How much do you think this stump weighs?

[Chuck K.]

The tree was not that big. I had forgotten it died once after a hurricane in 1983 and the new tree came up from the same root ball..

Talked the wife into standing by it for a size comparison:



We tried to lighten the load by cutting it down.


The FEL would not lift it so we cut it down more.. still would not lift it.


Chain kept slipping off the root ball so we cut a hole through the base and ran a chain through the hole.:



Told the wife I needed a bigger tractor with stronger FEL...She did not think it was funny

 

[westbrooklawn]

My limited experience with my BH80-X on an L3400, is that I can't pick up a root ball that size with the bucket, but I can roll it out of the hole with the backhoe. Then I clean most of the dirt off the ball with the hoe, and I can usually get it in the FEL bucket, hold it with my grapple, and at least get it a few inches off the ground so I can move it where I want it.

 

[Adam23]

I would think that most of the weight comes from all the dirt in those roots!

 

[texasjohn]

First, I'd drop the FEL... this gives you more FEL lift payload.

Then, I'd chain it right to the cross bar on the FEL arms, balanced Y center loading. This moves the center of lift back to right at the pivot pin so you can lift more.

Then, I'd make sure you have 30+ lbs in both front tires so you don't roll them off the rims.

Then, your back hoe is plenty of counter weight.

Then, try the lift...keep your FEL as low to the ground as possible, this is where your max lift capacity is. I lift 2800 lbs of concrete culverts this way with my 5030 and FEL... and get them about 1.5 foot off the ground before the FEL hydraulic bypass valve pops. I firmly believe you should be able to do at least equally well. Looks to me like you should be able to lift that root ball.

Last option... make sure your 853 loader is getting the full spec hydraulic pressure... initially mine was set to pop UNDER the minimum specified PSI. The dealer added a washer shim and now the valve pops just OVER the maximum specified pressure...can't recall exactly, but I think that overall PSI increased about 400 lbs.

IT MADE A HUGE DIFFERENCE IN WHAT I COULD PICK UP. That means I could NOT lift that concrete culvert before but now I can.

 

[BobRip]

My guess is 7000 pounds and a lot of it is dirt. If you can knock the dirt off or power wash it off, that will make a big difference.

 

[ragkar]

You don't need to pick that up!
Dig a ramp so that you can drag it. I pulled one about that big from a five foot pit earlier last summer. I grabbed it with the prongs of the BH and dragged it out. It broke loose on the first two tries, but the third try worked.
Make it a short and narrow ramp as you have limited reach on your BH.
At least two thirds of the weight is in the embedded dirt and stones. Borrow or rent a high pressure washer with a zero degree nozzle. The dirt will just melt right off. Of course you should wear a face shield and be prepared to get filthy dirty. So dirty that your wife will insist on hosing you down before you go in the house.
After you get it out, roll it around and use the pressure washer again to get more of the dirt off. Then you can burn the root ball.

 

[Chuck K.]

Thanks for the replies folks.. I considered chaining to the large dia. cross bar on the FEL but it had Hyd. lined running across it that would probably been damaged. The smaller ~2" cross bar just beneath the QA levers looked too small I was scared of bending it?

In hindsight I should have put on the pallet forks as they are lighter and I could get the load a lot closer, dug a ramp and or used the pressure washer. As usaual I was in hurry trying to beat incoming rain.

With all the lift the FEL could produce I backed up very slowly, this raise both rear tires off the ground, with the outriggers barely above the ground my buddy sat in the B/H seat reached out with the BH and gave me a little pull and out it came.... The Hydro. really shined here as opposed to a clutch. I know the safety police would had a fit but I believe slow and steady made it as safe as possible.

I plan on checking my Hyd. press. thanks to Tx. John's help but it may be after the first of the year before I get back on the property, a lot of overtime here at work....

 

[xlr82v2]

My guess is that the stump itself, without all the dirt, is only about 5-600lbs at the most. Factor in the dirt, and it's probably pushing 2500-3000 lbs. Dirt is heavy!

 

[rback33]

I am sure it did not fit the project schedule, but beating the rain was the mistake. The rain could have washed a bunch of the dirt out. Then when it dried it would be lighter. I know it sounds good in theory and it would never have worked out that way, but the key really is to get all the dirt out of there.

 

[ragkar]

The rain and even using a pressure washer is a mixed blessing. The rain won't wash all that much dirt off. Using a pressure washer with the root ball in the pit will allow you to 'melt' no more than a third of the dirt off. You just can't get a good angle to hit the rest. Then the mud will collect on the bottom of the pit and grab a hold of the roots. So you've got to wait for the water to drain off and the mud to dry so you can roll the roots over, still in the pit and try again.
I'm thinking that a long chain might be a better approach than grabbing it with the BH. Then you can dig a more gradual ramp. I'm not that familiar with your model tractor, but I'm guessing that it weighs a ton and the FEL and BH another ton. If you have 4WD, you have a lot of pulling power. Just be sure you get the chain on before you start making mud. Just beware of snap back of the chain when you're pulling on it. That could kill you.
Maybe you ought to try using the BH grabber first. At least that won't snap back if it breaks loose.
On your next stump if you use the pressure washer idea, be sure to park the tractor a long ways off. It is really, really messy. Also this is a warm weather idea. Water and cold winds are bad.
I think 800lbs for the root ball and a ton for the dirt and rocks is a good estimate. Some rocks will be trapped by the roots. If you're unlucky they may be 200 pound ones.

----------------
Later - I think that I may be wrong with my warning about chain snap back. I recall a TBN member advising that cables and ropes will snap back if they break, but chains will not.

Have you considered putting the root ball back in the pit?
<Are you out of your mind?>
After you have removed the dirt. Depending on overhanging tree limbs etc. it would make a great burn pit.