Pulling down sycamores and other tree removal

[Missouri Pioneer]

Scenario: 55 hp 4WD tractor, loaded tires, wt w/BB, over 9K. A couple of weekends ago, I began successfully pulling out up to 4" cedars w/a 12 lb. Brush Grubber HD. I also pulling several similar sized honey locust trees until the last, when the Brush Grubber bent.

Replaced the Brush Grubber w/same, plus bought a new Brush Grubber Extreme Plus (which is a real 36 lb. hoss). I'm looking forward to see what it will do in the next few days.

I have some larger sycamores which I want to remove before doing some dirt work this weekend. I would rather pull them, since they would still be in the way cut off at the current ground level. They are too big - perhaps 10-12" - to use the BG.

If I cut them off about 5 or 6' tall, I'm considering the possibility of attaching a chain near the top and using the leverage of the trunk to perhaps pull 'em over, but I don't want to damage the tractor or do something dangerous.

Is this feasible or a "forget about it" kind of thing? Thanks.

 

[k0ua]

Scenario: 55 hp 4WD tractor, loaded tires, wt w/BB, over 9K. A couple of weekends ago, I began successfully pulling out up to 4" cedars w/a 12 lb. Brush Grubber HD. I also pulling several similar sized honey locust trees until the last, when the Brush Grubber bent.

Replaced the Brush Grubber w/same, plus bought a new Brush Grubber Extreme Plus (which is a real 36 lb. hoss). I'm looking forward to see what it will do in the next few days.

I have some larger sycamores which I want to remove before doing some dirt work this weekend. I would rather pull them, since they would still be in the way cut off at the current ground level. They are too big - perhaps 10-12" - to use the BG.

If I cut them off about 5 or 6' tall, I'm considering the possibility of attaching a chain near the top and using the leverage of the trunk to perhaps pull 'em over, but I don't want to damage the tractor or do something dangerous.

Is this feasible or a "forget about it" kind of thing? Thanks.

it is very "doable" but there are some things to consider, One is how deeply rooted they are and what is the condition of the ground. I have the most success by waiting a couple of days after a rain, and let the surface be in pretty good shape for traction but the soil near the roots is still wet/damp. This helps considerably. But if you are pulling a tree with a huge taproot, you are probably not going to pull it anyway. The next item is have a large enough chain to not worry about breakage with the size of the tractor you are using.. maybe with your 55 hp, a 3/8 grade 70 chain would be called for. Hook to the fixed drawbar on your tractor, and another good idea is to place a large tarp draped over the chain in the middle so that if the chain broke this tarp would ****** the movement of the chain toward your body with increased air resistance. I have never had a chain break doing this but others have. The next caution would be to use common sense , in other words don't jerk the chain, and if the tractor wont pull it over, then go dig out around the roots until it will. Do not "get a run at it" Some people have done just that and lived to tell the tale. Fine. They got lucky, it don't mean that next time they wont get a chain to the back of the head or a broken drawbar mount. So yes leave 6 foot and pull away.. just do it sane and sensibly.

James K0UA

 

[Deere Dude]

Scenario: 55 hp 4WD tractor, loaded tires, wt w/BB, over 9K. A couple of weekends ago, I began successfully pulling out up to 4" cedars w/a 12 lb. Brush Grubber HD. I also pulling several similar sized honey locust trees until the last, when the Brush Grubber bent.

Replaced the Brush Grubber w/same, plus bought a new Brush Grubber Extreme Plus (which is a real 36 lb. hoss). I'm looking forward to see what it will do in the next few days.

I have some larger sycamores which I want to remove before doing some dirt work this weekend. I would rather pull them, since they would still be in the way cut off at the current ground level. They are too big - perhaps 10-12" - to use the BG.

If I cut them off about 5 or 6' tall, I'm considering the possibility of attaching a chain near the top and using the leverage of the trunk to perhaps pull 'em over, but I don't want to damage the tractor or do something dangerous.

Is this feasible or a "forget about it" kind of thing? Thanks.

If I don't want to deal with a stump, I try to tip them before I cut anything. That way the weight of the leaning tree will help pop out the root ball. Consider putting a cable tied up on the tree about 15 feet and tie off on another tree trunk and put a lot of pressure doing that along with pushing on it with a FEL might get it started.
I don't know anything about sycamore trees but any trees around here that were cut off at 6 feet would be almost impossible to get out unless a huge hole would be dug.

 

[creekbend]

Around 6 weeks ago, I cut 2 sycamores that were leaning and were close to the roadway. Both trees were around 30-40 foot tall. A neighbor and I felled the trees leaving a trunk around 4 foot in height. The width at the base of the trunk and stump was around 2 1/2 foot in circumference. I hooked a chain to my draw bar and my neighbor hooked another chain to the ball hitch on his 4-wheel F-250. The stumps wouldn't even budge. I then used my FEL with tooth bar and dug all around the stumps. The depth was around 1 foot deep. We hooked up our chains again and the stumps still wouldn't move. My tractor is 45 hp--37.5 pto. We were pulling downhill and still were not successful. Both stumps are still there. I gave the firewood to a neighbor that has an outside wood burning unit. Sincerely hope that you are more successful. It sounds as if your trees aren't as large.

 

[MMagis]

I'm thinking "forget it".

 

[Baby Grand]

Last week I was able to pull a live, 8" DBH cottonwood out using a 5/16 choker chain up 12 ft off the ground, attached to a set of double sheave pulleys using 5/8" polyester double braid rope. Opposite end of pulleys was secured to the trunk of a nearby tree with a nylon web strap. Pulled the tree over horizontal, cut off the top above the chain, then stuffed a 6" diameter log under the upturned rootball and pulled it over the opposite direction. The log under the rootball helped pry the remaining roots out of the ground. This was with my 32 HP tractor with unloaded rears and a boom pole for ballast. The 4:1 pull ratio of the block and tackle really made up for my lack of traction and grunt.

 

[jimmysisson]

Seems like a real tough thing to pull over, esp without digging. Sycamores are shallow-rooted I think but that just means you'll have to dig all around. Trees don't like falling over, unless they're near something you value.
Jim

 

[Missouri Pioneer]

"Trees don't like falling over, unless they're near something you value". Good one, jimmy.

 

[LazySusanFarms]

I have plenty of trees to pull so I just got a tree spade.

You need to be very careful when trying to use a chain on a big tree/stump. Uneven ground and soggy/slippery conditions can really put your tractor in hand stand quick.

 

[creekbend]

Seems like a real tough thing to pull over, esp without digging. Sycamores are shallow-rooted I think but that just means you'll have to dig all around. Trees don't like falling over, unless they're near something you value.
Jim

Sycamore is a common tree and one of the largest in the Eastern deciduous forests. The tree root will extend 2.5 times the height of the tree. Ask.com - What's Your Question?