Pulling out remainder of broken-off 6x6 fence post

[joshuabardwell]

My fence has several places where there is a 6x6 post with a long (drive-through, opens-in-the-middle) gate hanging on one side and a short (walk-through) gate hanging on the other side. Two of them have recently broken off at ground level--probably rotted away, I would guess. I would love to be able to get the old post out and re-use the existing hole for a replacement. Does anybody have any tips for how to do this?

One thought that I had was to treat it like a stump, drill some holes in it, fill it with diesel, and start it burning. This would leave a neat 6x6 hole to receive the next post, but I'm not sure whether it would reliably burn out completely. Alternatively, I thought maybe I could affix some kind of an anchor and pull the post out with my tractor. But I'm not sure what I could sink into the post, especially into the end grain, that would hold strong enough to take the post out.

Any other suggestions?

 

[MossRoad]

Dig down around it for a foot and wrap a chain around it and try to use your FEL or 3PT hitch to lift it straight up.

 

[murphy1244]

I like the driving in some kind of anchor and pulling it out.

 

[tow653]

If concreted in,dig down around it,use long metal bar to break concrete. It breaks a lot easier if it has room to break away from post.

 

[teejk]

My fence has several places where there is a 6x6 post with a long (drive-through, opens-in-the-middle) gate hanging on one side and a short (walk-through) gate hanging on the other side. Two of them have recently broken off at ground level--probably rotted away, I would guess. I would love to be able to get the old post out and re-use the existing hole for a replacement. Does anybody have any tips for how to do this?

One thought that I had was to treat it like a stump, drill some holes in it, fill it with diesel, and start it burning. This would leave a neat 6x6 hole to receive the next post, but I'm not sure whether it would reliably burn out completely. Alternatively, I thought maybe I could affix some kind of an anchor and pull the post out with my tractor. But I'm not sure what I could sink into the post, especially into the end grain, that would hold strong enough to take the post out.

Any other suggestions?

Seems to me that a long lag bolt (3/8 or 1/2) tapped into the top should work if you can get a vertical pull with a tractor. I've done something similar just using the hydraulics on a plow truck. You might find that it is rotted though and you won't get a bite. So then I guess the burn method. I wonder if anybody has ever tried using hot charcoal on something like that? Slow burn but sustaining.

 

[DFB]

Try lifting it with your tooth bar

 

[SPIKER]

using a large Eye Bolt in the top may work if only bare dirt. Use the FEL to push it back & forth a bit to loosen the grip of the dirt.

you can also use a big Spud Bar down along side to pry it back & forth a few times then come in at an angle to the post drive the spud bar in some or drill a hole using a spade bit & battery drill so there is something to bite into on the post. then use a 4x4 as a pivot point to pry it up & out if you cant get tractor close.

Next option is to use Dynamite a "HOLE" bunch my preferred method j/k lol. but not sure how cold you all are getting now you can also shovel out around it some to form a bowl use a sledge hammer to beat it back & forth some then fill hole up with water. let it freeze and drain along the post side come back in a couple hrs and beat it back & forth in the muddy hole and then pry out.

additional option is to NAIL or SCREW a 2x4 onto the top one or 2 sides and chain under/around it still requires some digging. then FEL or Spud Bar to pop it up also can use a FARM JACK or old style Bumper Jack to JACK it out of the ground.

Mark

 

[ovrszd]

Whatever method you use, by the time you have the post out, the hole isn't going to be a neat 6x6 hole anymore. You're gonna end up cleaning the hole. I'd use the chain loop method as described above.

 

[DT86]

I wonder if a fire would get enough oxygen to burn in a hole that small and that deep.

I agree that digging and wrapping a chain could work and an anchor might work as well, maybe a large lag bolt screwed into the top to pull from.

Something to think about is why it broke to start with. If you have a long gate on one side and a short gate on the other it sounds like there is no brace. If the gates rest on something like a block or the ground then that probably isn't a problem, but if the weight of the gate is hanging on the post with out a brace then it could be the reason the post broke.

 

[MossRoad]

Something to think about is why it broke to start with. .

In most cases someone drove into it with a tractor.