Pulling Tree Stumps Safely

[DenisM]

Want to pull some tree stumps, What is the best place to attach the chains to the tractor? Have a draw bar and was thinking of using chain hooks at the ends of the bar? Is it better to attach the chains to the loader bucket? Is it better to use straps instead of chains?
Stumps aren't that big; but still don't want to take a chance on damaging anything on the tractor.
Thanks for any ideas or thoughts.

 

[EastTnFarmboy]

Are the stumps loose or in the ground?

 

[DenisM]

Stumps are in the ground. I am thinning out some trees where my wife wants a gazabo built. Most are locust or box elder about 6 to 8" in diameter. Cut down the trees several weeks ago and now I need to get rid of the stumps.

 

[EastTnFarmboy]

I'm not sure what kind of soil you have, but from my experience you may have difficulty "pulling" stumps from the ground with a compact tractor. You may be able to dig around them with the FEL enough to get them out eventually but you will disturb a lot of dirt to accomplish that using a FEL. Typically, you would use a backhoe to dig them out. For what it's worth, I owned a Case 450C dozer for several years, and I didn't even use it to "pull" stumps out of the ground. I removed a lot of stumps with the blade by digging around the roots and pushing them out. Even that was sometimes a challenge depending on the soil and the type of tree or the amount of leverage you could get. In my experience, it was easier to push out an entire tree than it was to dig out a stump. Keep in mind that the dozer would outweigh most compact tractors by several thousand pounds. I think you will just spin the tires or stall the tractor, but I am certainly not an expert. You might consider an alternate method.

Regarding where to attach the chain, do a search in the forums. There are several threads on methods of pulling logs with a tractor. Much of the advise in those threads would be helpful regarding the placement of your chain. There are safety issues to be considered as well and the threads discuss various points that should be helpful.

Good luck!!

 

[North Dakota]

You'll never pull em out with your tractor unless you dig down and cut the roots close to the trunk.

When I was younger my dad tried pulling out some old ash trees stumps (it was at the end of a tree row) with his John Deere 4840 Biggest two wheel drive they made in 1978 (100 HP I think) big duals and the tractor just spun. Got a run at it and broke the chain and it broke the back window and dented the metal on the back seat. I was terrified as I ran to the tractor. Thought he was dead. My dad wasn't hurt one bit but we were shook up a lot and went home and counted our blessings. Chain was fairly substantial as well.

The trees may have had shared roots but non of the stumps were 6 inches in diameter.

 

[SPYDERLK]

Stumps are in the ground. I am thinning out some trees where my wife wants a gazabo built. Most are locust or box elder about 6 to 8" in diameter. Cut down the trees several weeks ago and now I need to get rid of the stumps.

What size tractor do you have? How tall are the stumps?
larry

 

[TrippleT]

You may have had a better chance of getting the roots out if you had not cut the trees. Place the loader bucket against the tree and push from several feet above ground. At least that is what has worked for me.
I agree with others on here, it may be hard to get them out now. You might get some stump killer, check local ordinances though, and put on them to kill the stumps, if time is not imperative.
If I were going to pull on something like that I would do it from the swinging drawbar, not on the bucket, or the three point hitch. Otherwise you might just have to use the loader and break the roots and then level the ground afterwards. Just my opinion.

 

[2manyrocks]

There's some posts in the safety forum on this including at least one fatality report. Stump grinder or a backhoe would be much safer.

 

[flusher]

Want to pull some tree stumps, What is the best place to attach the chains to the tractor? Have a draw bar and was thinking of using chain hooks at the ends of the bar? Is it better to attach the chains to the loader bucket? Is it better to use straps instead of chains?
Stumps aren't that big; but still don't want to take a chance on damaging anything on the tractor.
Thanks for any ideas or thoughts.

Here's the setup for pulling stumps with my 1964 MF-135 diesel (45 hp engine, 38 hp pto, 33hp drawbar).

I use the drawbar. The chain and hooks come from the local Tru-Value hardware store. That particular stump was alive so I trenched around the periphery and cut the larger horizontal root before trying to pull it. Some of the dead stumps are loose enough to pull without trenching.

I keep the chain short so I don't get whacked if it breaks. I leave a little slack in the chain so the the tractor jerks the stump when the wheels start moving forward. This helps break the horizontal roots.

The loader bucket isn't designed for pulling.

 

[gemini5362]

Did you say Locust trees ? If we are talking the same tree. The ones I am thinking about have long sharp thorns on them

Did you say you were going to be building a gazebo over the spot where the trees are ?

