ag mechanic but would it not change the balance of the fly wheel or are the welds and tolerances for the balancing negligible?

[judastreefairy]

  On 14/02/2025 at 20:59, kram said:

If its a weak machine I could weld a baffle to reduce the size of the hole by an inch. Sounds like these are running a bit near their maximum and feeding it easier work might double its life?

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Conifer says “hey chipper I’m gonna fold thee up”

Timberwolf “ let’s have it!!!

[Mike Hill]

  On 14/02/2025 at 23:03, Rich Rule said:

I am not a welder or an ag mechanic but would it not change the balance of the fly wheel or are the welds and tolerances for the balancing negligible?

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Not as much as feeding it a big branch does,time and time again.

 

Adding a little weld close to the shaft won't matter. None of the disc's are perfect anyhow,the have more cast than you think.

[openspaceman]

  On 14/02/2025 at 20:47, Mick Dempsey said:

Stress control should keep you from damaging it.

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Stress control saves the engine from stalling and keeps the flywheel speed up (which also reduces blockages). Nothing saves the sudden shock of the blade hitting the first bit of wood , other than perhaps reducing the blade protrusion from the flywheel. It is that bite of the blade that flexes the flywheel toward the anvil.

[Mick Dempsey]

  On 15/02/2025 at 09:53, openspaceman said:

Stress control saves the engine from stalling and keeps the flywheel speed up (which also reduces blockages). Nothing saves the sudden shock of the blade hitting the first bit of wood , other than perhaps reducing the blade protrusion from the flywheel. It is that bite of the blade that flexes the flywheel toward the anvil.

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Yes, I take your point.

But chipping wood is what they do, you cannot treat a chipper like its handicapped, if it doesn’t work to capacity it’s ridiculous.
 

Has any manufacturers ever advised ‘take it easy with these ones, they’re delicate’?

 

I think it was @Mike Hill who speculated that the Först angle of attack on the blade was too aggressive compared to others.

 

Edited February 15 by Mick Dempsey

[openspaceman]

  On 15/02/2025 at 10:36, Mick Dempsey said:

I think it was @Mike Hill who speculated that the Först angle of attack on the blade was too aggressive compared to others.

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We had the first tracked forst 6" and I only used them  once or twice, I was impressed with the feed compared with the older timberwolf 150 and greenmechs . Apart from teething problems, I remember loose hoses and blown fuses,  they seemed to be okay up to 300 hours but I got sent out to pasture  soon after that.

[Mick Dempsey]

When they’re working they’re good.

When being the key word.