hung tree

deereman64 · Feb 16, 2009

I have this hung tree in my yard. It has been there for some time ,even though it looks precarious. I think cutting the stump would be too dangerous and I have tried pulling it off with the tractor but so far no luck. Any idea?

Renze · Feb 16, 2009

Agreed, the tree could jack knife towards you when you cut the stump at ground level.
Have you thought of preventing that by keeping tension on it with the tractor while holding the saw on the other end of the stump ?

Egon · Feb 16, 2009

I had the same type of situation out at the Lake. The neighbour told me to notch the hung trees and wait a few days. It worked perfectly.

Eagleview · Feb 16, 2009

Can you safely pile some timber around the butt and light a fire ?

Thomas · Feb 16, 2009

Can't really tell if tree free from stump,if so how about fasten long chain near base of tree to 5or10 ton come along...work from safe distance.

deereman64 · Feb 16, 2009

Iron Horse said:
Can you safely pile some timber around the butt and light a fire ?

I think Ill try that idea

JohnDeere4300 · Feb 16, 2009

deereman64 said:
I have this hung tree in my yard. It has been there for some time ,even though it looks precarious. I think cutting the stump would be too dangerous and I have tried pulling it off with the tractor but so far no luck. Any idea?

I have had trees in the same shape.

If you cut it at the bottom(it will snap back at you) but probably won't fall because it is hung in the other tree. I have cut them like that, and when i started cutting the tree it split and jumped backwards real quick, and on another one it went sideways.(they are real dangerous like this and have a lot of pressure on them) I have had as many as 3 at a time on each other.

I know it would be hard, but if you could try and get a strap up towards the top and use a red devil or tractor and try to pull it that way without cutting it, but have plenty of slack so it won't fall on you.

Egon · Feb 16, 2009

Found a picture of one the hung trees. there were about four more in this bunch. After notching and waiting for a few days they fell down. I could not access the area with the tractor with the trees hung up.

RadarTech · Feb 16, 2009

I have a similiar issue but mine is on a bank...

My plan is to use a winch on a snatch block with a y cable and chain setup..

Chain on the base where the tree is resting on the stump and a chain about where you have the Y..
A steel cable connecting the 2 chains with a pull loop set 2/3 towards the Y..

the snatch block to the winch will be at a 45 degree angle..

This will make the tree pivot on the stump slightly as it pulls it foward to drop it off....

Once I get the tree off the stump, I'll use another chain going to the tractor to pull it up the bank so it can begin the trees final journey to the ash bucket....
In your case some creative thinking with a winch, some chains and a snatch block may really help out...

thoughts?

J

jimmyj · Feb 17, 2009

Geez guys, am I nuts? I cut trees like this all the time. It's easy. Just notch the trunk and back cut until she starts to move and run like heck. Have a clear path and a spotter who taps you on the shoulder the minute the tree starts to move. I haven't ever had one "barber chair" or snap off suddenly. If the tree is rotten I would not do it though in favour of rolling the top off with a long chain and snatch block. Also, don't do it if there is any chance of branches breaking off or springing back.

Am I reckless? It seems so easy to do. Comments? I've been doing this for 20 years.

Eagleview · Feb 17, 2009

I watched a guy even crazier than that once . He had his tractor bogged to the axles in a paddock . He climbed a big tree and hooked a chain to it and then to the tractor drawbar . He then belly cut the tree on the opposite side and fell it , chain snapped tight and out come the tractor

.

woodlandfarms · Feb 17, 2009

Next time I am home I will get a picture of this friggin widow maker we have up in a tree. We lost a massive maple, When it went down it slammed into another massive. Up at the tippy top is a limb, at least 12" thick, probably more. And it is hung up. Now I am afraid to go near the tree, and I keep people away from that side.

I was hoping the wind would get it this year, but from what I hear it is still hanging a hundred feet up in the air.

excelagator · Feb 17, 2009

I have through a rope, strap over the tree looped the ends and pulled back with tractor. I would pull the easy side though. I use A LOT of strap or rope though. I had a upper tree caught in another this past summer. The trick for me was the "right" angle. A small winch and bunch of straps, and a snatch block go a long way!

Disclaimer: I am not "joe logger" by all means! If you are in doubt hire someone!

