I have been looking for a compact stump grinder ideas and the simplest one I could find was the Northern Tool with 160cc engine ($1,799). I need it primarily as a root grinder more than as stump grinder. Also I wanted to use what I had on hand as much as possible.
I used the axle/differential and handles of an old walk-behind mower which was collecting dust for 100 years. Then I used a partial frame with head of a cement cutting saw placed on top of the wheel assembly. The 212cc HF engine I had from another project.
I made the 9" cutting wheel from a 3/8 stock. (I designed a template on the computer for the holes location, glued it on the steel then cut it on the band saw). The only thing I bought were the knives and pockets ($100) from Northern Tools and a go-cart centrifugal clutch ($50) from ebay. Everything else I had laying around in my private junkyard.
I was a little reluctant at first about using 2 sets of knives instead of 4. But I figured that somebody smarter than me that engineered the NT machine with 2 sets of knives, knew what they were doing. So I copied the concept of the wheel size, amount of knives and comparable engine size.
I have to say that this little booger is pretty aggressive. As I said, the main purpose of this machine was primarily to grind above ground roots in my wood trails. I tried it on a small 6 stump with no problems.
I do not have a braking system because for the roots I do not need it. I guess if I would have need to grind bigger stumps, I should come up with something.
The machine has good balance and can be pushed as easy as a lawnmower, but I have to go long distances, I hook it up with a bar to my lawn tractor.
Obviously, this is a simple machine is not as heavy duty as the beautiful machine that jwmorris posted few days ago, but it does meet my needs and I like my modest $150 total investment.
I used the axle/differential and handles of an old walk-behind mower which was collecting dust for 100 years. Then I used a partial frame with head of a cement cutting saw placed on top of the wheel assembly. The 212cc HF engine I had from another project.
I made the 9" cutting wheel from a 3/8 stock. (I designed a template on the computer for the holes location, glued it on the steel then cut it on the band saw). The only thing I bought were the knives and pockets ($100) from Northern Tools and a go-cart centrifugal clutch ($50) from ebay. Everything else I had laying around in my private junkyard.
I was a little reluctant at first about using 2 sets of knives instead of 4. But I figured that somebody smarter than me that engineered the NT machine with 2 sets of knives, knew what they were doing. So I copied the concept of the wheel size, amount of knives and comparable engine size.
I have to say that this little booger is pretty aggressive. As I said, the main purpose of this machine was primarily to grind above ground roots in my wood trails. I tried it on a small 6 stump with no problems.
I do not have a braking system because for the roots I do not need it. I guess if I would have need to grind bigger stumps, I should come up with something.
The machine has good balance and can be pushed as easy as a lawnmower, but I have to go long distances, I hook it up with a bar to my lawn tractor.
Obviously, this is a simple machine is not as heavy duty as the beautiful machine that jwmorris posted few days ago, but it does meet my needs and I like my modest $150 total investment.
