Anyone have a MechMaxx 3-pt stump grinder?

[shooterdon]

I have a tractor mechanic coming over to help out. He has worked at Deere and Mahindra. I will share your advice with him.

If he cannot get it attached, my options are limited.

It only has to go on once so that is the bright side.

I cannot see a good reason for the pinch collar to be made that way. BTW, Tech support have not suggested opening up the gap. I suppose they figure if I crack it then the blame is on me.

It sure is puzzling that the tractor side of the shaft will not fit on the grinder shaft but fits on the tractor PTO shaft. Sure seems to point to a buggered spline shaft on the grinder.

I spent more time filing on the grinder shaft splines this morning with no success.

 

[shooterdon]

You guys were correct. Once we got the split hub pried open a bit more, the slip clutch side of the PTO slipped on.

I was just too much of a wuss.

Hopefully get a chance to try it out tomorrow

Appreciate the great advice fellows!

BTW the tractor mechanic who came over did not believe the low price. He figured it was about $2500. He told me I stole it at $1400

 

[shooterdon]

Spent some time today setting up the slip clutch. Not easy to measure to .01” so I proved my incompetence again.

Looked close enough, so went and ground two stumps for my neighbor. No smoking clutch plates so must be close enough.

The darn thing works really well.

Happy with my purchase.

 

[deezler]

Yeah the slip clutch seems to be set on the high-torque side to begin with.

One note of caution, Don. I had similar thinking to you, couldn't measure anything easily, figured why not try it first. Well, I did stall my tractor one time with a big cut into a hard stump. Not cool, as the whole point of the slip clutch is to prevent that and any damage to the tractors driveline or engine. So before I mount it up and use it again, I will have to loosen up the clutch and then work my way back up in torque to learn where it slips at.

 

[shooterdon]

Just an update.

Got a text from MechMaxx and they decided the spline shaft on the grinder was out of spec. Told them a tractor mechanic got it on for me and it only cost me $40. Told them not to send the replacement

Did not ask for the $40 for two reasons…they tried to make it right and it was an insignificant amount of money.

Deezler, I cannot figure out how to accurately measure 1.2x” from the plate to the top of the spring on the slip clutch. Decided it was easier to make up something that sits on top of the bolt and then reference off the top on the bolt that protrudes past the nut. A nut larger than the bolt works as the “spacer”and file or grind one side. Started with the bolt flush with this “spacer”. At least all the springs will be set the same that way. I went with a setting close to the 20-25 HP range to be safe…I have 32 PTO HP. If I find I need to increase the spring tension, I can eyeball having the bolt another .010 past the nut

 

[deezler]

Do any stump grinding yet?

I have a stand of around 10 trees in the 8 to 12” diameter range that i want to take out soon…. Do i laboriously dig all the stumps out with my backhoe, or just saw them down and grind the stumps …? Existential quandaries, now that i have tools of all kinds.

 

[RjCorazza]

Do any stump grinding yet?

I have a stand of around 10 trees in the 8 to 12” diameter range that i want to take out soon…. Do i laboriously dig all the stumps out with my backhoe, or just saw them down and grind the stumps …? Existential quandaries, now that i have tools of all kinds.

Sub 12" stumps could be ground in just a few minutes each. As long as there is no issue with the remaining tree below 4 inches or so, I would just grind them.
Backhoes are great when the whole stump has to come out, but then you have a hole to fill, and a stump to get rid of.

 

[shooterdon]

Do any stump grinding yet?

I have a stand of around 10 trees in the 8 to 12” diameter range that i want to take out soon…. Do i laboriously dig all the stumps out with my backhoe, or just saw them down and grind the stumps …? Existential quandaries, now that i have tools of all kinds.

Did two. 8” and 12”. Took about an hour but expect that will improve with experience

 

[deezler]

Sub 12" stumps could be ground in just a few minutes each. As long as there is no issue with the remaining tree below 4 inches or so, I would just grind them.
Backhoes are great when the whole stump has to come out, but then you have a hole to fill, and a stump to get rid of.

Yeah well said, pretty much my experience and thinking also.
I think 3 of 10 trees need the stumps removed so i can lower the grade, then ill just grind the rest.

 

[RjCorazza]

Yeah well said, pretty much my experience and thinking also.
I think 3 of 10 trees need the stumps removed so i can lower the grade, then ill just grind the rest.

Perfect! Nothing wrong with playing with all of the toys!
Maybe do one Kenny Rogers style.

 

[rumwrks]

I went with a setting close to the 20-25 HP range to be safe…I have 32 PTO HP.

I set mine real close to 20HP and it didn't slip at all with a 45HP pto tractor. I'd suggest loosening it until it just slips and then tighten it back up a half turn or so.

 

[Code54]

I emailed them about their "book" settings. I explained they were highly inaccurate and not easy to duplicate due to many factors. They responded that they needed to remove them from the book and that they were incorrect. They recommended setting it loosely and tightening it until it normally would not slip.

 

[nc73]

Just bought one! Keeps trying to get me to signup for their shipping guarantee or whatever it was.

 

[JJT]

I just bought one on Tuesday and paid the $30 for a guaranteed delivery date/time. It will be here next week. I'll post back with a review. I have lots of stumps to grind.

 

[RjCorazza]

There is something oddly satisfying in obliterating stumps with a grinder!

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Don't be surprised if the cost of it increases substantially in as much as DJT just upped the tariff on China to 125%, that is if they don't cancel your order...

Still offering at $1399

 

[Mtsoxfan]

Bummer about the scam site. Always stay vigilant when shopping online!

I ground about, oh, 20 stumps this long mem day weekend. Unit performed like a champ.

I had some black walnut stumps in my woods from when I got them logged for veneer way back in 2012. They were still hard as heck!

Then I felled several smaller living trees and gosh, the fresh wood is SO much easier to get ground up quickly.

I probably got way too complacent because I ended up just staying in medium range and pulling the grinder through the stumps rather quickly - I now think a gear tractor would do just fine with these units. You might be on the clutch a lot, but you can pull through a cut at 1-2mph no problem - Just need to manage the depth of your cut appropriately.

I did stall the tractor once with an accidental big bite. That sucked, but everything seems fine. Guess my slip clutch was not set right after all, will back the bolts off a couple turns.

But anyway, done with this machine for now. Feel like I got my money's worth already, and it's barely broken in! I hadn't turned my shipping crate into a dolly yet or anything like that, so I realized it's still a very handy way to store the grinder when not in use, easy to move around with my pallet forks.

Great idea. I did the same with my flail mower frame. So easy to move around, like into my garage for a flat surface, making it easier to hook up.

 

[nc73]

I just bought one on Tuesday and paid the $30 for a guaranteed delivery date/time. It will be here next week. I'll post back with a review. I have lots of stumps to grind.

All i got was an email to confirm my address....as if I can't type? How would I even confirm my address?

 

[JJT]

All i got was an email to confirm my address....as if I can't type? How would I even confirm my address?

I got the same confirmation email. Funny thing, shipping had already started before I confirmed my email and address.

 

[nc73]

I got the same confirmation email. Funny thing, shipping had already started before I confirmed my email and address.

I did eventually reply with it's correct...it's coming next week.