I am considering buying a new Kan-Du stump grinder and was interested in hearing from anyone who has owned and operated one. Are they as good as they sound?
Kan-Du Stump Grinder
- Thread starter KenSchaeffer
- Start date
Is there any info on the Kan-du on the web? There isn't a dealer around Oakland, CA that I know of. I have a Carlton which is a very nice machine. A friend of mine has a Vermeer Hydra-Stumper which is super nice. I recommend checking it out. It's worth the money in my opinion.
Matt
Matt
- Location
- Central US
Can only give my opinion from my experiences.
I worked with an older guy for years who had the Kan-Du grinder he used on small stumps only. I even used it a few times. I do not know if it is still the exact design but he had to replace the engine a few times because of smaller dirt particles entering the machine.
When I used it, I thought it was underpowered. But that was years ago.
More recently I was in the market for a grinder and I looked very seriously at the Kan-Du mostly because of the price....but after remembering the past problems and small engine I decided against it.
I would be more apt to purchase a Carlton diesel self propelled if I were to purchase another. With remote control it would be nice, but then you are looking at about $25,000 too.
I recommend purchasing the largest self propelled model you could afford....for both large and small stumps.
I worked with an older guy for years who had the Kan-Du grinder he used on small stumps only. I even used it a few times. I do not know if it is still the exact design but he had to replace the engine a few times because of smaller dirt particles entering the machine.
When I used it, I thought it was underpowered. But that was years ago.
More recently I was in the market for a grinder and I looked very seriously at the Kan-Du mostly because of the price....but after remembering the past problems and small engine I decided against it.
I would be more apt to purchase a Carlton diesel self propelled if I were to purchase another. With remote control it would be nice, but then you are looking at about $25,000 too.
I recommend purchasing the largest self propelled model you could afford....for both large and small stumps.
when Mark and I were down in dallas before getting over to the tree house, at the TX climbing championship Kan-DU was there with their grinder. I like alot of their ideas like the oscillating stering. just alot of money for that little of power, I would much rather go with used track modle fom vermeer for the same price for a new Kan-Du
- Location
- San Jose, CA, USA
Cal-line now carries them for sale out of Livermore. This is not my experience, but the group of guys that checked it out have over 50 years of experience doing stumps and this is what they told me.
Sounds like it is going to tear up the stump in two minutes, but as soon as it hits the stump it is weak.
Because both drive wheels are fixed when you try to turn it on a lawn it possies and tears up the lawn, badly.
It will fit through a small gate (I think 30inch width), but it has to be a long straight shot, both in front and behind. Additionally, when the wheels are in the retracted positioned, you can not use the cutter head to pick the machine up and move the wheels for turning in tight spots.
Like I said I did not try it, but have seen it, and I trust these guys. They have been doing stumps for me since I started and never screwed anything up. If they say it about stump grinding, I believe it.
I am all for new innovation and with a few changes I think it could be a useful tool in areas with a more wide open properties, but in the tight spaces of bay area homes were every inch is in use it just doesn't seem to be a good fit.
Sounds like it is going to tear up the stump in two minutes, but as soon as it hits the stump it is weak.
Because both drive wheels are fixed when you try to turn it on a lawn it possies and tears up the lawn, badly.
It will fit through a small gate (I think 30inch width), but it has to be a long straight shot, both in front and behind. Additionally, when the wheels are in the retracted positioned, you can not use the cutter head to pick the machine up and move the wheels for turning in tight spots.
Like I said I did not try it, but have seen it, and I trust these guys. They have been doing stumps for me since I started and never screwed anything up. If they say it about stump grinding, I believe it.
I am all for new innovation and with a few changes I think it could be a useful tool in areas with a more wide open properties, but in the tight spaces of bay area homes were every inch is in use it just doesn't seem to be a good fit.
- Location
- Dallas no more, St. Louis MO
All I know of the Kan-Du is from a story of a Kan-Didn't.
A few years ago at the TX climbing competition, both Rayco and Kan-Du had demo units out. The two respective Distributers found two stumps of approx. equal size and challenges were made. The race was on. The Kan-Du crapped out before finishing his stump, and Travis Moss of Poston Equipment (our Rayco dealer) "graciously" offered to finish for him, after he had finished his own.
May not be a legitimate display of the machines capability, probably just proof of Murphy's Law. But it kind of makes you wonder.
Louie Hampton
A few years ago at the TX climbing competition, both Rayco and Kan-Du had demo units out. The two respective Distributers found two stumps of approx. equal size and challenges were made. The race was on. The Kan-Du crapped out before finishing his stump, and Travis Moss of Poston Equipment (our Rayco dealer) "graciously" offered to finish for him, after he had finished his own.
May not be a legitimate display of the machines capability, probably just proof of Murphy's Law. But it kind of makes you wonder.
Louie Hampton
- Location
- DENVILLE N.J.
everybody is correct that the can't-do has some good features but every manufacturer can say that. the biggest promblem i can see about the machine is the most obvious and the only one i need to see and that is the motor is on the same frame as the cutter wheel so all that vibration goes through the motor and tears it up inside as well as when the cutter wheel bounces so does the motor. and i also do not like that the motor will not be level and changes angles too much when working and that has to have some effect on the oiling of the engine. so i would have to vote with sticking with one of the big three - carlton, rayco, vermeer you just cant go wrong with a time tested and proven machine.
Hi I to am looking at purchasing a Kan Du and shipping it to NZ. My issue is I cannot even see one apart from the net. I have looked at the equivalent Vermeer SC252 and Rayco RG1625 both nice machines and seen the Carlton 2500series on the net. It would be good to get some feed back comparing the Kan du to these. I appreciate a 25-27 hp machine is not going to preform as well as the larger models but I am trying to get away from using a dosko which 90% of grinders use down here. All these machines also have the motor mounted to the grinding boom. As far as a machine stopping on a demo it sounds like bad luck, motors needing to be replace due to sucking in dirt sounds like bad maintenance however with the new canister type air filter this would help greatly. There is nothing currently posted on this thread or any where that I can find that gives me any great reason to be concerned. The reasons to buy is its cutting depth narrow width, stabilising bar and telescoping boom all features that I hope will give me a competitive edge against the dosko operators without the back breaking effort.
- Location
- Brevard
I bought an old kan du grinder.. 24hp onan. Guy told me it worked great. First job motor blew(it was already messed up i guess but unoticeable until a load was put on it) besides im guessin this thing is at least 20 yrs old. I repowered with 35hp vanguard and it is intense! This thing works great. I have been using it a few times a week for about a yr with no issues. Chain drive seems like it would be an issue but honestly every couple weeks i just loosen tensioner sprocket and tighten a little bit. Easy as pie. Plus i have a list of part numbers and they are easily supplied from the local machine shop for cheap instead of ordering from an exclusive vendor. I almost forgot i have gone through a few 30 inch gates which is pretty cool. Surprises people for sure.Bottom line is i would reccomend it. 
- Location
- Brevard
Yeah. I actually talked to the guy who builds them and he said they use rhino wheels now and i can update mine for what i thought was a very reasonable price. And the wheel bolts right up.
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