@#$*& Stump!

[To20Chris]

This one is for KiotiJohn (aka the Stump Master!). I't a bit hard to see, but there is a large flat boulder to the lower right. There is also a stone wall on the opposite side (covered with debris). The whole thing was growing into a stone and rubble pile. I gave up trying to get it out with the BH and decided to cut it off.

 

[To20Chris]

Here is a shot of the rock that was INSIDE the stump. Ruinied my saw chain! This means WAR! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[To20Chris]

Close up

 

[To20Chris]

I had to put the BH back on. I could not break it loose, but I could wiggle it a bit. I was able to dig on one side, but not on the others. I had to pry at it with the BH & figure out where it seemed to be attached. Then I could dig over there with the digging bar, and use my old axe (and sometimes what was left of my chainsaw) to cut the roots. Then pry some more and do it again. I thought these tractors were supposed to be labor saving devices! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif My back would disagree tonight!

 

[To20Chris]

VICTORY!

 

[KiotiJohn]

Well, I'm far from the stump master, but I'm proud of you for keeping on until you finally won! I just found one the other day I had to give up on, a camphor tree which was partially grown into a large pine tree. I finally cut it down, and after I get the pine down, I'll take both stumps out. The stump HAS NOT WON yet! LOL That was a wicked problem you had with all those rocks. Next time, try starting way out from the stump and maybe you can dig into it, removing stone easier. That's pretty much how I start on all of them now as the roots are not as strong further out. Keep up the good fight. John

 

[To20Chris]

Now that the stump is gone, here is what I was doing. The stump was about where the left rear tire of the Ferguson is now.

 

[GerardC]

That oldie, but goodie I'm sure, has got some bugged out lookin' eyes on it /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif. G

 

[KiotiJohn]

Nice job Chris. I love those old Fergusons. My brother's is a TO35 and going strong. John

 

[Markioti]

Chris,
That looks like a lot of work! I've been doing quite a bit of this lately. I sure wish I had a backhoe for this. I've also ruined a few chains in the process - not fun! Now I just dig around the stump so that I can cut it off below grade. Whenever possible I use a small swede saw. (blades are cheaper!)
Cheers,

Mark

 

[To20Chris]

Thanks guys! It was a lot of work, it took over 4hrs to get the thing out, and the tractor only did the last bit! Normally I would dig around it, and farther from the stump to break the root, but this was rock and rubble fill, and the BH just could not dig through it well. I was afraid I would break a tooth off if I kept at it. It was a black locust stump near as I can tell (they just don't rot!), growing in baseball to football sized rocks, and under that big rock. I don't know how big that staone is, but it never budged even a little - a part did break off though!

I really needed a parking area, it was looking like a junkyard around the barn! Eventually I will put a roof over it, but probably can't get to that this year.

The old Fergusons really were a great design, even if mine does look a bit funny with those lights! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif They were an unfortunate addition when I was a teenager, but they do work (for 6V lights anyway).

 

[Markioti]

I found the black locust one of the worst stumps I ever worked on! Quite a root system with those and you're right - they just don't seem to rot at all.

Mark