Stumpin 2538

[Oledadger]

Got this big cherry out last night... along with 3 others... smaller birch. I have learned that while working on stumps it is a delicate process to pick only what you can rip. Slamming a BH into heavy stuff doesn't work but with a little (by little I mean a lot) finesse you can get some some pretty good ones out. Had 30 min start to finish on this one. I still don't want to talk about the green oak stumps. On to some +20" poplar tonight.

Although I think I have a good process developing I am always in the mood for tips if someone has some they are willing to give away.

 

[JPRambo]

I just let the granddaughter work at it for a while.

 

[dickfoster]

Got this big cherry out last night... along with 3 others... smaller birch. I have learned that while working on stumps it is a delicate process to pick only what you can rip. Slamming a BH into heavy stuff doesn't work but with a little (by little I mean a lot) finesse you can get some some pretty good ones out. Had 30 min start to finish on this one. I still don't want to talk about the green oak stumps. On to some +20" poplar tonight.

Although I think I have a good process developing I am always in the mood for tips if someone has some they are willing to give away.

View attachment 477895

If you have many stumps left you might consider a stump grinder. I'd given up hope of buying one because they are so expensive until I found this one. WG24 Stump Grinder | Woodland Mills US
I'm looking really hard at it. A guy just got one in PA and he says it's working over very well for him and he has a much smaller machine than we do. At $2.5K delivered it isn't priced anywhere as dear as most of them. A much simpler and more straight forward design it seems is responsible for the lower cost. It's said to be well built.

 

[trihounds]

A ripper tooth instead of your BH bucket will dramatically reduce the de-stumping time and also, at least I find, reduce the overall size of the remaining hole.

 

[bindian]

Oledadger,
Welcome to TBN! I really can't tell much about what you dug up by the dark photo. Looks like some wood in the grapple. But your right, digging up stumps takes finesse = time. I like to dig on three or even four sides, and push them over. Photo is of a huge dead oak in my Dad's front yard. We waited and waited for all the huge limbs to fall, then I dug it and pushed it over.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

I just let the granddaughter work at it for a while.

JPRambo,
How long did your granddaughter stay at it? My granddaughter just turned 3, so I have lots of time to teach her the ropes. She always wants to ride the CAT and the tractor when she comes over!
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

If you have many stumps left you might consider a stump grinder. I'd given up hope of buying one because they are so expensive until I found this one. WG24 Stump Grinder | Woodland Mills US
I'm looking really hard at it. A guy just got one in PA and he says it's working over very well for him and he has a much smaller machine than we do. At $2.5K delivered it isn't priced anywhere as dear as most of them. A much simpler and more straight forward design it seems is responsible for the lower cost. It's said to be well built.

I never have wanted a stump grinder. They really put a lot of wear on your host machine. Besides, I really like digging in the dirt.:licking:
hugs, Brandi

 

[Snowback]

Got this big cherry out last night... along with 3 others... smaller birch. I have learned that while working on stumps it is a delicate process to pick only what you can rip. Slamming a BH into heavy stuff doesn't work but with a little (by little I mean a lot) finesse you can get some some pretty good ones out. Had 30 min start to finish on this one. I still don't want to talk about the green oak stumps. On to some +20" poplar tonight.

Although I think I have a good process developing I am always in the mood for tips if someone has some they are willing to give away.

View attachment 477895

So awesome Oledadger! Impressive haul there.

No backhoe for me, but I have found that the 2538 is powerful enough to let me work around the edges ripping out roots with my Wicked Grapple, and they rocking out some pretty good sized stumps for the burn pile. Here are two decent sized stumps I harvested this spring.

If you have many stumps left you might consider a stump grinder. I'd given up hope of buying one because they are so expensive until I found this one. WG24 Stump Grinder | Woodland Mills US
I'm looking really hard at it. A guy just got one in PA and he says it's working over very well for him and he has a much smaller machine than we do. At $2.5K delivered it isn't priced anywhere as dear as most of them. A much simpler and more straight forward design it seems is responsible for the lower cost. It's said to be well built.

