Best way to remove/reuse t-posts?

[lug nut]

I am planning on moving some fencing, and I am wondering how I can use my tractor/fel to do it. How can I pull the posts straight up, so that I can reuse them?

 

[twabscs]

Get a hand-operated t-post puller. Much faster then getting off and on the tractor. 98% of the t-posts will come out straight unless they've been in the ground 30 or more years.

 

[dtd24]

I agree, I just bought one from harbor freight. Works great.

 

[mocassincreekranch]

I use a chain with a ring welded to the chain and attach it to the frontend loader. Get someone to slip the ring over the post and pull right out.

 

[schmism]

i made a loop out of some chain about 2" in dia (bolted the links together)
and use that to slip down over the top, then lift with the FEL...

a helper to remove the T-post from the chain and hook it up on the next post makes things go VERY quick.

 

[wushaw]

You can also use your 3pt with a draw bar and a piece of chain if you don't have FEL...pulls em straight out.

 

[Jimbrown]

I have done at least a 100 with the FEL I just take a chain wrap it around the post 2 - 3 times and pull er out. Helps to have a hook on the FEL

 

[marcus402]

How about putting them in the ground with the tractor?

Mark

 

[GaryBDavis]

If you have a chain hook welded on your bucket, use a chain. Hook one end up to the bucket and have a helper walk down the line, wrap the chain once around the t-post and pull it to the side. All you usually need is hand tension on the chain and they will come right out. Wrap the chain near the top of the post and they won't get bent up. If the post is stubborn, you may have to wrap it a couple of times near the ground and tilt the bucket back. The post will most likely get bent up though. Make sure your helper ALWAYS stays off to the side and use at least a 10' chain. That way, if the chain slips or the t-post comes out to fast, they won't be in harms way. I've cleared more old fence lines using this method than I care to remember and I think I'm starting to sound like Harv.

 

[Tim_in_IA]

I second the motion for the harbor frieght tpost puller. If you look they go on sale for $18 bucks sometimes. I have used the 3point and bent posts that way before. The tpost puller is quick and effortless and you can carry it anywhere.

 

[BigMccorm]

The way we have always done it is to take a chain, attach it to the FEL and then have a helper walk by and wrap the chain around the post. The only thing is to be careful and wrap the chain low enough down the post. The reason for this is because there is a possibility that the chain might slide a little before it catches on the post. I know people are worried about bending the posts but I am fairly certain that if you lift straight up instead of at an angle you should be fine.


On the driving post side of things....the best way I have encountered is to have someone hold the post and the other person to slowly lower the FEL onto the post. This works rather well but just be careful not to set the FEL on your helpers head! But in all seriousness this way works rather well. I mean I wouldn't want to pound 5000 ft of fence posts by hand. would you?

 

[lug nut]

I mean I wouldn't want to pound 5000 ft of fence posts by hand. would you?

I don't have near that much to do, but I still want to use the tractor as much as possible. That's why I have it.

I bolted 3 hooks onto my bucket a couple of days ago. There seems to always be something I am needing to pick up that I can't just scoop and go with, so I put 3 10k lb hooks on the backside of my bucket.

 

[Lindblom Lawn Care]

If you have two people a FEL and piece of chain are quick and easy.

Years ago I built a puller for dad.

As far as using a FEL for driving. If its not to rocky and you have a helper it can be done. I like the old fashioned post driver.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I mean I wouldn't want to pound 5000 ft of fence posts by hand. would you?

66 posts a day, with range wire, straight, all within 1". Only 4700' more to go. 6000' total to complete, all posts driven by hand.

 

[GaryBDavis]

I guess you won't need to be going to the gym! I’ve set 120 in one day, but that was with a pneumatic t-post driver and a tow behind air compressor. The driver weighed 55 pounds so I was still pretty worn out. I have to pre-drill with a rock drill for most of my t-post. Looks like you have sandy soil to work with. Still, 66 a day is impressive.

 

[MtnViewRanch]

I guess you won't need to be going to the gym! I’ve set 120 in one day, but that was with a pneumatic t-post driver and a tow behind air compressor. The driver weighed 55 pounds so I was still pretty worn out. I have to pre-drill with a rock drill for most of my t-post. Looks like you have sandy soil to work with. Still, 66 a day is impressive.

The 66 posts are no problem, if that was all I was going to do. But to stretch and install the range fencing makes for long days. No rock for me, either topsoil or decomposed granite.

To actually have to drill for each post, now that is a lot of hard work no matter how you do it.

 

[kude]

I have removed t posts using the FEL. I have a about a two foot length of chain with clevis grab hooks at each end. One clevis is hooked on the blade part of the bucket, centered in the middle of the bucket. Wrap the chain a time and a half around the t post and yank it out. I haven't bent the bucket doing this yet, but it is probably possible someday. I don't have a welder to put a ring or clevis hook on. I just bought one clevis hook that would fit snug over the bucket edge.

I also use this method to pick up my three point hitch attachments and move them around.

Just a warning, do this slowly, or your in for some interesting and unnerving tractor reactions.