Another MacKissic Mighty Mac thread

[Bar Nuthin 933]

After seeing some other threads on here about Mighty Mac chipper shredders, attached to WH tractors, I decided to keep watch for one at a decent price. I ended up finding this one on marketplace and negotiated the price down to $100 - knowing it was non-running ($45 cheaper than the replacement screen I had to order ) .

 

Since my plan was to convert it to a WH attachment, the "non-running" part didn't bother me.  After a few messages back and forth with @ebinmaine, and looking at his previous threads on the topic, I decided to pull the trigger!

 

Here's a video of my progress, so far.

 

 

Edited April 10 by Bar Nuthin

[ebinmaine 70,606]

Awesomeness! 

 

 

Terry at Redoyourhorse has the decals. He made mine. 

[OutdoorEnvy 1,733]

Cool find!  I’ve had an eye out for one too.  Still waiting.  Looking forward to updates!

[Bar Nuthin 933]

The next step will be figuring out how to mount it. I'll post my thoughts and see what kind of feedback I get.

 

I have a parts snowblower I got for free. I measured the attachment bracket it uses, and it is about an inch and a half narrower than the Mac housing.

The idler setup looks like it will line up with the Mac's pulley if I mount it flush to the left side and make a spacer for the right.

I'm not sure, but I don't think this thing weighs as much as the snowblower, however it will hang out further.

 

I'm hoping I can....

1. leave the front wheels on (or replace with feet)
2. add a post to attach the snowblower lift tube
3. use the snowblower's attachment point and idler system
4. raise the Mac to move to location, then set it down on the wheels/feet for operation.

 

Working out of state next week, so may be a bit before another update.

By the way, I need a side hopper if anyone has a lead on one. Oh, and 1 long pin that adjusts the discharge flap in position.

Edited April 10 by Bar Nuthin

[ebinmaine 70,606]

11 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

how to mount it.

 

I MAY have a JD front mount you could modify  >> IF  << you want to do a tractor mount like mine  

 

 

12 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

need a side hopper

 

Likely you'll rarely, if ever,  use the hopper. 

I find that it gets in the way quite a lot.

 

12 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

long pin that adjusts the discharge flap in position.

 

 

Those look like a standard Hardware type issue. I can measure mine if it would help you. But you should have two or three just like that on the machine already.

[Bar Nuthin 933]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

I MAY have a JD front mount you could modify  >> IF  << you want to do a tractor mount like mine

 

Thanks, I'm hoping to set it up for easy attachment & removal with the front hitch. If I'm unsuccessful, I may hit you up. 

 

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Likely you'll rarely, if ever, use the hopper. 

I find that it gets in the way quite a lot.

 

Any problems running limbs without the chute, other than probably some flying debris?

 

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

Those look like a standard Hardware type issue. I can measure mine if it would help you. But you should have two or three just like that on the machine already.

 

Yeah, I'll probably just make a rod.

[ebinmaine 70,606]

7 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

Any problems running limbs without the chute, other than probably some flying debris?

 

 

Read the following note 68 times and then read it a few times after that...

 

 

DO NOT WEAR GLOVES!!

 

Now what I need you to do is look at the line before this one and read that note again.

 

I bring that up because gloves are going to get caught on branches and you do not want them pulling you and your hands in places you don't need to be.

 

 

That said, glasses are extremely important. Flying debris is going to happen. These things are very aggressive.

 

Even without the long chute in place there is still several inches of travel before you get to the chopping blades.

 

No intake chute is much easier.

That's how I've been running mine since I got it.

 

 

[gwest_ca-(File Mod) 11,235]

6 hours ago, ebinmaine said:

No intake chute is much easier.

That's how I've been running mine since I got it.

 

I leave my chute off also.

 

The shredder plastic shield on mine says to not put anything over 1" in diameter in the shredder. That is far too large if working with wood. The 1" limbs are fed into the chipper as far as can be fed and the last handful goes into the shedder.

That may be what broke up the screen.

 

[ebinmaine 70,606]

2 minutes ago, gwest_ca said:

 

I leave my chute off also.

 

The shredder plastic shield on mine says to not put anything over 1" in diameter in the shredder. That is far too large if working with wood. The 1" limbs are fed into the chipper as far as can be fed and the last handful goes into the shedder.

That may be what broke up the screen.

 

 

We do the same.  

Our screen has been shredded since long before our ownership.  

 

I'm in the habit of putting anything broomstick sized or bigger through the side chute. Any short leftover sticks (the last few inches)  I just chuck in the woods.  

[Handy Don 13,339]

My Tomahawk is set up a little differently, but I treat it with intense suspicion since I know that it is just waiting for a chance to hurt me. 

[Bar Nuthin 933]

First test run.

 

 

[ebinmaine 70,606]

Super cool.  

 

Imagine that BEAST belted to a K341? 

 

[Lane Ranger 11,122]

15 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

First test run.

 

 

 

 

Don't forget if you ever wear the hammer mill blades on the cutting edge they can be removed and turned over to a new hardened edge for use!

 

I sed this one for five years!  Great machine!

 

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 933]

42 minutes ago, Lane Ranger said:

 

 

 

I sed this one for five years!  Great machine!

 

Interesting, looking at the position of your flapper door.  Mine is currently pinned at the top-front hole.  I haven't found much information on the different positioning.  Any insight as to advantages of different positions?

 

Here is a picture I stole from one of @ebinmaine's threads. I think I get it now.

