Stump Grinders

[blizake7]

So I'm running a small tree trim/removal business and need to start looking at buying a stump grinder. I was thinking about steering toward buying a Vermeer grinder because there is vermeer dealer close by that could service it for me if need be.

Whats the best small/mid sized vermeer stump grinder in your guys' opinion? I want it something small enough to fit in between gates but not so small that I'm wasting my time trying to make money on grinding the stumps.

Have any of you bought a mini skid steer with a stump grinder attachment? I'm sure thats a much more expensive way to go but IDK. I'll probably buy a mini skid next year.

Thanks for reading

 

[Bango Skank]

There’s good reason the Vermeer SC-252 is probably the most common stump grinder around. Really reliable and easy to maintain. It’s not the fastest, but they’re money makers for sure.

 

[blizake7]

There’s good reason the Vermeer SC-252 is probably the most common stump grinder around. Really reliable and easy to maintain. It’s not the fastest, but they’re money makers for sure.

Thats a hydraulic swing grinder right?

 

[Bango Skank]

Yes, anything without hydraulics really sucks. I’m afraid I currently own a manual stump grinder, a Toro SGR-13. It has its uses, but I’d rarely, if ever recommend anyone buy one. It’s hard work to earn any real money with one. Got a real good price on it but still not my smartest purchase.

 

[Jonathon Masters]

Can't speak for Vermeer, but we had a Bandit ZT1844. 38hp, tracked, fit in a 36" gate, and super light around #2,000 so you can pull it with anything. It was slow but did the job and got places other machines couldn't. It was involved in a wreck and totaled. So we upgraded to the Bandit SG75, what a machine! 75hp diesel, tracked, about #5,000. I can knock out a 60" oak stump in under 2 hours. Plus the tracks retract and sides fold up so it can still fit through a gate. Way more expensive though.
I highly recommend Bandit products.

 

[wsavage]

I’m looking at a 2014 Vermeer Sc372 diesel.. I want the extra power and torque needed for larger stumps and still have clearance for 36” gate openings..

 

[Jim Colton]

Bandit SG40 38Hp 29" wide 1500# tracked for about $26K or
Carlton SP5014NTX about the same size but 2700# and remote controlled for about $44K

 

[Richard Amable]

I've had my Bandit SG40 for 18 months now (paid 30k CAD). A month and around 30 stumps after purchase the machine started sputtering and had considerable power loss. I found out then that I was supposed to be only using premium, ethanol free fuel in it and the O2 sensor was now fouled up. I bought a new sensor for $190 CAD and it ran fine for around 16 months before doing the sputtering thing again. I have been only using the Shell premium gas (0 ethanol) since changing the first O2 sensor. I bought another sensor for same price and it ran fine again but for only 3 weeks before sputtering again. I pulled the O2 sensor and it was fouled again. I was in the middle of a large job at the time and it takes around 3 weeks to get the new sensor from the states so I tried unplugging the sensor to see if I can get it running enough to finish job. Low and behold it started running perfectly fine again. It has been running perfect for a month so far without the sensor plugged in. This is the only major issue I've had with this machine. It's slim profile has allowed me to drive it through regular doorways (garage man door) since the customers yard didn't have any other gate.
I found that you need to be careful tightening the bolts holding the belt covers since they can be stripped easily. I have welded two new nuts to replace stripped holes on the main wheel drive belt cover so far. They need a better attachment mechanism for the two covers since you need to remove them often for regular maintenance.
I wish the machine had a small push blade to move dirt/mulch back into hole like the Vermeer has. I'm thinking of making my own bolt on push blade attachment to clean up the mulch piles easier and faster after the grinding is done.
I have the revolution wheel on it with the 24 teeth. I usually replace dulled teeth every 12 stumps or so depending if I've hit any rocks or concrete. I get them sharpened by a local guy.