Stump fun

[woody]

Wife asked me did I have to dig such a big hole! Had this tree cut down a few months ago and decided to dig it up this past Friday and Saturday it was a monster to get out of that hole. I knew before hand that the L45 was not going to pick it up but I thought I could roll it out of the hole with it and that is where it got real interesting.

 

[Mikefromcny]

Could you dig a bigger hole next to it and bury it?

 

[woody]

Could you dig a bigger hole next to it and bury it?

could have but I just couldn't let it beat me

 

[Redlands Okie]

 

[woody]

the wife suggested I use my fancy trailer as she calls it so I tried it but the stump was just to big. at one point the trailer had the tractor completely off the ground.

 

[Thomas]

Hope your bride took you out to dinner after that. :thumbsup:

 

[Avenger]

I had to speak with my bride about wanting something done vs what it takes. It's easy to say:

"I want that stump removed, make it happen." Response: "I'll get to it when the ground is thawed and not muddy."

"Whats taking so long?" Response: "Its a huge stump. Things take time."

"Why do you need to dig such a huge hole?" Response: "Its a huge stump with a mile long tap root the size of a mack truck."

"Why do you need a bigger tractor?" Response: "You want me to remove a huge stump and my current tractor is inadequate for the job"

"Why do you need that big of a tractor?" Response: "because."

"Why is my lawn destroyed?" Response: "You wanted the stump removed. Now we have a hole where there used to be a stump."

"Let plant another tree there." Response: "no."


Not saying my wife is that way, but sometimes it really seems like it. :mur:

 

[Captain Dirty]

View attachment 600649View attachment 600650View attachment 600651

Wife asked me did I have to dig such a big hole! Had this tree cut down a few months ago and decided to dig it up this past Friday and Saturday it was a monster to get out of that hole. I knew before hand that the L45 was not going to pick it up but I thought I could roll it out of the hole with it and that is where it got real interesting.

Lighten your load. I suggest washing (most of) the dirt off with a pressure washer or even a garden hose. The dirt that runs back into the hole will help solve your wife's problem with the size of the hole. Once the roots are "clean" you may use a sawzall, chainsaw, hand saw, axe, or chisel to cut some roots. I personally favor a sawzall with a 12" carbide demo blade. The faster speed of a chainsaw dulls the teeth very quickly; the slow speed of an axe gives more time between sharpenings, but sometimes it is impractical to get a good swing at the desired angle.
With the dirt and some of the roots removed you may find ways to thread a chain or strap through the root stubs. Then you would have decide whether to further lighten the load by cutting the trunk off (chainsaw for that) or keep the trunk long for leverage.

About year ago I removed a gnarly, similar sized stump using my L45. The trunk was 2' in diameter. The folding rule is 6'. As I recall, mostly by rolling with the BH, sometimes reaching over the stump, setting the BH and driving forward in lowest range. You may have to dig a longer ramp, but that dirt goes back in the hole.

 

[Diggin It]

Yeah, I'd say a good portion of your weight there is dirt. Wash it, then commence to loppin' off root sections.

 

[woody]

as always, you guys are right a lot of the weight was dirt and I was asking a lot from the L45 but I have more confidence in it's ability now and I know when I look at a task if I can do it or not. I did think about the pressure washer but with my bad shoulder and no one here at the time to help me crank it I didn't use it but should have.

 

[woody]

Hope your bride took you out to dinner after that. :thumbsup:

yes she did and it encouraged her to get the briers out of her flower bed now I guess I'll have to carry her out to eat.

 

[Captain Dirty]

. . . but with my bad shoulder and no one here at the time to help me crank it [a pressure washer] I didn't use it but should have.

If you have a bad shoulder I retract my advice about a sawzall. Roots have a tendency to bind, and a sawzall will shake you violently. You will have to be the judge of other methods. Perhaps you can get your wife to "buy in" by letting her wash the dirt. Then see if dirt removal alone allows you to handle the stump

 

[nyone]

Gesus thats a big stump to no let rot for a few years. They make stump grinders for a reason.

 

[mcfarmall]

I think I would have rented a Vermeer stump cutter, had the job done in 2 hours and the mess cleaned up in another 1-2 hours and been done with it. But hey, look at all the fun you had.

 

[Code54]

I have pulled several like that with my mini and I end up digging a ramp out of the hole so I can push/pull/drag it out of the hole. More than once had to use the MX5100 and the Mini to ge the stump where I wanted. It is a pain but once it is done, grade over the hole and plant grass/etc... Know one would ever know it was there a year down the road and if I need to run a waterline or something there is nothing left in the ground to go around, etc...
Good work, it will look great when you are all done!

 

[shooterdon]

I had one that size and had it ground down. Sometimes not having a backhoe is a blessing. Lol

 

[Diggin It]

I think I would have rented a Vermeer stump cutter, had the job done in 2 hours and the mess cleaned up in another 1-2 hours and been done with it. But hey, look at all the fun you had.

You're assuming there was such a thing available for rental within a reasonable distance at an affordable rate and when the person needed it.

 

[CobyRupert]

I had to speak with my bride about wanting something done vs what it takes. It's easy to say:

"I want that stump removed, make it happen." .......
.
.
......"Why is my lawn destroyed?"

"Let plant another tree there." Response: "no."

:laughing: :laughing: :laughing:

Yeah, I'd say a good portion of your weight there is dirt. Wash it, then commence to loppin' off root sections.

Yep. I guess probably >90% is.
You know it's a lot of dirt when my tractor could lift 24' of the tree trunk and not break a sweat, but 2' stump" (& root ball) of same tree sends loader into relief or lifts back tires off ground. When I was clearing my land, I wish I had a pressure washer, not just for reducing weight, but even left outside and upside down (multiple downpours) for 2-3 years, and subject to multiple ROARING bonfires, the stumps just won't burn with all that dirt.

In the shoulda-coulda department: Instead of cutting tree first, attach a cable 15'-25' up and take a lesson on levers from Archimedes of Syracuse (born c. 287 - died c. 212 BC): "Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world."
The mechanical advantage will pop the roots right out when pulling, then cut it.

 

[k0ua]

In the shoulda-coulda department: Instead of cutting tree first, attach a cable 15'-25' up and take a lesson on levers from Archimedes of Syracuse (born c. 287 - died c. 212 BC): "Give me a place to stand and with a lever I will move the whole world."
The mechanical advantage will pop the roots right out when pulling, then cut it.

Yep. I have learned that the hard way.

 

[Richard]

Rather than pressure wash, I've used the backhoe to scrape/break the dirt off the stump. Put the teeth into it, wiggle them, lift the stump (with the teeth embedded into the dirt) and let it drop...roll stump around (using teeth into the dirt) to break it up.... pinch stump between bucket & dipper stick to help break dirt up...

Go back a week later after the dirt dries out....do it again....

I've had good luck getting stumps pretty clean and prepared for the burn pile.

Once in the burn pile, if I still have dirt insulation problems.... I again, use the hoe to break the dirt up and put stump in my next fire.

Not met a stump yet (and I've pulled dozens of BIG ones out of the ground) that I've not been able to burn to ashes after getting the dirt off. They are all gone....up in smoke.