Earthquake (3") 206cc Chipper / Shredder With Briggs & Stratton Intek Engine

Mike Sawisch,
Product Expert
Chain Saws Direct

Purchased this after the 10/31 snowstorm in the north east. I have almost 2 acres with tons of trees, and it was going to be impossible to rent a chipper in my area for months with all of the tree damage.

The reason this does not get 5 stars from me is the assembly, and the oil fill.

Regarding the assembly, attaching the hopper was not easy. There is a metal liner in the bottom that goes inside the chipping area, and the plastic hopper goes on the outside. I had to remove the safety flaps on the top of the hopper just to see what I was doing, and even then, getting everything to fit before bolting up was tricky.

The oil fill cap is behind the chute. It is nearly impossible to access. I had to use needle nose pliers to get to it, and even then I could only turn the cap a few degrees. Once removed, you will need a funnel with a long neck to fill the oil reservoir. A simple design change, of adding an 8" riser tube on top of the fill cap, would eliminate this problem entirely.

Having said this, these are NOT reasons to dissuade you from making this purchase. This think is a beast, and with out it, my yard would still look like hell. I has chipped up yard debris from a variety of different trees with ease. Usually starts with one pull (although a "heavy" pull).

I also purchased the tow bar. Although it does what it is supposed to do, that is overpriced for what you get. It is just two channels that go around the handle and wheel axle, and each channel has two cotter pins. The do not fit snug to the bars. Just guessing at dimensions here, but if the handle is 3/4", then the channel that goes over it is 1" wide. So as you tow the chipper, the finish gets scraped off.

CSD RESPONDS: Please let the folks at Earthquake know your comments- we're sure they will find them helpful. You can contact them at (800) 345-6007 or www.getearthquake.com.

Purchased this after the 10/31 snowstorm in the north east. I have almost 2 acres with tons of trees, and it was going to be impossible to rent a chipper in my area for months with all of the tree damage.

The reason this does not get 5 stars from me is the assembly, and the oil fill.

Regarding the assembly, attaching the hopper was not easy. There is a metal liner in the bottom that goes inside the chipping area, and the plastic hopper goes on the outside. I had to remove the safety flaps on the top of the hopper just to see what I was doing, and even then,... more

I had a major problem with my Earthquake Chipper Shredder. When I called customer service to explain the problem I was transferred to a super nice woman named Sherry. Within one minute she told me I would be sent a new chipper shredder.

Because different departments were involved, I ended up talking with five people. The total time of all the conversations was less than 15 minutes, and each person was both professional and courteous.

The bottom line was that I had a new replacement within three business days. Retailers and manufacturers across this country would do well to study the way the Earthquake manufacturer (Ardisam) treats problems and how the employees interact with consumers.

I recommend the Earthquake chipper shredder to anyone. Mine runs roughly eight to ten hours every weekend from October through mid-January, mainly shredding leaves. For what it's worth, the company said the major problem I encountered was a first. I believe that.

I had a major problem with my Earthquake Chipper Shredder. When I called customer service to explain the problem I was transferred to a super nice woman named Sherry. Within one minute she told me I would be sent a new chipper shredder.

Because different departments were involved, I ended up talking with five people. The total time of all the conversations was less than 15 minutes, and each person was both professional and courteous.

The bottom line was that I had a new replacement within three business days. Retailers and manufacturers across this country would... more

Ordered my Chipper/Shredder Sunday 9/25 received it Thursday 9/29. The machine is really quite easy to assemble however, the instructional manual could be a little more user-friendly. The writer appeared to have a poor command of the English language. Very minor points indeed!

I used the machine for a couple of hours today and I LOVE IT? I certainly will not recoup the money I paid for it in one year, but it allows me the opportunity to work at my own pace, work when I choose, on my terms.

The Earthquake performed flawlessly, and I am quite pleased with my overall purchase. However, it is really quite hard to fill the machine with oil, also, the manual is not clear on where the oil-filler is located.

This is my second purchase from Mowers Direct and I give them an A+.

I highly recommend the Earthquake for a cost effective, efficient machine.

Ordered my Chipper/Shredder Sunday 9/25 received it Thursday 9/29. The machine is really quite easy to assemble however, the instructional manual could be a little more user-friendly. The writer appeared to have a poor command of the English language. Very minor points indeed!

I used the machine for a couple of hours today and I LOVE IT? I certainly will not recoup the money I paid for it in one year, but it allows me the opportunity to work at my own pace, work when I choose, on my terms.

The Earthquake performed flawlessly, and I am quite pleased with my overall... more