Gas & oil consumption

BobRip · May 25, 2005

I find I use a lot more fuel on my 422 when I really load the engine. When I stump grind a big stump, I keep the engine fully loaded for hours.

Bob Rip

FOURTEEN · May 26, 2005

( When I stump grind a big stump, I keep the engine fully loaded for hours. )

 How does that Stump Grinder work for you??

Phils · May 27, 2005

How does that Stump Grinder work for you?? 

Even tho it wasn't me you asked, I'm not so shy that I won't chime in:

My stump grinder works GREAT!! I'm SO GLAD that I reversed the rotation before I used it. I was at our archery range last weekend and I removed two stumps, one of which was maybe 3 feet in diameter, in the middle of where all the RVs park, and that has 'bitten' 4/5ths of the members' trucks. It took maybe an hour and a half, not counting the sandwich/beer break halfway through. After other members saw the massive amounts of debris they, too, couldn't understand why it comes "stock" throwing all that stuff at the operator.

Phil

BillCroasmun · May 27, 2005

I'm not sure about this but I am guessing it is for legal reasons. It could be that throwing the pieces towards the operator has less third party liability for Power-Trac. An operator is assuming certain risks with regards to operation of equipment and should have all the knowledge of warnings and safety precautions that came with that equipment. By throwing debris the other way a third party could be hit by debris. This person then could not only sue the operator of the equipment but also Power-Trac.

This is what is refered to as "deep pocket theory" in tort liability. If someone gets hit with an Explorer the driver is sued along with Ford and the manufacturer of the brakes. The reason this is allowed is to find true responsability: the driver for not stopping in time, Ford for designing a bad braking system or the brake manufacturer for selling bad parts to Ford. The REAL reason the prosecution does this is because they know a settlement from Ford or the manufacturer is going to be a lot more $$$ than winning a case against Joe Shmoe alone.

Now that your equipment has been modified from it's original design PT has no third party liability and you have a piece of equipment that works better. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif You can thank over-zealous lawyers for many bad designs in manufacturing today. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

Charlie_Iliff · May 27, 2005

You can thank over-zealous lawyers for many bad designs in manufacturing today 
I have penned some bad designs, myself, so you may be right. But, I've been a products liability lawyer for a fair amount of time, and seldom seen a situation where a design decision actually turned on a lawyer's advice. Contrary to current political posturing, I've consistently found it easier to defend a good design in court than a bad one. The system may not be perfect, but it's seldom as totally irrational as the politicians talking about it. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

BillCroasmun · May 27, 2005

( The system may not be perfect, but it's seldom as totally irrational as the politicians talking about it. )

Very true and although lawyers take a lot of abuse it is actually our society which drives the demand for the less ethical lawyers out there. Everyone likes to complain about the US being a sue happy country but unfortunatly it's many of those same people who will jump on the bandwagon when they get an 'oppourtunity' to get something for nothing. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

I appologize to the group for this off topic thread. I just get too worked up just thinking about this aspect of todays culture. I'm going to go look at some pics of my PT to relax... /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

MossRoad · May 27, 2005

YIKES! The subject drifts political!!! Must initiate distraction...

Here's a link to a video of my IH2500b starting up after 3 years in storage.... about a half meg in size... windows media player format....

/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

BobRip · May 27, 2005

My stump grinder seems a little slower than others. Small trees are good, but it seems to take a long time on big stumps. Still it beats digging them up. Mine cannot be reversed, so I still live with the chips being thrown at me. Maybe they have improved it in other ways. Mine is 4 years old.

Bob Rip

FOURTEEN · May 27, 2005

( I'm not sure about this but I am guessing it is for legal reasons. It could be that throwing the pieces towards the operator has less third party liability for Power-Trac. )

 Have you seen the new 'safety hammer'? It doesn't have a handle. That way the head can't 'fly off the handle'!!

It was designed by the law firm of Sueem, Screwem, and Worse!!

FOURTEEN · May 27, 2005

( you have a piece of equipment that works better. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )

 I am working on a guard to go over the front of the Stump Grinder to keep the dirt and debris near the grinder.

The Stump Grinder also does a nice job digging planting holes for shrubs. With a layer of wood chip mulch on top of the hole site, the grinder will pulverize the mulch and the underlying soil, and mix them together to form an organic potting soil. Then I put the plant in the hole and backfill with the new potting soil.

This works very well, but the blade sometimes throws the mix too far from the hole. I tried mounting a piece of plywood to the grinder top guard, but it broke! I tried sheet metal, which worked ok until I bent it too far down and the blade ate it!

What I need is a guard that is flexible enough to bend when it hits the ground, but stiff enough to stay out of the blade! Maybe a section of auto tire tread??!!