The chipper ia about two years old and developed stress cracks in the cheap plastic hopper connector and threw hard debris against my leg requiring doctor's visit and stitches. I had to find old type model and had a welder retrofit a metal hopper onto the device because the plastic hopper is a serious safety issue in my opinion.
Consumer Complaints & Reviews
I own an MTD "Shred-it" chipper/shredder, Model No. 244-650, Ser. No. 46095. It has an 8-horsepower gasoline engine. Today while using the machine there was a very loud bang. The machine jumped about an inch off the ground and immediately stopped. I realized that something had broken inside. Upon further inspection I discovered that the heavy steel cutting blade inside the unit had broken, apparently into three pieces, and had punched three large, ragged exit holes right through the steel safety shield.I was able to locate two pieces of the blade. The third piece cannot be found.
Fortunately there was no one working with me, and I was not hit by any of the shrapnel. The pieces of the heavy steel blade must have exited at very high speed because I saw nothing. They went through the safety shield like it wasn't even there. I don't know how many more of these machines may be in use around the country, but I think they are all potentially very dangerous! I know for sure that I would not even consider trying to "repair" mine, or ever use it again. I'm still chilled by the thought of what would have happened if I had been in the way of a chunk of that blade when it came through the safety shield!
