What Is the Best Stump Grinder Attachment for a Skid Steer?

Among multiple skid steer attachments available on the market the stump grinder is one of the most interesting ones. Why? Because it provides a lot of thrill while grinding tree stumps into mulch. But one question arises: how to choose a good stump grinder attachment for your skid steer? Luckily, we are here to help you with this task.

Do you need to get rid of the stump?

Before you buy a stump grinder it is worth asking yourself a question whether you need one. Excess vegetation can become a home to unwanted inhabitants, such as animals or insects. Moreover, removing the stump may provide invaluable new space for further property development. And finally, lawn mowing will become easier, and altogether, your property will look neat.

Does the environment play the role in choosing a skid steer stump grinder?

Truth be told, yes it does. That is why you need to take into consideration a few below factors:

Stump’s diameter

The smaller the stump the smaller machine you will need. Working with a larger grinder on a smaller stump won’t hurt. However, working with a smaller grinder on larger stumps may significantly prolong the time of your work.

The surroundings

The above-mentioned rule might be the complete opposite when working on challenging terrain. Then, no matter the stump’s size, you will benefit from having a skid steer with smaller wheels.

Stump’s condition

The older stumps are usually less healthy. If they begin to rot, it will be easier to grind them. You will not need a large or powerful machine.

Important features of skid steer stump grinders

With many manufacturers and models of skid steer stump grinding attachments on the market, it is easy to get lost. That is why it is important to know what you are looking for in a perfect skid steer stump grinder. Below are a few most important features you should pay attention to:

The Motor

Being a vigorous tool, stump grinder attachment needs a strong motor. There are two features of efficient motors that one should pay attention to:

Torque

Torque helps to measure the rotational force. It is very important in the case of stump grinders as they grind material using a rotating flywheel. It is not surprising that the motor of such a grinder should have a high torque. A specific type, the best for such use will be the LSHT motor (low speed high torque). Such a type of motor generates a lot of force that helps the flywheel rotate efficiently. Such a motor will also have a lesser chance of slowing down. Slowing down could happen because of contact with a stump. In such a case, a high-speed low torque motor will simply fail.

Efficiency

A strong low or high flow skid steer is the best choice for such a strong machine as a stump grinder. The better use of your skid steer power, the stronger the stump grinder is. That is why the best motor type in such attachments is a radial piston motor. It has more than 97% efficiency, while other motors reach only 70%. A radial piston motor is also an LSHT motor. There are some cons to this type of motor. Because it is strong, it costs more to produce it. That is why the cost of purchasing one might be too much for some. Another drawback is the minimum tolerance for contamination, which means more maintenance.

The Flywheel

The flywheel is the part where all the fun happens. The mulching, rotating and other fast movements take place there. Tree stumps can disappear thanks to the green teeth. There are a few parts that deserve taking a closer look at:

The size

The bigger the flywheel of your stump grinder the less effort it takes to cut and mulch the trees. That is because once such heavy teeth start to rotate, it is difficult to stop them. That, of course, also has its cons. It is harder to make a heavy object start spinning. But that problem is non-existent when you use a radial piston motor.

Teeth

The more teeth your attachment has, the better. Do not choose manufacturers that offer makes with only a few teeth. The cutting wheel needs to have many teeth to perform the job well. It is also useful to have teeth on both sides so that you can grind going forwards and backward. There is no harm in your equipment not having too many teeth. It will just be less effective and slower in doing the job it is manufactured for. It may however break faster. Teeth should also be easy to replace and reverse. Replaceable teeth will lower maintenance costs.

The swing arm

The swing arm is an optional element of a stump grinder. If you are looking for a cheaper product providing good grinding, do not choose a swing arm stump grinder. It has more hydraulic and electrical parts but, they are not essential. However, if you care about the surface that skid steer rides on (such as grass), swing arm will be your best option. It will prevent the surface from damage.

Now you fully know what the perfect skid steer stump grinder attachment should have. Don’t forget to check out the skid steer attachments section of our website.