Backhoe-Mounted Stump Grinder
“After looking at home-built stump grinders in past issues of FARM SHOW, I was inspired to build my own heavy-duty, backhoe-mounted model using the gearbox and electric clutch off a big pull-type packer roller used for construction work. My total cost was only about $400,” says Russ Zuiverink, Byron Center, Mich.
The stump grinder bolts on in place of the bucket on Zuiverink’s Kubota B20 backhoe. It’s powered by a Kohler 15 1/2 hp. engine off an old Sears garden tractor, which double belt-drives an electric clutch that operates the grinder’s teeth.
Zuiverink stripped the garden tractor down to the engine, battery and gas tank, then welded the gearbox to the tractor’s frame. He used 3 by 2 square tubing to build a bracket that quick-taches to the backhoe with 2 bolts.
The grinder was made by modifying a massive 15-in. dia., 1 1/2-in. wide sprocket originally used to chain-drive the packer roller’s gearbox. Zuiverink used 1 1/4-in. dia. solid steel to make a series of removable tooth holders. He drilled a hole through each holder, then tapped into all of the sprocket grooves and bolted the holders on.
“It’s built heavy and works even better than I thought it would,” says Zuiverink. “A stump grinder mounted on a backhoe isn’t a common sight, and most of the people who see it for the first time have no idea what I use it for. I’ve used it to grind stumps more than 40 in. wide. The backhoe loader can reach out a long ways and also pivot back and forth, which makes the grinder very easy to operate.”
Zuiverink got the tractor from a friend and the roller drive unit from his son Mike. “The engine has only 15 1/2 hp. so it stalls once in a while, but it isn’t a problem because I can restart the engine without leave the backhoe’s seat,” he says.
“My only initial cost was $10 for a new carburetor. I made $400 right away by grinding stumps on some land owned by my son’s church. Some of my homemade tapped teeth broke off during that job, so I used the money I made to replace them by welding on carbide-tipped teeth that I bought at an auction.
“I used 1/8-in. plate steel to form a hood for the grinding wheel, and bolted on part of the mud guard off an old truck to keep wood chips from flying back at me.”
Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Russ Zuiverink, Byron Center, Mich.
Backhoe-Mounted Stump Grinder “After looking at home-built stump grinders in past issues of FARM SHOW I was inspired to build my own heavy-duty backhoe-mounted model using the gearbox and electric clutch off a big pull-type packer roller used for construction work My total cost was only about $400 ” says Russ Zuiverink Byron Center Mich The stump grinder bolts on in place of the bucket on Zuiverink’s Kubota B20 backhoe It’s powered by a Kohler 15 1/2 hp engine off an old Sears garden tractor which double belt-drives an electric clutch that operates the grinder’s teeth Zuiverink stripped the garden tractor down to the engine battery and gas tank then welded the gearbox to the tractor’s frame He used 3 by 2 square tubing to build a bracket that quick-taches to the backhoe with 2 bolts The grinder was made by modifying a massive 15-in dia 1 1/2-in wide sprocket originally used to chain-drive the packer roller’s gearbox Zuiverink used 1 1/4-in dia solid steel to make a series of removable tooth holders He drilled a hole through each holder then tapped into all of the sprocket grooves and bolted the holders on “It’s built heavy and works even better than I thought it would ” says Zuiverink “A stump grinder mounted on a backhoe isn’t a common sight and most of the people who see it for the first time have no idea what I use it for I’ve used it to grind stumps more than 40 in wide The backhoe loader can reach out a long ways and also pivot back and forth which makes the grinder very easy to operate ” Zuiverink got the tractor from a friend and the roller drive unit from his son Mike “The engine has only 15 1/2 hp so it stalls once in a while but it isn’t a problem because I can restart the engine without leave the backhoe’s seat ” he says “My only initial cost was $10 for a new carburetor I made $400 right away by grinding stumps on some land owned by my son’s church Some of my homemade tapped teeth broke off during that job so I used the money I made to replace them by welding on carbide-tipped teeth that I bought at an auction “I used 1/8-in plate steel to form a hood for the grinding wheel and bolted on part of the mud guard off an old truck to keep wood chips from flying back at me ” Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Russ Zuiverink Byron Center Mich
