The most dangerous trimming of the tree branch with a John Deere backhoe in my life..

[ruffdog]

Before youtube videos of doing chores was popular, more thought was put into being safe or getting the task finished. In this case, maybe the person video taping could have been driving the tractor so the OP didn't have to climb up and down so much.

 

[cqaigy2]

Heck, i'd have lifted up the back hoe as far as it would go, and climbed up on that. Many years ago that is, when i was younger and dumber. I'm definitely not young anymore, and slightly smarter. I remember driving a fork lift over to our apricot tree, lifted a pallet up all the way up, crawled up to it and picked a pile of cotes. Also remember a few years ago, rough cut mower attaches to my FEL, lifted it up to put some bracing under it, to work on getting blades replace, blew a hose and it came down like a shot. I'd hate to be standing in my bucket raised up and have that happen.

 

[Henro]

I am with the others that say just take the tree down.

You have an old dozer right? Why not hook some chain to the tree, put some tension on it to pull in the direction you want it to fall, make the cut, and deal with the whole tree on the ground?

Not enough chain tension to cause it to barber chair, but enough to set the direction of fall. Then cut most of the way through, or better yet, have someone else make the cut as you slightly increase tension on the chain to get the tree moving in the right direction.

Just what I would do. Maybe you have a sentimental relationship with the tree that prevents this?

Remember the expression "I shoudn't have done that..." Doesn't apply in this case, but might next time...in a different case...not fun saying that...after the fact...experience speaking here.

 

[5030]

A front loader bucket was never meant for anyone to stand in when it's elevated. Common sense should tell you that and no PPE either. Amazing, just amazing.

 

[wpala]

I have done the same thing when younger and dumber. I wouldn’t do now but still need trees cut. Know your limitations, trust your experience and get better equipment and expert help when in doubt.

We had a cat0 tornado come over us. Had some insurance and out of pocket expert tree cutters. I disposed of trees on site. Most of the remaining trees down in driveway and around would have been $40-50k if professionally done. 1.5 years later about 70% cleaned up. Some big trees were made leaning but took over a year to come down. Some still leaning.
Installing a soft ride system on the tractor helped carrying off debris.
Made a pallet platform to hold tools and me safe. Long manual and battery power polesaws. Fall protection. Wanted sturdy rails to lean or brace on.
View attachment 731745
It’s still dangerous work but not worth dying over a tree or money.

We have orchards and berry patches to maintain too.

I have an metal ICB crate that I tied down to forks frame and use that very similar not as heavy duty but works just as well and I can lean over a bit without worrying to fall out

 

[Smokeydog]

I have an metal ICB crate that I tied down to forks frame and use that very similar not as heavy duty but works just as well and I can lean over a bit without worrying to fall out

I actually got a ICB tank to consider. It’s not a bad option but would have required more work for some of the other jobs planned.

Carrying fence supplies, staging (660# helps), generator, tools, and slight bigger.

Also wanted to try safety legs. One will support the platform with me jumping up and down with no hydraulic pressure. Two gives higher safety margin. The only steel not bought as scrap were the safety legs. Do I always use them, no. 12’ is a little hard to get in and out of the tractor shed and way too tall where it is stored. M59 tractor like a lot of backhoes have loader hydraulic cylinder brace when raised also.
Using the backhoe outriggers helps to level or lean over some which is helpful for the platform position.

Still high hazard work. “When you run out of brains it’s always good to try to borrow some. Woodrow Wilson”

 

[LouNY]

Nothing unusual about triming trees from a loader bucket, we do keep an old safety harness around for when doing such things or having to do roof work. Walking around on a roof to remove snow is a lot nicer with a rope run over the otherside to a good anchor.

 

[gstrom99]

A good video of HOW NOT TO DO TREE TRIMMING. Shoulda rented a man lift or paid someone that KNEW how to do it.

 

[jkk04]

I am with the others that say just take the tree down.

You have an old dozer right? Why not hook some chain to the tree, put some tension on it to pull in the direction you want it to fall, make the cut, and deal with the whole tree on the ground?

Not enough chain tension to cause it to barber chair, but enough to set the direction of fall. Then cut most of the way through, or better yet, have someone else make the cut as you slightly increase tension on the chain to get the tree moving in the right direction.

Just what I would do. Maybe you have a sentimental relationship with the tree that prevents this?

Remember the expression "I shoudn't have done that..." Doesn't apply in this case, but might next time...in a different case...not fun saying that...after the fact...experience speaking here.

The tree is more than 100 years old and has been with me 30 years or more.

It is kind of a symbol of my ranch. That is the reason, I really want to save and make myself look better before I couldn't do it by age.

Also, the reason to upload the video is to let people know how dangerous it was.
and discuss getting better ideas to trim the trees etc.

Thank you to all who input the opinions.

