Help with Vermeer SC252 Stump Grinder

CaPowell · Feb 21, 2018

I recently bought a 2007 sc252 and need to replace the pockets to switch over to greenteeth. I thought it would be a quick and easy job, but I can't brake the bolts free. Pneumatic impact wrench won't do it and if I use a cheater bar, the wheel spins. What is the proper way to lock the grinding wheel?

Thanks in advance for any help!

Merle Nelson · Feb 21, 2018

@southsoundtree just did it or helped someone. Torched the bolts? Cut off wheel might have been a possible too.

deevo · Feb 22, 2018

CaPowell said:
I recently bought a 2007 sc252 and need to replace the pockets to switch over to greenteeth. I thought it would be a quick and easy job, but I can't brake the bolts free. Pneumatic impact wrench won't do it and if I use a cheater bar, the wheel spins. What is the proper way to lock the grinding wheel?

Thanks in advance for any help!

They were a pain in the nuts when I did that to my old 252,we ended up heating them up, we put the wheel down on some plywood with enough pressure it wouldn’t spin, nasty job but once you do it you’ll know why you switched to green teeth !

craneguy1 · Feb 22, 2018

Better impact gun! Heat helps...torch is quick...stick with only the heads and as you get close hammer and a drift/smaller bolt to power through the last part of red hot metal so you dont knick the wheel. Anti sieze is not a bad idea...eventually you will have to replace pockets no matter what setup you roll with. For what its worth; a $500 snap on/mac impact gun is well worth the money.

CaPowell · Feb 22, 2018

Thanks for the input! Torching the bolts was next on my list.

marne · Feb 22, 2018

The 252 has holes in the wheel and holes on the back side of the chip guard/chute. Align holes and block the wheel with a shaft. Then use the cheater bar, those holes are meant for this.

CaPowell · Feb 22, 2018

marne said:
The 252 has holes in the wheel and holes on the back side of the chip guard/chute. Align holes and block the wheel with a shaft. Then use the cheater bar, those holes are meant for this.

Thanks, Marne. I just looked and that is exactly what I needed. I feel stupid now! I saw the two holes on the wheel but was overthinking and missed the back hole to line it up with.

southsoundtree · Feb 23, 2018

Heating the threaded side a bit and using paraffin wax is supposed to be great penetrating "oil".

I stripped out some bolt heads, so used a cutting disc on an angle grinder to cut through the counter sunk bolthead-side of the pocket and the shank of the bolt.

CaPowell · Feb 27, 2018

southsoundtree said:
Heating the threaded side a bit and using paraffin wax is supposed to be great penetrating "oil".

I stripped out some bolt heads, so used a cutting disc on an angle grinder to cut through the counter sunk bolthead-side of the pocket and the shank of the bolt.

Same thing happened to me with the heads rounding. Ended up cutting quite a few off. But I have the greenteeth on now and am ready to test them out!