Advice on best 36" wide self-propelled stump grinder under 50hp?

[arbor pro]

Fellas. Just sold my sc252 as well as my sc505 grinders. Just bought the 505 but quickly realized it was too big and clumsy to take through a 36" gate and the 252, as good of machine as it was, was a 2004 and about ready to be replaced with a newer one. Now I'd like to find a machine that is as nimble as the 252 but has more power like the 50hp tracked machine. Budget is under $20k so probably not looking at any new machines. Wondering what is out there in used models that will best suit my needs. btw - I only put about 80 hrs a year on a grinder so whatever I buy will likely stay around awhile unless I don't like it. Also, 50hp is the absolute largest I need for what I do. I've been using my 252 for the past 6 years and doing fine with it but would like just a bit more power without sacrificing the ability to get into tight spots or go into landscaping areas like I did with my 252. I mostly work in residential yards with very little to any large site clearing work.

Looking at used 352s but heard the diahatsu is a bad engine so considering the 35hp briggs model. also considering the rayco machines but never ran one. heard a lot of good things about the rayco rg50. is that easy to get through gates and fairly nimble to take across lawns and landscaping? Dont want to end up with something too big and prefer something that can stay in a 36" wide configuration all the time for transport reasons.

I found a 2006 sc252 with the 35hp gas briggs with 200 original hours for around 10k. Also found a rg50 (not super) with 1400hrs for $18k. Just starting to look though. have a couple months to decide and jump on something. thanks for suggestions.

AP

 

[tree md]

I am using an old Rayco RG20 now and it is a dandy at getting into tight spots and through gates but I would really prefer something with more power. I subbed to two guys over the Summer that were both running SC50's and that is a bad ass stumper. You have to take two of the wheels off to get it through a 36 inch gate but it will go. My subs where grinding whole root balls on uprooted trees with their 50's and doing it in no time. One of my subs said he paid like 20 G's for his new (I think) and the other one said he got his for 5 grand used, which i thought was a pretty good price.

I tell you another stumper I was impressed with was the little Bandit walk behind. Can't remember the model number but it was a nice, compact stumper for getting into tight places with adequate power and had a neat feature where you can pull a pin and just swing the wheel back and forth instead of having to swing the whole machine.

If I had my druthers I would have one of the SC50's but it is a heavy son of a gun.

 

[superjunior]

I'm a big fan of rayco but I think their rg 50 type grinders are a bit over priced and a little on the heavy side. I'm tearing apart my 1625 for a complete rebuild this winter to get another season out of it and a decent resale, then plan on upgrading to the 1645. With a 44 horse turbo diesel and back fill blade it still fits easily through a 36in gate and weighs in under 2500lbs. should be able to pick up a lightly used one for under 20k

 

[lone wolf]

Vermeer SC252 reliable little machine I had a Rayco and it broke a lot .The cutting wheel belt on the Rayco is about 200.00 and they dont last long.The belt on my Vermeer is about 60.00 .The Vermeer is engineered better.

 

[epicklein22]

Fellas. Just sold my sc252 as well as my sc505 grinders. Just bought the 505 but quickly realized it was too big and clumsy to take through a 36" gate and the 252, as good of machine as it was, was a 2004 and about ready to be replaced with a newer one. Now I'd like to find a machine that is as nimble as the 252 but has more power like the 50hp tracked machine. Budget is under $20k so probably not looking at any new machines. Wondering what is out there in used models that will best suit my needs. btw - I only put about 80 hrs a year on a grinder so whatever I buy will likely stay around awhile unless I don't like it. Also, 50hp is the absolute largest I need for what I do. I've been using my 252 for the past 6 years and doing fine with it but would like just a bit more power without sacrificing the ability to get into tight spots or go into landscaping areas like I did with my 252. I mostly work in residential yards with very little to any large site clearing work.

Looking at used 352s but heard the diahatsu is a bad engine so considering the 35hp briggs model. also considering the rayco machines but never ran one. heard a lot of good things about the rayco rg50. is that easy to get through gates and fairly nimble to take across lawns and landscaping? Dont want to end up with something too big and prefer something that can stay in a 36" wide configuration all the time for transport reasons.

I found a 2006 sc252 with the 35hp gas briggs with 200 original hours for around 10k. Also found a rg50 (not super) with 1400hrs for $18k. Just starting to look though. have a couple months to decide and jump on something. thanks for suggestions.

