Equipment
PTO stump grinder
A PTO stump grinder is a grinder attachment that mounts on a tractor and gets its power from the tractor's power take-off shaft instead of its own engine.
A PTO stump grinder bolts to the back of a tractor, usually on the three-point hitch. PTO stands for power take-off, a spinning shaft on the tractor that sends engine power to attachments. The attachment has no engine of its own.
This kind of stump grinder suits landowners who already own a tractor. It is slower and less precise than a dedicated grinder, and tractor size limits what it can handle. Woodland Mills says the most important factor in choosing a tractor attachment is tractor compatibility, specifically PTO horsepower and lifting capacity.
Most professional jobs use self-powered machines, often on tracks or tires. A PTO unit still uses a cutter wheel with teeth.