I would maybe look at ways to kill off the new trees that are going to grow where you cut the old ones down. It has been my experience that for every Locust tree I cut off ten new ones grow back 4 from the original trunk. Pulling trunks dont seem to help either since you cant get all the roots and they grow back from the roots.

Get something that will kill them and good luck

 

[ccsial]

I have a lot of black locust trees. They are terrific firewood but a pain to deal with. Gemini is right about how many and fast they grow. I'd put a few layers of thick plastic on the ground around the gazebo and put gravel over it. When I built my house 34 years ago the Cat that dug my basement pulled up the locust stumps. He would pick up the back of the cat before the stumps popped out and that is in very sandy soil. Those stumps don't rot very much either.

 

[AndyMA]

This is what a backhoe is for. If need be I would suggest renting one.

Andy

 

[dbdartman]

Look for my post in the picture forum. We pulled a few 6"-10" tree stumps, with a rather large machine & grapple, & they were NOT easy! Still needed to dig down along side of the root balls about 2'X2' & even then a couple were just tipping the machine up on it's tracks, & this is in VERY sandy soil.

 

[DenisM]

I have an old '54 Dodge Power Wagon with a winch and have been pulling the stumps just fine using the winch. One of the reasons I bought this tractor was to help me clear this area and make the job of getting the stumps out easier.
I have a Mahindra 4530 with a loader but no backhoe. When I first got the tractor, I pushed over one of the stumps easy enough but pulling them with the winch does a better job getting the roots out. That's why I thought pulling them with the tractor would be the way to go as it's hard to operate the winch by yourself.
As far as the locust trees go; I believe they are Black Locust. There are "male" and "female" trees I've been told. One of them has the thorns and the other doesn't but they both look the same. And they do make great long burning fire wood. More heat than oak. Also make great fench post as the wood is very rot resistant. My brother recently go a bunch of locust logs from a cabin built by the CCC in the 30's; still in great shape and never been treated or painted.

 

[dirtydan]

I was pulling a hedge stump out of a fence row this week. I have an old Oliver 1855 approximately 100 hp and over 10,000 lbs. To make a long story short I originally hooked on to the bale stabber which about 10 inches higher than the drawbar. Front end went up about 18 inches before I got the clutch pushed in. Made a believer out of me. Went back and rehooked to the drawbar. Front end stayed on the ground then and I was able to pull it out. I had the bale stabber on it to pull old fence posts straight out of the ground. Works good for that and doesn't leave such a big hole and the post doesn't break off that way. Always hook on to the drawbar if in doubt.

Dan

 

[ccsial]

DenisM:

If you keep them for firewood cut them to size while they are green. Dry locust is real tough on chains. You probably know this already but I thought I'd remind you.

 

[NewToy]

DenisM:

If you keep them for firewood cut them to size while they are green. Dry locust is real tough on chains. You probably know this already but I thought I'd remind you.

I've cut seasoned locust before and you're right about it being tough on the chainsaw. I've seen sparks flying from the chain while cutting it. The stuff burns like coal though.

John

 

[Reg]

Drawbar for sure.
Watching tractor pulls makes it clear; sure they wheelie, but it is self regulating.
The drawbar gets closer to the ground as the front wheels lift, SO close that there is essentially no leverage left to flip the tractor over backwards.

This question comes up a lot and there is always a reply or two suggesting that the tree could/should have been pushed over. I have a willow that is too big for that and the roots are probably fanned out and shallow anyway, so I'd be driving on them while pushing against the tree. IF it did work I could get into a nasty tip and flip situation, though I think the physics would prevent it.
There is no reasonable way that I can just snip it off 10 or 12 ft above ground level either (-:

Given that folk are faced with just the stump, are there any techniques for drilling down (maybe WAY down) into the stump and putting a big old thick walled pipe into the hole - then pushing or pulling that over ?

 

[ccsial]

I've cut seasoned locust before and you're right about it being tough on the chainsaw. I've seen sparks flying from the chain while cutting it. The stuff burns like coal though.

John

I've seen sparks come from black locust too. No other wood I have does that. I didn't say it though because I figured people would think I was exaggerating.

 

[Tororider]

My Dad and I pulled a bunch of stumps this fall using our JD 4310. Nothing over 12-14" I would say.

My suggestion would be to push the stump with the fel first, trying to break surface roots, then wrap stump with chain, leaving no more than 10' between you and stump. Maybe leave a little slack to jerk, but if it were me, not much.

I would have an axe handy and if you have someone else that can watch while you pull, a lot of times you can see where the large surface roots are and if you give them a couple whacks with the axe, you can then pop the stumps right out.

Good luck