Jack Pine Stumpin

[ddbackhoe]

To answer the question regarding Backhoe vs tools, for me personally it痴 a factor of time and space. These stumps are in my immediate backyard and I知 on a time crunch to get them out in order to grade, seed and a host of other improvements I need to tackle in the next 2 weeks. The backhoe is awesome and I do not regret the purchase. I read a lot of remarks in how it痴 overrated and too expensive and ineffective and I壇 have to disagree. If you need one you need one, and it痴 nice to have anytime I need it. It痴 limited by hydraulic pressure and the weight of the tractor, but it痴 still 1000x better than a shovel. I use it to dig down until I知 hitting a root I can稚 bust through, not to mention my property has ALOT of rock in the ground.

I don't think any of us are trying to discourage you, actually rather to encourage. Using a backhoe (large or small) is more about experience and technique. In the picture of the 24" stump, I may opt to set up the machine with one outrigger barely touching and the other fully extended creating a ~45 degree angle to the stump then dig under the stump to loosen. I would also move away from the stump to where I could rip the roots out, then move in closer to get the extra dirt off. from the picture, any reason not to use the front bucket to help pry out the stump? You might be surprised what the "little machine" can do. Even the biggest ones have to use some problem solving skills to get the job done.

 

[JbirdNC]

I don't think any of us are trying to discourage you, actually rather to encourage. Using a backhoe (large or small) is more about experience and technique. In the picture of the 24" stump, I may opt to set up the machine with one outrigger barely touching and the other fully extended creating a ~45 degree angle to the stump then dig under the stump to loosen. I would also move away from the stump to where I could rip the roots out, then move in closer to get the extra dirt off. from the picture, any reason not to use the front bucket to help pry out the stump? You might be surprised what the "little machine" can do. Even the biggest ones have to use some problem solving skills to get the job done.

Thanks. I don’t feel discouraged! Just wanted to try and answer why I don’t spend more time digging up these giant roots. They are large, and I don’t want to waste time hunting them down. The quickest way to find roots is at the stump. Period. No hunting.. they have to attach to the stump. Once I see them, a Sawzall blade cuts through them in seconds, vs digging forever and trying to bust them with a backhoe. Plus, I have one hole to fill, not several. Plus, many of these roots go down quickly. I wouldn’t even see them several feet from the stump. To each their own, but in my head at least this is the easiest path. Cheers to all the comments though! I feel as if we are all in this together somehow!

 

[airbiscuit]

I think there are different approaches, and your approach is fine. Back in the day, I pulled out more than a few stumps with a Farmall H. Digging and chopping roots with an ax. Aspen were fine. I hated Jackpine with that #$%^ Tap Root. I wish I had a Gantry like you made. That would have made a big difference. How many stumps left to pull out? Can you post a pic or video of it all rigged up?

 

[sd455dan]

Keep in mind my Lil 24hp tractor weighs 3500lb with BH and loaded tires!

Hopefully the Tap root isn't to large.
pic of 1 of the 1st stumps I tried to get out with tractor (no backhoe) and hand tools

Looks like you are getting them out :thumbsup:

 

[JbirdNC]

The current stump is a bit of a challenge. Granted it’s the largest so far, but I keep finding big roots and on a 2:1 hookup today it didn’t even wiggle.


This particular root is amazing. It is 3 roots growing together and wrapping around a rock in the process.


Hoping to get a video of this coming out of the ground soon!

 

[JbirdNC]

Hopefully the Tap root isn't to large.
pic of 1 of the 1st stumps I tried to get out with tractor (no backhoe) and hand tools

Looks like you are getting them out :thumbsup:

Nice work!

 

[Slowpoke Slim]

OP,

Looking at your pics, I'm glad I have sandy loam soil here. That looks like a lot of work there.

 

[JbirdNC]

Decided to give burning a try after more digging, cutting and a 3:1 pull yielded not even a “wiggle” from what I now call “Devil Stump”.



While I do enjoy a and got most of the dead stuff laying around the edge of my property picked up and burned with the stump, and the end of a 2 day burn I’m left with 95% of what I started with. Apparently burning a stump is not a quick or efficient process.

