Pulling Metal Fence Posts

[Intrepidt]

I am in the process of dismanteling an old dog run the previous owner had built. It consists of welded wire and the green metal fence posts. My biggest concern are the posts. I've been told by several people they are a bear to get out of the ground however, none of the same people have any suggestions. Help!

 

[Artisan]

1- Go to Utube
2- Type in "How to pull fence posts"
3- Watch till you find a way you can do w/ tools at hand
4- Do it.
5- Make a Utube video of it and post it up here.

 

[bbrown4804]

Handy man jack and a chain has worked pretty good for me in the past. I assume they are just set in earth?

 

[bcp]

Let the hose trickle on it overnight, then move the top in a circle, getting larger and larger, until it is loose enough to pull out. If that doesn't work, then you need a long lever, chain, or jack.

If a Harbor Freight is nearby, get one of these, then sell it if you have no more use for it. Or rent one from a tool rental place.

Post Puller - Harbor Freight Tools

Bruce

 

[beppington]

I've successfully pulled many metal t-posts by using just a chain & an 8' long 2x6 (10' or 12' is even better, but 8' works).

Lay the 2x6 on the ground right up against the post, with about 1.5' of the 2x6 extending past one side of the post, & the other 6.5' of it extending past the other side of the post. The 2x6 should be standing on its edge. Wrap the chain tightly around the t-post & then tightly around the 2x6. Put a bolt thru the chain to secure it in the nice, tight position you've got it at. Go to the long end of the 2x6 & lift up until the post comes out.

If you need more leverage, make the 1.5' end of the 2x6 more like 1'. Or get a longer 2x6. Also, putting a rock or piece of wood under the short end of the 2x6 will help if it's digging into the ground.

This is a very cheap method because the 2x6 is only $4 - $6 & most people that would be doing this job prob already have a chain & a bolt. It does require a little manual labor, but you need to work off that cheeseburger & fries lunch anyway.


Edit: A drawing is almost always better:

Edit 2: Dang, I drew the chain around the post above the 2x6 - It should be below.

 

[robbyr]

If you're talking about t-posts, and you have a tractor with FEL, this is the fastest method. I let the chain hang down from the bucket, loop around post at the bottom, back over itself and then looped around post again in opposite direction. Raise FEL and should come right up. Tractor Supply sells a t-post puller made Speeco for about fifty bucks that works pretty good (same principal as the aforementioned 2 x 6).

 

[Ron JD670]

I am in the process of dismanteling an old dog run the previous owner had built. It consists of welded wire and the green metal fence posts. My biggest concern are the posts. I've been told by several people they are a bear to get out of the ground however, none of the same people have any suggestions. Help!

There are some good threads here on pulling posts, but I would want to first confirm are these T posts or are they round tube posts?

The round posts are often cemented in place, but even if the are not the big problem is getting hold of them. might have to drill holes to bolt a chain to them.

The ideas discussed her will work great with T posts, however I bent up my HF post puller trying to pull some of the tougher posts. Still have a half dozen I could not pull.
Be careful wiggling the posts I ended up breaking one off at ground level because the clay soil here is like cement.
I Might try the long 2X6 approach on them or just go at them with a chain and 3pt as suggested in another thread. Maybe I'll get lucky after a week of rain.

Keep us posted on what works.

Good luck.
RoN

 

[SandburRanch]

The round posts are often cemented in place, but even if the are not the big problem is getting hold of them. might have to drill holes to bolt a chain to them.
RoN

Maybe it's time to learn or re- learn how to tie the clove hitch knot the simple way and quit fooling around rapping the chain around and through itself until you are plumb tuckered out.

Since the top end of the post is open, throw a CCW loop "A" and beside it another CCW loop "B". Set loop "A" on top of "B" and drop it over the post to what ever height it needs to be. Pop one end like a whip to set the knot and pull. If there is any roughness to the pipe post it usually won't slip. If you need a second bite for another stroke, slide the knot, re set it and repeat. Works on T-iron post too. For this type of application 2 chain hooks aren't necessary and really just in the way.

 

[yelbike]

I pulled a bunch of Tpost last year. Just use your fel like the last couple poster said. Its quicker if someone is operating and someone else is wrapping the chain and pulling the posts. They should pull right out. Easy job.

My biggest problem in my chain link fence removal project, was pulling out the chain link that was laying on the ground. I would never have thought that field grass could bite so much into the fence.

Anyways good luck.:thumbsup:

 

[nue2farm]

If using your FEL, be careful, I lifted one of the rear tires off the ground trying to pull t-post with my old Ford 4000. Wound up buying a HF post puller. Worked like a charm.
Have fun and stay safe.....

 

[yelbike]

If using your FEL, be careful, I lifted one of the rear tires off the ground trying to pull t-post with my old Ford 4000. Wound up buying a HF post puller. Worked like a charm.
Have fun and stay safe.....

Back wheels off the ground?........Thats how you know your at max leverage!!:laughing:

 

[LarryD]

Maybe it's time to learn or re- learn how to tie the clove hitch knot the simple way and quit fooling around rapping the chain around and through itself until you are plumb tuckered out.

+1. Lots of grip and T-posts don't stand a chance. I wouldn't even care to guess how many posts I've pulled this way.

 

[Doppelgangar]

Hit the T polst further into the ground by an inch and then pull it out.

 

[Western]

I've successfully pulled many metal t-posts by using just a chain & an 8' long 2x6 (10' or 12' is even better, but 8' works).

I have used the same Idea and it works great, I have also used my FEL, also works great. BUT if I'm pulling allot of t-post, I use my t-post puller, much faster than leveraged or FEL. I bought mine for $15 in 1990, but they aren't hard to make.


Use this with FEL or 3 point (easier than chain) cheap too
Little Mighty Man T-Post Puller Each

This is an easy hand one (easy to make if you can weld)
T-Post Puller

 

[wcampbell47]

Short length of chain and front end loader or 3 point hitch. Works best with a partner. Partner wraps chain around T post attaches to lowered FEL. Driver lifts the FEL and moves to next post. I have a quick hitch so I have a place to attach a chain. Works the same.

 

[RDrancher]

I've used the clove hitch method for years, but I'll tell ya that the teeth on a ratchet rake will pull t-posts out real quick with the loader. I bent the first couple of posts thinking that it would be tougher than it was. A nice gentle bucket curl and out they come.

 

[crash325]

If using your FEL, be careful, I lifted one of the rear tires off the ground trying to pull t-post with my old Ford 4000. Wound up buying a HF post puller. Worked like a charm.
Have fun and stay safe.....

What kind of a light weight are you?? 1 Wheel off the ground.:laughing::laughing:

You know you are really pulling when you have 3 of them off the ground. Not a wimpy little tractor - Try it with a Deer 210. :thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[deerseeker001]

i bought a t-post puller at a farm store,works effortlessly.i think it was 20-25 bucks,worth every penny.

 

[xtn]

Real men can walk up to the t-post, bend over, bite the post, stand up straight, spit the post out and move to the next one. Right?

 

[nue2farm]

Hey Crash, I did get three wheels off the ground... once... the fourth one blew the tire off the rim. I was off that thing so fast I hardly knew I moved. Off the high side, by the way. SWMBO did not approve my skills.... go figure. Have fun and stay safe