best way to remove old ground rod?

[Egon]

A regular slip hook on a chain wrap it around the rod 5 or 6 times and cinch it back and lift away when you run out of stroke slack off and it will slide down rod and lift again it will regrip with out getting out of seat.

If You want it out I'd try this method first.:thumbsup:

 

[Ken45101]

If the chain wrap keeps slipping, use a Vice Grips above where you wrap the chain.

 

[magicheater]

I just moved the location where my electric deer fence is powered from and pulled all 3 8' rods and reused them. Used the loader with a chain. They came out straight as an arrow, been in the ground about 5 years.

 

[clemsonfor]

I'd take a sledge and drive it flush and go to Lowes and get a new one.

Exactly what i was thinking when i read the topic!

 

[Chuck52]

I've not pulled a ground rod, but I have pulled many a piece of rebar I've driven to use as grounds or tomato stakes or such like. I find that if you grab the rod with vice grips and can turn it a bit it really loosens the grip of the soil on the rod, which then pulls much easier.

Chuck

 

[beenthere]

Success and re-use will likely depend on how much corrosion there is over the years in place.

Copper clad rods have an estimated life span of 40 years. Less for galvanized coatings. But the corrosion rate depends on soil, moisture, and exposure to chemicals.

The role of a ground rod changes some with the advent of home computers and other electrical devices that are too numerous to mention. The surge protectors depend on a good ground on location.

 

[smstonypoint]

Success and re-use will likely depend on how much corrosion there is over the years in place.

Copper clad rods have an estimated life span of 40 years. Less for galvanized coatings. But the corrosion rate depends on soil, moisture, and exposure to chemicals.

<snip>

My lack of knowledge concerning electricity would fill volumes. I wasn't aware that grounding rods had a limited useful life. How do you test whether they should be replaced?

Steve

 

[schmism]

Ive pulled a number of them up at my neighbors house were the PO thought he would use them for just about anything that needed a stake

expose the top 3", take a vice grip clamp to the top of the rod, take chain and make a loop or 2 around the rod under the vice grip and pull up with the FEL :thumbsup:

 

[chrisdvorak]

If I had to I would just pound it in flush and buy a new one but I wanted to try to get it out of there so I don't find it with the plow or disc later. I think I'll try the vice grip and chain method first

 

[beenthere]

My lack of knowledge concerning electricity would fill volumes. I wasn't aware that grounding rods had a limited useful life. How do you test whether they should be replaced?

Steve

Steve
A number of various ways, googled and found this one.

Ground Testing Techniques

I put in a copper clad one 40+ years ago, and will count on it working on into the future.