Removing old fence posts

[tld]

I have a JD 4110 tractor with loader and 3 point hitch with box blade.

I have about 50 old fence posts that I need to remove. Hopefully they are not rotten.

How would you go about removing them? Previously I had wrapped a chain around them at the base and then hooked the chain to the loader and lifted them out. Is there an easier way? I know, sure beats jacking them out with car jack.

 

[murphy1244]

Have some one else do them. No I can't think of anything faster.

 

[smstonypoint]

I've used your method. It goes a lot faster with two people.

Steve

 

[stuckmotor]

I've left few post holes uncovered but, of those few, I've found a small animals trapped in a couple of them so, once you get the post pulled, please consider filling the holes immediately.

 

[stuckmotor]

Rows 4 and 6 have what seem to me to be good ideas.
post puller - Dogpile Images Search

 

[mjarrels]

Put a price on them and they will be stolen. Nothing but empty holes the next day.

mark

 

[jmc]

I've never done this but maybe on the ones not rotten, you could walk along them with a cordless drill and drive a 3/8" diameter or so lag screw into the side each post so that about an inch still sticks out to catch with the lip of the loader bucket.

 

[JimRB]

I use something like this using my 3 point hitch and a 2 foot chain. The two foot chain wraps around a 3x3x1/4" or maybe it is a 4x4x1/4" thing originally used as a hay spear holder but later used as a single shank root grubber. Northern Industrial Pallet Puller - 1-Ton - product summary - Bing Shopping

My front end loader does not have enough loader power and it tends to pull the back end up. Lot less drama pulling posts from the back end with my little 4,000 pound tractor.

 

[quicksandfarmer]

What kind of post are they?

 

[greasemonkeyok]

My best results are from using the 3 point much like JimRB, except I use a choke chain. Weld a chain hook on the end of a peice of pipe lagre enough for your chain to easily slip through. The open side of the chain hook should point toward the long (tracter) side of the pipe, and the chain hook should be running in the same direction as (parallel to) the pipe. Then hook one end of the chain to a sturdy bar across the 3 point.

Back up to the post, with the pipe/chain hook on the chain about two feet from the loose end of the chain; wrap the loose chain around the post and then hook it snug into the chain hook. Kinda like a noose around the post at the ground level, and when you pull up the chain slips through the pipe to tighten up on the post. The 3 point has enough pull to bring 'em up, especially if you repeatedly tug at it instead of trying to do it all in one continuious upward pull.

You'll still need two people unless you like jumping on and off the tracter.