Dan

excelagator · Feb 17, 2009

woodlandfarms said:
Next time I am home I will get a picture of this friggin widow maker we have up in a tree. We lost a massive maple, When it went down it slammed into another massive. Up at the tippy top is a limb, at least 12" thick, probably more. And it is hung up. Now I am afraid to go near the tree, and I keep people away from that side.

I was hoping the wind would get it this year, but from what I hear it is still hanging a hundred feet up in the air.

I got a poplar like that. The problem is cutting the trunk and she will snap back.

Dan

excelagator · Feb 17, 2009

Iron Horse said:
I watched a guy even crazier than that once . He had his tractor bogged to the axles in a paddock . He climbed a big tree and hooked a chain to it and then to the tractor drawbar . He then belly cut the tree on the opposite side and fell it , chain snapped tight and out come the tractor .

Creative, but crazy!!

Dan

Treemonkey1000 · Feb 17, 2009

JimmyJ the good Lord has just been watching over you if you haven't had any barber chair on you yet. The tree is tensioned the way it is now. It is hard to see from that photo if all of the tension is at the top of the tree where it is hung up forcing the tension to go in an arc under the tree. Or if the root ball is holding most of the weight and the tension is on the topside of a the tree. Plunge cutting might work to decrease the barber chair scenario. What I have done in the past is wrapped a strong cable around the base below the cut. Then taken the cable above where you are going to cut. And then used cable clamps to make a very short leash on the tree. If it tries to spring up or any direction the short leash on the cable should stop it.
Another method we use is sling shot a line over the tree as high as you can. Then pull a large rope or cable up and over. Bring the end back around to make a loop. Attach your rope or cable end to people or a tractor and see if you can pull it out of the branches. Just don't wrap the rope around your wrist if you use people to pull it.. Rope burn hurts like heck!

Looking closer at the picture it looks like it is resting on the stump maybe with a little hinge wood left. If you can get your cable up next to the break. Wrap the cable around that and pull with the tractor from a good distance. That should remove it's resting point and maybe let the butt come down. Chances are the top will still be hung.

Licklog · Feb 17, 2009

Egon said:
I had the same type of situation out at the Lake. The neighbour told me to notch the hung trees and wait a few days. It worked perfectly.

Just curious. Notch it on top or on the bottom?

Egon · Feb 17, 2009

Well now, I'm not really sure but I tried the left side!

JoelD · Feb 17, 2009

Treemonkey1000 said:
JimmyJ the good Lord has just been watching over you if you haven't had any barber chair on you yet. The tree is tensioned the way it is now. It is hard to see from that photo if all of the tension is at the top of the tree where it is hung up forcing the tension to go in an arc under the tree. Or if the root ball is holding most of the weight and the tension is on the topside of a the tree. Plunge cutting might work to decrease the barber chair scenario. What I have done in the past is wrapped a strong cable around the base below the cut. Then taken the cable above where you are going to cut. And then used cable clamps to make a very short leash on the tree. If it tries to spring up or any direction the short leash on the cable should stop it.
Another method we use is sling shot a line over the tree as high as you can. Then pull a large rope or cable up and over. Bring the end back around to make a loop. Attach your rope or cable end to people or a tractor and see if you can pull it out of the branches. Just don't wrap the rope around your wrist if you use people to pull it.. Rope burn hurts like heck!
Looking closer at the picture it looks like it is resting on the stump maybe with a little hinge wood left. If you can get your cable up next to the break. Wrap the cable around that and pull with the tractor from a good distance. That should remove it's resting point and maybe let the butt come down. Chances are the top will still be hung.

Based on the avitar this guy has a bunch more experience than me, but my first move would be as he's instructed. I'd get a rope or cable around as high as I can and then pull sideways out of the branches, I've done this a number of times and seems by far the safest. I've not had one so stuck that I could not get out.

Another thought might be cutting down the tree it is hung in?

End of day, safety first, these lumber guys will tell you that there is a bunch of stuff that can go wrong with trees, this is like high tension stuff, best leave the tricky stuff to the pros.

Joel

Treemonkey1000 · Feb 17, 2009

Thanks JoelD. It is hard to tell in my Avitar there but I am standing on the top of a tree about 40' above ground. That put me level with a guy standing on a hill that took the picture.
As you said Safety first. That tree might be an easy cut. But if you aren't prepared for the unexpected, sometimes even if you are. Stuff happens quickly.