Mahindra 1526 backhoe ripper and thumb?

JerryK · Jun 5, 2019

The main problem folks have with digging stumps is they think you have to dig right beside them and attack the thick part of the roots. With a smaller machine, you have to go out farther and eat at the smaller roots. Then dig down and form a void around the perimeter of the stump several feet down, again depending on the stump size this could be three feet or more. Once you get this area clear you can reach underneath and attack the roots going down. You are not really trying to cut all these roots, but loosen the packed soil underneath the stump and let it fall away into the void. Once you get some of this soil loose, you can wiggle the stump [ called worrying it ] and it should eventually come unglued from the soil underneath. Try grab'n onto the big roots and move it CW or CCW, etc. Breaking what roots that were left in the process. Once you get all the roots broke, you have to drag/lift it out of the hole. Sometimes this means digging a ramp down so you can get it out. And some times, if it is real big, you have to dig a hole next to it and just bury it deeper down.

Reg · Jun 6, 2019

That was what I meant by starting where the roots are small/weak enough for whatever machine you are using.
(and BTW the 1526 is about a 2500 lb machine)
I used to use the drip line as a starting point, if that was easy going I would come in a foot or two.
These days with the main stump already ground a foot or more below grade I can look for roots with the hoe maybe 3 or 4 ft out, according to what the stump was and break them free as I find them.
They are easier to pull out,light enough to carry to the burn pile etc.
A shorter project even with the changeover from grinder to hoe and a smaller mess.

Again, if it is for lawn, pasture or back yard there is no need to get the whole root ball out and give yourself all the hassle of root ball disposal and hole filling.
The main mass of the root ball can rot in place, over decades shallow depressions will form and they can be filled if/when needed.

gp1200x · Jul 29, 2022

Agree with above posts. I have pulled out four stumps with my Mahindra Max24...24B backhoe ..same as 1526B. Sometimes the stumps are taper and some have broad root systems. Last one I tried (pin oak) beat the hell out of me and my tractor. 3 foot trunk and I had a hole about 5 feet deep all around the trunk and pulled out all the roots I could get too...STILL wouldn't even budge when pulling on it. Hole was now probably at least 12 - 15 feet in diameter. Finally gave up and hours of work! Filled hole somewhat and rented a brand new Home Depot 24HP stump grinder for like $200. Grinder was a beast ... weighs about a ton and track driven. Not like those smaller on ones that you manually turn by hand. This one is all hydraulic and NOT MUCH more to rent. Still took hours but I was able to grind the stump down about 1.5-2' below the surface...really impressive grinder!! The stump is more like 4 feet in diameter at this depth. Filled hole back up and smoothed over and plant grass. POINT IS don't use for a small tractor on a job it really can't handle ...even smaller steps and more time may not overcome the issue.

Note about the Home Depot hydraulic grinder. It uses pieces of non sharp metal and not sharpened carbide tips like the smaller grinders. I asked about this since I thought this was an issue. They explained that this grinder simply uses cheaper small metal slabs that bolt to a plate. Those slats simply hit the wood and pulverizes it instead of trying to cut it. They are exactly correct and you wouldn't think it would work but it does due to the weight of the machine and the spinning disk speed. The wood comes flying off the trunk base in pieces. Very impressive. Rent this type of machine for big stumps since I doubt the smaller machines would have handled a trunk of this size.

hornett22 · Jul 29, 2022

I questioned BXpanded, they didn't seem interested in my money. I even offered them to get the measurements off my tractor if they wanted to make one and and start offering options for the 1526/1626.