# Carlton 1290 Used Price & Common Problems | Chipper Risk

> Carlton 1290: one used listing at $43,200. Documented problems: feed-wheel drive gear and disc / main bearing. What to inspect before you buy.

**Verdict:** inspect

One observed used comp: 2023, $43,200, a higher-spec 54 hp gas unit that lists ABOVE the 40 hp new base at $39,863, so it is not "typical used". Disc-chipper class-level risks. Held as research pending more comps.

**Observed used price:** $43,200–$43,200

**Documented failure risks:**
- Feed-wheel drive gear: Disc-chipper class analog: stripped feed-wheel drive gear caused chute jams on an Altec unit. Not Carlton-confirmed, test feed-wheel engagement under load.
- Disc / main bearing: Class-level cost analog: disc bearing part ~a couple hundred dollars; labor/downtime is the real cost.
- Gas engine (54 hp Kubota): Verify gas-engine compression and hours; gas units often see harder duty cycles in rental fleets.

## Sources
- [Carlton 1290 used listings](https://www.machinio.com/carlton/1290/wood-chippers) (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [Hazards of Wood Chippers (SHIB 04-16-2008)](https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/shib041608.pdf) — "Approximately 78% of the fatal chipper incidents involved the worker being drawn into the chipper." (accessed 2026-09-11)
- [2023 Carlton 1290 (used)](https://www.machinio.com/listings/95451588) (accessed 2026-09-11)

_Last verified 2026-09-11. Source: Chipper Risk — https://chipperrisk.com/chippers/carlton-1290/ — every claim checked against a primary source before publication (see /methodology/)._