Something to think about ... when a tree might fall on you

[beppington]

I see where you said that these were 1"-3.5" trees. Well, golly, yeah, hook up a chain and go. :thumbsup: Heck, do 2 or 3 at a time. 1"-2" trees? I'm just running over those with my DR Brush Mower or Brush hog on the tractor.

The 5' rotary cutter I use doesn't like oaks once they're about 1.5" in diameter & up. And pretty much all the saplings were oaks. Believe me, I'd much rather just bush hog them down.

2"-3.5"? I'm still pulling out my chainsaw but before I could position the tractor, jump off, hook up a chain, get back on, etc., I've cut that small tree down and it's halfway through the wood chipper.

This was a 2-man operation, one hooking the chain to the tree, the other pressing the tractor's go pedal. We were quite efficient.

Your original post spoke of a 35' 6"-7" dia tree. That's a lot different than saplings.

Agreed. That one was a different story: A larger, dead tree, that I decided to push over; Had I noticed its top hanging in the vine, I wouldn't have pushed it. All the saplings were much smaller than that & alive.

We all have a technique that works for us considering the equipment we own, but the point a lot of posters are making is that pushing a tree over with a FEL is DANGEROUS! And the intent is not just to slap you upside the head. Heck, you're an adult, I imagine. But there's a lot of people who read these forums to get ideas on how to do stuff and it must be pointed out why it's not a good idea.

Gotcha. Understood. I won't recommend anybody else push a tree over with their FEL. Nor will I recommend anybody else pull saplings out with a chain straight to the tractor. But I'm gonna manage my risk & continue to do both, in most cases. In hindsight I better add that my original post is for anybody who feels that same way.

 

[jml755]

I've got a 1/2 way fallen tree along my trail from this past weeks wind ... the trunk is completely separated from the roots and its hung up between some trees at the top

I'm thinking to throw a strap around it and use my 100' cable to pull it down (I lack a logging winch)

smart ?

Hard to tell without looking at it, but if you mean: attach it at the base and pull it away from the hangup, sounds like a plan.:thumbsup: I've done that with my pickup truck. Since the pull force is "upward" as well, it helps to pick the trunk end off the ground as you pull and "hangups" usually pop out and drop with very little force required. A lot of them, I've done by hand when I couldn't get a vehicle into the area. Up to about 5"-6" in dia. After that, I can't lift the doggone end. :ashamed: I hate to leave widowmakers in my woods. No telling when they'll come down.

As an aside (from the 11-2-10 Detroit News):
Man seriously injured in tree-trimming accident
An employee of Westside Forestry suffered serious head and internal injuries Monday in a hydraulic lift accident as he was trimming branches from a pine tree, according to the Michigan State Police Brighton Post.

Police would not release the name of the man, who was transported to University Hospital in Ann Arbor. The man was injured after the hydraulic extension failed, causing the lift to drop about 50 to 60 feet.

------
If you ask 10 people, they'd probably all say this guy was working in the safest possible manner. And, even then, accidents happen. Will be interesting to see what the root cause was (hose? cylinder? linkage?).

 

[merrickvilleguy]

Ya I'm sure I can get the tractor near by to pull it out and the cable length is longer than the tree. It would seem the tree has completely dislodged from its root ball and its been sitting there for around a week so in theory it ought to be safe enough to get under it to hook the cable/strap to it

 

[Car Doc]

I've got a 1/2 way fallen tree along my trail from this past weeks wind ... the trunk is completely separated from the roots and its hung up between some trees at the top

I'm thinking to throw a strap around it and use my 100' cable to pull it down (I lack a logging winch)

smart ?

You didn't mention how big it is but regardless with that said I would definitely pull it by the base and from as far as I could get from it you have the right idea for sure!

I always worry about the boomerang affect of other trees in the way when I fell a problem tree like this one so be careful strange things can and do happen to those who arnt prepared.

 

[woodlandfarms]

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...278348319-coulda-hurt-img_20100704_132119.jpg

One of the many reasons I love the PT...

 

[two_bit_score]

Thanks for posting your experience. From what I've read here, I'll never push a dead tree over with my FEL.

Very good advice that some people will not heed.

 

[beppington]

This guy almost learned the hard way, had the tree been taller/ heavier: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sdacQxHQ0F8 YouTube - Ford 1920 Tractor working

This is what I've been doing lately, with really good success on live trees, although much smaller than what he's pushing over (up to about 5" diameter): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgcrNHicgIw YouTube - John Deere 850J pushing trees

 

[Taylortractornut]

You have to watch trees any time you clear. When clearing with and excavator or TLB with a small dead tree or medium ons is to keep the tree on the side of the boom oppisted of the cab. That way yo ucan guide a run away. I had a live tree I was downing for a customer that was near and under ground utility. I couldnt dig a big enough hole for a saw then stump operation. I cut the the roots on 3 sides and pushed it over. A hollow section we didnt see broke off and I deflected it with the boom. I ve pushed alot of trees with a track loader and full rops But would never do it with a tractor and soft cab.

Ive learned alot overthe last 16 years on a dozer clearing right of ways at work. Never bump a tree, als ways eas into it and then apply pressure. Bumping will some times take a dead tree but the top will hit the cab like a freight train. Last week I wast week I was pushiing out stumps with the D5 at work while the ground was soft. I decided to take out a big long deat 70 foot pine. It had no limbs. I was pushing out the sapplings around it and corner of the blade caught it as I passed it. I was beside me and all the meat of the tree slought off the tree and into the cab.

It was kinda funny as the tree was 24 inches and had a good 5 inch heart. I went back and pushed the heart over for fire starter.