Advice on 2 chores

[TNTractor1]

I have done some searching, but would still like some more advice. I will be doing a couple of tasks with my new 2520. I have A LOT of downed trees and older downed trees (old logs on the ground). I am trying to figure out the best way to move the logs and larger trees. I just need to move them to the back of the property. I figure I will drag the big ones and use the FEL for the smaller ones. Are there any good attachments for the FEL that would help pick up the logs? My second chore will be removing about 1/4 mile of metal fence posts (the kind that hold barbed wire). Looks like they are about 8-10 feet apart and they have no wire... just the posts. Can I safely use the bottom edge of the FEL bucket to snag one of the little notch things on the post and lift them out one by one? (not sure that will work and might bend my bucket lip?) Any other ideas that don't involve me purchasing an expensive attachment? Thanks in advance

 

[kjung17]

You might consider a grapple for your FEL. I recommend pulling posts with the rear hitch. I made a little post puller attachment for the 3 point.

 

[hizoot]

Inexpensive would be to weld a couple of chain hooks to the bucket and use a chain for both the smaller logs and fence posts( called "T posts" around here) ....
not as fast as a grapple on the FEL ....

 

[hanson1999]

agree witht he chain hooks on the bucket...don't worry you won't bend your bucket lip trying that way but id bet you'll never get them out that way.

as for the trees, get pallet forks for loader or a double bale spear setup. you can dive under and pick them up without having to get off and chain them to the bucket.

i even made a grapple for my spear/fork setup. works awesome

 

[TNTractor1]

yeah, I thought about pallet forks. Seems like some sort of tooth bar type attachment for the lower lip of the bucket would work well. Something that attaches like a tooth bar but has longer and slightly curved "teeth" that would allow scooping up under the logs and easier to maneuver than long pallet forks. Is there such a thing?

 

[grsthegreat]

i agree with the welded hooks on the bucket. With them, you wrap a logging chain around the t-post and hook to the chain hooks. a little flip of the bucket, t-post pops out of the ground. no matter how hard the ground is.

i like grapples, but they were still hard to get the logs out of my trail system on my property without hitting other trees. what i ended up doing was buying a Jimna wood chipper ($about $1,400 but you can also rent). this makes short work on anything under 4". it can handle 6" diameter, but i burn that size.

i shred all my brush and downed trees, spread the chips on my paths, and the trail system looks like a park. Old rotten wood still has to be skidded out and burnt. i like to skid with the horses, but skidding with a tractor is faster, but not as much fun.

 

[Runner]

Some type of grapple for the loader would probably be the best choice for picking up and moving logs, but would require some extra hydraulics beyond the standard setup from the factory for the 2520.

I find my pallet forks to be invaluable and have used them to move a lot of rocks, logs lumber and whatever. They are also good for pulling posts, just wrap a chain around the post and over the forks.

 

[Sharp Ranches]

I agree with all advice provided. And for the fence posts, a chain hooked around a FEL pallet fork and then wrapped around the T-post makes pullout easy. If you use pallet forks to move a stack of small tree trunks just remember to move your load in a low travel position at slow speed with your hand on the FEL joystick to avoid or recover from the "thrill" of lifting a rear tire and feeling the tractor begin to tip.

 

[dusty3030]

Hooks on the bucket but for t posts try a yellow tow strap
Hook on each end and make a big u. With the bucket raised pull up to the post till the strap touches and hop down, twirl it around twice and hop back on and pull it out. Tow strap won't slip and grabs on to t posts tight.

 

[logan97]

I agree with all advice provided. And for the fence posts, a chain hooked around a FEL pallet fork and then wrapped around the T-post makes pullout easy. If you use pallet forks to move a stack of small tree trunks just remember to move your load in a low travel position at slow speed with your hand on the FEL joystick to avoid or recover from the "thrill" of lifting a rear tire and feeling the tractor begin to tip.

just purchased some pallet forks, great investment! In the past I have used the fel with hooks time consuming and can be dangerous, also constantly on and off the seat,impair vision. The pallet forks are awesome multi purpose as stated previously. With forks or fel use counter weight, box blade,chipper, ballast box etc... as Dude says keep your hand on the joystick.
BTW rocks bent my bucket,been using the forks for logs and brush,forks are safer and way more efficient.

 

[kebo]

This is what I use for skidding smaller logs. When I built it, I added a chain grab hook at the top so I could hook a chain around a log, then drop the chain into the chain grab. Then just raise the 3pt lift and start dragging. You can do the same thing with a boom pole, but I prefer this way because it keeps the attachment point a little bit lower and closer to the tractor.

