Pulling Large Shrubs

[pennwalk]

Bo,
Fishing line stretches like crazy before it breaks. We need more posts from guys and gals with chain breaking experiance.

Chris

 

[Egon]

Bob:

I was thinking he meant an extra rim between the tractor and shrub.
But I have seen logs chained to cat tracks to get them out of muddy/soft spots.

Egon

 

[ktctest6]

OK. I'm the original poster or the guy with the large shrub problem!

The tire rim is actually an old steel rim that would be placed close to the shrub and the chain would go from around the shrub, up to the top center "V" of the tire rim, and then the chain would go directly to the rear tractor drawbar. I was told by a local rancher that the tire rim would help give an upward force while the tractor is pulling the chain and hopefully the shrub. The pull chain would never touch any of the tractor tires. (Sorry for any confusion).

I have gotten so much information just from my asking this question. And as I said in my first posting, I am just starting out with my new JD 790 - so I really need the info & advice.

All you TBN'ers are fantastic !!!!!!!! Thanks SO MUCH!!!!

 

[beenthere]

I don't want to hurt anyone's feelings here, but the fear being interjected into using chains to pull things, having them break, and flying dangerously in either direction is not very well founded (IMO).

A chain, (unlike a nylon rope, nylon fishing line, or anything that stretches and builds up energy), is unlikely to stretch, break, and fly around. Now that being said, it does not mean you can let a chain go loose, and then get a running start and give it a big jerk. All bets are off, as the one message stated - the hook may come loose and then something flies dangerously away. Chains seldom break, especially with the size tractors we are talking about. If they do, they drop to the ground.

I don't mean to imply one shouldn't be careful when pulling things. But if you are pulling from your tractor drawbar, and don't jerk the chain, you should be quite safe and not have to worry.

Be very cautious when using a nylon or synthetic rope, no matter what. If it stretches and breaks - don't be in the line of fire. There is a reason that rope pulling contests DO NOT use a nylon rope or the like for pulling (at least they shouldn't be). Many accidents of lost fingers, thumbs, hands, and other injuries when the stretched rope breaks and recoils through the hands and amongst the bodies of the pullers.

 

[cedarranch]

What I was refering to with the cross ties under the bucket was to lay a log or crosstie down on the ground next to the shrub where the FEL bucket would lay. Lower the bucket down onto the log/crosstie. This would put the bottom of the bucket up off the ground. Attched the cutting edge of the bucket to the shrub at ground level under the branches using a log chain or strap etc. Now curl the bucket up then let it back down. Take up any slack in the chain/strap and repeat. After several tries you will sork it out of the ground. You will also have to axe any problem roots and soak the ground before and during the process. You need the log/crosstie support under the bucket or as you curl it will squish your tires, break an axle, or just pull the loader down towards the ground.

 

[Bird]

Never had any personal experience with a chain breaking, but when I was on the volunteer fire department, I helped fight a big grass fire that resulted from a chain break. A tractor/trailer truck was moving an old mobile home and he got stuck off the edge of the road, so they attached a long chain from his truck to a loaded tandem axle dump truck that was going to pull him out. The chain broke, snapped back with enough force to strike a spark, and ignited dry grass. Don't think I'd have wanted to be between those trucks when the chain broke.

 

[Old_Wanker]

Beenthere,

Theres been another thread on this subject months ago. Breaking chains are dangerous and there were comments and pictures and such in that thread.

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.tractorbynet.com/cgi-bin/compact/showflat.pl?Cat=&Board=owning&Number=47675&page=&view=&sb=&o=&fpart=all&vc=1>Pulling Stumps</A>

 

[Egon]

I agree with your statments fully.

Egon

 

[Anonymous Poster]

Seems to me, it's OK if a chain breaks, as long as the force is directed away from you. To accomplish this, why not use a chain which has one link significantly weaker than all the others (but strong enough for normal use) and locate this link at the tractor end? That way, if the chain breaks under tension at the weak link, nothing comes your way.

 

[DDT]

On large or soild stumps you might make a half hitch (thats what folks in my area call it) it is a choker type set up. if you set your chain right it will spin your root ball 1/3 to 1/4 turn befor the chain gets to a straight pull. this will make a difference when pulling stumps.

 

[TonyC]

I have used a nylon tow strap for years. I think there is a picture of one included in one of the eariler posts. I have used it for everything you can imagine including pulling up shrubs. It is very light, easy to carry on the tractor, easier to "hook-up" and as safe as you can get. I have towed things, pulled up small trees, and dragged downed trees to the burn pile. Simple, quick and safe...the only way to go.

