How do you pull stumps

[woodlandfarms]

This is tying in with a new tractor purchase. But how do all of you pull stumps? And what size with what horsepower?

Carl

 

[daTeacha]

Fresh cut stumps can be a bear, depending on tree size, species and soil type. You're way ahead of the game to think in terms of digging instead of pulling. As an example, I had a maple tree about 7 inches in diameter that I needed to remove. I cut it off about 3 feet above the ground to allow for some leverage. I dug all around it with a shovel, axe, and mattock to a depth of about 18 inches. When the large tandem dump truck full of gravel came, I had him chain the stump to the still loaded truck and roll down the hill, figuring the stump would pop out like a 6 year old's tooth. The truck simply jerked to a stop. I had him try it again in low range, and all he did is spin his tires. It took a backhoe to dig the thing out of the ground. It helps a whole lot if you've had a bunch of rain and the ground is relatively soft.

 

[ejtaylor822]

Agree with Rich in regards to rain and the softness of the ground. I can tell a HUGE difference knocking down tress when our clay soil is wet/moist vs. dry as a brick here in NC.

I have a 45HP 4WD Jinma and typically I just knock the trees down. Go in with the bucket about 4 or 5 ft high and just start pushing. When the tree starts to go over I lower the bucket, while continuing to move forward, providing more leverage which will typically bring up most of the roots. This works pretty well on anything up to about 6" dia and some trees up to about 10" that do not have a long tap root.

When the ground is really wet I have knocked over 10" to 12" dia. Usually go higher up on the trunk, but, have to be careful that the root ball does not come up under the tractor when going higher up the trunk. Read once here on TBN where a guy got his front end off the ground when the root ball popped out and was under the tractor. Took a long time to get the tractor off the root. Once I feel the tree starting to go over, I will stop moving forward and just lower the bucket.

Have tried yanking out some of the more stubborn roots, but, have not had a lot of success. Have dug out around them with the FEL, do not have a BH, tied a chain to them and started pulling but usually just end up spinning. I had a particularly stubborn pine root that was about 16" dia that I just could not get out. After spending the better part of a couple of hours digging a "pit" around three sides of it, I was able to push it out by backing into with the back of my box blade.

The type of root makes a difference as well. Trees with large tap roots, mostly hardwoods & "nut" trees (Oaks, Elms, Maples, etc.) will be a little harder to remove. Trees with a fibrous root system (Maples, Ash, etc.) will be a little easier once the ground around them has been dug up some. I read once where most of a tree's root system is in the first 2' underground and over 50% of a trees root structure is in the first 6". So, some digging will obviously help.

The hardest trees I have found to remove/knock down around my place are the $%^&*() "sweet gum" trees. They are very flexible with a strong tap root. They will usually just bend until they break off, no root ball to push over to get rid of the stump. Then you have to dig out the root which can be pretty deep. They are a pain.

Eddie

 

[sandman2234]

Take a look at the post I started about a poorboys trencher. It will remove stumps, cut roots and spread peanut butter.
David from jax

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71073

 

[Dmace]

With my 21hp Kioti, I just dig a hole about 2' wider than the stump on all sides and start pulling up on all of the roots one at a time. The ones that are too big get hosed down and cut with the chainsaw. I wash off the sand so it doesn't dull the teeth. I then keep pulling at the stump from different angles and working it until it moves. Once it starts moving you can tell which side is still hard in the ground and work that side more. Also on the large roots, like a big pine or oak, I drop the backhoe bucket on top of the root and put it between two of the teeth, I then put a lot of downward force on it and curl the bucket. The sharp part of the bucket between the teeth will actually scrape and cut the root while curling the bucket and either break it or weaken it to the point where I can pull it out.

Finally, when it's out, I hook it up to the FEL with a chain and lift it up for a picture before hauling it off to the hole I am filling.

 

[MrJimi]

Take a look at the post I started about a poorboys trencher. It will remove stumps, cut roots and spread peanut butter.
David from jax

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71073

WoW! Thanks Dave. I read the whole thread and I was wondering about leaf springs for your cutters?
Jim

 

[DmansPadge]

The best way to remove the whole stump is to leave the entire tree in tact.... IMO. I've had 30-40 trees removed ranging from 6"-30" pines and oaks. All were done with a Case 580 hoe. Dig on one side... then shove 'er over. Some of the bigger ones had to have a small dozer helping push. The leverage of the whole tree makes a huge difference. IMO you can remove 3-4 times as many stumps in the same amount of time if the tree isn't cut. If you only have a few feet above ground.... you can plan on digging the entire stump out.

 

[biker128pedal]

The best way is to use the hole tree as leverage. We cleared/timbered last year and 15 years ago about 2 acres each time. The first time a small bulldozer was used. Took the guy awhile to dig down and cut the tap root of the 120 ft tallpine trees. The second time an escavator was brought in and it will do the job in about half the time. But leave the entire tree or it will take more time/cost more.

Mike

 

[Pooh_Bear]

Drill a 1.5 to 2 inch hole in the center of the stump about 4 to 6 inches deep.
Fill the hole with saltpeter. Cover it with dirt and moss.
Come back after a year and uncover the hole. Fill it with kerosene.
Then set it on fire. It will burn like a candle. All the way down into the roots.
Everywhere the saltpeter has penetrated into the stump will burn.

From the book:

Make It Yourself
900 Things To Make and Do
Popular Mechanics Press 1927

Pooh Bear

 

[shane]

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but if you do use the whole tree for leverage it is my understanding that you need to be careful of limbs and such falling from above. I've actually even heard of trees breaking in half and the top falling back on the machine operator.