Digging stump techniques

[thunder86]

So I’ve got a stump where I feel I popped all the roots and probably went deeper down than I needed too. But the stump is very big and I think it’s just the pure middle holding on.
My technique is I just carefully dig a trench all around it trying not to pick the machine up or move it.
I don’t know how to dig under it now though to pull it lose? I can take my bucket and scrape across all the roots from the top down but that picks the machine up and I’m sure causes wear. Maybe I should try extending the arm and digging on the opposite side of my to take out the middle? Im pretty new to this backhoe, it has plenty of power just not sure how to approach this.

 

[thunder86]

Another pic

 

[Avenger]

Youre doing it right. Just gotta keep at it. Buckets are not the best for digging stumps. A ripper tooth on the backhoe is better for breaking the roots. But you'll either pay out the nose and wait, or make your own.
Keep moving around the stump, digging as you go. It will come out.

 

[kenmbz]

I have had to dig stumps with a big taproot, just keep digging and eventually it'll start moving around and snap the tap root.
Trick is to dig out a little farther to give your self room to move out the dirt under the stump.

 

[Supraman0614]

I had a huge maple stump in my yard that took quite a bit of time to get free. Luckily, there wasn't much of a tap root, but some of the horizontal roots were 6" diameter or so. I dug all the way around it like you are doing, then when I thought it was free enough, I hooked a chain to one of the horizontal roots I had cut, and pulled it from one side to get it to rotate. A couple pulls back and forth and it was free. Picked it up (barely) with the pallet forks and deposited it in my woods to rot. It took some time with a CUT backhoe, but it was "fun". As the others said, you're doing it the right way. It will take some time.

 

[/pine]

Different trees have different types of root systems...so some variation may be required per the stump...

For instance...most pines have large tap roots depending on the species and no so much in the way of lateral roots...Where a tulip poplar has no main tap root but may have 6-7 lateral roots where each one can be as big as the trunk of the tree itself...

 

[hosspuller]

I find a Saw-all with a demo blade makes cutting big roots easier than yanking with the bucket.

 

[big bubba]

I find a Saw-all with a demo blade makes cutting big roots easier than yanking with the bucket.

yes, fel's are not really designed for excavation, mainly loading, esp on smaller machines (anything under 50 hp imho) wise not to stress it, good call. just keep nibbling. i like the above reply as well & don't forget the chain saw if you can clean around roots.

don't mess your equip up doing something it was not really designed for
also: if you have access to a post hole digger, auger holes close to stump, just a thught
cheers

 

[thunder86]

yes, fel's are not really designed for excavation, mainly loading, esp on smaller machines (anything under 50 hp imho) wise not to stress it, good call. just keep nibbling. i like the above reply as well & don't forget the chain saw if you can clean around roots.

don't mess your equip up doing something it was not really designed for
also: if you have access to a post hole digger, auger holes close to stump, just a thught
cheers

I’m using the backhoe for it not the front loader. That backhoe is pretty powerful, I’m just guessing I need to sit further back with it so I can try and reach under the stump.

 

[hayden]

I'm having a hard time telling from the pictures, but you need to dig as much of the way around the stump as possible. At least three side, and preferably all the way around.

 

[big bubba]

I’m using the backhoe for it not the front loader. That backhoe is pretty powerful, I’m just guessing I need to sit further back with it so I can try and reach under the stump.

great, you're doing fine then, sorry for confusion. sounds like it's a good approach

 

[hosspuller]

I’m using the backhoe for it not the front loader. That backhoe is pretty powerful, I’m just guessing I need to sit further back with it so I can try and reach under the stump.

I was using a Deere 310C a full sized backhoe, weighing 13,000+ # and I still recommend a Saws-all for the stubborn roots. My technique is give it a yank and if it doesn't come, use the saw. No sense and no cents involved avoiding machine damage.

 

[kennywayne]

Different trees have different types of root systems...so some variation may be required per the stump...

For instance...most pines have large tap roots depending on the species and no so much in the way of lateral roots...Where a tulip poplar has no main tap root but may have 6-7 lateral roots where each one can be as big as the trunk of the tree itself...

If it’s like a sweetgum I’d rather be kicked in the balls by an angry horse than try to dig it up with a TLB.

I resorted to a D6 with a ripper after a full day for 1 stump.

 

[K5lwq]

If it’s like a sweetgum I’d rather be kicked in the balls by an angry horse than try to dig it up with a TLB.

I resorted to a D6 with a ripper after a full day for 1 stump.

A full days work on a tractor has got to be better than being kicked in the balls by anything.

 

[Cataclysm]

Dig another backhoe bucket width or maybe two away from the stump. Then use your outriggers to tilt the machine so you can dig under the roots all the way around. Then use the backhoe to pull from the side to rotate the stump as mentioned.

You can also curl your bucket some and hook the edge of the roots with the side of the bucket near the pin, then lift the stick/boom some while you uncurl you bucket. You can really multiply your power doing that and it won't lift the machine off the ground.

From what I can see on the pics your about half deep enough to get that loose.

 

[kennywayne]

A full days work on a tractor has got to be better than being kicked in the balls by anything.

I have a couple of sweetgum stumps left if you want to test that theory.

 

[TractorGuy]

I generally dig until it falls over in the hole. If roots are too tough you have to move further out until they break easy. Sometimes I give a light tug on the top to see if it will come loose but I NEVER try to pull a stump that hasn't been dug loose. Backhoes are made for digging.

I will second that a big sweetgum has to be the orneriest stumps I ever dug out.

This was the first large sweetgum I ever dug. I started on it with a rental 7000 lb excavator and gave up. After I got my 15000 lb Backhoe I was able to get it out.

Here is another.

 

[nyone]

I have a little 3,500lb mini ex that I have dug far to big so stumps with. A few times I even had to build ramps to pull/push/drag the stump out of the hole. My longest stump removal was 6hrs on a stump that would have been under my cabin foundation. Once we got that one loose I couldn't flip it to get it out of the hole.

You need to get into the stump deeper. This usualy means digging 90* off to the side of the stump.

Now my preferred method is to dig the stump out with the tree still on it. Makes pushing the stump over far far easier and you can use the weight of the tree to your advantage.

 

[dodge man]

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This is one I dug out with the front end loader of the Kubota BX I used to own. It to my truck to pop it out and you can see some roots I never cut.

 

[Williy]

AAAHHH phooie! Just get the tiddy bowl man
a mini shovel and a dept charge! Then have
a shot of schnopps and a liter of Becks!

willy