How would you [safely] take down this tree?

[Fuddy1952]

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[RSR]

As we look at that picture, ultimately how many of the trees we are looking at will be taken out? If that entire area will be cleared it would change the way I would tackle it.

Doug in SW IA

Almost all of the trees will be taken out.

 

[RSR]

If the thread goes any longer, the tree will simply rot and fall down on it's own.

 

[YLee Kioti]

I'd call Greta Thorn-in-my-azz-berg....see how he/she would go green to remove it......

 

[RSR]

Update:

Thanks for all of the suggestions. It sounds like there are as many questions as answers. So, to provide more information.

Tools I have at hand:
Chainsaw
50 feet of 3/8 grade 70 chain
LS XR4145HC tractor
3 ton Wyeth Scott More Power puller with 20' synthetic rope
A ladder

More pictures (see below).

The end is only hung up on a small tree (see images).

I don't like the idea of trying to take the main tree down at the same time as the hang up. Who knows which way the tree would fall/spin/etc. I also don't want to try to take the hang up down by felling another tree to hit it. If I were a professional and paid by how quickly I would work, those might be quickest/easiest, but a pro I am not. I'd rather maximize safety at the expense of time.

My thoughts are as follows.

Throw a rope with a wrench over the hinged end, and then put one 25' length of chain around it. Put the other 25 ' of chain on the drawbar of the tractor, and span the two chains with the more power puller. Using the more power puller, pull on it at 90 degrees to the hung up limb (out of the page relative to the first image that was originally uploaded). This should keep me about 30' away from the hung up limb.

The handle on the more power puller will bend before I risk anything blowing apart and slinging pieces at me. If that doesn't pull it down, invest in a pole saw, repeat the same process, but now stand on the far side of the hinged limb (still pulling into the page) and cut a little of the hinge from the ground (pull on it) cut a little more (pull on it) and repeat.

Pictures are as follows (1) view from behind the hinge, (2) view from front of the hinge (I would be pulling out of the page in this image). (3) view from the hinge looking towards the end that is hung up. (4) view from the end of the hung up limb, showing how the notched end is hung up on a smaller tree.

 

[Xfaxman]

Sounds like a good plan to me :thumbsup:.

The hinge is pretty thin, should let loose easily.

 

[Diggin It]

Almost all of the trees will be taken out.

Dozer time.

 

[/pine]

I'd call Greta Thorn-in-my-azz-berg....see how he/she would go green to remove it......

LoL...methinks her 15 minutes have expired...!

 

[John_Mc]

Update:

Thanks for all of the suggestions. It sounds like there are as many questions as answers. So, to provide more information.

Tools I have at hand:
Chainsaw
50 feet of 3/8 grade 70 chain
LS XR4145HC tractor
3 ton Wyeth Scott More Power puller with 20' synthetic rope
A ladder

More pictures (see below).

The end is only hung up on a small tree (see images).

I don't like the idea of trying to take the main tree down at the same time as the hang up. Who knows which way the tree would fall/spin/etc. I also don't want to try to take the hang up down by felling another tree to hit it. If I were a professional and paid by how quickly I would work, those might be quickest/easiest, but a pro I am not. I'd rather maximize safety at the expense of time.

My thoughts are as follows.

Throw a rope with a wrench over the hinged end, and then put one 25' length of chain around it. Put the other 25 ' of chain on the drawbar of the tractor, and span the two chains with the more power puller. Using the more power puller, pull on it at 90 degrees to the hung up limb (out of the page relative to the first image that was originally uploaded). This should keep me about 30' away from the hung up limb.

The handle on the more power puller will bend before I risk anything blowing apart and slinging pieces at me. If that doesn't pull it down, invest in a pole saw, repeat the same process, but now stand on the far side of the hinged limb (still pulling into the page) and cut a little of the hinge from the ground (pull on it) cut a little more (pull on it) and repeat.

Pictures are as follows (1) view from behind the hinge, (2) view from front of the hinge (I would be pulling out of the page in this image). (3) view from the hinge looking towards the end that is hung up. (4) view from the end of the hung up limb, showing how the notched end is hung up on a smaller tree.

The safety of any approach is dependent upon the skills you bring to the problem, as well as the equipment. To me, what you are proposing sounds significantly more dangerous than clearing an appropriate area and felling the tree sideways to the horizontal branch (i.e. toward or away from the camera in the first picture you posted of the problem). Pulling the branch off is something I might consider if I KNEW it was not strongly attached and if I were not wanting to clear the area necessary to fell the whole tree (for example, if there were trees I really wanted to save right in the fall zone). However, that's me and with my background and experience. I'm not saying my experience is better than yours, just that it's likely the two of us have differing levels and types of experience. What works for one of us may be out of the question for the other.

If you do insist on trying this approach, my suggestion would be to lose the Power Puller, and just pull by driving your tractor. When rigging for something like this keep things as simple as practical: every added component is one which could fail or come unattached, turning your chain or other hardware into a projectile. In addition, operating the puller forces you to be right in the danger zone if some component should fail. On the seat of your tractor is not exactly completely out of the line of fire of where you might expect a broken or disconnected piece of hardware to come flying, but it beats being right at the chain. Second: 30 feet is probably not a safe distance. I would make an exception to my "minimize the hardware" recommendation for one that significantly increases your safety: A longer chain/cable/rope of appropriate design and rating would fit that category.

It may be that the limb is not as tightly attached as you described, and it will come off easily, and all of this discussion was for nothing. I hope that is how it works out for you.

 

[yomax4]

I had one similar and used my Stihl Pole saw to bring it down a little at a time.