Universal pocket and method for attaching a tooth to a cutter wheel of a tree stump removal machine

A tool assembly attachable to a cutter wheel of a tree stump removal machine, the tool assembly comprising:

• a first tooth including a cutting head and a shank depending from the head;
• and
• a first pocket defining:
• opposing wheel and exterior faces;
• opposing planar leading and trailing edges;
• a tooth receiving slot linearly formed in the wheel face and extending between the planar leading and trailing edges, the tooth receiving slot adapted to receive the shank of the first tooth;
• a counter sunk bore extending between the exterior face and the wheel face, the counter sunk bore having an enlarged diameter adjacent to the exterior face;
• and
• a threaded bore extending between the exterior face and the wheel face, each bore located on either side of the tooth receiving slot and equidistant between the planar leading and trailing edges;
• wherein the first pocket is symmetric with respect to a line bisecting the bores.

A method of replacing teeth on a cutter wheel of a stump removal machine comprising:

• providing a first pocket attached to a first face of the cutter wheel and a second pocket attached to a second face of the cutter wheel, each pocket defining a tooth receiving slot linearly formed in a wheel face and extending between a planar leading edge and a planar trailing edge, the planar leading edges positioned at a periphery of the cutter wheel;
• removing the first pocket from the cutter wheel;
• removing the first tooth from the first pocket;
• rotating the first pocket by 180 degrees with respect to the tooth receiving slot of the first pocket;
• replacing a new first tooth into the tooth receiving slot of the first pocket;
• and
• attaching the first pocket to the first face of the cutter wheel and the second pocket to the second face of the cutter wheel to secure the new first tooth;
• wherein after attachment, the planar trailing edge of the first pocket is adjacent the periphery of the cutter wheel.