Stump Removal Suggestions wanted for BX23

[Bill_BX23]

I've been working on a 24" pine stump since Saturday afternoon. I've spent a lot of time cutting the radial roots, and have most done to within 2' of the stump. But the going is getting tougher. I was just wondering if someone had any suggestions to assist me in getting this stump out of the ground a little quicker.

I have pulled out an axed to chop through some of the more stubborn, thicker roots. I've even considered using the chainsaw even though it is death on the chain. Any other ideas?

Thanks

Bill.

 

[aardvark]

Honestly, if the stump is anything like the Florida pine root ball picture I attached, I'd just rent a stump grinder.

This was something like 18-20 inches in diameter.

 

[jim_wilson]

Sounds just like a stump I pulled out last year. Went thru the same exact procedure as you are going thru now. I started off using a Sawzall to cut the roots and ended up going with the axe - the Sawzall would get stuck and break blades and stuff like that. The axe just worked better. When I finally got close to the stump I started using the backhoe to work all the roots back and forth - this would surface where other roots that were holding the main stump into the ground were located and allow me to cut those too. Eventually after working the stump back and forth with the backhoe it popped right out of the ground. It took quite a while though. You might try some splitting wedges on the main stump piece to try and break it up into smaller pieces to make it easier for the backhoe to grab and pull out.

 

[Bill_BX23]

I was too cheap to rent the stump grinder - besides I had this shiny new BX23 just sitting around, and after I'd paid all that good money...

I had thought about a reciprocating saw for the roots - blades are relatively cheap - I have a couple of 12" wood blades already. The thought also crossed my mind to saw down into the stump with the chainsaw - as deep as I can go with a 16" bar (and not get into the dirt if I can help it). I guess at the very least I can remove some wood and lighten the load.

 

[jim_wilson]

Even if you are ok with destroying the chainsaw blade you still have to be careful - not sure what the soil is like down there but up here it is full of rocks. I found a number of the roots I dug out actually had rocks embedded in the root where it had just grown right in. Plus there were rocks stuck in cracks and crevices around all the roots. That's why I went with the axe - less money, less chance of bouncing back and cutting my leg off. Plus I needed the exercise.

 

[Partsman2]

My advice is get a bigger backhoe. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[Tractor_Jim_CT]

I had a simular large stump I started to dig last fall. The hole was hugh and found no stump movement after hours and hours of digging. I gave up and left the stump and hole thru the winter, which had filled with water after a wet spring.

I decided to give one last attempt a few weeks ago after seeing posts of larger stumps pulled with BXs on TBN.

I began digging deeper, and into the bottom of the stump. When I dug the bh bucket teeth into the center of the stump, and pulled, I noticed a slight movement, then watched the dirt around the stump for movement. I dug futher in the areas where the dirt moved or showed signs of resistance. After about 1/2 hour, the stump broke free, but it was so heavy with dirt and rock filled roots, I could not get it out of the hole.

I hired a contractor with a JD 110 and he pulled it out in less than 30 seconds. What was interesting is he could cup the large root with his BH and shake most of the dirt off, making it light for me to lift with the FEL and toothbar. If you have just one stump, keep working it and maybe fill the hole with water and let it sit, then dig into the bottom below the root. But if you have several stumps to pull, hire out.

 

[jim_wilson]

That's good advice - I did the same thing when I was using my BX23 to pull out that massive pine stump. Keep going around different areas and pulling at it - watch the dirt to see if you see any movement at all. If you see movement keep pulling at it - I kept working mine for hours before it finally just broke free. Even a very small root will be enough to keep the stump anchored - if you just keep working it eventually you will break it free enough that it will pull loose.

 

[edski]

I just finished yanking a stump out this weekend. It was a biggin, prolly maple. Started with the FEL to remove surrounding soil, then began digging with BH. Where roots didn't pop, I dug out further, along the root, til I could bust it with BH (seat time is better than axe time). Finally had a "moat", 2-3' deep all the way around the stump. Couldn't budge it with tractor so I wraped a chain around a portion of the stump that was facing N, and pulled w/ my P/U heading W, maybe WSW. The stump spun in place shearing off remaining roots/tap root. Then hooked chain to E side of stump and drove W, flipping it out of the hole. I'll post pics latter.

 

[edski]

Here's a pic of the stump in the finished hole.