It's worked out magnificently. Two stumps, one about 12" and the other 24" on the same residential property took about 1/2 hour, including extensive root systems. They were both overgrown ewe shrubs that had been about 35 or 40' high. I think the "chat" on the Woodmills site is a robot. You have to get them on the phone. There was a one week delay in the arrival of my grinder. It actually shipped to Philadelphia from a New York City warehouse. I'm not sure what might be going on with that.
So here's my impression: The grinder arrived on a steel pallet with 2 x 4" steel tube runners. The cardboard box was framed with steel angle and slats. I used it with a 1025 FILB with a Curtis Cab that has 18 hp at the rear PTO. It mounted right up without need for any cutting of the PTO shaft that came with the grinder. It is VERY beefy and looks expensive compared to the junk available for rent at HD. The 1025 Deere will raise it 15" from the grade. It is designed to be pulled through a stump. It has 34 brazed carbide chips that remained razor sharp after grinding through buried roots and stumps. The little Deere did get bogged down from time to time in damp clay, but with a hand on the lift while pulling the grinder through, it was easy to avoid a stall by raising it slightly. I left the rear window on the cab and it was good that I did because it chucked wood chips at me. I pulled the sway turn buckles super tight and have Pat's hooks on the draft arms, so to detach the grinder, I had to loosen up everything again. The Deere would sway on Turf Tires, but nothing scary. The lift height and short wheelbase made it very easy to maneuver the grinder over the stump inches at a time and by hard steering, the grinder moved laterally atshallow angles quite nicely. I would take this arrangement over the side to side hydraulic grinder any time. Sitting sideways in the seat (had to remove the arms from the swivel seat because of the cab), with a gentle left foot on the hydrostatic forward pedal, steering with a suicide knob, it was actually fun watching the chips fly. When the tractor was level, the grinder actually pulled itself through the stump at the rate it liked, with just a little assist here and there on the pedal. No need for extra hoses or hydraulics.
Harbor Frieght sells diamond carbide saw blade sharpeners and wheels really cheap. Disassemble the sawblade frame from the grinder motor and you have a nice sharpener for the carbide bits.
It exceeds my expectations and 18 hp PTO does drive it acceptably.
Ken
