Woods Stump Grinder

[J_J]

LandGuy,

I am assuming that you are talking about a 3pt stump grinder.

If you are dead set on getting the stump grinder, here are some things you need to know.

Does the tractor hyd flow match the stump grinder requirements?

Do you have a PB port?

If yes, then you will need a long hose to go from the PB port to a male QD fitting on the back. Call it Aux1

You will need another hose from the 3pt input, to the rear with a female QD fitting. Call it Aux2

Make up a short hose to couple the Aux1 and Aux2 together when not using the stump grinder. With this short hose connected, your tractor will operate normally, including the 3pt.

When you want to use the stump grinder, unplug the short hose and plug in the two hoses from the stump grinder. This will put your stump grinder is series with the hyd flow. Engine rpm will determine the GPM's you are feeding the stump grinder.

Another option is to add a remote valve with PB at the back for all hyd action needed at the rear of the tractor. A two spool valve with one spool having detent would be ideal.

This will give you two sets of QD's for attachments.

If your stump grinder needs more GPM than your tractor can supply, you could install a PTO pump .

I always use the male QD for the hyd supply. I follow this logic for all hyd that uses QD's.

It also allows one the ability to plug the two QD together to keep them clean.

 

[LandGuy]

Thanks, JJ. Actually I'm leaning against getting a PTO-driven grinder. Part of the reason, other than the technical issues that buying one of these would raise for me, is that once the job of clearing this patch is done, I won't have much need for the machine. Most of my land is wooded and I plan to leave it that way; this is the only additional clearing I anticipate for a long time to come.

There is the financial equation. If a PTO grinder costs $3500 or so, how would that compare with the cost of paying others to do the work? I might easily pay at least $2,000 to someone to remove all the big stumps and to rent a small machine to grind out the smaller stumps myself. I figured, I could buy the Woods grinder and still have it when the work was done. Then I could sell the grinder if I wanted (or keep it), assuming it had any teeth left after coping with our quartz rocks.

I suppose I could rent a larger machine and do ALL the stumps myself, but I have no experience with a Vermeer etc. Doesn't mean I couldn't gain it, of course.

Then again, I've found that when I get into something new like this, I handle the learning curve pretty well. As Foggy noted, the dealer (located just 4 miles from me) could install all the connections and show me how to connect/disconnect.

I guess the thought I'm left with is that I wouldn't have much future use for the grinder. Nothing's worse than the sight of good farm implements rusting away from disuse.

 

[foggy1111]

Thanks, JJ. Actually I'm leaning against getting a PTO-driven grinder. Part of the reason, other than the technical issues that buying one of these would raise for me, is that once the job of clearing this patch is done, I won't have much need for the machine. Most of my land is wooded and I plan to leave it that way; this is the only additional clearing I anticipate for a long time to come.

There is the financial equation. If a PTO grinder costs $3500 or so, how would that compare with the cost of paying others to do the work? I might easily pay at least $2,000 to someone to remove all the big stumps and to rent a small machine to grind out the smaller stumps myself. I figured, I could buy the Woods grinder and still have it when the work was done. Then I could sell the grinder if I wanted (or keep it), assuming it had any teeth left after coping with our quartz rocks.

I suppose I could rent a larger machine and do ALL the stumps myself, but I have no experience with a Vermeer etc. Doesn't mean I couldn't gain it, of course.

Then again, I've found that when I get into something new like this, I handle the learning curve pretty well. As Foggy noted, the dealer (located just 4 miles from me) could install all the connections and show me how to connect/disconnect.

I guess the thought I'm left with is that I wouldn't have much future use for the grinder. Nothing's worse than the sight of good farm implements rusting away from disuse.

I have another year or two of clearing some land....and then I wont have much need for my grinder either. Already thinking about selling it when I am done with it....as it will just take up space at some point. For me....prolly only 500-800 more stumps to go....depending on how ambitious I get. :thumbsup:

From what you have described.....I think you should look into those self-propelled grinders at a rental yard. Either a Vermeer or a Rayco (my favorite rental grinder) in at least 25 hp. You dont man-handle those grinders.....you simply operate a couple of levers for all operations. You can learn how to operate one in short order....and they are good self-contained machines.

If I have everything pictured right.....and your stumps are cut reasonably close to the ground and you have good access and are ready to roll......a day or two's work will likely get your job done.

To me it would be hard to justify buying a grinder and doing the hydraulic improvements for the kind of work you have to do. Doubly so....if you have rocks.

Having said that ^ I have a few implements that would be hard to justify too....but I sure like owning my own stuff. :laughing:

 

[LandGuy]

If I have everything pictured right.....and your stumps are cut reasonably close to the ground and you have good access and are ready to roll......a day or two's work will likely get your job done.

Yes, Foggy, I cut 'em close to the ground, even when I'm not planning to grind them and they're located deep in the woods. Just looks better (to me).

I'll definitely look into renting a self-propelled grinder when the time comes. I still have some more trees to cut and remove (what a job). Really using that loader to move firewood!