So, I’m probably going to go back to digging, or seriously looking to get my hands on something explosive in nature.

 

[sd455dan]

Decided to give burning a try after more digging, cutting and a 3:1 pull yielded not even a 努iggle from what I now call 泥evil Stump? ��

View attachment 646749

While I do enjoy a and got most of the dead stuff laying around the edge of my property picked up and burned with the stump, and the end of a 2 day burn I知 left with 95% of what I started with. Apparently burning a stump is not a quick or efficient process.

So, I知 probably going to go back to digging, or seriously looking to get my hands on something explosive in nature.

Yep some of them are Pretty darn Stubborn :laughing:

This helped with a few like that

I was able to use the tractor to move (carry) all the stumps but the last 1 worked the FEL for sure , it was like the 1 you were talking about where the roots surrounded a large rock

ps the dozer will move/ pull stumps but given a choice something like a 320 CAT Excavator would be my choice

Don't get discouraged you will get that stump out. It just takes a bit more time. I agree on the saws all it made a big difference on the stump I posted earlier, maybe the biggest difference.

 

[ovrszd]

Trying to not sound snobby. The time you've spent on alternatives would have removed two or three stumps like that if you had simply kept using the backhoe.

I can see how this is going to end. The backhoe is going to be the successful tool once your mindset gets there.

 

[sd455dan]

Trying to not sound snobby. The time you've spent on alternatives would have removed two or three stumps like that if you had simply kept using the backhoe.

I can see how this is going to end. The backhoe is going to be the successful tool once your mindset gets there.

He is learning, and they are Pines which can be a royal pain in the ah- hem neck.

With his backhoe maybe digging farther out away and keep at it as has been stated before. Saws-All does do wonders when you have access

 

[airbiscuit]

Once he gets it rocking, the Saws-All and Gantry will get r done - especially if he can saw/weaken that tap root.

 

[JbirdNC]

Trying to not sound snobby. The time you've spent on alternatives would have removed two or three stumps like that if you had simply kept using the backhoe.

I can see how this is going to end. The backhoe is going to be the successful tool once your mindset gets there.

Yes I’m starting to think maybe I gave up on digging too soon. It’s my first rodeo, so I have learning to do! I’m gonna dig more tomorrow after the rain passes!

 

[ovrszd]

Yes I’m starting to think maybe I gave up on digging too soon. It’s my first rodeo, so I have learning to do! I’m gonna dig more tomorrow after the rain passes!

Yeah, backhoe work requires patience. Regardless of the machine used or the task at hand. You'll get there.

 

[JbirdNC]

More digging. As I thought... this stump is growing around two very large rocks. Iced exposed a lot more Rick and found 2 more roots to cut. After that, a 3:1 pull for good measure. Out came the stump, still clinging to a rock I’m estimating at around 400lbs. We now have to get the rock out of the stump just to move this thing. I’ll be drilling in with a hammer drill and cracking it into multiple pieces.


My 2 helpers...

The hole it left behind


I’ll link a video shortly.

 

[airbiscuit]

That was a beast!

 

[sd455dan]

Great Job! The rocks inside the root ball is interesting

The Hammer drill will make holes for sure, but will the rock split using it? Not sure i understand unless "fire works" are in the plan?

 

[JbirdNC]

Great Job! The rocks inside the root ball is interesting

The Hammer drill will make holes for sure, but will the rock split using it? Not sure i understand unless "fire works" are in the plan?

Yeah the plan was to drill enough holes to weaken it for a few good licks with the sledgehammer but this idea failed. I decided to use the backhoe to scrape at the roots and the edge of the rock and in about 10 minutes it fell free. Not the 400lbs I first though but still large enough.



And here is the other one. It fell out while pulling the stump out of the hole.


Between the 2, I estimate it was adding a good 500-600 lbs of resistance, likely more when you add in the dirt on top of them.

 

[MossRoad]

That first one looks like a giant sweet potater! Put it on e-bay. :laughing:

 

[ovrszd]

Those two rocks should become yard ornaments with a story!!!