Novel fence post puller

[Glowplug]

I know there has been much discussion on the best way to remove old fence posts. I have a big project planned for fence post removal. I was trying to think of a good way to do it. Has anyone ever used tongs to do so? I found this lifting apparatus. I thought it would work great if you could attach this to a FEL. You could probably pull up fence posts rather quickly. What do y'all think? The web site is Bradley Lifting - Material Handing Below the Hook Grab Lifting Devices.

 

[HomeBrew2]

That looks neat. I've had great luck just driving up to the post and sticking the FEL cutting edge in the bottom of the post about 1/4" and curling the bucket up ... couldn't believe how easy it was

 

[wushaw]

That looks neat. I've had great luck just driving up to the post and sticking the FEL cutting edge in the bottom of the post about 1/4" and curling the bucket up ... couldn't believe how easy it was

I've had good luck with a 3pt drawn bar...just back up to "T" post and hook a hole then lift...the "T" post does have to be facing righ direction or use chain.

Back to origional poster, that is a neat idea.

 

[kossetx]

Neat, but at what cost? Looks kinda expensive, especialy with the liability attached to a lifting device. If you can build one yourself...

 

[jinman]

Has anyone ever used tongs to do so? I found this lifting apparatus. I thought it would work great if you could attach this to a FEL. You could probably pull up fence posts rather quickly. What do y'all think?

I think you better have a big set of tongs to lift the bag of cash you'll have to pay for both the tongs and the tractor that can handle it.

Seriously...how many posts and what type? If you are talking T-posts and a few wooden posts, you don't need a device like that. That is for repetitive industrial lifting. Most any CUT can pop most posts out of the ground with the 3PH. I've pulled crossties down 3 feet and set in concrete with my FEL.

Sub-compacts might have some trouble with wooden posts, but they will also have trouble just getting that rig in your link off the ground.

 

[RonMar]

I use chain with a couple of half hitches around the pole. Attach this to the FEL and out they come.

 

[Glowplug]

Maybe simple is the way to go. This is 3-plank horse fence with wooden poles set into the ground. They're smaller than telephone poles. Probably about 2 1/2 feet down. No concrete. I'm talking about eventually pulling out over 1000 8-foot sections and then replacing half that with new fencing. That's pulling out close to 1.5 miles of fencing.

But you gotta admit. . .it looks pretty cool!!

 

[Slamfire]

The trouble with usin' the 3 point is you have to get right up against the post. When that isn't possible I use an old narrow 21" wheel, I picked up at a tractor junk yard. I throw a choke chain around the post, down low, lead it over the wheel, and hook it to the draw bar. When I drive off, the wheel converts the pull to lift and out they come.

 

[jdgreg]

Maybe simple is the way to go. This is 3-plank horse fence with wooden poles set into the ground. They're smaller than telephone poles. Probably about 2 1/2 feet down. No concrete. I'm talking about eventually pulling out over 1000 8-foot sections and then replacing half that with new fencing. That's pulling out close to 1.5 miles of fencing.

But you gotta admit. . .it looks pretty cool!!

Yep, pretty cool, but will require a second person on the ground to hook it up. I've pulled up old fence 2 ways, a) chain with a slip hook wrapped around the base of the post, b) if you dont want to save the old boards, take a chain saw and cut the boars off of each post so that you still have a piece of the board nailed to the post, set the lip of the bucket under one of the board pieces and curl or lift the bucket, works great, and you can do it by yourself.

 

[Ranch_Hand_Supp]

You could take a flat piece of metal and weld a piece of pipe to it with a ID large enough to slide over the post. Bolt it to the side of the bucket. Then lower over post, curl bucket, rock back and forth it needed and then raise. Unbolt when done.

Ronald
Ranch Hand Supply

 

[N80]

When I worked on a line crew we had two jacks for removing telephone poles. On was a short, fat hydraulic jack that you hooked to a choke chain. The other was a mechanical (racheting) type jack that you also hooked a choke chain to. We use it when we couldn't get the truck close enough for the hydraulic lines to reach. We probably pulled 50 or so with the mechanical jack one summer. Simply miserable!

I'd consider putting a chain hook on your bucket and using a choke chain. I suspect you could make quick work of fence posts that way.

 

[Glowplug]

Yeah that's a good idea. Of course, I don't yet have my tractor. What I will likely do is pull up just a few of the more annoying posts with the chain over the old tractor rim trick. Once I get my tractor I'll be able to use my tractor as a helpful work (play) tool to get the others out.

 

[AlanB]

Harvey Lacey has a fantastic straight forward, functional and inexpensive one to go on Iris shown on his website. Harvey Lacey Not as easy with a CUT as with a SS to get it positioned, but I think you could still make it work (similar to what Ronald described)

He also made up some pull rings that slide over the posts and wedge as you pull up on them to do post's like chain link posts.

I happily steal his ideas as they always seem well thought out and efficient.

 

[bluetc30]

sounds like a big job do you have any time restraints? i would just pop them out with the front end loader it mite take a little longer but a lot cheaper and a lot more fun

 

[N80]

Yeah that's a good idea. Of course, I don't yet have my tractor. What I will likely do is pull up just a few of the more annoying posts with the chain over the old tractor rim trick. Once I get my tractor I'll be able to use my tractor as a helpful work (play) tool to get the others out.

And if you do actually get the 7040 you should have no problem yanking them out with ease.

 

[MicroPilot]

Here's a pic of a purpose built post puller I found at my local Southern States.

http://www.tractorbynet.com/photos/showphoto.php/photo/3843/size/big/sort/1/cat/500

 

[CurlyDave]

Once I get my tractor I'll be able to use my tractor as a helpful work (play) tool to get the others out.

Get a 4-n-1 bucket with your new tractor, and it will pay for itself in this job alone.