Backhoe Tree Root Cutter Winter Project

[GoodGuy]

John...
Thanks for pics, that's exactly what I had in mind.
Have you had a chance to try it ??
Appreciate your post....
Eric

 

[GoodGuy]

Franz....
Not 100% sure I know what you mean by "another set of bars". Are you talking about having another arm giving it something like a "V" so when I would roll the bucket, the root would come against the other blade & cut easier or have I totally misunderstood your post. Please clarify..
Thanks by the way, Eric

 

[Zork]

Eric, anything ( "V" or two seperate bars that your "knife" goes between and litterally cutting it). I would assume that a " V" would work better since it would be less apt to spread or distort if a rock or a larger root got into it. The "V" bar would have to be larger to resist the tourque of a uneven cut (then you reduce your ability to place it where you want it) I think that with a "V" and a blade coming against it (pinching it/ reducing the root size in some way) you would be able to substantially reduce the strength of the root thereby reducing the energy needed by your backhoe to break/ cut it. Keep in mind that alot of stumps get cut at ground level and make it harder for even larger machines, so try to remember to leave some trunk for leverage purposes. Let me know if this helps, Franz. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[JohninCT]

Got a chance to try out the backhoe root ripper recently. Here is the test subject - an approx 8 inch hardwood stump.


John

 

[JohninCT]

Here is a shot of the carnage that resulted from the battle. Ripper worked pretty well at finding and ripping the roots but it did little for helping to remove the dirt around the root ball.

John

 

[JohninCT]

Although the Magnatrac and ripper ultimately won the battle it was not without casualty - bent the ripper holder /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

This tool may find its use for ocasional difficult root cutting/ripping or with the other ripper point to break up frozen or really hard packed ground, but my feeling is that it is definitely not better than a bucket for stump removal use.

My suggestion would be to make the ripper like a backhoe sized broad blade pick axe or a small spade (with some hardened teeth on bottom). Shorter and stout is what you want - not long and slender. This would help with dirt removal as you could do some digging. Adding a serated plate or something similar as knife edge vertically right in the center of the spade would help with the root ripping. This would also add reinforcement to the blade so it could better stand up to the punishment of stump ripping.

John

 

[JohninCT]

See the pic. This is what we need /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Check out the web site Nye Manufacturing Its a kick! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

John

 

[JohninCT]

Here's another cool ripper. L.E.A. Multi Ripper Check out the animated GIF at the bottom of the page to see it getting the upper hand on a tree stump /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

John M

 

[GoodGuy]

John...
I can't tell by your picture exactly what bent ?? Thanks for your info & contribution to this post. Also appreciate the links, hmmm, that multi ripper is something else, eh ??

 

[MMM]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I presume that with the bucket curled, it's sufficiently out of the way to use the ripper, and you can dig well enough with it on too. )</font>

Exactly what I had in mind. "Rip...dig, rip....dig" instead of "rip...install bucket...dig.., install ripper" over and over. I don't think one for a 9 or 10' hoe would be sturdy enough to pull stump out. I'd use bucket.
Another thought might be a front loader mounted one as the fel breakout force far exceeds the dipper force.