Troy-Bilt Tomahawk knife sharpening

How to sharpen the knife on a troy bilt tomahawk chipper/shredder.

[@Lancewel]

Every once in awhile you find the obscure video that is EXACTLY what you wanted to know. I could have figured out how to get it apart, but really didn't know if it should be working better than what it was. This video made it obvious that mine is DULL, and showed how to fix it. Thanks!

[@bmwbaker]

I have the same machine. It’s gotta be at least 30 years old and still runs great. I’ve sharpened the knives on it many many times although I do use a disc sander with my bare hands and I dunk it and water to make sure it doesn’t heat up too much. Take care of this machine and it will take care of you. Nice video thank you.

[@jaime33912]

Thanks for the video. It is very informative and easy delivery without a lot of technojargon that you often times find online.

[@DriftlessCatholic]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. Just wish I would have watch before I snapped two Allen bits not realizing there were nuts on the back!

[@tenneseeejed]

Excellent video, thank you for taking the time to show how it is properly done

[@ron6575]

I just bought one, i guess i need yup sharpen the blades. Thanks for the video!

[@paulbaker5085]

Exact info I was looking for .Bought a great running 8 hp tomahawk at auction for $40 runs like a top .Now I can sharpen the blade thank you .

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

Good deal, I sold mine for $450, these are known as some of the best chippers ever made.

[@paulbaker5085]

@@Mr_Tecumseh I have had 2 of these tomahawks and several small chippers never paid more than $40 25-35 for the smaller ones .Always at auction .

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

@@paulbaker5085 I paid $30 for this one, flipped it for $450. They retailed for more, considering what year they were sold. It had the tow bar. The knives are pretty hard to find for these now. These Gardenway Tomahawk chipper's are considered some of the best residential chippers ever built. All of Gardenway products were high quality. I have a big 8hp yard vac made by them, I got free and its valued somewhere between $1300 to $1500 now, resale, its a monster. I found outlest another 3 MTD Chippers free, and flipped them all for between $350 and $450. We don't do much chipping around here and I work on all this stuff, so it normally just gets flipped for a pretty good profit. Their all quality made units.

[@RogerDiotte]

Wild! There's one at a local farm auction near me...going to bid on this for sure! Man I need a chipper so bad as I have 5 massive Willows around my farm house! Beautiful trees and I'm never going to rid of them as I LOVE the looks and shade they give us in the Summer but man are they DIRTY trees! I've been laboring for 20 years cleaning up their branches etc and this just makes total sense!

[@pradiptashome88]

Clear instructions on how to sharpen blades -- safely. Thank you for instructing us. This is a big help.

[@steveinla8963]

I always clean off the sap that gets stuck to the face of the blade with a wire wheel. It will chip just a little better when clean. I was taught to do that with table saw blades by soaking them in TSP and warm water.

[@gregmulfort9577]

Cool I am going to do this with mine. I just got one and made a video of it here, you can see for the biggest stuff I really had to push it. I doubt the knife has ever been sharpened. I like your tow attachment, was thinking about doing something similar. Thumbs up!

[@CaptTurbo]

Nice job showing the process. Just wanted to add that I use thread locker on those bolts. Blue Loctite. Not sure if it's necessary but the instructions call for it.

[@walterschilling4512]

hosershit ,thats my Fav word.....Thanks for the info!

[@MiserableOldFart]

Get a diamond + steel bar!!! After you smooth it with the file, run it over the diamond bar on the coarse side and then on the fine side while holding it at the 45 degree angle (I think all Tory bilt ard 45 degrees; some might differ) and get it razor sharp. Then, IMPORTANT, when you sharpen, a tiny roll of steel forms on the back of the blade. This must be removed as the last thing - run the back flat over the fine diamond sharpening bar - best to clean the gunk off first with a Brillo pad or whatever - just once, lightly, going away from the sharp edge. These blades are VERY sensitive to being even a LITTLE BIT dull. This will get it sharp as a razor IF you didn't get the blade so chewed up you couldn't fix it with the file. Sometimes it's best to send the blade out and hive it precision FLAT ground to 45 degree spec and then just go to the diamond bar after every five or six hours of chipping.

[@MiserableOldFart]

Adding: I spent about $50 on what is supposed to be a good diamond bar, two sided 300 and 1200 grit. I don't know how long it will last, but it does a great job, if I sharpen IMMEDIATELY when I notice a little degradation in performance. Good idea to have two or more blades so you can swap out and dress the other at your leisure.

[@SeanDonnellyFromSpace]

Thank you for your video. I just got one of these.

