mike, I don't what to be a buzz kill, but I do not recommend buying this machine. Here's why I bought the alpine cutter. I am a one driver tree service. When I get jobs to take down smaller trees and remove the stump, It takes two trips to complete the work. I thought the alpine cutter would be perfect for me, just throw it in the back of the truck and go. Here's why it did not work for me. The stihl power plant runs great, the machine design was good, the tooth design is terrible. This machine does not run a normal stump tooth, they have designed there own. It looks like a large chainsaw tooth. When you run through dirt and rocks it dulls, just like a saw chain. This tooth has a raker in front, like a chainsaw. Once tip of the tooth is dulled, the raker prevents the tooth from bitting into the stump any more. It took me 2 hours and all of the teeth I hand to remove a 12 inch cherry stump. I'll admit that the ground was rocky, but around here, the ground is always rocky. My machine came with a money back policy. I called the company and told my tale. They said I was doing it wrong, try it again. They said I should used the dull teeth remove the dirt and rocks away from stump, them change to sharp teeth and grind the stump. What a bunch of ####. Why would I want a stump cutter that is affraid to get dirty. But, being the idiot that I am, I tried it one more time. Same song second verse. Called the company and told them I hate the machine. They said that because I used the machine twice, they would have to charge me $500.00.
Gee, was'nt it your idea to try it agian? Anyway back it went. Truth is I would have paid twice that to get rid of that machine. Well, thats my story. I hope I did not ruin your day, but unless the tooth design has been changed, I would strongly advise against this machine. I own a carlton 4400 with green teeth, thats a stump machine. Good luck.
