Removing metal fence posts

[Doc_Bob]

I have a lot of old rusty metal fence posts stuck in the ground around my fifteen acres. I need to pull them out. Is there any easy way to pull them out without breaking them and leaving a metal spike in the ground?
Bob

 

[California]

I would pull the easy ones with this. Don't know about the tough ones.

HF $17 post puller.

 

[BattalionChief]

I have a lot of old rusty metal fence posts stuck in the ground around my fifteen acres. I need to pull them out. Is there any easy way to pull them out without breaking them and leaving a metal spike in the ground?
Bob

I think I am missing some important info in your post, you have probably thought of the following:
What about just wrapping them with a chain and lifting with the loader?
That method works great for me... (you can use the 3 pt hitch with draw bar if you don't have a loader)

I guess these methods assume you can get the tractor in place near the posts...

 

[k7oi]

Doc_Bob: I had lots of them I wanted to pull as well. I first went along with bare hands (OK, gloved hands) and was able to pull a surprising percentage of them! Next I went along with the 'Bota (L2800), and chained them to the FEL (hooks welded on reinforced top of bucket). Another percentage pulled up pretty easily that way. Then there were the stubborn ones... I was very surprised to find myself up in the air when the FEL remained chained to the solid post, and the tractor lifting instead! I tried curling the bucket, etc, same results. I bought the Harbor Freight t-post puller; it seemed ideal for the task, but it only pulled about 1/3 of the remaining posts before it broke. (Harbor Freight satisfaction guarantee, no problem with refund!). Our local Farmers Supply has a similar tool (much more expensive). Finally hooked up the post hole digger - drilled three holes in a triangle around the post - then with shovel could loosen the dirt enough to pull the post by hand. A little more work than I had hoped for, but it got the job done! (OK, some of the job - I still have a few more to do in another section of pasture...).
Good luck!
Terry K7OI

 

[RonR]

I'd pick a cool morning or evening, have Mom drive the Bota, and I'd have a 6ft length of chain to the center of the FEL. She'd drive to the post, I'd do two wraps of the chain around the post, she'd hit UP on the FEL, and the post should pop out.

Get a stubborn one, she could push forward with the FEL, while UPping, and if it still didn't come out, go in reverse.

ron

 

[shane]

I've used my 3 point hitch lift and rocking bach and forth with great sucess.

 

[rebelmedic]

This could be adapted to a three point hitch system if needed.I took a scrap piece of chain about three feet long added a regular hook one end and a slip hook (big enough opening to hook over bucket lip)to the other end. Wrap around the post useing regular hook back to chain.Then place the bigger hook over bucket lip at center. Bucket curled all the way backand against post gives a straighter lift.Stuborn ones may require jogging bucket up and down a few times,most lift right out.

 

[jand38]

This is another use for that wonderfull tractor pulling up post sometime one has still do some manual work but all in all it has always worked for me. I have always had use of a 75 hp tractor so I have not been defeated by a post.

 

[PineRidge]

I wouldn't give it another thought. You have a TN, hook a chain up to the FEL and they'll easily come out Bob. Play like McGuyver and you'll do just fine.

 

[Dargo]

Just go out and play frisbee with your kids. Sooner or later they'll throw one where you have to run and chase it. Sure enough, you'll be concentrating on catching that frisbee and run smack dab into the post. Holy cow, that smarted! But, I bent the post over at about a 45 degree angle and it came right out when I got up off the ground and went to take my revenge on it.

Actually, a chain on your 3 pt hitch draw bar will give you more lifting power than your FEL. At worse, you may have to rock it some. I wouldn't waste the gas to blow my money on the cheapo Chinese made pot metal hunk from Harbor Fright. Rule #1, never buy anything from HF that will ever have force applied to it. The guarantee is that it will break and you will waste time and money making return trips.