How to remove dead tree?

[chazzy]

Just got my first new tractor 30-hp Bobcat CT230 hydro dirve (same as Kioti) with a front loader, brush hog and box blade. I tried follwing method.

1. Pushed/slammed on tree trunk with FL and 4~5 mph momentum of tractor so that the tree would tilt and its root would pop up above the ground.
2. Pushed/lifted on the roots with FL.
3. Once the tree/roots are out, filled up the empty hole in the ground with FL and smoothed out with BB.
4. I kept the tractor in 4x4 mode and LO gear whenever I do such work.

Am I causing any damage to the tractor?
Is this the efficient way?

 

[Iplayfarmer]

Am I causing any damage to the tractor?

Yep.

1. Pushed/slammed on tree trunk with FL and 4~5 mph momentum of tractor so that the tree would tilt and its root would pop up above the ground.

Pushing is good. slamming: not so good. Next time if pushing isn't working, dig around the bottom of the roots a bit to loosen the tree's grip. You may not have done any damage in this one single event, but don't make a habit of ramming things.

 

[CHDinCT]

With dead trees, you run the risk if the trunk snapping up high and the top part falling backwards towards your tractor while the lower half is jolted away from your tractor. Dends on how dead and rotten it is, but the whip effect will push the lower half away from you and the upper half back towards you. A slow steady push would reduce the chances of this, but not a 100% guarantee. Stay safe.

 

[chazzy]

I did knocked down 2 small trees, 8-10 ft high, that had been dead for 1+ year using my previously mentioned method. Ooops... Initially I pushed only but would not budges so I tried ramming into the tree. I kind of knew ramming wasn't the best idea so I kept the minimum momentum as possible so it was more like bumping instead.

Digging around the tree seems like the way to go. Thanks for your help.

BTW, how about keeping the tractor in 4x4 mode whenever I do work around the ranch in loose soil? Is it bad for the tractor, or should I use it only when need to? I noticed sometimes rear wheels loose traction when using a FEL or BB when using in 2WD and that's why I just leave the tracktor in 4x4 mode.

 

[woodchuckie]

Use 4WD. That's what it's made for. If you know you won't need it such as traveling on a good road or working in a level field cutting grass etc I would take it out of 4WD.

 

[Iplayfarmer]

I did knocked down 2 small trees, 8-10 ft high, that had been dead for 1+ year using my previously mentioned method. Ooops... Initially I pushed only but would not budges so I tried ramming into the tree. I kind of knew ramming wasn't the best idea so I kept the minimum momentum as possible so it was more like bumping instead.

Digging around the tree seems like the way to go. Thanks for your help.

BTW, how about keeping the tractor in 4x4 mode whenever I do work around the ranch in loose soil? Is it bad for the tractor, or should I use it only when need to? I noticed sometimes rear wheels loose traction when using a FEL or BB when using in 2WD and that's why I just leave the tracktor in 4x4 mode.

Leaving the tractor in 4X4 puts added tension on the driveline. The best bet for the longevity of the tractor is to leave it in 2 and only put it in 4 when you need to. The occasional brief slip of the rear wheels is not uncommon, and won't hurt anything. I know it's a lot easier to just leave it in 4X4, but your tractor will thank you if you don't.

 

[Diamondpilot]

Just remember if you get stuck in 4 wheel drive you will need a tractor twice its size or bigger to get it out. Been there done that. Sure we all have actually and so will you. Just part of being a guy with a toy.

Chris

 

[teg]

If you have hills with loose gravel or wet grass... I would leave it in 4x4 all the time. Once the back tires break free going down hill in 2 wheel drive - you loose control... been there... mine stays in 4x4 all the time because of it. I don't have any hard surfaces to worry about and figure it's design with 4x4 in mind.

PS... slamming is bad.

 

[bpattie]

i have had good luck pulling out smaller trees. up to maybe 4-5 inch diameter (pines) with a chain wrapped around trunk about a foot off the ground and using hook on bucket or attaching to tow bar in back. Most times it pulls the whole thing out.

 

[LBrown59]

I did knocked down 2 small trees, 8-10 ft high, that had been dead for 1+ year using my previously mentioned method. Ooops... Initially I pushed only but would not budges so I tried ramming into the tree. I kind of knew ramming wasn't the best idea so I kept the minimum momentum as possible so it was more like bumping instead.

Digging around the tree seems like the way to go. Thanks for your help.

BTW, how about keeping the tractor in 4x4 mode whenever I do work around the ranch in loose soil? Is it bad for the tractor, or should I use it only when need to? I noticed sometimes rear wheels loose traction when using a FEL or BB when using in 2WD and that's why I just leave the tracktor in 4x4 mode.

Just got my first new tractor 30-hp Bobcat CT230 hydro dirve (same as Kioti) with a front loader, brush hog and box blade. I tried follwing method.

1. Pushed/slammed on tree trunk with FL and 4~5 mph momentum of tractor so that the tree would tilt and its root would pop up above the ground.
2. Pushed/lifted on the roots with FL.
3. Once the tree/roots are out, filled up the empty hole in the ground with FL and smoothed out with BB.
4. I kept the tractor in 4x4 mode and LO gear whenever I do such work.