AP

I run a rg50 super 4x4 at my work all the time. Pull it with a one ton diesel easily, works the 5.4 f350 pretty hard.

Pros: grinds great (you don't have to worry about the teeth being razor sharp), back fill blade is way handy, does fit through a small gate with the dual tires off. Service is great! Rayco Ron is a good guy to have on your side.

Cons: Too long, too heavy, gets stuck easily, no remote, tippy, slow travel speed.

I don't really like the machine overall, it leaves little ruts if even remotely wet. I get it in some really tight spots, (I don't really see any other similar sized grinder getting in a tighter spot.) I don't know any other grinders than a small super junior 1625 though. It might be the best thing out there, but I see room for improvement.

 

[ozzy42]

I run a rg50 super 4x4 at my work all the time. Pull it with a one ton diesel easily, works the 5.4 f350 pretty hard.

Pros: grinds great (you don't have to worry about the teeth being razor sharp), back fill blade is way handy, does fit through a small gate with the dual tires off. Service is great! Rayco Ron is a good guy to have on your side.

Cons: Too long, too heavy, gets stuck easily, no remote, tippy, slow travel speed.

I don't really like the machine overall, it leaves little ruts if even remotely wet. I get it in some really tight spots, (I don't really see any other similar sized grinder getting in a tighter spot.) I don't know any other grinders than a small super junior 1625 though. It might be the best thing out there, but I see room for improvement.

:agree2:
The rayco 50 is a bad azz portable .A friend of mine has one .Good power but ,the down side is as you mentioned. #1 it's very heavy ,almost 3500 I believe.#2 It is just as unstable as a 252 with the single wheels,and you will need LOTS of muscle to re upright one if turned over.#3 Even though it has a chip blade ,they aren't very usefull most of the time because they are mounted on the wrong end.You have to zig zag back and forth a dozen times on the HOs yard turning it around just to use it .Talk about tearing up some yard.That's why I built a small blade that folds down in the front on my 252.Just back up ,swing the blade down ,and push back over the hole.

Why vermeer doesn't offer a 252 with 40-45 hp is beyond me.Probably because it would harm sales of their bigger units.Mine has the 27hp.Wish it had more.The yellow jackets have improved it quite a bit though.
252s are a good grinder.They just need mo-balls,then they would be great.

 

[stumper63]

Arbor Pro, you seem pretty handy with tools, so another option is a low hour 252 and put a 35hp Briggs Vanguard gasser on it like a couple of us have done. The swap is amazingly simple, a whole other thread describes details. I've got $7K into mine.
I put 550 hours on it this year with the Briggs, amazing cutting difference. A few other mods to increase swing and ground speed, under $100 bucks, and you're in business.
Will give you the maneuverability of the 252 and the power of a 352 gasser.
I like the spec's on the Carlton 4012 and Rayco 1645's, both available with the 44hp Kubota diesel. Still around 2000 lbs, almost double the weight of a 252, but heck, you're out on the flat and dry part of the world, oh, and $26-32K for those.
Out here in NW Oregon, soggy alot, I like my lightweight 252.

Anyway, another option....

Stumper63

 

[Toddppm]

:agree2:
.That's why I built a small blade that folds down in the front on my 252.Just back up ,swing the blade down ,and push back over the hole.

Do you have a pic of this? I got a small snow blade off a lawn tractor I was going to mount into the trailer pin of my 1625 but like you say it'd be on the wrong end.

 

[tree md]

I've got to grind one tomorrow that I have to take my stumper up two flights of 7" steps (3 per flight), about 75 yards down a narrow concrete walkway along a 15' retainer wall and grind a stump in an Ivy bed right on the edge at the end of the wall where it L's... Sure glad I've got my little RG to do this one. A 252 would handle it well too but no way I would want to be fighting a 50 horse, top heavy stumper up there. One wrong move would spell disaster.

 

[arbor pro]

Do you have a pic of this? I got a small snow blade off a lawn tractor I was going to mount into the trailer pin of my 1625 but like you say it'd be on the wrong end.

rather than put a 35hp briggs on a 252, what about that 2006 sc352 that already has the briggs on it and only a couple hundred hours? any reason to stay away from the 352 that's already set up with the bigger power plant? price seemed right at $10k...

