Stump Grinder Woodland Mills WG24?

[roadhunter]

It looks like if you want one, you're going to have to wait a few months... Reserve now, more stock arriving October, 3rd. Call 1-855-476-6455 to reserve.

The factory in China is making another batch!

 

[dickfoster]

So I went to Woodlands website and downloaded the operators manual. In there it says to remove stabilizing pin before using. So I went to the parts diagram and figured out what the stabilizing pin is for. The stump grinder is mounted on a swivel and if you try to chew through too much the grinder just swings back. So that means that you can't feed it too much. Therefore there should be no problems using this with a shuttle type tractor as long as it has a clutch.

I also wouldn't mind seeing a video of an actual owner using this grinder. If someone wants to send me this model of grinder I'll gladly post a video. Send me a pm for shipping info!

I'd love to buy one myself as I have a few stumps to take care of. $3000 with extra teeth, shipping and taxes is just a bit out of my budget range right now.

Where are you getting that price. Oh I see you're in Canada so that must be Canadian dollars. It's 2K for the grinder for us, I forgot what the extra set of teeth ran but it wasn't that much so I'd order them too.
This looks to be the most economical PTO driven stump grinder out there so if it's out of your range you're SOL. However don't forget that you can always sell it once you're stump free.

 

[Snowback]

I could really use a stump grinder but those things can be very pricey. Some cost as much as a backhoe. I saw this one and it seems like it's made to get the job done and doesn't cost as much because it seems the design is much more commonsensical than the others I've seen for much more money. No gear box needed, no extra cylinders or hydraulics needed etc. Simply connect to 3pt and get to work. Has anyone here used one of these? If so, how was it?
WG24 Stump Grinder | Woodland Mills US

Thanks dickfoster for discovering this great stump grinder and company!

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

I was living vicariously through this review. So fantastic Ken - thanks for sharing your experience. I think I may need to get one of these. :thumbsup:


For those looking for a video - below is a link to a nice youtube video showing the unit in action.

First 9 minutes shows compete annihilation of a good sized tall stump, then there is a time lapse of a large combo set of stumps being destroyed. Very nice!

 

[TX Chris]

New guy here. I bought a Kubota L3901 HST a few months ago and I immediately began searching for implements. We moved to a 5.5 acre property early this year and the previous owner left countless stumps at mower-killing heights above grade - low enough that they're difficult to see but just high enough to catch the mower deck and blades (Kubota ZD 326 zero turn).

I started pricing stump grinding services, stump grinder rental, etc. and then stump grinder implements for the new tractor and I stumbled across the Woodland Mills unit. A Google search led me to this thread / forum. After watching the video from youtube and reading thoughts/reviews here, I placed a deposit on a (backordered) grinder. Woodland Mills called me Friday (10/14) and said they were expecting a shipment early this week so I paid the balance and am pending an email from Woodland Mills with my tracking number.

I can't wait to put this thing into action! Mowing my property is stressful as I'm constantly watching for stumps. I've memorized most of the locations but I forget one once in a while and am very rudely reminded when the mower catches the stump.

I am a very busy small business owner and we're expecting a baby (#5!) in the next day or two so who knows when I'll actually get to try out the grinder but I'm hopeful that it'll be sooner than later. I'll do my best to follow up with a review once I've put it to good use.

For the record, most of my stumps are small (less than 8" diameter) but there are a few much larger stumps to grind as well.

 

[JFoy]

I got the same call so I'm rather excited.

 

[roadhunter]

Can't wait to see how they work for you guys.

 

[TX Chris]

update: I have a tracking number as of this morning. The grinder has already made multiple stops en route but it doesn't give an arrival date. It does say the package is 518 pounds.

update 2: The carrier says I'll have the grinder 10/24 (Monday).

 

[dickfoster]

update: I have a tracking number as of this morning. The grinder has already made multiple stops en route but it doesn't give an arrival date. It does say the package is 518 pounds.

update 2: The carrier says I'll have the grinder 10/24 (Monday).

Looking forward to what you guys have to say about it. I'm still waiting to order one. I probably will but I'm just cheap like that sometimes. The more good things I hear about it, the more likely I am to break down and buy the thing.

 

[Mikejeakins]

You can never do to much research.

 

[Squeak n Itch]

You can never do to much research.

However, if your continued research interferes with action you may never "pull the trigger" as they say here.

 

[GMIslander]

You're going to get those stumps one way or another. I have see this one and it does look like it would work.

A couple of things I've noticed. It would appear the tractor would need position control on the 3 point. I am leary of any attachments being directly coupled to the pto shaft. If the chipper suddenly stops, and there is no shear pin or gear box, the only place for that energy to go is straight to the tractors gear box.

Hopefully someone has one and offers some input...

Included with the WG24 Stump Grinder is a slip clutch style PTO shaft.

 

[JFoy]

Well, mine arrived today. Now if I can just get time to unbox it and use it...

 

[nightdevil]

Well, mine arrived today. Now if I can just get time to unbox it and use it...

Unboxing pics!

 

[Mikejeakins]

True.

However, if your continued research interferes with action you may never "pull the trigger" as they say here.

 

[JFoy]

Unboxing pics!

I will...

 

[TSO]

Congrats on the purchase, I'm looking forward to seeing vids and reviews of you using this on your machine.

 

[JFoy]

Here are the pics!





Below, note that the float had to be used on my quick hitch as the height between the lower link to the top link was not quite the same as on my quick hitch.
Part of this issue is because the unit wants to lean back and away from the tractor.



On the front end, there are square post legs that you use when storing it. The legs actually slide all the way up into the receiver so they're not in the way while using it.


The deflector plate has to be installed:


Place for a chainsaw - it's a clamp with rubber side to sandwich the blades.


The shaft is a slip clutch. The length was just right out of the box for my tractor. I did decide to slip it just in case.


I took it out for a quick test run on my BX25. Bit of a learning curve to it as you have to gauge how deep it is in the ground when you lower it. I did manage to completely stall my tractor once as I had it too deep. Obviously, I took it out for a test run but it was just old small stumps that I've had to mow around for a while. Didn't get any decent pics of that as it was getting dark.

 

[roadhunter]

Interesting. I wonder if the slip clutch needs to be adjusted down for your tractors hp so it doesn't stall the tractor. Looking forward to the pics.

 

[JFoy]

Interesting. I wonder if the slip clutch needs to be adjusted down for your tractors hp so it doesn't stall the tractor. Looking forward to the pics.

Never thought of that. Hmm...

 

[Tin Knocker]

Hello all. First post here. A google search of this grinder brought me here. Got the call that mine should arrive tomorrow (monday the 24th). Tracking was a little odd which gave more questions than answers. I recently sold a vermeere sc252 walk behind that made absolutely no sense in my case. Too many stumps in too many far away places. Might as well bring camping gear along when you get out there a ways with a walk behind. Hopefully this thing will do the trick.