 

[i7win7]

Found New Job for Root Grapple

part 1 of 3 Latest hillbilly creation Grapple Pole Prunner: Materials: 12' treated 4x4, 2 gate hanger hinge pins and straps, 2 hanger straps for rolling door track and misc. hardware. I purchased a cheap 20v pole pruner at Walmart for this project. Unit was assembled on open grapple. 1. Turn...

www.orangetractortalks.com

 

[MossRoad]

I have a digger pine tree next to my house that is more than 100 years old.
It needs to trim the agley branches which look so ugly.
It is quite high, about 30ft or more.
So, I had to utilize my Ryobi pole saw, a Husqvarna 450 chainsaw and John Deere 410 backhoe.
It was very dangerous to cut the branches and would be the last cutting for that tree in my life.
Jkk

In your video, we notice many times you start your cut from the top, then the branch starts to fall and hangs. Then you have to mess around with trying to release the hanging limb without pinching your blade.

As others have mentioned, you can almost entirely eliminate that issue if you do a small undercut first, then do a downward top cut an inch or two outboard of the undercut.

Doing it this way, the branch will just snap off and drop 99% of the time VS swinging down and being held by the outer cambium and bark.

Here's a picture of what we're talking about. I never knew about it until I read my chainsaw owner's manual many years ago. I tried it out and it works great. Give it a try. You'll like it.

You'd only be using steps 1 and 2 unless you want to remove the branch entirely from the tree. Then you step 3.

 

[MossRoad]

 

[Jchonline]

I have a digger pine tree next to my house that is more than 100 years old.
It needs to trim the agley branches which look so ugly.
It is quite high, about 30ft or more.
So, I had to utilize my Ryobi pole saw, a Husqvarna 450 chainsaw and John Deere 410 backhoe.
It was very dangerous to cut the branches and would be the last cutting for that tree in my life.
Jkk

One wrong step and you will be in the ER or a hospital bed. No safety gear (eyes, helmet, harness, etc), no safety platform to work from, terrible trimming technique (make a small cut on the bottom side of the branch, then cut the top to keep them from peeling).

I get that we think we cant afford appropriate safety gear when doing these types of tasks...but one trip to the ER will change that quickly.

Interesting we can take the time to record and upload a video but none for appropriate safety. Not something anyone on this forum should watch and repeat!

However I am glad you were not injured!

 

[WranglerX]

The tree is more than 100 years old and has been with me 30 years or more.

It is kind of a symbol of my ranch. That is the reason, I really want to save and make myself look better before I couldn't do it by age.

Also, the reason to upload the video is to let people know how dangerous it was.
and discuss getting better ideas to trim the trees etc.

Thank you to all who input the opinions.

View attachment 731981

Hire professional arborist if tree is that important......

 

[mred2]

I have a basket lift. Battery powered. I still paid to have 3 large trees taken down near my house. He had better equipment and insurance. I did the clean up after it was on the ground, so still saved some money. I love my lift, but most of those only hold 500 pounds in the basket. Great for paint and trim work around the house, trimming fruit trees, But know the limits and it and you.

 

[bmg88201]

just before the ambulance arrives ( “hey hold my beer and watch this “)

 

[swreeder]

I just ordered a limbsaw for my tractor. I spent hours last year trimming trees with a pole saw and a ladder and did some really stupid stuff. My strategy now is to use the limbsaw and If I can't reach it with that, I'll let it go or hire professional help if needed.

I've got a lot of trees on my 50 acres that need trimmed annually and figure the $2k for the limbsaw will pay off in a year or two of work and time. Along with keeping me much safer in the end.

 

[Chilliwack Murray]

You can trim or cut branches relatively safely from the bucket of a machine like that, and the first few cuts were a good example.

I’ve done the same many times with both large and small limbs however tractor placement is important and I’ve always had someone in the drivers seat to lift and lower me and reposition whenever necessary. I wouldn’t climb the loader but maybe use it to lean a ladder against out of the path of falling branches. Certainly safer than leaning against the tree you are cutting especially tied if off to the tractor.

After the first few cuts though he began to over reach and even stand on the edges of the bucket. That’s just plain dumb, aka natural selection.

 

[Smokeydog]

I just ordered a limbsaw for my tractor. I spent hours last year trimming trees with a pole saw and a ladder and did some really stupid stuff. My strategy now is to use the limbsaw and If I can't reach it with that, I'll let it go or hire professional help if needed.

I've got a lot of trees on my 50 acres that need trimmed annually and figure the $2k for the limbsaw will pay off in a year or two of work and time. Along with keeping me much safer in the end.

Great! Please start a new topic when you get some time on your limbsaw. Be very interested in your experience.

Bought a hydraulic motor, valve, hoses to build one. Have some of the steel cut. Socket receiver already welded to grapple and bucket. Had the same idea decades ago and plagiarizing some ideas from limbsaw.

Have some big limbs to cut. Also a 1/2 mile green tunnel to maintain.

Good luck and be safe.

 

[NCL4701]

Several years spent making a living working for a tree service climbing, cutting, trimming trees. A few decades investigating causation of ag and industrial accidents since then.

Couldn’t make it through the whole video. Looked like it was prepared for a campaign to require training and licenses to trim trees.

Glad the OP wasn’t injured. Not glad he doesn’t have the self awareness to be too embarrassed by his ill advised behavior to not post it online. Yes, it was dangerous; MUCH more dangerous than it should have been.