 

[superjunior]

Arbor Pro, you seem pretty handy with tools, so another option is a low hour 252 and put a 35hp Briggs Vanguard gasser on it like a couple of us have done. The swap is amazingly simple, a whole other thread describes details. I've got $7K into mine.
I put 550 hours on it this year with the Briggs, amazing cutting difference. A few other mods to increase swing and ground speed, under $100 bucks, and you're in business.
Will give you the maneuverability of the 252 and the power of a 352 gasser.
I like the spec's on the Carlton 4012 and Rayco 1645's, both available with the 44hp Kubota diesel. Still around 2000 lbs, almost double the weight of a 252, but heck, you're out on the flat and dry part of the world, oh, and $26-32K for those.
Out here in NW Oregon, soggy alot, I like my lightweight 252.

Anyway, another option....

Stumper63

you got a link to that thread? I'd be real interested in that engine swap

 

[stumper63]

Check out "List of upgrades to 252" or something like that for conversion details, specs. If you want a few pic's of conversion PM me with an email address.

For $10K that 352 sounds pretty good, it's just alot bigger machine, almost 2' longer, almost 1000 lbs heavier, maintenance parts a bit more expensive. Some on the site have reported electrical problems with the 352, and do stay away from the Daihatsu diesel, even Vermeer figured out it was a dog. The new 372 is a whole different animal, not just with the 37hp Yanmar, the engine mounting system is way beefier, better anti-vibe. But they're over $30K and just pretty big for some of us and our terrain/clientele/backyards. But they do have 4wd which would be nice sometimes, but not too often needed.

Anyone ever though about putting 4wd on a 252? Would be pretty sweet. Maybe modify the factory 4 wheel steering option?


Stumper63

 

[treemandan]

I dunno but I saw a new Morbark, it had the exhaust exiting right by the controls. I guess it had a remote.

 

[arbor pro]

I dunno but I saw a new Morbark, it had the exhaust exiting right by the controls. I guess it had a remote.

Maybe I should just buy a new 252...? Is the 35hp briggs that much more power than the 27hp kohler? Can you factory order a 252 with a 30 hp engine?

 

[EasyStumpin]

I have a 04 sc352 with the Diahatsu motor. I replaced a 252 with it. I love the 352. It is tippy with the outside wheels off. I only take them off when absolutely necessary. Power is enough. It's manueverable. I love it. I have had some electrical issues, but it's always a simple fix. Just a worn female connector at the end of a wire. I grind alot of stumps, and I will get a bigger machine in the future, but I will definitely keep my 352. I bought it with 480 hours for 14k

 

[squad143]

you got a link to that thread? I'd be real interested in that engine swap

Try this: http://www.arboristsite.com/large-equipment/166783.htm

And this is another good one: http://www.arboristsite.com/large-equipment/61193.htm

 

[ozzy42]

Do you have a pic of this? I got a small snow blade off a lawn tractor I was going to mount into the trailer pin of my 1625 but like you say it'd be on the wrong end.

I just built it off of the annoying guard that everybady ties back or removes alltogether.
The reason for the expanded metal is one,I had someLOL and 2 when it is folded up and resting by the engine it does not hinder my view.
The advantage of making it the way I did allows me to control it with the boom for the cutting wheel:left,right,up, down..It rest on the ground when the CW is about 4inches above the ground.
It's not a dozer, but it does push the mulch back in the hole.

Does you grinder have the same type of safety bar?

 

[arbor pro]

so lets narrow things down a bit. if you were to choose between the vermeer 352, carlton 4012 or rayco 1635 or 1645, which would you choose and with what engine option and why?

AP

 

[superjunior]

so lets narrow things down a bit. if you were to choose between the vermeer 352, carlton 4012 or rayco 1635 or 1645, which would you choose and with what engine option and why?

AP

If it were me I'd probably go with the rayco 1645. It's my next mini grinder upgrade although I may just do the 35 horse engine swap on my 1625 and keep it for a couple more seasons. Don't know anything about carlton so I can't comment on that but I'd go with the 1645 just for the power to weight ratio. The 44 horse turbo diesel (kubota I think?) is going to out perform the other grinders hands down and the 1645 is less then 1k heavier then the others. The 1625 and 1635 are pretty much the same size while the 1645 isn't much bigger then the 352.

 

[arbor pro]

I don't have any dealer support for carlton here in sd but do for vermeer and rayco so those two are probably my leading machines right now. Really liked my 252 so leaning towards the 352 with briggs 35hp gas. The 2006 with 200 hrs is only $10k while a new rayco 1635 is right about $20k. should I jump on the 352?