 

[AndyR]

Your rim hookup sounds like a slightly uptodate version of something they used to use waaaayyy back. When the Erie Canael was built in New York state, they used a 20 foot set of wheels with a large axel. They supposedly hooked up chain or rope to a stump, round the axel a few times, then on to a mule team or whatever pulling power they had. Supposed to have worked pretty well though I've never tried one myself.

 

[beenthere]

In your reference, it turns out it wasn't the chain but the 'stretchable snap strap' that caused the chain to be launched.
My point still remains. The chain being used in a steady pull, is not in itself dangerous (IMO). For those that want to be afraid of using a chain, I have no problem with that. I am not afraid of using a chain to pull with, but I would never hook it up with a stretchable strap or anything else that would build up energy.

 

[gerard]

My 2 cents - use a combination of the previous suggestions -hand dig a little all around the base, soak well, then try and pull. Your rim idea sounds like a good one - it will re direct the force to pull straight up which is the weakest area of resistance. If you still can't get it pulling a few times, then pushing with the loader and working it back and forth a little may help loosen it up. If you REALLY want to use some leverage use a chain fall pulley system to do the pulling. You can double or quadruple the pulling force that way.

 

[PaulT]

In my experience with pulling plants/shrubs/trees, I don't think static pull will ever get you there with the power range we are talking about. You will need to jerk it out, and for that, the tug-em strap is the tool of choice. I think a 4wd truck would probably work MUCH better than a tractor,s ince you can get these moving MUCH faster in the short amount of time (distance) before the strap tensions. This equates to a huge amount of momentum, compared to the force the tractor will generate. If you don't have a 4wd, or a friend with a 4wd, then follow the above suggestions.

 

[ket]

the best way I know to pull anything out of the ground (if your not wanting to save the shrubs) is find a old tire rim ( the larger the better) hook your strap(preferred) or chain to bottom of what you are pulling and then with the tire rim up against said object take the chain over the rim .. this will give a upward pulling effect,, and a folcrum(sp) effect .. you can darn near pull a electric pole out this way with alot less effort.. .. HEY it real does work
ket

 

[dmccarty]

ktctest6,

There was already a reference to a pulling stumps thread here
in TBN Land. I'm sure there are more if you search. Stumps
are interesting. Some come out of the ground real easy. And
some don't.

Yesterday I was clearing some trees from my DriveWayToBe. They
were all small, 5 to 12 inches. The Easter Red Ceder which was about
a foot in diameter I was able to get out of the ground with my
4n1 bucket. There was a 6 inch hardwood that took about 10 minutes
with the backhoe. The hardwood had a good two foot long tap root.
Thats a long way of saying your stumps may come out easy. Or they
may come out hard. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Most of the stump I have hit with the FEL just ain't moving without
digging. I have tried to pull large stumps, all but dug out, with a chain.
The only thing I did was get excercise playing with the chain and digging
trenches with my front and rear tires. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif My tractor has more HP
than traction.

My subdivision neighbor had some Red Tip shrubs along a fence line. He cut them
down. They grew back. He cut them back again. They grew back. He
rented one of those Orange tractors with a backhoe and dug them up. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Good idea but for the color of the tractor! Yuck! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Your best bet might be to rent a backhoe and play for the day. /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif
Course if you are near a fence line maybe you don't want to do that
either! /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Chain. I have some American made logging chain my JD dealer had. Its
good stuff. The usual chain in the stores is made in China and I was not
real impressed with its rating. I forgot which Mark made the remark years
ago, but he said he had had problems with made in China hooks and I think
chain. Anyway, when I needed more chain I ended up buying Grade 70
Transport chain. The stuff does not rust real easy, especially compared
with regular chain, and it has higher ratings as well. Its also smaller for
higher capacity so it lighter and easier to work with. The transport chain
I bought was at both Home Depot and Lowes. I think it was cheaper/same
price as the by the foot stuff, already had hooks, and was 20 feet long if
I remember right. It came in a plastic bag if that helps.

Hope this helps. Let us know of it goes.
Dan McCarty

 

[BayView]

Do you have a 3/4 ton 4 wheel drive pickup? I've pulled many large shrubs with the truck in 4WD lo range. My JD 855 appreciates not being abused. The truck doesn't care.
Just a thought.

 

[drcollie]

I've done a lot of this. But I've never used the tractor, always my Toyota Land Cruiser with a large, heavy duty 'snatch strap" tied around the old shrubs. Lock the diffs on the Gland Bruiser and simply get goin' forward. The Snatch Strap has 'give' to it, so it stores energy and doesn't yank the vehicle too badly. I pulled out twenty-two mature shubs this way two years ago, and nary a one was able to put up much of a fight. When I tried my tractor initially, it just spun....not enough hp or weight......240 HP and 5,500 lb (LC) beats 35HP and 2,500 lb anyday <g>