PTO stump grinders

[rcason]

I am looking at buying a PTO driven stump grinder,a woods 50. For those who have one, are you happy with it or would you have done it different. Is this unit solid, and well engineered. I ask because, I am thinking of adding one to my small business. I have a 3005 jd 4x4, I absolutely love this tractor. Thanks in advance.

 

[jlsmith]

The woods is a good one but you might also look at the Shaver SC-50:

 

[eagle107]

Below is the link for the Woods TSG50 Stump Grinder info.

TSG50 Landscape Equipment

Youtube videos of the TSG50 in action made by a TBN member.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0AtgHzvEMk]WOODS TSG50 Stump Grinder on KIOTI DK50SE Finish - YouTube[/ame]
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HYvZit1SfI]WOODS TSG50 Stump Grinder on KIOTI DK50SE Start 1 - YouTube[/ame]

 

[rcason]

Thanks eagl107 and jlsmith for your replies. Does anyone have a shaver grinder. I see that shaver makes a SC-25, this would be a good size for my tractor. I called and talk with shaver, the guy there say they make the woods 50 for woods. He said the woods 50 and the sc-25 were the same, but in the pics. on the Shaver site they look different [ 1 arm verses 2 arms]. Anyone have any info. on this and/or pics. would be great.

 

[foggy1111]

Nice video!.....although I noted that continueing to grind in the same fore/aft position limited the work getting done and caused some issues in the second video. The grinder shields were interfering with the feed....which served to get the grinder to hang up on the stump and then (as it broke free) cause a jump / chatter situation when the grinder got over the stump. Moving the grinder backwards a few inches (sooner) would have prevented some of the operational issues IMO.

One nice thing about a hydro tranny....is the ability to easily and precisely move a few inches to get the grinder wheel repositioned for more efficient operation. Only takes a few seconds to enable proper feed. :thumbsup:

Still....good operational video.

 

[Ductape]

Foggy,
Does the arm on yours twist that much when you are grinding stumps? I'm assuming its feeding into the stump just a little too fast?

 

[foggy1111]

Foggy,
Does the arm on yours twist that much when you are grinding stumps? I'm assuming its feeding into the stump just a little too fast?

The issue I was commenting on was the last sweep of the grinder on the second video. The grinder is hanging up on some of the protective steel. The operator needs to repositon the tractor further back....long before this becomes an issue (Maybe 3 sweeps earlier). The feed rate may be a little fast too....but some flow restrictors could solve that issue.

I dont know that I have any twist in my operation. It does take some operating time to learn what will work and be productive..... without overloading the cutting wheel. Extra HP is a big plus.

When I get fatigued....I become a poor operator with this machine.

 

[rcason]

froggy, have you thought to check into a swivel for your seat, so you can face to back.

 

[foggy1111]

froggy, have you thought to check into a swivel for your seat, so you can face to back.

Nope....no swivel seat. I usually grind for 2 or 3 hours at a time....and then do other things. I can tell the difference in my operation after a few hours tho....much better when I am fresh. I likely will not have much more grinding to do after this year....so I am not going to invest in anything else. I dont know how you could put a swivel seat on a JD tractor. I get along OK with my set up.

 

[foggy1111]

I am looking at buying a PTO driven stump grinder,a woods 50. For those who have one, are you happy with it or would you have done it different. Is this unit solid, and well engineered. I ask because, I am thinking of adding one to my small business. I have a 3005 jd 4x4, I absolutely love this tractor. Thanks in advance.

I previously had a 790 JD tractor....before getting this current 3320. One of the things I wanted was the hydrostatic tranny in order to position the tractor with precision. This is very helpfull with a grapple and with the stump grinder.

I find myself nudgeing the tractor fore and aft a few inches as the stumps are being ground (between sweeps - not while making a sweep). As pointed out above.....IMO the grinder needs to be re-positioned in order to make those last cuts. While a hydro is not essential....it sure is preffered. With a standard tranny these small moves are MUCH harder to accomplish.

I likely reposition the tractor 4 to 6 times on each stump. (Mine average 12 to 16" diameter....and have no roots to speak of.) That is allot of clutching and shifing and activity with a gear tranny....but its just a touch of your toe with a hydro.