Get FinancingSoft Terrain & Gate Entry No Problem For Vermeer’s SC48TX Tracked Stump Cutter
Posted On: January 5, 2024
Vermeer announced more than one new stump cutter in mid-November 2023. In contrast with the wheeled, gasoline-powered SC1052, the new SC48TX is a diesel-powered unit on rubber tracks that can work in the tight confines found on many residential properties.
“The SC48TX stump cutter is agile enough for tree care and landscape professionals to get through most gates, while the tracks allow for increased flotation,” says Josh Vrieze, senior product manager for Vermeer Environmental Equipment.
The new SC48TX has a straight-line cutting width of 67 inches (1,701 millimeters). It can grind stumps up to 28 in. (711 mm) above ground level and 16 in. (406 mm) below the surface.
The Direct-Drive Vermeer SC48TX
Vermeer uses its customary direct-drive system in the SC48TX, so there’s no belt requiring periodic replacement. It delivers power to the cutter wheel via two gearboxes and a bump-start clutch for a smooth spin-up of the drive system. The stump grinder gets its power from a 48-horsepower (36-kilowatt), 3-cylinder Caterpillar diesel engine with Tier 4 Final and EU Stage V emissions certifications.
“Companies operating this size of stump-cutting equipment previously were limited to mainly gas-powered options,” says Vrieze. “They expressed interest in a diesel engine choice because the high torque produced will help them work efficiently when cutting below grade.”
At Work With The Vermeer SC48TX
The new Vermeer SC48TX has a double-sided cutter wheel that minimizes the recirculation of wood chips to maintain cutting efficiency. The 24-in. (610-mm) cutter wheel has 27 teeth fixed in place with the new Vermeer cutting system. The VCS mounting and retention structure absorbs shearing force and retains the teeth in place in the pocket more effectively than would a mounting bolt, Vermeer says. The SC48TX’s double-sided, V-profile, carbide cutter teeth can be flipped to the other side of the wheel to extend their service life.
During operation, Vermeer’s SmartSweep control system maintains a steady cutter wheel sweep rate in response to the load being placed on the engine. SmartSweep also protects the machine from bogging down and possibly sustaining damage.
The Vermeer SC48TX’s Low Ground Pressure
The SC48TX’s 7-in. (177-mm) wide rubber tracks earn the 3,750-pound (1,700-kilogram) machine a low 5.7-psi (39.3-kilopascal) ground pressure rating for minimal disturbance of turf and other sensitive surfaces. The tracks also supply optimal traction on soft and difficult terrain including slopes and rocks.
Vermeer made the SC48TX’s tracks retractable to narrow the stump cutter’s width to 35 in. (890 mm) in order to fit through most residential gates. The tracks can be extended outward at the stump site to maximize the machine’s stability during operation. An optional full-function remote control can make tight gate entries easier by allowing the operator to move into a position with the best visibility.
Another option is a backfill blade with a rounded lower edge to minimize turf damage as it moves wood chips around the site. The blade is 34 in. (863 mm) in width, so it won’t get in the way while passing through gates, and it can be raised for up to 8.5 in. (216 mm) of ground clearance to avoid interference when the stump grinder crosses rough terrain.
“The backfill blade makes this machine very versatile,” Vrieze says. “It saves either manual work or having to bring another piece of equipment to do the work.”
Find Vermeer Stump Grinders For Sale
Come explore a bonanza of new and used Vermeer stump grinders for sale on TreeTrader.com, including track models, as well as other new and used Vermeer equipment for sale.
Source: Vermeer