Kraft wood-chipper 7hp, 212cc Loncin engine - test by Korogonas Ark Community

Описание: published by iamalexandrospfaff for Korogonas Ark Community


Here we test a Kraft wood-chipper with a 7hp-212cc Loncin gasoline engine, drum with 2 knives/blades, max. diameter 7cm (only fresh soft wood like bamboo, realistic diameter max. 4-5cm, depending on the wood type and watercontent). (Όσοι δε γνωρίζετε αγγλικά και θέλετε πληροφορίες, μπορείτε να μας καλέσετε στο 6934 777489)

Factory / εργοστάσιο: Greatbull, China
Importing company / εισαγωγέας: Unimac A.E. (Greece)
Brandname / μάρκα: Kraft (also: Blackstone GBK-700 L)
Engine / κινητήρας: Loncin, 212cc, 7hp gasoline / βενζίνη

(+) pros:
strong enginge
good for thicker branches
suitable also for harder woods like olive
soft material passes through very easily
big "mouth" where one can fill in quite some quantity of branches without blocking the drum
air-filled wheels
stable stand
easy to start
practical long transport handle
limited weight (70-80Kg)
easy to move by 1 person, even in the field
detailed manual for the gasoline engine
all in all good quality (except:*)

(-) cons:
One insufficient welding line with crack at the bottom of the filling tube (we will update after our guarantee experience with Unimag in a few weeks)*
no good chipping results when small branches from harder wood types (such as olive) pass alone, so one has to pass them always together with bigger branches and/or pass the unchipped pieces through the drum a second time
harder wood material requires quite some muscle work to get the branches through the drum, especially when the blades are not super sharp any more...
if material gets stuck and the drum blocks, 6 (!) screws have to be unscrewed! That is very inconvenient. This could be solved much better with only one or two screws and a slide-in mechanism, if the factory wanted to upgrade this product and make it more userfriendly.
very insufficient manual for the machine body: Only someone with technical skills may be able to put the machine together in the first place, as it comes pre-installed and there are no details whatsoever, which screws have to go where (haven't you ever heard of IKEA???)! Also, there are no hints whatsoever in the manual for the case of drum blockage or for blade removement, which is maybe THE most important thing that may happen/be needed from time to time!

UPDATE: Professional and quick respond by UNIMAC; the whole feeding tube unit was exchanged with no arguing or discussion with a brand new one: Thumbs up!
2nd UPDATE: The brand new feeding tube cracked after just a few hours work with only light workload (!) The importing company was amazed and astonished, as nobody had ever had this problem (as they said). Well I guess nobody did remark it or care about it, as the mashine still works without any problem even with the cracks. So now, as part of the guarantee, they are doing a proper welding line with some reinforcement. So still thumbs up for good service.
3rd UPDATE: The importing company did a great welding line but unfortunately only on the one side! So after paying for delivery ourselves we still need to go to a local welder to do the rest! Thumbs finally DOWN...
4th update: No matter how perfect the welding-connection to the feeding tube is, it breaks! So we decided to apply reinforcement with 4pcs of 45cm steel-bands , two on top, one on each side and with this the problem was solved once and for all!
5th update: Together with the steel bands, we welded a slide-in shaft for the feeding tube with only one screw and bold (works fine even without any screw!), so now, in case of drum-block or other service needed, the tube can be disconnected in seconds, instead of disconnecting 6 screws and bolds! Also, now screws won't break off any more during work...
6th update: After watching the chinese rubber-tires to almost dissolve after less than three years with only little use, we decided to do an upgrade with a new (wider) achsle and two used and much bigger scooter aluminum rims/tires, that give much more stability when carrying the chipper in the field and also when actually working with it and they will literally last for ever! Now the chipper is as they should sell them ffrom factory, perfectly engineered, solid and great looking, as well!

please visit our community project, Korogonas Ark, here:
https://korogonasarkcommunity.wordpre...

have a look at our products here:
https://eshop.house-of-light.gr/the-k...

watch also our olive harvest video, here:
   • Korogonas Ark   wild olives  

and our Korogonas Ark video trailer, here:
   • "Korogonas Ark" community in Greece Testim...