Stump Grinder Finished

   / Stump Grinder Finished #21  
Me too! Maiden voyage yesterday! 20 some stumps! 4"-20" pine, some 6"-10" cherry. I'm happy with it! Poor pictures, better ones to follow! Hey-"DaBear"---I did it! ~Scotty

Excellent workmanship.

One word of advice: wear eye and ear protection around that beast.
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #22  
wow! Great work.. I should make this my first thing to do project as I have a lot of rotting stumps around here.. Do you have any plan I can use? If you designed it yourself, any chance you are willing to share a list of items you used to build it?

Thanks!
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #23  
I have to agree with everyone else on this. Fantastic Job and excellent workmanship! to both of you.

Mike
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #24  
If you don't mind? May I ask why did you decide to use PTO driven instead of full hydraulic system? It would probably eliminate the risk of damaging the tractor because if the grinder gets stuck, it is the hydraulic motor that could get damaged and is easier (probably cheap too) to replace rather than to fix the PTO system?

Fecon uses full hydraulic system and its powerful hammer teeth could easily grind through anything.

I was just wondering and is it possible because it is cheaper to use PTO system or because PTO has more HP/speed than what hydraulic system can offer??
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #25  
Looks a well designed & constructed machine. Congratulations.
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #27  
Both are very nice jobs!!!!

How long did it take to build that ? :D
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #28  
If you don't mind? May I ask why did you decide to use PTO driven instead of full hydraulic system? It would probably eliminate the risk of damaging the tractor because if the grinder gets stuck, it is the hydraulic motor that could get damaged and is easier (probably cheap too) to replace rather than to fix the PTO system?

Fecon uses full hydraulic system and its powerful hammer teeth could easily grind through anything.

I was just wondering and is it possible because it is cheaper to use PTO system or because PTO has more HP/speed than what hydraulic system can offer??

Most farm tractors have a hydraulic output of no more than 25% of their engine output, so when driving it hydraulically, you need to use a PTO driven pump. Pump plus motor plus hoses plus safety relief = big $$$

The PTO drive is much more efficient, and is protected by a slip clutch on the grinder side. (the funny looking u-joint coupler)
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #29  
Great looking job!!!!!!!!!!!! If you happen to run out of stumps, I've got lots. Again well done.
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished
  • Thread Starter
#31  
Again, thanks for the encouragement.

To answer a few of the questions - - I didn't consider a full hydraulic system because I don't know much about them and I had examples of PTO driven stump grinders. Renze's comments may be the reason why companies use the PTO.

I didn't have any plans but did print down pictures of PTO stump grinders and the parts diagrams for them. Scott's grinder is similar to the kind I saw on the internet. Less expensive to make - - use the gearbox to support the cutting wheel. Saves buying bearings, chain and sprockets which are expensive. Also makes construction easier. I was affraid that the gearbox I bought on ebay might not take the pounding so I opted for the chain design. May not have been necessary. I do have some large, old (not rotten) hardwood stumps that don't go down without a fight. If you make one of these you will find out how good your welds are - - - so far mine have held.

It took over a year to finish - - but I didn't work on it regularly just now and then in the beginning. The big parts came quick and relatively easy. The time is in the small stuff like cylinder attechment and guards.

Reggie
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #32  
Reggie,

Did you consider orienting the cutter 90 degrees (looking down from above) to the existing cutter position to eliminate your 90 degree drive? I know that's unconventional but can't see why. It also gets you out of the plane of rotation although you made a nice guard for it.

John
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #33  
That is some fine work there my friend. My father clears power line right-of-ways for utility companies. He's been in business for 43 years and has had numerous "factory" stump grinders. Of course growing up, during the summers, I was fortunate enough to "get" to grind stumps all the time. In looking at your grinder I was wondering how you move the grinder rearward as you grind away on the stump. Do you actually have to back the tractor up? Factory units are built where the trailer tongue is actually two pieces (one insided the other) with a cylinder that will literally lenthen the tongue. That keeps you from having to back the truck up an inch or so every time you make a pass. The beauty of moving the grinder rearward with hydraulics is that you can literally move it back the cutting width of the tooth. Much more precise than trying to back a tractor or truck.
Also, if the cutter is wanting to "walk" over the top of the stump you may just be trying to cut to low on the wheel. Rather the cut the stump with the, say 5 o'clock part of the wheel, drop it down a little and hit the stump with the 3 o'clock part of the wheel. Not sure if this will help, but worth trying. I wouldn't take much of a bigger bite than that or the wheel ends up having to drag the cut nearly 180 degrees and that will really tend to bog things down.
Just a few thoughts from someone who has spent many hours grinding many stumps over the years.
Again, that is an excellent looking machine. I'm sure you will enjoy it more and more as you learn to use it better. I would love to build something like that. Stump grinders also make fairly good trenchers.
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #34  
Reggie,

Did you consider orienting the cutter 90 degrees (looking down from above) to the existing cutter position to eliminate your 90 degree drive? I know that's unconventional but can't see why. It also gets you out of the plane of rotation although you made a nice guard for it.

John

I guess that would rattle the 3pt stabiliser chains quite a bit and make a lot of noise...
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #35  
Most farm tractors have a hydraulic output of no more than 25% of their engine output, so when driving it hydraulically, you need to use a PTO driven pump. Pump plus motor plus hoses plus safety relief = big $$$

The PTO drive is much more efficient, and is protected by a slip clutch on the grinder side. (the funny looking u-joint coupler)

I wonder if you could help avoid grabbing too much stump with some strategically placed "bite limiters" like you see on a chain saw blade .... basically some non-cutting teeth that only let you dig in so far ....

Very nice job ... to both of you
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #36  
I haven't forgot about you guys (WKH) about plans etc. But pictures pretty much tell the tale, and I haven't got them yet! 'Been having computer problems that I got to get straighten out. Probably got another 20 stumps under my belt, and got a pretty good handle on what I can and can't do! Reggie- Ya definately want to look into those 'reverse' tooth pockets! The ability to cut straight down, is a real 'plus'!! ~Scotty
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #37  
   / Stump Grinder Finished #38  
Projects like this make me really hate that I don't have hydraulics on my N. I don't have any stumps to grind, but it would be an awesome project.
 
   / Stump Grinder Finished #40  
It's a full sized Ford 2N, about 20-25hp. I thought about a PTO pump, but that would kill things like this that run off the PTO, right? Or can you still use the PTO?
 

Tractor & Equipment Auctions

2018 Freightliner M2 106 AWD Altec AA55 56ft. Insulated Material Handling Bucket Truck (A60460)
2018 Freightliner...
2025 AGT YC-32G Saw Mill (A53317)
2025 AGT YC-32G...
Le Roi 80-Gallon Air Compressor, 220 Volts (A59076)
Le Roi 80-Gallon...
2015 DODGE DURANGO RT SUV (A59575)
2015 DODGE DURANGO...
Bobcat T590 (A53317)
Bobcat T590 (A53317)
Year: 2019 Make: Jeep Model: Grand Cherokee Vehicle Type: Multipurpose Vehicle (MPV) Mileage: Pla... (A59231)
Year: 2019 Make...
 
Top