With dead trees, you run the risk if the trunk snapping up high and the top part falling backwards towards your tractor while the lower half is jolted away from your tractor. Dends on how dead and rotten it is, but the whip effect will push the lower half away from you and the upper half back towards you. A slow steady push would reduce the chances of this, but not a 100% guarantee. Stay safe.

If you have hills with loose gravel or wet grass... I would leave it in 4x4 all the time. Once the back tires break free going down hill in 2 wheel drive - you loose control... been there... mine stays in 4x4 all the time because of it. I don't have any hard surfaces to worry about and figure it's designed with 4x4 in mind.

PS... slamming is bad.

I couldn't have said it better. Never try taking down a dead tree with a tractor.
Leave that to a pro.

 

[smfcpacfp]

I was removing trees this week.

Personally, I wouldn't bother to remove the stump unless you have a specific reason for doing so (like tilling the land). I cut the trees to the ground level and then had the stumps ground down a foot or so. It took about an hour and a half to grind 15 stumps. I shudder to think of how long it would have taken to remove them with my 30 HP tractor.

 

[TheGoose]

There was a surgeon here in Texas who tried to knock down a tree on his tractor. Long story short, the tree fell on him, pinned him down and crushed his spine. Now he's paralyzed from the waist down and is limited in what surgery he can perform. Before the incident, he was a world class heart surgeon in the Texas Medical Center.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I would be really cautious with a dead tree pushing on it even gently if it was long time dead. I would just saw it down within an inch of the ground and put some stump rot on it and let it rot out. Live trees can get you also. A few weeks ago, I was pushing over some 4-6" pines that were too close together for proper growth and sweet gum saplings by raising my FEL up high and pushing them over. The ground was pretty wet so the were coming out by the root pretty well. Well one of the pines snapped about 30 inchs above ground level and left a tall snag. A few minutes later after clearing away some other trees, I decided to thin out another one by letting my tractor and bucket ride it over. It was coming out by the root just as I wanted it to but when it finally broke over and my front end came back to the ground (it was only about a foot off the ground so I wasnt any danger of tipping over for all you safety patrol guys) the tires started to spin so I shifted into reverse and same thing. I couldnt figure out what was happening so finally I got off the tractor and took a close look. The other tree stump that had snapped off earlierwas wedged in between the front axle and the front end weight bracket. I was impaled on the stump. Luckily no damage, but I had to walk about a quarter mile to my barn to get my chainsaw and cut all the trees loose from the tractor before I could move. Luckily not damage to the tractor. Lesson learned- dont leave a stump standing when clearing timber with the FEL and make sure there are not impalement stakes around if you get the front end off the ground.

 

[ragkar]

There are several approaches to unwanted dead trees.
You can cut it down to ground level and then use a stump grinder. Or you can drill large deep holes in the stump and put stump rot or sour milk in them if you are patient.
The commercial tree removers usually cut the tree leaving a stump about belly high. This lets them use a tractor with grapple or a chain to grab hold of the stump. If you use a chain, make sure that it's not too long in case it snaps and whips about. Also attach the chain very low onto your tractor drawbar.
I dig a trench around the stump with a bh and then pull and push on the stump to break the roots one at a time.

 

[jimmyj]

I'm with treemonkey one hundred percent. Dead trees are plain dangerous. I'll push over tiny little ones but it is very surprising how much even a modest sized branch can weigh and if it drops 20 feet before hitting......

Be safe.

 

[ctgoldwing]

There was a surgeon here in Texas who tried to knock down a tree on his tractor. Long story short, the tree fell on him, pinned him down and crushed his spine. Now he's paralyzed from the waist down and is limited in what surgery he can perform. Before the incident, he was a world class heart surgeon in the Texas Medical Center.

I agree with other posters on this - pushing over a dead tree is very dangerous. An old family friend has been in a wheel chair for decades because he tried this with his tractor and a large branch broke off & hit him.

 

[6thgpSF]

ragkar, so does the sourmilk break down the wood or what? how long does it take to work? russ

 

[ragkar]

I don't have experience with stump-rot or sour milk. But a little lady at work who had a years old problem with stumps was very enthusiastic about the sour milk about six months after I suggested it to her.

 

[sellercreek]

I would never ram any tree, dead or alive, at 4 to 5 mph. You not only risk doing damage to your loader and/or tractor if you hit something solid, but also stand a good chance for personal injury. Dead trees are standing death traps. Be very, very careful with them.

I went to pick up my tractor from a machine shop a few years ago. I had broken several parts of my loader. The machinist, who is a good friend of mine, asked if I had the owner's manual for the tractor. I replied that i did and he told me to get it out and read it from cover to cover and see if the word "bulldozer" was in there anywhere. There are different machines for different jobs.

It seems to be fairly common that the first tractor a person buys is a learning tool and many of them are somewhat abused. The second tractor is the one they take care of and operate properly.

Just my 2 cents..........