Should you work as a landscaper, a grounds maintenance contractor or a tree surgeon just starting out in business, then this machine may appeal to you.
Timberwolf's new lightweight petrol towed TW 160PH is sort of an update on the TW 125 but it looks substantially different and has quite a few changes. For starters, the style of the infeed funnel has changed. It is now cut back at the top to allow more light and access when feeding in. The controls are now positioned on the sides - no longer on the top where they could have been knocked and damaged.
Power is also improved. Timberwolf has opted for a bigger engine, going up from 20hp to 22hp. It is a Honda v-twin petrol, so should be reliable. The 160PH also has remote greasers, as on the TW 230.
But perhaps one of the most important features is the change to the blade access. It is now the same as the 230, so the panel removes to reveal the double-edged blades. You can really get to them and this will make maintenance so much easier.
The bigger engine means that throughput is increased and you should find this machine faster than the 125. The rotor is also larger. So too are the blades. This chipper has real improvement to give it more oomph compared to its predecessor. It will now chomp through timber of 150mm in diameter.
But what has it added in terms of weight? After all, many users requested the 125 because its sub-750kg weight meant it could be towed on a standard licence. In truth, the new 160PH is a little heavier, but we are only talking a few kilos. This woodchipper is unbraked and at 608kg is still way below the 750kg limit.
There has been a small design change to the trailer. It now has a T-pole rather than an A-frame chassis but the only significance is that it makes it easy to convert for an adjustable drawbar should the machine be used on the continent.
A nice addition is the E-stop button, which kills the machine instantly for safety. We are likely to see more machines fitted with E-stop control in the future.
Other than that, most features are what you would expect from Timberwolf - a rotating, easily removable chute and the usual safety features. Obviously it is a petrol machine, but that does not seem to make much difference in terms of noise, and certainly not when you are wearing ear defenders. However, our testers expressed some concern about the potential for the exhaust to be knocked when travelling.
Specification
Max diameter material 6in (150mm)
Engine type Honda v-twin air-cooled petrol
Maximum power 22hp (16.4kW)
Roller feed Twin hydraulic motor, two six-bladed rollers
Infeed throat size 160x160mm
Processing capacity 3.5 tonnes per hour
Fuel capacity 18 litres
Hydraulic oil capacity 15 litres
Rotor 515mm diameter, 37.2kg, 1,908rpm, two cuts per revolution
Blades Two, reversible
Anvil Reversible vertical and main anvil
No-stress system Analogue speed switch
Chip size 14.9mm
Weight 608kg fixed tow head, 613kg adjustable tow head
Dimensions (LxWxH) 2,935x1,266x2,108mm
Price £12,110 + VAT
Tel Timberwolf - 01449 765800
Reviewed - This Issue
- GreenMech Arborist 200
- Forst ST8
- Vermeer BC190XL
- Vermeer BC1000XL
- Timberwolf TW 160PH
- Timberwolf TW 280TFTR
Review Panel
Bridgwater College arborists: working in the industry on part-time study with lecturers and technicians
It is a practical day at Bridgwater College and the arborists have the task of removing a row of leylandii from Richard and Wendy Stirling's garden at Combwich. Work is underway and there are piles of material - just what we need to test the latest woodchippers.
Introduced this year, the GreenMech Arborist 200, Timberwolf TW 160PH and Vermeer BC190XL are road machines. The new Timberwolf TW 280TFTR is a tracked unit, ideal for use by utilities and those needing to cross rough ground. Updated is the Vermeer BC1000XL, a big machine with improvements. Forst is the youngster, a brand that is barely three years old.
After several hours' work on a sunny autumn day, some conclusions could be drawn. All the machines performed well. We had no blockages. All had good working heights and strong infeed chutes. Infeed was smooth for all units, with no testers reporting being whipped by the more slender material. Most testers were uncertain which they would buy. General comments were that all the machines took big timbers and were easy to control. The Timberwolf 160 was favoured by some for its towability and price.
