Removing Fence Posts

[RET]

I just pulled a bunch of 4x4 treated posts set in concrete yesterday using the FEL on my BX2200. I have hooks welded on each side and one in the middle. I only used the center hook yesterday. I used the same method Bird described - pulled up and rocked back and forth as necessary to wallow out the hole.
-R

 

[MikePA]

<font color=blue>These posts were driven (not dug and set) and are 3/4 round posts. They were power driven into the ground about two years ago so they are strong and tight. </font color=blue>

I assumed from this description in Roy's original post, these were wooden posts, not metal. I agree, I would not leave metal posts in the ground. However, before I had a tractor to pull wooden posts out, I've cut them off at ground level with a chain saw. Depending upon where the post is, this may not make sense.

 

[ewoss3]

Usually another good idea is to hook them up to the FEL and place tension on them, then take a 12lbs maul and tyhump them at the base. For some reason it usually pops them right out..

 

[ddl]

When I was growing up in South Dakota, we would back the tractor rear wheel to the post, wrap the chain around the post and through the wheel with the post against the tire, drive the tractor foward and pull the post out of the ground. Worked every time.

Dan L

 

[TerryinMD]

RhallVA,

I have used both my FEL and the 3pt hitch with a drawbar. I prefer the drawbar because you can get a chain close to the ground and wrapped around the post. Another plus is that you can operate the rock shaft from the ground so that you can quickly move the chain down if need be.

This method is very effective if you have two people. One on the tractor and one working the chain.

I use this method for posts, small trees, and any other object that needs pulled from the ground.

Terry

 

[rwdunky]

Try this
take a 2 x 6 about 4 foot long lean it against the fence post. take your chain and wrap it around bottom of post like a slip knot. run chain over top of 2 x 6 and hook to tractor. pull ahead and post will come out.

 

[Harv]

If I'm following you, rwdunky, you drape your chain over the plank, which transfers the direction of pull to something closer to vertical lift, in addition to giving you a little leverage as the board straightens up:

Sounds pretty darned clever. /w3tcompact/icons/clever.gif

 

[Bird]

<font color=blue>pretty darned clever</font color=blue>

And it even works . . ., 'cept when the 2 x 6 splinters into a zillion pieces./w3tcompact/icons/laugh.gif

Very nice illustration, though.

 

[paccorti]

I like this idea too, darned clever. By standing the 2x6 more vertical you get better mechanical advantage, might be useful to get the post loose initially. Might not hurt to nail another board to the bottom of the 2x6 to spread out the load.

Peter

 

[gerard]

You should have no problem if not set in concrete. I pulled a bunch w/o a problem using the loader and a choker chain as in previous posts. The ones set in concrete were a no go with my tractor. Needed the backhoe to get them out (6000 lb capacity - pulled out the concrete too!!)