I will leave about six nice tall straight oaks, scattered around. Might have to lime pretty heavily to grow good grass. Grass hates oaks.

Thanks to all those who have commented. You've really helped guide me to think through this.

I love equipment, but I guess the Woods grinder is one fantasy/idea I should let go of.

 

[Reg]

Y'know.....
For LARGE stumps and many of them, I think the TSC-50 is a really good deal.
Even at full retail list price, if you HAVE it you can do a few when you have time and quit before you get too tired and start making mistakes.
Sell it on when you are done, should get at least 60% back.
I bought used, but only slightly used.

This is the biggest bad'est thing about rental gear, folk work WAY after there is enough light to be safe and (however young they may be) they get tired and careless.

For saplings - - I'm gonna get scolded for this one;
Pallet forks; Set 'em close together, angle down to a bit steeper than 45 degrees, push 'em in just in front of the root ball, Cuuuurl and they pop right out - all ready to carry away too (-:

This also works for those big awkward rocks that are hard to get UP and OUT of the ground.
Sometimes it beats a hoe.
{Not that I ever beat my Hoe}

 

[Reg]

JJ,
The TSC-50 grinder only uses hydraulic power for swing and height, the actual grinding power is from the PTO - in case this wasn't clear.

I think there may be flow limiters somewhere in the hydraulics, in any case I haven't been able to slow the swing down much farther by very light touch on my controls.
The speed of the height control isn't something I worry about too much, since the wheel is OUT of the stump anyway when I lower - errr, this is usually true though I have deliberately lowered onto bits of stumps a few times.
Point is very low flow rate and pressure is needed for this grinder, just position cylinders, not power and speed.
You almost can't have "too little" flow for this (-:
If there is enough for a loader, then there is enough for this.

I run mine off the 1,000 RPM PTO gear, so the engine is down around 54% of where it would be for the 540 output gear, I still have PLENTY of flow for this.

 

[LandGuy]

Just a test post to see if my avatar and signature are working.

Hmm, the signature works but the pic ain't there, even though my profile shows it.

 

[Piston]

From post #60...

I'm glad you guys brought this thread up again...

....If you guys keep posting pictures and talking about it, you may just convince me that I need one of these in a year or two!


Why is it that, I don't even know this equipment exists, let alone think I need it, and then I go to TBN and start glancing through threads, and find a new piece of equipment that I just have to have, and all of a sudden I can't do the job without??? :laughing::laughing::laughing:

.....and it didn't even take me a year! :laughing: :cool2:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/248173-3-point-beast-stumpgrinder-checked.html


Thanks for enlightening me to another one of those implements I never even knew I needed....
(this has been a very helpful thread for me:thumbsup

 

[foggy1111]

From post #60...



.....and it didn't even take me a year! :laughing: :cool2:
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachments/248173-3-point-beast-stumpgrinder-checked.html


Thanks for enlightening me to another one of those implements I never even knew I needed....
(this has been a very helpful thread for me:thumbsup

LOL And.....you found a really good HD used grinder.....and a great deal no less! WTG!

Grinding my stumps has reclaimed my land for our recreational purposes and for that of our critters. I now have about 5 acres of food plots and a couple miles of trails laced though my wooded property. Lots of fun......and would have been IMPOSIBLE without the stump grinder.

Operating a 3 point grinder is not for everyone....but grinding out my pine stumps has really been the deal for me and my property. I sure like reading about this topic. It is one of the most demanding tasks you can put onto a tractor...and having a tractor with HST and good hydrualics and power is fundemental. Done correctly....grinding em out is quite satisfying.

 

[Piston]

Foggy,
I never really thought I would own one of these, however, I started thinking about something that I didn't realize before. Many times, I have wanted to take down a tree, but I ended up thinking about how much of a mess I was going to make by digging out the stump, and if I didn't dig it out, all I could do was saw it low, and always see it. A lot of times, I would decide to just leave the tree. (I really suck at renting things because I rarely actually do it, if I have the equipment, I'll do it all day long, but if I have to rent, I tend to put it off forever...hence, not renting a stumpgrinder)

Another thing, I have been dreading clearing some land just because I hate looking at stumps, and when I started a few months ago I was knocking them all over roots/stump and all, which worked well except I didn't realize how much of the earth would be torn up with it, there was almost a 'blanket' of soil all over the stumps, sometimes it was HUGE and of course would leave a huge hole to deal with.

I have a neighbor with a mulcher and a tree shear for his ASV, he told me he would help me by shearing the trees but I was worried about having all those stumps to dig out with the backhoe. Now, I can barely wait to start cutting down trees and have him help me by shearing the ones on the land I'm clearing. I never realized how much I worried about stumps up to this point.
Him and I have even been talking about teaming up and specializing in cleanup from loggers, him on the skidsteer mulching and me on the tractor with the grapple and stumpgrinder, although for that, I could certainly justify a more powerful tractor :laughing: I still need some more experience with mine though.


Thanks for posting all about your experiences, I've learned a lot just from reading the threads on here (and only recently has there been more than just a few) I really enjoy seeing the pics/videos and reading about these tools. :thumbsup: