Backhoe Tree Root Cutter Winter Project

[markct]

i have seen a device just like that on fullsize excavators a few times, they use them for landclearing, no reason it wouldnt work on a small backhoe only for smaller roots

 

[GoodGuy]

Mopacman...
I thought about putting some sort of insert over the edge of my bucket (see attached pic) to act as a cutter but thought I'd still have the problem of a 12" bucket taking too much "bite" & the 47 hoe not having the power to pull/cut the root. The whole idea behind my thought has been to eliminate going out 4 feet from the stump & working my way back in. I've spent up to 5 hours on some stumps & really would like to make this process easier. Thanks, Eric

 

[GoodGuy]

Mark....
Would like to see any pics or links if you have them.
Thanks, Eric

 

[GoodGuy]

Steve.....
Son of a Gun, I searched & searched on TBN to find anything with no luck. That is very close to what I'm talking about so please tell us more, please, please. Henro's comment about time to change this has bugged me as well so is it going to be a pain for me or is it fairly easy ??
Eric

 

[SteveV]

Changing the bucket is less than a 5 minute affair, made easier with a drift pin and a hammer. The one inch bucket is made from some 1/2 inch heavy truck frame, doubled up. Steel was perloined from the dumpster at the local truck builder. The truck frame has the bends already in it for the attachment to the dipper stick. Weight of the final assembly is not so bad to pickup by hand to be attached. You'll need basic fabrication: cut, drill holes greater than 1/2 inch, decent welder and a torch to cut the profiles.
I used the tooth for stone wall building; moving rocks from a pile is difficult with the wide bucket. It is a hydraulically powered quarryman's bar with very impressive capability for anyone that has used a hand bar. It lets you pull roots one at a time and break ones that a 12 in bucket can only dream of. The advantage comes from sliding the root up close to the attachment pins and using the end of the tooth to pry against (boom up,dipper retract, and bucket open seems to be the magic formula). The sides of a regular dirt bucket make this difficult. SteveV /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[RonR]

I agree with Henro!

I'd want it so I could attach it with pins or at most 2 bolts, while still leaving the bucket on. That way, I could rip roots and quickly take it off to use the bucket.

Spending 5 minutes every time I wanted to take it on/off would get old for me......... I'd think I would be needing first one, then the other all the time.

My two cents.
Ron

 

[GoodGuy]

Steve....
Thanks for info, I didn't think of truck frame so I appreciate that tip. Could you give me some specifics on the tooth; how long, how thick, do you have a cutting edge or is it flat ?? If you could make any changes, what would they be ?? I planned on welding gussets & support bracing & I cannot see the picture real good therefore can't tell if you have added these, did you ?? You say that you can change this in 5 minutes, I can live with that but I really didn't want to make this a hassle to make the change; it sure would be great if someone made a quick change system, eh ?? Your thoughts on txdon's suggestion of a "v" setup attached to the teeth ?? Appreciate your help !! Eric

 

[SteveV]

Yea, I knew a lot of areas of the country wouldn't understand the purpose of a one inch bucket. You see, we have rock, with entwined tree stumps and a top dressing of composted leaves. Moving dirt is kind of like frosting a cake, most of the serious work has already been done. Nesting the rock to get a flat surface took a lot more effort. A quarryman's bar in Kansas might be used to tamp fence posts? In other words, you probably wouldn't need one of the one inch buckets. I have 40 or 50 hours of prying rolling and setting of rock with this device. my hoe is too small for hardwood stumps, hence the reply agreeing with pine stumps; probably changed to bucket twice in that time. SteveV /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[GoodGuy]

Steve....
Sounds like you & I have similar ground. Take a look at the attached pic & you'll see roots are tangled with rock & soil. What I didn't say earlier was that a lot of the time I would try & get under the root with my hoe bucket but wouldn't be able to because the rock would hold me up. Eric

 

[kevinro]

Being a guy who lives in the trees, I get to see a lot of tree roots and machines that can rip them up. With all due respect to our skeptical friends, you have a fine idea going here. If you want, you can see if you can purchase one.

You are describing a gadget called a ripper tooth. They are pretty common in WA state, since if it ain't a rock, its got a tree growing on it.

AMI Ripper tooth

I haven't seen one on machines our size, but the working theory is the same. These are made for mini-excavators, so they are probably available or easily modified.

Kevin