What's the easiest way to.....

beenthere · May 15, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

In my experience, you'll get more lift from the 3pt, but that is just something to keep in mind after you try the FEL. No reason to fear the 3pt, IMO, unless you can't turn to look behind you. There are many ways to attach a chain (or strap)to your FEL bucket, without damaging the bucket ('cept for scratching the paint) but the welded on hooks work the best.

The trick for you is to grip the posts good enough to hold them while lifting, and not breaking them off (if 'soft' or rotten, as you implied) at the ground line where they are the softest.

Breaking them off at the ground line, and wanting to put the replacement post in the same spot is a headache. I know quite well, as I have had a 1000 ft board fence with 4x4 posts every 8 ft. Maintaining it over the past 41 years has been interesting, but now I am to the point that selling the weathered 1x6 red oak fence boards is the 'game' I play.

If they break off, digging them out is about the only choice (other than moving the hole). /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

texbaylea · May 15, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

Fellas - I konw that we are in love with using our tractor for every thing but sometimes muscle is quicker. To pull a single post , I wrap a chain around it low, hook the chain with a high lift jack and jack it out of the ground. Those jacks are rated for 7000 lbs lift. If I have several posts to pull, then I will get out the tractor with all its rigging.

beenthere · May 15, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

tex
Not I. If I can do it with the tractor (even one post), I will. Lugging that jack all the way to the post, and lugging the chain, and then lugging all three back is just too much "work". /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif I'll throw the chain in the bucket, go to the post, (have to get off to hook up the chain and maybe to load the post in the bucket /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif) and then drive it back. Ahhhh. Just relaxing to just think about it.

I waited too many years for this CUT with FEL and 3pt., to let it sit in the shed while I do what I did for 30 years without it. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

And the question was......easiest, not the quickest (which you are right about).

Gatorboy · May 15, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

Get clevis hooks for the ends of your chain -- wrap the one end around the post near the bottom and hook the one hook to a link in the chain. Take the other hook end and hook it onto your loader and then lift.

California · May 15, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

Nobody has mentioned ballast yet. I don't know if you will need this, but someone might:

Pulling fenceposts, I found they acted as an anchor. I tried chaining over the back side of the bucket to move the lift point back, but raising the bucket still just lifted the rear tires while the fencepost remained planted.

I already had the 48" mower attached (465 lbs) and the rear tires loaded (450 lbs of water).

Attached is a picture of temporary ballast I added to get the posts out. That is an 80 lb pier block, set into the mower tailwheel assembly 7 ft behind the rear axle.

(The other blocks shown were probably useless. I had tried them first with no improvement.)

Finally the tractor was stable with all four tires on the ground and the posts lifted out.

I removed the ballast immediately since I think driving that weight over rough ground could distort the mower deck.

rambler · May 15, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

( What's the easiest way to remove 4x4 posts?
I have 31 that I'd like to replace so I can increase the height of my stockade fence from 6' to 9'. The posts that are in now are 36-42" deep. Thanks. G )

Are the current posts in real good shape? It's going to be expensive to throw them away & get 12'-14' new ones to put in. The easieist would be to lag-bolt some 9' beams onto the exisiting posts.

Just a thought from left field.

--->Paul

MikePA · May 15, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

Why not just splice on another 3 feet? Cut a lap joint on the post and the splice and bolt them together.

GerardC · May 15, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

rambler:

The posts are only a year old and will be used elsewhere on the property.

Rambler and MikePA:

I thought about splicing but doing that is also work (on a ladder besides). I figured if I was going to use the existing posts elsewhere that I may as well just swap them so to speak. I think it will be easier but I could be wrong.
The weather today was rain so I haven't started yet. I will reconsider this option again.
Any more thoughts or options and I'm all ears. Really not looking forward to this project. Thanks. G

Soundguy · May 16, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

( Just back up to the post, wrap and secure with the strap ( a heavy one ) and wiggle the tractor forward and back while lifting up on the 3PH ???
)

That would be extremely counter-productive. Think of a fence post as a friction pile.. its weakest resistant to movement is straight up.. any side pressure will dramatically increase its pull out resistance.

The 3pt hitch however, is great for pulling fence posts.. I've done it with a section of chain and a helper..I added a clevised chain hook to my 3pt drawbar, near the clecised hookup for the chain.. just back up to it.. swing the chain around the post once. and lay inthe hook. and lift out.

Soundguy

Ole_Hickory · May 16, 2004

Re: What\'s the easiest way to.....

( This sounds like a good excuse for yet another new implement )

A 4 in 1 bucket would work great in a situation like this.