Wow - Thanks for sharing Dickfoster! I think you just made my day! This stumpgrinder really looks really handy and it is much simpler than a unit requiring rear remotes and all the lateral wear and tear on the rear lift arms and tractor rear end. This may just be the ticket. I wonder how much faster we could grind than that Kubota? It is an L3800 claiming the same PTO HP, but the Mahindra's have a bit more weith to offset vibrations. I probably wouldn't go too much faster just to avoid too large of a mulch. Definitely going to need to look into this one. A guy might even be able to make some money off stump grinding work... :scratchchin: I also bet the resale is not too bad on one of those. Check it out - today's price is only $2,300 delivered. http://woodlandmills.ca/us/price-sheet-wg24/

 

[bindian]

Wow - Thanks for sharing Dickfoster! I think you just made my day! This stumpgrinder really looks really handy and it is much simpler than a unit requiring rear remotes and all the lateral wear and tear on the rear lift arms and tractor rear end. This may just be the ticket. I wonder how much faster we could grind than that Kubota? It is an L3800 claiming the same PTO HP, but the Mahindra's have a bit more weith to offset vibrations. I probably wouldn't go too much faster just to avoid too large of a mulch. Definitely going to need to look into this one. A guy might even be able to make some money off stump grinding work... :scratchchin: I also bet the resale is not too bad on one of those. Check it out - today's price is only $2,300 delivered.

I would highly suggest you see one in action and note the vibration the tractor and operator get from the vibrations before buying. I've seen them on way larger tractors and the tractor and operator are really rocking while grinding.
A co worker that lives just north of The Woodlands thought stump grinding would be a cool side job. Last I heard he had his stand alone 4WD remote control grinder for sale.
hugs, Brandi

 

[JPRambo]

Brandi, it did not take her but about 15 minutes and she was ready for another. IIRC her pulled three that day.

 

[bindian]

Guys, too much grubbin' and rockin' with the grapple and your loader arms can get tweeked. I tweeked one of my arms and I am really not sure how I did it.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Snowback]

I would highly suggest you see one in action and note the vibration the tractor and operator get from the vibrations before buying. I've seen them on way larger tractors and the tractor and operator are really rocking while grinding.
A co worker that lives just north of The Woodlands thought stump grinding would be a cool side job. Last I heard he had his stand alone 4WD remote control grinder for sale.
hugs, Brandi

100% agree Brandi - I watched the video on full screen at youtube to get an idea. Seems fairly smooth on that slightly smaller Kubota, although you can tell it is vibrating some... Really impressive how controlled it is with that pulling action though.

Still seems pretty darn good compared to the dozens of others I have watched that swing side to side off the back of the tractor. I think this tension component during the pull may help? My 6' cutter can rattle my teeth when hitting the rough stuff too. Nonetheless - your points are valid and I'd prefer not to shake loose my fillings and crowns.

If your buddy wants to sell his dedicated setup I would be interested, but I'm afraid those type units are much more expensive than $2,300! If he needs cash, I might be able to round up some aluminum cans, and I have a trailer to help him free up garage space. Sounds like he's either my neighbor, or just down the road. Is it on Craigslist? THANKS!

 

[Snowback]

And another video that shows some vibration if really getting into it a time of two. Maybe I am missing the small annoying vibrations in here though. At the 5 min 20 sec mark they show a sped up grinding of a two good size stumps. It is mesmerizing...

 

[bindian]

100% agree Brandi - I watched the video on full screen at youtube to get an idea. Seems fairly smooth on that slightly smaller Kubota, although you can tell it is vibrating some... Really impressive how controlled it is with that pulling action though.

Still seems pretty darn good compared to the dozens of others I have watched that swing side to side off the back of the tractor. I think this tension component during the pull may help? My 6' cutter can rattle my teeth when hitting the rough stuff too. Nonetheless - your points are valid and I'd prefer not to shake loose my fillings and crowns.

