Cut tree hung in crotch of another tree

[k0ua]

Going to use machinery one way or another to get it down.

I know that is what I would do, no way would I cut on that "thing". Pull that sucker out and it will fall with you and your machinery far far away.

A good big come along or chain falls could work too, solves the traction problem.

 

[newbury]

I took a couple quick pictures so you're not totally blind.

It's higher than it appears as we're on a slope and the BIG tree is at the very bottom.

Just spoke with my wife's cousin next door.... he's game to give this a whirl in the morning.

Logic (mine) is again: His smaller backhoe attached to butt of tree pulling it away from the crotch.

My (industrial) trying to hoist said tree and "crane" it out with him pulling.

Personally, I've got a decent feeling that this is going to work and will be relatively safe.

Here are some quick shots.

View attachment 649064

View attachment 649065

View attachment 649066

I also have trees with friends that don't let them fall. Most are < 20"DBH, their friends about 24" and up..
I usually do a gradual trim.
See pic
I first CAREFULLY cut off as much as I can easily reach on the bottom. Make sure you have clear room to run. A battery operated chainsaw helps because when you stop it you can hear cracking. So I cut a wedge on top about where I drew the yellow line. Then I undercut until it creaks and either finish it off with a yank with a chain or a top cut.
Bottom drops down to where arrow points.
If I can't pull the shortened piece then repeat procedure to take out another chunk
That usually gets it to where I can pull it with my tractor.
Best to try with 2 chainsaws in case one gets stuck.
Good luck.

 

[Diggin It]

Though not directly over, but it's near the driveway... dogs, kids.... it's between two houses...

Thoughts?

That demands a guy with a boom truck. Call one.

 

[cjoffutt]

Why not just drop the out riggers on the hoe to hold you in position, then use the hoe itself to pull it down? We've done that numerous times when clearing land.

 

[4570Man]

Have you tried just shoving it down? I’ve freed worse hung trees than that with my full size backhoe. If that doesn’t work try putting the backhoe 90 degrees and lifting it and swinging sideways. Also the traction sucks on full size backhoes. Mine was 4x4 and had new tires and still wouldn’t pull anything up hill. The boom is much stronger.

 

[aczlan]

Why not just drop the out riggers on the hoe to hold you in position, then use the hoe itself to pull it down? We've done that numerous times when clearing land.

I was just going to suggest that.
Then you can lift and pull with the boom at the same time.

Aaron Z

 

[s219]

I agree with the others who suggested cutting 4' chunks off the bottom, that's what I would try. Be careful as is starts to get near vertical, as it will want to act like a catapult and swing over.

I had a tree hung up in vines the other day. After I made my back cut, it fell over about 10 degrees and then stopped, and I noticed the vines. So I got my tractor, put the loader up high and gave a little extra push (hydraulics only). Well, those were some strong vines because the butt end of the tree hopped off the stump but the top didn't budge. Gave another push with the loader and the tree went to near vertical as the butt moved again while the top stayed put. Gave up on that because it was getting dangerous, and just hooked up a long rope and pulled the butt out from under the fall. Pulled that thing a good 25' before the tree finally broke loose from the vines and fell. That was one of the more ridiculous situations I have been in recently. The vines looked thin and wispy but were strong.

 

[airbiscuit]

If you do several tight wraps of chain around the bucket and the tree trunk, you may be able to "curl" it out of the crotch and then swing it out of the way.

 

[airbiscuit]

I can see that this thread isn't going to have the staying power of a rounded drain plug.

 

[fruitcakesa]

I can see that this thread isn't going to have the staying power of a rounded drain plug.

No, it should be down tomorrow

 

[k0ua]

I predict by noon tomorrow it will all be over.... One method or another. A lot of things would probably work.

 

[hosspuller]

I would use Newbury's solution. Cut vertically down, don't try to cross cut the tree. It'll pinch the bar. A felling wedge (plastic) helps once you get more than 1/2 through. When the tree is cut, the butt will fall straight down. Remember to hold the saw up. First time I did this, I let the tree drag the saw to the ground, pinching the bar in the dirt. If the tree doesn't fall, make another cut. As the tree approaches vertical, it will fall out of the crotch. Be aware to the tree movement, have your escape path planned.

 

[Diggin It]

I can see that this thread isn't going to have the staying power of a rounded drain plug.

No, it should be down tomorrow

I predict by noon tomorrow it will all be over.... One method or another. A lot of things would probably work.

