Masport 5.0HP Chipper Shredder (160cc Honda GX160 engine)
VerifiedMPN: BIO20265 reviews
New model is a down grade in pleasure to use mainly for un-needed safety improvements over older model. Higher and narrower infeed means you work harder. Square side infeed flange has broad face and prevents stem with leaves going in easily means you work harder. Covered in base fills up, and the unit must be moved to clear it out means you work harder. This newer unit is good for slower and patient working style. Horay for un-needed safety.
Purchased in for $1,500.
Very hard to feed, anything over a handful,larger than six mm,crooked or side branches will not feed, processed material catchment area is to small requiring constant moving of the machine leaving a trail of mulch or constant raking out material. This machine is eight months old and still has bolts coming loose. For the price, a waste of money. The motor starts second pull and runs well
Purchased in .
Somewhat disappointing – I bought the 6hp version, and I have only used it twice because I have the same problems Tom from the Hunter had. Mainly, you can't feed any branches that have twigs sticking out or forks. You have to cut them off, which can be very time-consuming. I pruned an olive tree ans spent 3 hours mulching and I think I have more that a day to go. Not very efficient. Also, the exit chute is just too small and clogs up very quickly, it takes some time to clear the shroud. I realise it is a machine for domestic use, but with a couple of easy modifications they could improve it enormously, and for almost $1,700 and all the youtube videos (probably paid for to make it look better than it is) Masport should do it. I will be making the modifications that Tom did and see how it goes. In my opinion the machine can give you mulch but it's not a wood chipper. You can feed a 50mm stick but the machine keeps kicking it back rather that grabbing it in, and it tears the wood instead of chipping it.
Purchased in for $1,679.
Good after modification – The first time I ran mine, several bolts rattled loose and fell into the shredder, destroying them. I had to replace them, and re-torque every fastener on the machine. The small opening at the bottom of the hopper makes branches difficult to feed in unless they are very straight or very small. Most of the time using the chipper is spent with pruners cutting up material.
The metal shroud at the bottom encloses the sides and rear of the machine, and mulch piles up very quickly and causes it to clog. The only way to use it is to either drag the heavy machine back several feet every few minutes, leaving a trail of mulch on the grass, or pull it out from underneath by hand, which is slow and dirty. I removed this and fabraicated a set of legs so I can slide a plastic tub under the machine.
After modifications, I would say its good, but unless you have the time, tools, and extra money to modify it, id recommend trying a different machine of a better design.
*edit After 6 years, can also say that the drive belts wear out quickly (maybe 10-20 hours of light residential use), and I have had a chipper blade crack and break apart. That aside the machine has performed well.
Purchased in for $1,300.
Hi Tom, Thank you for sharing such a detailed and long-term perspective on your experience with us. We’re sorry to hear about the initial frustrations you encountered and the modifications required to suit your needs. While we’re glad the machine has performed well for you over the last six years, your feedback regarding the fasteners, design, and component wear is invaluable to us.
We have shared these insights with our product development team to help us improve future designs. If you would like to discuss your experience or for any product support, please reach out to our team at 1300 366 225 or email us at csau@masport.com.au
Has some problems but overall, this is a good chipper – This machine produces a fine mulch from any dry garden clippings and tree branches. You cannot simply throw in material like they do on large, commercial machines. It takes some practice to be able to feed material at the correct rate. It cannot shred wet or pulpy material. It creates a moist dough that clogs the machine. It can also have trouble with some tough fibrous plants, such as native grasses. It works very well with dry branches and leaves. Sometimes, a branch will get stuck in the chute for no apparent reason. Maybe it is getting snagged on the nuts that stick out on the corners of the chute.
The chipper on the side chops through thick branches very easily. Even bent branches can be fed through with a bit of fiddling. You need a 5x5 cm pine push stick to get the last bit of the branch into the chipper. The chipper produces wood chips that are very fine compared to "normal" wood chips. This machine is not suitable if you need coarser wood chips.
Biggest problem is that there is a very small space where the shredded material exits the machine. You have to be constantly moving the machine to clear the space. I am trying to work out some solution to this. Maybe dig a hole that can hold a plastic bin and place the shredder over this.
One minor problem is that the grill is held in place with a wire clip. This has to be removed to unclog the machine. I am constantly losing this clip and crawling through garden clippings looking for it.
I don't usually bother with hearing protection when working with power tools but this machine is an exception. You will go deaf within 15 minutes without ear muffs. Mask is also a good idea for the fine dust produced. Long King Gee pants might also be good protection against the engine's red hot exhaust 2cm from your knee.
Honda engine starts first pull every time.
This chipper has some limitations but, overall, I am happy with it.
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Thank you for sharing your experience with the Masport Chipper Shredder. We appreciate your honest feedback and understand your concerns regarding the challenges you've encountered.
We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused you during the mulching process, and we appreciate your patience in expressing your thoughts constructively. Customer feedback is invaluable to us, as it helps us identify areas for improvement and innovation in our products.
We take your suggestions seriously and will certainly pass them along to our product development team for consideration. We are committed to providing quality products that meet the needs of our customers, and your insights contribute to that ongoing effort.
We also understand the importance of efficiency, and we're sorry to hear that the current design has caused some time-consuming challenges. This machine has been designed to adhere to safety measures and therefore we do not suggest modifications. Please read your owners manual carefully, to fully understand the best way to use this machine.
If you have any further concerns or suggestions, please feel free to reach out to our customer support team at csau@masport.com.au or on 1300 366 225. We value your business and are here to assist in any way we can.
Thank you again for choosing Masport, and we appreciate your understanding and feedback.