Cleaning out and reusing some old concrete fence post foundations?

[Have tractor did travel]

Ponytug: I have a problem much like yours except poles for pole barn. Here's my idea.
1. Remove as much of the old post as you can. This may involve wrapping a chain around the stub, and pulling out with your front end load hook, or your 3 point hitch.
2. Pour concrete into the hole to above ground level.
3. Insert the link below into the wet concrete
4. After the concrete has set up for a couple of days, then put wood post into "below" and bolt into place.
In addition to the below, there is another one made that has 4 rebars, but I'm not able to find that link at this time. I intend to use the 4 rebars, rather than the linked 1 rebar, as I'm dealing with something more consequential than a fence post.

https://www.amazon.com/Support-Saddle-Bracket-Holder-Galvanized/dp/B07YQ7G87J/ref=asc_df_B07YQ7G87J/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385312227340&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12608767505088437166&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1027188&hvtargid=pla-836109916974&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=78332254253&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385312227340&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=12608767505088437166&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=1027188&hvtargid=pla-836109916974

Also, I was going to use a auger to access the bottom of my rotten posts, coming in from an angle. Then pull the rotten post out at an angle, us a Sono tube to contain my poured cement. Hope all this does you some good.
Eric

 

[ponytug]

@ROUSTABOUT Thanks, the details are really helpful. I have a better idea now of what is involved.

@MossRoad Thanks for the insect suggestion. I would if I could- are you renting out worker termites? I would only need them for a few months, and then they would need to go back home. As to moving over and redoing all the holes with new concrete, sure I could do that for all but the ends, but that is sixty odd 15" holes, 4-5' down, suspending 60 posts square and vertical, and then pouring the concrete. If I can recycle the cement, I can put in all the posts in less than two hours. So it is a trade off in time, effort, risk, and money.

As a kid in the Midwest, we burned fields every year to control thistle and burdock and didn't think much about it, other than getting a burn permit. When you get 30-50" of rain a year, and spread through out the year, it isn't a big deal. Around here, with 7" of rain this year, fire is a huge deal because it goes from small to big in moments. It is just so dry.

A couple of posts and concrete have been pulled, and the wood in those are definitely patchy. Some posts look so rotten that they could be removed with a post hole digger by hand. Some of the others have a solid core that I am think of driving 1/2"x20" lag screws into and trying to pull the wood core out. I will weld that plate up shortly.

@PowerTracManiac Thanks for the tip! I will look into it. I know of a European glulam that is made with acetylated wood that is supposed rot proof. It looks gorgeous, but I am not importing it myself. Currently, I am looking into adding an extra coat of coppertox to the below grade portion of the beams. Still kicking ideas around on this one.

Speaking of ideas, anyone ever use barge ropes / mooring rope as a "guardrail"? It seems much stronger than wood and has a give to it that steel doesn't.

Thanks for all the help! I really appreciate it.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Rockbadchild]

i am thinking get a bracket fabricated to simply bolt it to the concrete and a slot on top so you can slide your new 8x8 or 6x6 and you bolt it to the plate

 

[ponytug]

i am thinking get a bracket fabricated to simply bolt it to the concrete and a slot on top so you can slide your new 8x8 or 6x6 and you bolt it to the plate

Yup, looking into that one, too. Lots of short run fabrication shops locally.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Rockbadchild]

Yup, looking into that one, too. Lots of short run fabrication shops locally.

All the best,

Peter

even 4 L shape flat bar would work

 

[Cougsfan]

This isn't much help, but I am setting here wondering what whoever had mind when they set a fence in a foundation like that. Must have been awful expensive and seems to be extreme overkill.

 

[ponytug]

This isn't much help, but I am setting here wondering what whoever had mind when they set a fence in a foundation like that. Must have been awful expensive and seems to be extreme overkill.

You are right.

Well, I think the idea was that it was a "guardrail", as it is only about 30" high. The driveway swings by an outbuilding that is 5-15' below it, and I think that they didn't want anyone sailing off the road and down the slope into the barns. The posts are on 7' centers or so, so yes, in its day, massive. Rotted out, it is now more of a suggestion that please, pretty please, don't go this way.

So...that's why I am trying to
a) recycle the old concrete, and
b) figure out if I should just go with the pressure treated 8x8" to replace them, or whether thinking has moved on, and there are better ways to do guardrails for homes; wire guardrails, marine rope,...

None of my neighbors have anything at all; just drops of 10 to hundreds of feet.

All the best,

Peter

 

[Cougsfan]

Is the the top of the concrete above, at, or below ground level? How strong do you want it to be? (Do you want to stop a car from going through it?)

 

[not2old]

I used to dig out the post stumps at one high-end condo I contracted for. It took way longer than removing the stump and the concrete holding it. We only did it to preserve the exposed aggregate patio it was set in. We drilled several holes and then attacked it with custom made long wood chisels. I would definitely NOT recommend this method.

 

[MossRoad]

I used to dig out the post stumps at one high-end condo I contracted for. It took way longer than removing the stump and the concrete holding it. We only did it to preserve the exposed aggregate patio it was set in. We drilled several holes and then attacked it with custom made long wood chisels. I would definitely NOT recommend this method.

That sounds like work. OP has 60 of them.