I'm wondering how large the insurance claim will be and if it will be property only or personal injury also.

 

[4570Man]

I'm wondering how large the insurance claim will be and if it will be property only or personal injury also.

He’s got a full size backhoe and that’s not a huge tree. It’s easily and safely doable. Hows he going to get a boom truck to where it’s at anyway?

 

[MossRoad]

He’s got a full size backhoe and that’s not a huge tree. It’s easily and safely doable. Hows he going to get a boom truck to where it’s at anyway?

Our local tree services have man lifts on crawlers. They are quite impressive.

 

[tshep]

I had a much larger tree do this.

I threw a pull saw (chain saw chain with flags for guidance) with 30 ft ropes and pulled for a long time.

 

[JerryK]

I had a big sugar maple hang up in a crotch on another big sugar maple. Hooked a chain on the butt of the first tree and pulled with my TLB. Pulling on the first tree pulled the other over stump and all. Still had to do some digging with my back hoe, but the stump came out great on that second tree.

 

[oosik]

I cut down my ancient Ponderosa pines, for firewood, for about ten years. In all those years - three hangups. These are really big trees. 28" to 34" on the butt. 100' to 120' tall. I would just leave them alone. Over time - a week or so - the wind would solve this problem.

However - on one I got anxious. Tried to cut a 4' chunk off the butt of the leaner. Got the chainsaw caught in the pinch. I gave up. Let Nature take its course. Fortunately, when it finally fell - the chainsaw in the pinch was not damaged.

I always had a whole lot of respect for these gigantic pines. Great deal of relief when one was successfully felled.

 

[newbury]

I would use Newbury's solution. Cut vertically down, don't try to cross cut the tree. It'll pinch the bar. A felling wedge (plastic) helps once you get more than 1/2 through. When the tree is cut, the butt will fall straight down. Remember to hold the saw up. First time I did this, I let the tree drag the saw to the ground, pinching the bar in the dirt. If the tree doesn't fall, make another cut. As the tree approaches vertical, it will fall out of the crotch. Be aware to the tree movement, have your escape path planned.

I cut down my ancient Ponderosa pines, for firewood, for about ten years. In all those years - three hangups. These are really big trees. 28" to 34" on the butt. 100' to 120' tall. I would just leave them alone. Over time - a week or so - the wind would solve this problem.

However - on one I got anxious. Tried to cut a 4' chunk off the butt of the leaner. Got the chainsaw caught in the pinch. I gave up. Let Nature take its course. Fortunately, when it finally fell - the chainsaw in the pinch was not damaged.

I always had a whole lot of respect for these gigantic pines. Great deal of relief when one was successfully felled.

Newbury's solution edited:

I also have trees with friends that don't let them fall. Most are < 20"DBH, their friends about 24" and up..
I usually do a gradual trim.
See pic
I first CAREFULLY cut off as much as I can easily reach on the bottom. Make sure you have clear room to run. A battery operated chainsaw helps because when you stop it you can hear cracking. So I cut a wedge on top about where I drew the yellow line. Then I undercut until it creaks and either finish it off with a yank with a chain or a top cut.
Bottom drops down to where arrow points.
If I can't pull the shortened piece then repeat procedure to take out another chunk
That usually gets it to where I can pull it with my tractor.
Best to try with 2 chainsaws in case one gets stuck.
Good luck.

I rely heavily on being able to hear the trees creak giving me time to move my butt.
I've never had the luxury of big backhoes. Donations welcome
Good luck
Stay safe
Keep cool and spaced out.

 

[Deere Dude]

I would chunk from the bottom until the tree was near vertical and along side the sturdy standing tree. Then I would get a fairly long extension ladder and get up the tree as far as comfortable. Wrap a chain around the hanging tree at the highest point then hook a 100' cable to the chain. This will get the tractor a distance from the tree in case it would fall, then pull.

If that wouldn't work I would chain the bottom of the hanging tree to the trunk of the large one tightly. When pulling at the point 20' up using the cable, it should hopefully pop it out.

Or else with the tree near vertical, hook a pully in the good tree up as far as possible. String a hundred foot cable though the pulley to the bottom on the bad tree. Then while pulling, this should raise the bottom 20' and hopefully fall out. If you had another cable, hook it to the bad tree before raising it with the pulley. With the tree raised 10 feet and out of the crotch just pull with another tractor.

I never did this but just thinking out of the box.