[@johnjude2685]

For a few bucks you can get a angle gauge and check it's angle and keep it recorded and keep that" correct" angle. Also a blade on opersite side that cuts brush and leafs and sharpen and balance it the same. About the file it's my way alse for I agree with you about taking care of the blade and distroying it's temper with turns the blade. Great video and thanks for the teaching Sir

[@jasonlabonte1073]

Blades are tempered already. If you took them to a saw shop they would sharpen them using a belt sander

[@stephendall2329]

Thank you for the great information, especially the part about using a wrench to break the bolts loose. I wish I would have watched your video before trying to break them loose with a hex wrench. I have to buy new bolt and a set of stripped bolt remover set to get the two out I stripped. Next time I will know better!

[@RogerBindl]

Neighbors gave me one a couple years back. I got it running after working on carburater and now working on blade.Thanks for comments on the small shute; I was focused on the big top shute and wasn't thinking about those side flat blades. I'm working on side one now but may need to heat up the screws. They're not coming out. BUT I wondered about the big top shute - what is that one for...small brush?

[@yfgub]

Great no bull video, cheers from downunder mate.

[@johnvitz310]

I like your towing design

[@pmaint1]

I realize this is an older video but had to point out that there are different model tomahawks. My brother in laws is nothing like this model and the blades are completely different and can not be sharpened and the parts needed are no longer available.

[@Fixitvincent81]

Coutch commandos🤣 i will remember that one hahah

[@danburch9989]

I wonder if it's possilbe to buy a disk with two blades on it. Even the HF ones have two cutting blades. I'm looking at buying a similar chipper that you have but I'm not sure about the single blade cutting. Yes, it cuts, but slower.

[@emmaloumaketheworldbetter2482]

Brilliant 👌🏽very helpful thanks 🙏

[@bobsargent9616]

Have you either reversed the flail shredders or seen a KZbin video of anyone doing it on Model 47266 Standard? It looks simple in the instructions but to find and drive the roll pins out is a challenge. Hoping someone has some good tips on how to do that job easier. Mine are all rounded off so I want to reverse them... not done yet.

[@BigWrench62]

After how many work hours do you have to sharpen (approx.) or do you just go by feel? I have a lot of brush to get rid of and want to know the signs...Thanks for the vid!

[@djericanthony]

I would bolt it with its bolts to something else like a block of wood you can hold it in the vise with. Just a suggestion. Thanks for the video though. The used chipper I got probably has a spent blade that may need to be replaced. Stuff inside got so hot it began to spoke which means the temper has to be long gone

[@banshee8989]

Thanks for the suggestion. Im thinking of making a jig out of steel to bolt the blade on... then putting it in the vice. In the fall...... its too damn hot out right now to chip brush ;)

[@droidsamsung7136]

Operator Manual online: www.brentchalmers.com/Manuals/1989Troy-BiltTomahawkChipperShredderOwnerOperatorManual.pdf

[@juanreyes25]

Hi.... I just bought a used tomahawk junior on Craigslist and the grate was just sitting in the top chute. What exactly is the grate for? Do I need it? I'm 100% new to using a chipper. Any info is much appreciated!

[@bootsnthejeep]

Guess I gotta sharpen my blade, then. Just got my Tomahawk, and it chips well, but not like THAT!

[@alexv259]

OK, what I can tell you, and I certify that, that your dingy chipper vaporized that piece of wood amazingly FAST! Yet my very BRAND NEW EFCUT within the first hour of chipping (meaning I “assume” the blades were brand new and sharp) could chip it at much much slower speed with 7 HP and 212 CC!? WHY? I’ll give it another 2 hours and see how it goes.

[@tomhill1713]

Great video. I just picked up an old tomahawk chipper that needs some tlc. I was mostly interested in how you made the attachment so you could pull your chipper behind your tractor. Want to make a video on how you did that? You got a new subscriber. Thx

[@paulbaker5085]

Heavy yes I think I can rig that tow bar up .

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

He didn't make that, these were offered with those, mine had one too.

[@richardmang2558]

I went back and looked at the video to see what towing attachment you are talking about. There it is, right in the very beginning. Still hooked up to the riding mower. LOL!

[@jtaylor9355]

Yea do a video showing the tow bar and maybe some measurements too. I would pay you ten bucks just for a drawing of it with measurements

[@flintsmiley9595]

@@jtaylor9355 I have the same tow bar

[@scottsorter7]

thanks and nice video

[@nc28144]

thank you for you video. i inherited a super tomahawk, and when i tried to use it, it wouldnt feed or chip. Only vibrated. How do I sharpen the blades on the top load portion?

[@markhebert8313]

Did you engage and/or check the belt behind the engine? Once you start the engine, there is a lever to the right of the engine that engages the drive belt, which transfers power from the engine to the chipper itself. If you engaged the belt and nothing happened, check to see if it is loose or broken. You may want to go here -- www.brentchalmers.com/ChipperManuals.php -- to find the manual for your Tomahawk.