 

Edited April 11 by Bar Nuthin

[OoPEZoO 554]

Nice.....I bought my MacKissic at the big show a few years ago and love having it available.  Mine is mounted on the front half of an old plow frame so it attaches to the center and front attachamatic mounts.  It was originally on a full plow frame, but it was a PITA to muscle around, so I hacked off the back end and welded in the cross bar for the mid mount.  The previous owner also added a set of swing down legs on the front so when its not on the tractor, I can walk it around like a wheel barrow.  Then I can flip it up on its end in the corner of the shop when its not needed.  It works really well.  The only downside being that I have to remove the hood any time I want to use it because the belt comes in contact with the edge of the hood.  I could probably fix that by remounting the unit on the plow frame slightly offset, but its not that big of a deal and works great as it is.  I've probably run 8-10 tanks of gas through the horse with this thing going full tilt.  

 

Mine came with the tiny 1/2" screen installed.  It worked ok for VERY dry material, but clogged often.  I watched Ebay for a few months and managed to score some NOS screens and a spare chipping blade for a decent price.  I typically use the 1.5"x3" oval screen.  I chip/shred a lot of stringy wet stuff, plus bamboo, and it seems to handle that the best.  

 

EDIT: Oh.....and my flapper door is pinned out at the end of the unit.  I pin it at the top and leave the bottom loose to swing out.  If it was farther back in the machine, I would be concerned with constant clogging.  This thing will chip a LOT of stuff, very quickly once you get a routine down

 

Edited April 11 by OoPEZoO

[ebinmaine 70,606]

1 minute ago, OoPEZoO said:

watched Ebay for a few months and managed to score some NOS screens

 

IF you have an extra screen with either 3/4" holes or 1" holes I'd be interested. 

 

36 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

.  I haven't found much information on the different positioning.  Any insight as to advantages of different positions?

 

Not sure if it's mentioned in any manuals.....?

 

My impression is that the flapper door is to guide the output for flight direction and distance 

AND  safety of surrounding people or other creatures and property.  

 

I keep mine mid level. 

 

@Lane Ranger shows his at a low setting. His would allow very limited travel of output materials at that setting.  

 

We don't have much for limitations here. I usually point the whole machine in the direction of the intended usage. 

Want chips on a pathway?

Park the tractor IN the pathway. 

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 933]

9 hours ago, OoPEZoO said:

Mine is mounted on the front half of an old plow frame so it attaches to the center and front attachamatic mounts.  

 

Are able to raise and lower it when you need to mount or dis-mount from your tractor? 

[OoPEZoO 554]

13 hours ago, Bar Nuthin said:

 

Are able to raise and lower it when you need to mount or dis-mount from your tractor? 

 

If you mean.....is it attached to the lift lever/bar on the tractor, then no.  I typically roll the tractor over it, then lift the front mount into place.  Once it is locked in the front, the weight of the unit causes the rear of the frame to pivot up to the mid mount.  Sometimes I slide a floor jack under to help line things up, and sometimes it clicks right into place.  Dismount is easy, just unlock the front and mid mount and give it a nudge.....it drops right off.  I'll admit that part is a little clunky, but I only mount/dismount it once or twice a year.  I usually run a plow for the winter, then swap to the chipper for the other 3 seasons, as I don't use my horses for mowing anymore.

[Lane Ranger 11,122]

I never moved the flapper door and I positioned this over a tarp usually as I recall.

 

Leaves turned to minuscule mulch.

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 933]

For as quick as I put this together, with scrap parts, I think it came out pretty good!  It's easy to take on and off and roll around for storage. Have a look.

 

 

[ebinmaine 70,606]

This is excellent! 

 

I like the double pulley idler. 

 

What size screen holes did you end up buying? 

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 933]

1 hour ago, ebinmaine said:

What size screen holes did you end up buying? 

 

 

I went with the standard 1". Most of what I'll use it for are dead limbs from the 6 massive oak trees and 2 black locust trees.  If I run across one of the bar or oval screens, I'd pick it up to use for cornstalks in the fall.

Edited Sunday at 12:47 PM by Bar Nuthin

[ebinmaine 70,606]

29 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

 

I went with the standard 1". Most of what I'll use it for are dead limbs from the 6 massive oak trees and 2 black locust trees.  If I run across one of the bar or oval screens, I'd pick it up to use for cornstalks in the fall.

 

 

I've been mulling over what size to order. 

Likely I'll go a hair smaller for a slightly finer output.  

 

 

[Bar Nuthin 933]

9 minutes ago, ebinmaine said:

I've been mulling over what size to order. 

Likely I'll go a hair smaller for a slightly finer output.  

 

If run across a good source, let me know. I wouldn't mind having a few different screens on hand. I just hate paying more than I spent for the machine, for brand new from MacKissic. Fabricating one exceeds my capabilities. And 9 times our of 10, I end spending more to build stuff than I could have bought it for - since every good project deserves a few new tools! 

Edited Sunday at 01:27 PM by Bar Nuthin

[ebinmaine 70,606]

2 minutes ago, Bar Nuthin said:

 

If run across a good source, let me know. I wouldn't mind having a few different screens on hand. I just hate paying more than I spent for the machine, for brand new from MacKissic. Fabricating one exceeds my capabilities. And 9 times our of 10, I end spending more to build stuff than I could have bought it for - since every good project deserves a few new tools! 

 

 

It does. Yes.  

 

 

I have two screens here. Both 1" holes.

One is too narrow. (My fault for not checking the measurements).

One is the broken original. 

I thought about cutting the side off the broken original and adding it to the narrow screen. 

I don't have enough confidence in my welding skill level that I want to trust the end result.  

 

I've been occasionally looking at fleeebay for old screens but never seen one.  

 

Hens teeth may be more common.