You can also use the same attachment for pulling fence posts out of the ground just by wrapping the chain or strap around the post, and then raising the 3pt lift. The 3pt lift almost always has more lifting power than the FEL does, but typically a metal T-post won't be all that hard to pull out of the ground anyway.

Something else you can consider for getting posts out of the ground is a fence or brush grubber. You can do a search on them to see what's out there.


There's also some fence pullers that work manually:

Post Puller - Lowest Prices & Best Deals on Post Puller - Pronto.com

 

[D33r3 6r33N]

I pulled a couple T-posts with my bucket. I just hooked a chain onto the front lip. (You might need a friend and a six pack:biggrin One wanted to lift the back of the tractor off the ground but I didn't have any weight on the 3-point and my tractor is a just a 2305.

 

[RaisedonDeere]

Some type of grapple for the loader would probably be the best choice for picking up and moving logs, but would require some extra hydraulics beyond the standard setup from the factory for the 2520.

I find my pallet forks to be invaluable and have used them to move a lot of rocks, logs lumber and whatever. They are also good for pulling posts, just wrap a chain around the post and over the forks.

Runner,

What brand of pallet forks are on your JD? Those are sweet. Also where did you buy them?

Thanks

 

[SixHoeBob]

As others have said, use the loader to pull the posts. Have a helper do the following; wrap the chain around the post near the top, hold tension on the tail end of the chain, pay attention to keep gloved hands and fingers from getting pinched, pull post, drop tail end of chain, unravel post, move to next post. Go down the line and pull all posts that come out easily. Drive back the line and helper loads posts onto bucket or forks. A good helper will save you many hours and much effort. Tight posts will require a little more thought and effort.

 

[93Mustang]

I have spent about 80% of the 60hrs I have put on my tractor since I purchased it last August cleaning up fallen trees and brush and my grapple has been invaluable. As mentioned, the biggest incremental cost beyond a set of pallet forks is the extra hydraulics necessary, but I have found that it was well worth the price. I started with the bucket, then bucket pallet forks, but I get so much more done with the grapple it is amazing (and I should mention it is way more fun to use).

If you go the grapple route, there are a number of good light duty options that will complement you loader well. Many also use a rear hydraulic kit and run lines to operate the grapple which may be a reasonably economical solution for hydraulics.

-Dana

 

[EddieWalker]

I've taken out and burned thousands of trees. I started out using my front bucket to pick them up and drag them to the burn pile while going backwards. This was slow and awkward. Sometimes I'd have to lift and move the bucket to get it going again when I lost traction. I wraped the chain around the tree, or if small enough, as many trees as I could get. Then hook the other end of the chain to my bucket.

One day, I got to wondering if it would be better to pull them from the rear and drive forward. My tires have more traction going forward, and I can sit forward and stear a lot easier.

It was like night and day!!!!!! I will never pull anything backwards again. Lifting isn't needed. Just wrap the chain around the log and have it hooked to the tow bar in back.

For real speed, the grapple is by far the best invention ever. It has it's limits, but if you can pick it up and get it through where you need to go, it's ten times faster.

Good luck,
Eddie

 

[grsthegreat]

I've taken out and burned thousands of trees. I started out using my front bucket to pick them up and drag them to the burn pile while going backwards. This was slow and awkward. Sometimes I'd have to lift and move the bucket to get it going again when I lost traction. I wraped the chain around the tree, or if small enough, as many trees as I could get. Then hook the other end of the chain to my bucket.

One day, I got to wondering if it would be better to pull them from the rear and drive forward. My tires have more traction going forward, and I can sit forward and stear a lot easier.

It was like night and day!!!!!! I will never pull anything backwards again. Lifting isn't needed. Just wrap the chain around the log and have it hooked to the tow bar in back.



For real speed, the grapple is by far the best invention ever. It has it's limits, but if you can pick it up and get it through where you need to go, it's ten times faster.

Good luck,
Eddie

only thing about driving forward is if the tree is large and snags something. ive had them pitch up and nearly try to hit the tractor. going backwards i can lift the base of the tree up to prevent snags.
when the horses pull them, their forward movement tends to lift the tree.

 

[Runner]

"Runner,

What brand of pallet forks are on your JD? Those are sweet. Also where did you buy them?

Thanks"

They are Frontier, 42 inch, fixed-tine forks. Available at your friendly local John Deere dealer.

 

[TNTractor1]

Thank you for all the great ideas! I am definitely going to look into a grapple. Any economical recommendations?

 

[slipshot77]

YouTube - John Deere 2305 pulling logs But sometimes you just have to work with what you have on hand. Just grab it and go.