Digging out stump pictures

[dodge man]

I was able to dig out a stump yesterday with my BX2350. I had read posts about people doing it with a backhoe and didn't know if I could do it with just an end loader or not. I just kept digging out around the base of the tree, maybe 18" deep, and cutting roots. I ended up using my truck to yank the stump out, I'm pretty sure the BX wouldn't have done it. It took maybe an hour of digging to do the job and the tree was about 12" diameter at the stump height. I also included a photo of my use of BXpanded bucket forks. They are really handy for loading up the FEL with the loose brush and limbs.

 

[jesseb3@att.net]

I've used the loader for that as well... makes a heck of a mess!

 

[EE_Bota]

What times I have dug out stumps, I have dug them out completely with the backhoe, and did not go into a pulling out stage. I was using an Oliver 550 with a 3 pt backhoe, but no loader available except on my BX. Frankly, by the time I was done digging with the Oliver, I doubt the BX could have even navigated to the area of the stumps for all the digging I had done.

You job looks much cleaner than my job. Good Job!

 

[ZetorShaun]

I try not to put my FEL through too much unnecessary stress but you obviously did well. Your work is in keeping what I have to do when I don't have the right piece of equipment. I always tell my wife, "I did the best I could with what I have!" Good work, way to persevere.

 

[check]

Yes, stumps are a lot of work, and I am not looking forward to the ones I have to remove. They are right beside my driveway, and I just know the roots are going to mess up my gravel, so I am going to try and have someone help me with an axe and big pry bar in order to reduce the diameter of the hole. The rocks in the soil don't help matters any!

 

[aggiehortguy91]

Good work. Never underestimate the power of a small tractor operated by someone determined, it's almost as destructive as a small child! I've dug out a couple of slash pines that were almost that size. That is what is in my avatar pic (atleast the one I could lift is there). They have a nasty tap root but the sand down here made the digging go quick.

A suggestion for the future. Taking off the MMM gives you alot more ground clearance so you don't have to dig your hole as wide.

 

[20 20]

Took down 2 80'+ red pines the other day without a chainsaw. Dug mostly on one side of the base and pushed with the arm/stick fell over like a drunk kennedy.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I did a few trees just like that...but I couldn't get my truck to help pull them out. Just the FEL, a Box Blade, a 20 ton strap, and a little bit of speed.

Then I got a backhoe.

Stump removal much easier now.

 

[dodge man]

I should have left the stump sticking up higher, it would have given me more leverage. For some reason, I'm just not comfortable pushing the entire tree over. I guess I'm worried about it fallling on me or the tractor.

 

[KeithInSpace]

I should have left the stump sticking up higher...

I ordinarily left a 4' "lever arm" attached to the stump. I'd notch it and that was how I got my strap to grab, even as the thing started to lean over and pull out. What I saw in the pictures doesn't look bad...much higher and your strap would be sloped down to the snatch vehicle, minimizing its traction. Nearly identical to my early attempts.

I now cut them flush as that chunk of tree just gets in the way with a backhoe.

One of the attached images is pre-backhoe (pretty obvious which one), the other two are post-backhoe.

I guess I'm worried about it fallling on me or the tractor.

I TOTALLY agree. I cringe at stories like that. Unless its a "leaner" with absolutely no place to go but the right direction, I wouldn't put my life or equipment anywhere near a tree that I'm trying to get on the ground.

 

[dodge man]

It was actually quite a load for my truck to yank the stump out. The problem is that there are roots that more or less go straight down that would be pretty tought to get at and cut. I actually got the stump yanked most of the way out from one direction, then had to turn around 180 degrees and finsih pulling it out from the other direction.

 

[sw03]

I tried some oak stumps and the BX was poor. The max the tractor can do is 10" unless you have hours to spend..I had stumps up to 40" so the BX was a tad small...It is great for small jobs on trees but most is too big.

 

[soulasphil]

Stumps usually require a lot of time and effort, but the exercise is quite interesting. With a lot of patience and a 49 year old Massey 35, it can be done !

 

[asylum575]

Took down 2 80'+ red pines the other day without a chainsaw. Dug mostly on one side of the base and pushed with the arm/stick fell over like a drunk kennedy.

That got a chuckle out of me.

 

[Keuka]

If I'm cutting it up for fire wood, I leave the log as high as I can reach, the longer the better. The added leverage will increase your pulling power many times. Wrap a chain around the top and pull with the draw bar.

 

[newbury]

The more I see about digging out stumps the more I think of C4.
Picking up the pieces look easier and easier.

 

[Donkey Shade Farm]

I've had my tractor now approximately 2 weeks. I have on several occasion dug out some small stumps (4-6" diameter). On some I was able to put the level bucket at the base of the stump and push it out. More solid ones I had to dig out 6 inches or so deep between the bucket and the stump, then placed the bucket in the full dump position, set in on the far side of the stump and back dragged toward me to loosen the stump. Is this stressful on the cylinders? I've also backdragged the driveway the same way to spread gravel (not in full dump position however). Let me know if I'm abusing my baby.

 

[dodge man]

Donkey shade farm, you don't want to put alot of stress on the end loader with it it full dump, the cylinders can bend. I think it's O.K. to backdrag like you describe, I do it all the time, but I wouldn't rip the stumps out like you describe.

 

[KeithInSpace]

...full dump position...far side of the stump...back dragged toward me...

I wouldn't do that. I've done stuff with my bucket in that position and haven't hurt anything yet, but my stuff doesn't include what you're doing. That is asking for something to go wrong.

While we're on the subject, I wouldn't try to rip a tree out of the ground by setting your FEL flat, get a running start, and ram your tractor into the tree, wear edge first. Not only does it sound pretty stupid, but it is a sure-fire way to put a nice "smiley face" bow in the lower edge of your FEL bucket.

Not that I've done anything resembling that before.

Nor have I ever tried to straighten it out by putting the same bucket in full curl and running it into another tree...

Did you mention something about abusing your machine?