Has anyone used a subsoiler to tear up an old asphalt driveway?

[yeagisyeag]

I need to rip up some old asphalt to put in some drainage at my mother in law's place. I did a little of this when she first moved in a couple years ago, but with a pick-axe and shovel.

You might imagine why I don't want to do this again.

Anyway, I have a tractor now, right?

I don't have many attachments yet, just a bottom plow (in progress) and a dirt scoop. I'm thinking that a subsoiler would allow me to break up the surface, then I can maybe drag the scoop over it to remove the loosened pieces.

My tractor is a Kubota B7100, 16 hp and 4wd.

Is there a flaw with my thinking? Any suggestions to make me and my new tractor look like heroes?

Thanks!
Jim

 

[donais]

it should work ok id cut the sides first. asphalt never breaks where you want it to.

 

[tglass]

If it's not very thick, if you have sheer pins, and if it doesn't break your gearbox you should be alright. Your subsoiler shanks or teeth are going to see alot of wear, but if I were you I'de try it. Take your time and see what happens.

 

[kebo]

If you try ripping it up with the subsoiler, be sure and take a few pic's and let us know how it goes. It's good to share the knowledge!!

 

[jimmer2880]

If you try ripping it up with the subsoiler, be sure and take a few pic's and let us know how it goes. It's good to share the knowledge!!

I'll be watching this thread for progress. I have a similiar job to do in a couple years. Please let us know how it works

 

[gordyy]

I don't want to discourage just reminded me of a thing I witnessed 30 some years ago
the Stieger tractor company in fargo ND was going big time they had some of the biggest tractors ever made, they brought one to the town I lived in for a road construction project to tear up 3 miles of asphalt road for recycling, dropped the tool bar full of scarificer blades throttled up the 300 horses and took off worked like a charm till they hit a spot where the utilities had to open the road. when they refill and patch them they pack dirt pour 8 inches of concreate and asphalt over. should have heard the crash as that tractor hit the first patch of concrete at about 3 mile an hour the wheelie from the dark side then all came crashing down after 2 days of screwing around they gave up finished the job with a lil d7 with a very large single blade working its way up and down the road,
hope you hit no 10 ton concrete blocks in your travels up and down the drive and take lots of pics

 

[yeagisyeag]

Dang!

Now I'm a little nervous about breaking something! I just got this thing!

All the cautions are duly noted, though, thanks all!

The driveway is really what's left over from a shoddy job years ago. Asphalt is probably about an inch thick in spots, lots of dried out stuff that amounts to gravel. I was able to attack it by hand before, but I'm not discounting the fact that I may run into some "easter eggs" in the process.

Last time, while digging a trench in the yard, I happened upon her 220 line to the garage, thought it was a root, grabbed the loppers and got to see a pretty light show!

Guess I'll be heading to TSC for a subsoiler this week. When we get started I'll update with some pictures of the carnage!

Jim

 

[sandman2234]

Once you get the subsoiler, take a look at it to see if you can remove the blade, and maybe fabricate a single tooth piece out of a piece of Heavy Duty flatbar. Make it a point to go up under the asphalt with just a little bit of lift. This would put a lot less strain on your tractor, even though I do think you will be ok if you just use the subsoiler as is. Slow and steady is the best advice I can think of in this case.
David from jax

 

[63DH8]

To date, I've found and pulled up my phone line four times with my subsoiler. I found the original phone line, then found the repair, then found the repair, then found where they moved the phone line to to make sure I wouldn't find it. The last time I found my phone line, I found it with my rototiller. The phone company told me I'll have to pay the next time I tear up my phone line. I told them I've been paying insurance in case such thing had happened, so shaddap and keep digging.

 

[California]

Is there a flaw with my thinking?

I don't see a ROPS in your avatar photo.

Keep in mind if the ripper hits anything immovable and you don't get the clutch in fast enough the tractor will walk right over backward and crush you. A good friend told me thats how his father became disabled.