[@Z71Ranger]

Michael@ On top load area chipper blades you don't sharpen them... But you can turn them around and use the other side... On the shaft they are mounted on you have to knock out the roll pins (only one roll pin per shaft that holds the blades) and slide the blades and spacers off the shaft and slide the shafts out... Just take a picture so you know how they go back on the shaft... You have to use a hammer and a small punch to knock the roll pin out... But I have never sharpened the blades on the top part they are called "Cylinder Hammers" You can still get them on line... I guess you could grind the rounder off corners of the blade back square... But they are not sharp but have square edges... When you look at the old blades (hammers) you will see how the side hitting the small sticks are rounded off and the other side is new looking and square... Also **** They Recommend "When installing roll pin, apply liberal coating of Locktite 242 thread-locking compound to roll pin***" I hope this helps... I got my Troy-Bilt Tomahawk... For $50.00 off craigslist it looks New kept in a garage all it's life... But it was built in 1990 The old 80+ year old man that had it said it was making a knocking noise and he could not get parts for it... Also said he was to old to use it and just wanted some one to have it that could maybe fix and use it... All that had happen to it was a roll pin came out and that one hammer was hitting inside the shredder... I ordered new roll pins and turned the hammers around sharpened the main cutter blade and it works and looks like a new one... I hope this helps you...

[@gailduncan4031]

Thanks for sharing. I just bought one for $220 ...do you know how I could locate a manual .....I'm trying to find the correct spark plug number ...thank you

[@droidsamsung7136]

See the link I posted to manual if still needed. The main shredder blades, or flails, are rotated up to three additional times (thus cutting on all four corners), then replaced. If one has proper mill machining equipment, it might be conceivable to sharpen these, but they should also be balanced when done. Replacement sets run about $75 depending on how many flails you have.

[@droidsamsung7136]

Degree of bevel should be 45 degrees per manual for those chipper blades.

[@johnnylaw9840]

You know the big hole at the top where you can put the smaller stuff into might have a blade down there too

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

That one has the flales.

[@davidkenagy8706]

I need to remove and rotate the flails, so that the sharp faces do the work instead of the rounded ones that have been in use. How do I get that rotating drum out?

[@banshee8989]

Leave the drum in as its probably frozen to the main shaft. I was able to remove the flails and reverse them but pulling out the rods that hold them through the chute hole. take the engine off and anything else you can get off then tip the whole thing upside down. Also, I sprayed the whole drum and flails down with penetrating oil a day before.

[@richardgreen9883]

Thanks for the video...very clear. Do you have any info about the attachment to pull the shredder by a garden tractor?

[@banshee8989]

As I'm sure you know, my biggest complaint about the Tomahawk..... is moving the damn thing around. I made a hitch to pull it behind my tractor or ATV... and life is much better. I will make a video on the hitch.

[@richardgreen9883]

Thanks...that would be great. I think your design is clever and material efficient. In the mean time, could you give me a rough idea of the length of the lower hitch and if you would recommend a different length now that you have some experience with it.

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

They were sold with the units, find one that has it.

[@hiking7521]

Thx for video..I just got a used one. I'm at the Allen bolts and they are stripped out. Any ideas? Can I buy new bolts

[@davids.9834]

Drill or torch them out and new bolts can be purchased at a hardware store or do a google search.

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Heat them after soaking with oil for a while the heat normally works

[@jimrobcoyle]

McMaster-Carr get hex extractor set. They are oversize tapered Allen wrench pieces. You hammer them in and turn the bolt out.

[@ryanslaughter7746]

Hey great video. How often do you need to sharpen the blade?

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Ryan Slaughter should be able to tell by the end results of the wood chips coming out

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

He said every 10 hours in the first 60 seconds of the video.

[@doilusa]

I have three sets I sharpen every 10 10hrs till in cuts a playing card....fresh cuts only Inch and three quarters Useing pole loppers

[@michaelisola6328]

The only correct way to do this is to put the blade flat in a magnetic vise and surface grind the back side of the blade

[@dalekrause3246]

😅 Always sharpen worked surfaces never mating surfaces.

[@windryder76]

Have you tried a Worksharp by Derex?

[@z1z2z3z]

I have a Worksharp 3000 wood tool sharpener but IDK if a chipper blade would fit on it. Works great for a quick edge on chisels though.

[@robtdougherty]

That wood was dry you said?

[@sweetvuvuzela4634]

Couch commando lols even sand paper does the trick stick some on flat block of wood 🔪

[@danb.3397]

YEP !

[@Mascotal]

Whenever an old guy tells you advice , you should take it.

[@jarodmorris611]

Some old guys are idiots, some are geniuses, same as young guys.

[@thisoldnew4544]

@@jarodmorris611 cream of sum yung guy

[@ross350tube]

OMFG 5/32? use metric and get on with your lives FFS!

[@banshee8989]

Hey.... I agree. Metric is a much better system.

[@BertGraef]

shit metric

[@Mr_Tecumseh]

Tell the United States Government that. We had a chance to switch to metric when Carter was in office, he turned it down.