Thomas
Epic Contributor
- Joined
- Apr 6, 2000
- Messages
- 31,096
- Location
- Lebanon,NH.
- Tractor
- Kubota B2650HSD w/Frontloader & CC LTX1046 & Craftman T2200 lawn mower.
Yeah yer did. 
Site clearing about to begin
- Thread starter USAFpj
- Start date
- Views: 2628
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
One of the hardest things to deal with is getting a stump out of the ground. Pushing a tree up high usually leads to the tree snapping off somewhere between where you are pushing and the ground. Then you have to dig up the stump.
Somehow you need to cut the roots and dig up enough dirt to get the tree and the stump to come out of the ground all together. I've done this with a 170 hp dozer and I've done this with a 80hp backhoe. The backhoe is faster, cleaner and easier hands down. I'm curious how the track loader does, but I'm a big nervous that you will be creating a bigger mess then you need to.
Good luck
Eddie
Somehow you need to cut the roots and dig up enough dirt to get the tree and the stump to come out of the ground all together. I've done this with a 170 hp dozer and I've done this with a 80hp backhoe. The backhoe is faster, cleaner and easier hands down. I'm curious how the track loader does, but I'm a big nervous that you will be creating a bigger mess then you need to.
Good luck
Eddie
Billrog
Veteran Member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2014
- Messages
- 2,054
- Location
- Armstrong, British Columbia
- Tractor
- Kioti 2610, 580 SuperM Case Backhoe
Pushing over large trees leaves a very dangerous mess to deal with it's very difficult to always figure out which way the tree is loaded with tension when you go to cut the stump off. Safest and fastest way with the larger trees is fall & limb then skid them to a pile out of the way. Then deal with the smaller stuff with what ever equipment you have.
I think what constitutes a 'big tree' here in the Southeast is a bit different than what you commonly have in BC. I know your concerns on the root ball, tipping the crawler over, and tension on trunks, widowmakers, etc. I'm inexperienced, but have common sense- if the task looks a bit overwhelming for the crawler, we'll clear some Spring time underbrush, get some of the smaller, rotted debris out, and wait for the pro's to come in. Great reminders and cautions, though!
What work for me is I dig around the tree snapping all the big roots. You use the bucket curl action to cut the roots. Use the ground for the sit of the bucket and curl it to snap the root. Then you push with the bucket up high. This way you pull the stump at the same time. Now you need to assess the balance of the tree where it has most of its weight. You dig first on that side then you finish off on the lighter side of the tree, for safety. Push with the bucket up high and gently apply pressure. With the 120 excavator you have plenty of clearance away from the stump since you’ll have long stick of the excavator. Ohh forgot, dig 3 to 4 ft away and around from the stump of the tree.
I’m amaze how fast this method work for me with my Cat 304CR dropping big maple tree and other Northwest trees.
XR
I’m amaze how fast this method work for me with my Cat 304CR dropping big maple tree and other Northwest trees.
XR
Wild Bill the 2nd
Gold Member
I've taken out hundreds of pines from an old Christmas tree farm. My experience is that the moisture content of the soil makes a HUGE difference on how the tree goes down. In the dry months of summer they just snap off. You want to get at them when the soil is good and wet. Though I have only taken down 8-10" dia max... Your situation may be different. Just letting you know what I've seen.
I also agree that you don't want to get hung up with the front tires up on the root ball. Bent my exhaust last spring. Glad that was all the damage it did.
EddieWalker
Epic Contributor
Good point on soil moisture. I've learned that the size of the tree that I can push over with my dozer goes down to about half if it hasn't rained in a week, and if it hasn't rained in a month, they will all snap off on me. I once go carried away clearing an area with my dozer. Seemed like every tree was just the right size to push over. Then after a few hours I ran out trees and realized that I had about three months worth of work to clean up the mess I created. That's when I learned that pushing them over and the pushing them aside just tangles them up. I've never done that again, lesson learned. Now I take them out one at a time with the backhoe and take them to the burn pile or the log pile or the firewood staging area right away. So much faster to work in a clean organized manner.
Eddie