removing stubborn fence post

[jam2004]

What's the best way for me to remove a very stubborn old fence post using my BX 2230? I have an FEL if that'll help.

 

[Jimbrown]

Soak it with diesel set on fire go drink beer while setting on the BX.

 

[LeadPoison]

What he said.

 

[TommyT]

I've had luck using two lag bolts, 5/8 inch diameter and about 8 inches long.

Drill two holes diagonally into the post (make an X) screw the lag bolts in until they just go all the way through the post. Wrap a chain under the lag bolts/around the post.

I don't have a FEL so I just used the drawbar on my 3 pt hitch, and the posts pull up out of the ground pretty good.

The lag bolts get bent up, straighten them up with a hammer in a vice and use again on the next post.

 

[5030]

Forget the beer, get the Jack.

Seriously, get something round, and fairly large like an old truck rim (no tire just the rim) or a chunk of tree trunk and a stout chain with hooks on the ends. Take the chain and hook it around the post right at the ground line (give it 2 wraps and it will bite into the wood as you do the next step). Feed the chain over the rim or tree trunk (the rim in the vertical position). If you use a rim and the ground is soft, put a peice of plywood under the rim so it don't sink in the ground. If a tree trunk forget the plywood. Attach the other end of the chain to your tractor's drawbar (if you have a little tractor or if the wheels spin as you pull, get your pickup truck or your car or SUV or whatever that is heavier and pull with that.

As the chain is pulled over the rim or tree trunk, it will pop the post right out of the ground no matter how stubborn it is.

 

[RonR]

The posts I've taken out have broken off at the top of the concrete they are setting in, so it's been tough.

I've found the easiest (none of it is easy) way is to dig a circle around the concrete, down about 4". Then wrap a chain around the concrete, hook it over a handyman jack that's sitting on a 2x6, and start jacking.

It only takes about six hands and four tries to get a good bite to jack it out.

Alternately, when I've been mad at my son, I send him out with a shovel and six ft long 2" shaft type pry bar and tell him not to come back until it's out.

After either of these, I have to use a concrete tube for the new post; the top of the hole is sometimes 18" in diameter.

Hope this helps.
ron

 

[ccsial]

The most fun way is dynamite.

 

[jam2004]

Thanks everyone. I'm gonna get a beer, a son, a prybar, some dynamite, chains, some diesel, a tree trunk, and lagbolts and get started on it today. I don't have to be back to work 'till Monday at 7:30. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Larry_Davis]

Jam2004,
This has worked great for me ............ I don't know what the formal name of this tool/implement is but, it looks like the tongs they use in ice houses to lift and move large blocks of ice, only VERY heavy duty. As you begin lifting the sharp prongs sink into the object. I bought mine at our local ACE Hardware and have used it for lifting large logs, large rocks and pulling out 4x4 and 6x6 wooden fence posts. A chain hooks to this device and you are only limited by your FEL's lifting power. You can get them in 2 or 3 sizes and cost about $45 to $50.

 

[RonR]

Be sure to post what solution worked, so someone can claim the credit here!

Of course, if you get hurt or break your tractor, you're on your own and all of us will claim we never told you to do anything.........

Have fun,
ron