Ideas for pulling wood posts with tractor

[stingray1]

Thanks for all the good info.

 

[bcp]

Some videos:

Removing Posts - YouTube

how to pull a post - YouTube

John Deere pulling fence posts - YouTube

Bruce

 

[94BULLITT]

If you are using the FEL try hooking the chain short so your loader will be lower and more powerful.

 

[Gary Fowler]

Some videos:

Removing Posts - YouTube


This video is the way to do it. I wouldn't worry about bending the 3 PH drawbar, they are pretty strong and will hold as much as your tractor hydraulic will put out. You can also use the drawbar to push and pull on the post a bit to loosen it up if it doesn't come out at first pull.

One thing about the video that needs to be done differently is at the end when the post fell over might be a little dangerous if the post is tall. You may want to pull it most of the way out but leave it in the ground so it remains standing, then use the FEL to finish lifting it out, that way you can chain it up higher so it doesn't fall on the tractor (or you)

 

[94BULLITT]

As long as he keeps the drawbar vertical he won't bend it when he lifts on them. If he pushes against the post with the drawbar vertical he will bend it.

 

[schmism]

FYI if you have broken off T posts (that rust at the ground level) or someone use angle iron as posts, you can clamp a set of vise grips on the top then wrap the chain around the post, the vise grips on the top will keep the chain from slipping off. If that doesnt work, you can use the vise grip trick with a lifting strap that will sinch around the steel better than a chain will. Wood posts the chain will dig in nicely and bite else you can use a brush grubber.

We had used a chain for years and it worked ok... then I had santa claus finnaly bring me one of those and oh what a difference it makes! its worth the $80!

 

[KenB2920]

FYI if you have broken off T posts (that rust at the ground level) or someone use angle iron as posts, you can clamp a set of vise grips on the top then wrap the chain around the post, the vise grips on the top will keep the chain from slipping off. If that doesnt work, you can use the vise grip trick with a lifting strap that will sinch around the steel better than a chain will. Wood posts the chain will dig in nicely and bite else you can use a brush grubber. We had used a chain for years and it worked ok... then I had santa claus finnaly bring me one of those and oh what a difference it makes! its worth the $80!

I saw the cool vice trick on YouTube... Looked like a good idea

 

[Gary Fowler]

As long as he keeps the drawbar vertical he won't bend it when he lifts on them. If he pushes against the post with the drawbar vertical he will bend it.

That isn't likely with the tractor he has (28 HP @PTO) unless he rams the post with it. I have used them with much larger tractors pushing and pulling and never bent one, but of course one had to use good judgment with any device. An anvil can be broken with enough force. If excess force is applied, he would stand a better chance of bending his 3 PH lift arms or some other component of the 3 PH before bending that drawbar.

 

[94BULLITT]

That isn't likely with the tractor he has (28 HP @PTO) unless he rams the post with it. I have used them with much larger tractors pushing and pulling and never bent one, but of course one had to use good judgment with any device. An anvil can be broken with enough force. If excess force is applied, he would stand a better chance of bending his 3 PH lift arms or some other component of the 3 PH before bending that drawbar.

I bent one with my tractor that is not much bigger than Kens. I was pulling small trees. I did not jerk on it. If it would have stayed with the holes up I would have not bent it.

 

[the old grind]

Although I've never tried this, nor know anyone who has.....would using a pressure washer to drill into the soil around the post to loosen them be a help? I have....put in t post that way, when it was August in a drought and the soil was like concrete. Literally cut a hole with the pressure washer, then the t post went right in.

This is similar to how we put in or remove dock piles and jettys on the sandy shores of Lake Huron with a 5hp, 2" portable pump & 1 1/2" hoses to reach from shore or raft. With a pipe lashed to board/pole/post flush to the end, 2x10s or posts go in or out by hand. (easy to balance when standing waist deep, too ) This ought to work as well above the waterline as below, and I'd think a PW would best a garden hose (or PHD) when pulling a bunch, so IMO a good call! :thumbsup:

btw: I've been a Brush-Grubber guy for years, have two small ones, and have 'rocked' till my R wheels came off the ground working 'em with the FEL. With trees OR posts, the easy part is nudging them around with the bucket to loosen, first. Now, if I wasn't so lazy I'd turn the tractor around, use the 3PH to lift, and make the whole job easier. :duh: