Backhoe Woods Bh90-X backhoe stump removal

[weldonnewton@gmail.com]

I installed a new Woods BH90-X backhoe last Friday. Tried to remove several stumps using the "power grabber"........did not work well at all. Any comments for advice on how to easily remove stumps?

 

[machmeter62]

OUESTION: What is the diameter of the stumps, and were you able to break the roots with the hoe only; also what kind of trees? Give us also all the information possible including the soil type, rocky, etc?

Also, welcome to this site, there is a lot of talent here that can give you helpful advice.

 

[mrutkaus]

Do you mean you are trying to grab them with the thumb and pull them up?

Hmmm. You have quite a back hoe there, I have the BH80X on a 30 HP Kioti.

You have to dig the stumps out. You dig deeply all around the stump right next to it, you have to move the tractor several times to get at all angles.

When you can, you break the roots with the backhoe. When it is all dug out, you can grab it with the bucket and the thumb or with just the bucket of the backhoe, and pull it or wiggle it up and out. Then carry it away with the backhoe if it isn't too big.

Mike

 

[IslandTractor]

We haven't heard back from the OP regarding what technique he is trying to use to get the stumps out. Given his surprise that the BH90x is not quite up to the task I am wondering if he unrealistically thought he could just grab the stumps and pull them out like a big excavator would. As noted by others, the basic technique to dig out stumps is to dig around them to break up lateral stabilizing roots and to "test" the stump periodically by pulling on it with the bucket to see if it has loosened. The same basic technique as pulling a tooth. You don't expect to really be able to grasp it with bucket and thumb until it is really pretty loose. With larger stumps you never get to that stage and just have to dig down to the point that you can push the stump over in it's own hole before chaining or grappling it to pull it out (sometimes you would actually just dig a large hole on one side of the stump and push the stump into it instead of trying to remove it).

There is also the possibility of using a ripper tooth in place of a bucket but except for Brotek I don't know of any manufacturers for those devices. If anyone finds a manufacturer of a ripper tooth for a Woods BH90x please post it. A ripper tooth basically just lets you do the tearing of the lateral stump roots without digging as much so you have a smaller hole and less destruction of turf etc to deal with after loosening up the stump. A ripper tooth on a BH90x should allow you to get out 5-8 inch stumps without much digging. Bigger stumps or those with deep tap roots would still require digging however.

 

[john_bud]

That ripper tooth does look good. If I had more stumps to take out, it's a pattern I would copy !


Here's a point for the OP. I have a 14' hoe. It has 6-8000# pull force with the dipper stick and (?) maybe 1.5x that with the bucket curl. It can't just pop out a stump from a 12" tree, until after most of the roots are cut. Trees are some tough cookies. If you think about it for a minute, imagine what the force is on the roots when a 40 mph wind blows on a 75' tall tree. All that crown area from the leaves is probably on the order of 2500 sqft or more, now multiply that by the lever arm distance. Picture you holding that much area on the end of a stick out the window of a car going 40! It's a stupendous amount of force and it is resisted by the roots holding tight. No way our equipment is going to just pop them loose!!

jb

 

[kernal]

I have dug out about a dozen stumps with my 46 BH. Small or rotten stumps, put the bucket directly over the stump, curl and rip the stump out. For anything over 4-6 inches on the stump, dig out both sides on the stump down about 2-3 feet, or untill you think you have got all the roots broke. re-position and do the same on the remaining sides. depending on the stump size they usually come right out, depending on the tap root. I started leaving 1 or 2 roots a foot or so long so that I could use it to spin the stump to loosen the stump. The main thing is to take your time, and not beat up your equipment. For large stumps I would recommend renting a stump grinder.

 

[Shmudda]

A Cherry Stump and a Tree of Heaven Stump joined together that a small BX24 took out this year........

Trust me, you were not just grabbing this with the hoe and yanking! After I was done the hole was at least 4 feet deep in some areas around the base.

Had a darn good time too!

Craig

 

[dirtdiggah]

It seems to me that you have a slight misconception. Just because you have a thumb on your backhoe that doesn't mean you can lift anything you choose with it. Everything has it's limitations. You can dig out a very large stump with a relatively small hoe. The next thing is to move it. This could pose safety issues. You could injure yourself or break your machine. Go slow, get some more seat time with your new hoe.My advice to you is to start with small stumps and go from there. Break all the roots around the stump first.
DD

 

[Deerherd]

I hope he got the stump out, it's been almost 5 years since he first posted.....

 

[dirtdiggah]

I hope he got the stump out, it's been almost 5 years since he first posted.....

Well, he did say he had a big stump.
DD:laughing: