I need to tear down an old retaining wall

Slade · 08-25-2008, 06:49 PM

12 ft high, 50 feet long and made of RR ties about 25 years old. I can only work from below the wall and it seems a bit high to use a BH. Anyone ever try pulling one down using chains? It's just me and my Kubota L5740, but I can spend some $$ to save the $9000 quote that I got for someone to do it.

MarkV · 08-25-2008, 07:18 PM

That is a big wall. Any chance it could be cut into sections and then pulled down? What are the soil conditions behind the wall? Any worries about the hill side collapsing when the wall is removed? I have used some of the larger mini excavators that would have enough reach.

MarkV

Gizmo2 · 08-25-2008, 07:37 PM

How are the RR ties tied together?

AchingBack · 08-25-2008, 07:46 PM

If the wall was correctly built, it should have a deadman every six feet or so. Those are usually buried at a right angle to the wall, and cemented into the ground with rebar. Pulling down the wall may be harder than dismantling.

Slade · 08-26-2008, 10:53 AM

It's hard clay behind the wall and won't collapse much if at all.
Yup, I can see where the deadman ties are placed and plan on just cutting them off. Each tie has several 3/4 inch rebar pins sunk down into the lower ties at different locations.

I guess it doesn't sound like I'll be pulling it down too easily. I don't really have anything to cut it with, since I won't use my new Stihl on it.

woodlandfarms · 08-26-2008, 11:25 AM

Saddly this is how I had to resort to getting rid of an old foundation on our property...

We played with pulling it in ourselves... Got some stumps and another hole filled in the deal...

08-25-2008, 06:49 PM	#1 (permalink)
Slade Bronze Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texarkana, TX Posts: 77	I need to tear down an old retaining wall 12 ft high, 50 feet long and made of RR ties about 25 years old. I can only work from below the wall and it seems a bit high to use a BH. Anyone ever try pulling one down using chains? It's just me and my Kubota L5740, but I can spend some $$ to save the $9000 quote that I got for someone to do it. __________________ L5740HSTC

08-25-2008, 07:18 PM	#2 (permalink)
MarkV Elite Member Join Date: Apr 2000 Location: Cedartown, Ga and N. Ga mountains Posts: 2,955	Re: I need to tear down an old retaining wall That is a big wall. Any chance it could be cut into sections and then pulled down? What are the soil conditions behind the wall? Any worries about the hill side collapsing when the wall is removed? I have used some of the larger mini excavators that would have enough reach. MarkV

08-25-2008, 07:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
Gizmo2 Gold Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: New York Posts: 258	Re: I need to tear down an old retaining wall How are the RR ties tied together? __________________ JD 2320, 200CX FEL/61" bucket , 46 BH/16" bucket, FEL Forks, Snow Blade, Landscape Rake, Ballast Box

08-25-2008, 07:46 PM	#4 (permalink)
AchingBack Gold Member Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Southern Oregon Posts: 384	Re: I need to tear down an old retaining wall If the wall was correctly built, it should have a deadman every six feet or so. Those are usually buried at a right angle to the wall, and cemented into the ground with rebar. Pulling down the wall may be harder than dismantling. __________________ I thank God for these gifts: Mahindra 2615 HST w/loader, Markham tooth bar, Bush Hog SQ60 rotary cutter, Bush Hog 3507 angle blade, Bush Hog LLR84 landscape rake, Rankin loader mounted forks, 2 DR field and brush mowers "Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something". -- Unknown

08-26-2008, 10:53 AM	#5 (permalink)
Slade Bronze Member Join Date: May 2008 Location: Texarkana, TX Posts: 77	Re: I need to tear down an old retaining wall It's hard clay behind the wall and won't collapse much if at all. Yup, I can see where the deadman ties are placed and plan on just cutting them off. Each tie has several 3/4 inch rebar pins sunk down into the lower ties at different locations. I guess it doesn't sound like I'll be pulling it down too easily. I don't really have anything to cut it with, since I won't use my new Stihl on it. __________________ L5740HSTC

08-26-2008, 11:25 AM	#6 (permalink)
woodlandfarms Veteran Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Los Angeles / SW Washington Posts: 1,429	Re: I need to tear down an old retaining wall Saddly this is how I had to resort to getting rid of an old foundation on our property... We played with pulling it in ourselves... Got some stumps and another hole filled in the deal... Attached Thumbnails __________________ Power-Trac 1850, grapple, hoe, 90" mower, 72" box blade

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