If your buddy wants to sell his dedicated setup I would be interested, but I'm afraid those type units are much more expensive than $2,300! If he needs cash, I might be able to round up some aluminum cans, and I have a trailer to help him free up garage space. Sounds like he's either my neighbor, or just down the road. Is it on Craigslist? THANKS!

After watching the video, I have to admit, it looked pretty smooth. Seems like a lot of back and forth the tractor has to do. If you don't have a real, real, low gear, it will not help the clutch. Your right, it is mesmerizing.
The grinder I watched sit on the ground and just the plane moved back and forth, not the tractor. It really vibrated.

I will have to ask my co worker if he still has it. I last talked to him about it maybe a year or two years ago. It had it's own trailer.
hugs, Brandi

 

[bindian]

And another video that shows some vibration if really getting into it a time of two. Maybe I am missing the small annoying vibrations in here though. At the 5 min 20 sec mark they show a sped up grinding of a two good size stumps. It is mesmerizing...

My hands tingle after running a chain saw for a long time. Wonder it this grinder makes you butt tingle after awhile? What we need is a close up video of the operator. I gather he has to lower the remote and move the tractor.
hugs, Brandi

 

[Snowback]

After watching the video, I have to admit, it looked pretty smooth. Seems like a lot of back and forth the tractor has to do. If you don't have a real, real, low gear, it will not help the clutch.

I will have to ask my co worker if he still has it. I last talked to him about it maybe a year or two years ago. It had it's own trailer.
hugs, Brandi

Thanks for checking on your friend's machine.

For the 2538 owners considering something like this Woodland Mills Grinder, we'd be in good shape as we have HST and could just creep it along as needed.

My hands tingle after running a chain saw for a long time. Wonder it this grinder makes you butt tingle after awhile? What we need is a close up video of the operator. I gather he has to lower the remote and move the tractor.
hugs, Brandi

Agreed - May be worth a call to this outfit and see if they have any more videos or feedback on it. You know, this may be the perfect application for one of those adjustable "Hydraulink" deals that function as top links, but with a small shock absorber capability as well. Watch how it dampens a rototiller which may be a good proxy for this grinder.

Take care!

 

[bindian]

Agreed - May be worth a call to this outfit and see if they have any more videos or feedback on it. You know, this may be the perfect application for one of those adjustable "Hydraulink" deals that function as top links, but with a small shock absorber capability as well. Watch how it dampens a rototiller which may be a good proxy for this grinder. Take care!

Probably so.
hugs, Brandi

 

[dickfoster]

A ripper tooth instead of your BH bucket will dramatically reduce the de-stumping time and also, at least I find, reduce the overall size of the remaining hole.

I put a ripper tooth on mine right away but it didn't help me much on the larger fresher stumps. Even the smaller fresh oak stumps are too much for it. My little hoe even with the ripper tooth is just no match for real stumps. I've got a BroTek ripper BTW.

 

[dickfoster]

I never have wanted a stump grinder. They really put a lot of wear on your host machine. Besides, I really like digging in the dirt.:licking:
hugs, Brandi

Seems to me less wear considering all the repeated stresses the backhoe is putting on it. It's spending a fair amount of time hitting the pressure limits and topping out.

 

[dickfoster]

Thanks for checking on your friend's machine.

For the 2538 owners considering something like this Woodland Mills Grinder, we'd be in good shape as we have HST and could just creep it along as needed.



Agreed - May be worth a call to this outfit and see if they have any more videos or feedback on it. You know, this may be the perfect application for one of those adjustable "Hydraulink" deals that function as top links, but with a small shock absorber capability as well. Watch how it dampens a rototiller which may be a good proxy for this grinder.

Take care!

That might be a good idea. It can't cost much. Yep $186 from Surplus Center. Seems a bit pricey for a small cylinder and a bypass valve but cheaper than making something on your own.
BTW I have a gear machine so called the Woodland Mills folks and asked about it. They said no problem. I suppose if you can't go slow enough you could always just take lighter cuts.

I think I'd rather sit in the seat and go forward and backward than have to get off and back on to reposition the tractor for one of those side to side swinging affairs. I think eliminating the gearbox and extra hydraulics is what keeps the cost down.