Leaf Shredder

I bought a shredder at an auction yesterday. All I see on it is Compostor Model 46.6, I think. It has a 6hp Tecumseh engine that starts and runs great. I paid $25.00 so I think I got a good deal. The only problem is, it doesn't like green plants. I tried shredding my cowpeas and it clogged up often. Corn stalks are a little better, but it still clogs. Is that the nature of shredders or do I need to wait until things are dried?

Larry

I never tried green stuff in mine Larry, so I don't know if it'd plug up. But, it sure makes short work of dried stuff!

I've got an 8hp version and it clogged up on green stuff. Said the heck with the discharge grate. I empty the bag into wheelbarrow and run it thru again.

Hello fergienewbee,

Sounds like a good deal to me. There are cutting blades that are probably pretty dull. They are removable so they can be replaced. You may be able to just put an edge on them in place, and will work much better for you,

Guido.

They are all over rated. If you get something that goes through them, you still have to stand there all day feeding it in. Buy a pull type hammermill, and take the screen out, or use the biggest one made, and it'll take less time!

Green stringy stuff clogs a lot. They really need to be fed dry and/or brittle material. That they just chop on up!
I converted mine to a tow behind attached to the discharge of my mower to do leaves. It will take anything the mower can blow it. In fact I could use a higher suction deck or blades.
Anyone have any experience getting a Woods 59 under a Cub to improve the discharge? It mulches a good share and blows it out the back.

fergienewbee,
I have never owned a leaf shredder and see no reason to either. I have way too many acres to rake leafs. In the fall I get the mulching blades sharpeded on mowers. When the leafs start to fall I start cutting leafs and blow them to the center. If I get too many, then reverse direction. After leafs are chopped I could pick them up with a bagger on mower or continue to mow until they are all gone. Just depends on how hard I want to work or if I need compost. Sometimes I put plastic bags in bagger and save leafs for next years garden.

When I had a family, I would till garden in the fall and then stack about a foot of leafs on garden. Half would be decomposed by spring and at the end of the summer all the leafs were gone.

My mowers are 6 footers and the bagger is on a 4 footer. Can't tell you the last time I raked leafs, let alone picked the up with a rake and them in a bag.

I compost all the time. Never chop things. Just put in a pile, when pile get big, add a scoop ofs wood chips and dirt, then mix it up with loader. Makes great compost in a year or so. Just used some good compost today when I planted apple trees.
George

I don't know how much area you folk are dealing with but if it is not too great then why bother with over rated shredders etc. If you have a pile of leaves or light sticks and prunings an ordinary engine driven hand pushed lawnmower pushed backwards and forwards over them will soon have it all pulverized in no time. Much quicker that standing there poking sticks in one at a time.

Plugging on wet, green material is the nature of most shreders. I had a 9 HP Craftsman shredder/chipper and it plugged badly on hosta stems in the fall. By spring the plants would be dry enough to shred much better.

Wait until the material is drier before you try to shred it, or just run over it with a mower and rake up the remains.

George and Graham have it right! If you cant mow it, pile it, and let the compost rot it!