Twisting Stumps out of Ground?

[Suburban Plowboy]

I have some annoying oak stumps, cut flush with the ground. I have tried potassium nitrate on them, but they refuse to rot. The tree trunks were only maybe 10" across, but the root balls are more like 20".

I tried removing one with a subsoiler. It rocks, but that's about it.

Wondering if anyone can suggest a solution.

I have considered building an A-frame from 4x4's and running a chain over the top of it.

I have seen that people used to twist stumps out. It is possible for me to drill holes in the stumps easily. I was thinking I might run a 6-foot steel bar through a stump, put a strap on the end of it, and pull with the tractor.

In the old days, they used to use chains with hooks on the ends to grip the logs, but it looks like these are no longer made.

My tractor is only 37 HP, so I am limited in what I can do.

I've learned one thing from this: never cut a tree flush with the ground. The previous owner of the property left me nothing to grip the stump with.

 

[sandman2234]

I would start digging next to the stump to get enough to grab onto, and it would make it easier to get out of the ground!
David from jax (where there are no rocks for digging, lol)

 

[RNeumann]

Go rent a mini ex for a few hours.

 

[CobyRupert]

Are you just trying to make stumps disappear at surface level, or do you want roots gone because you want to plow/till/plant soil?

If you just want the stumps disappeared a stump grinder may be the answer. If you want roots gone, getting them dug with an excavator is best.

I don't think 37 horsepower is the problem, but it's light weight = light traction, that will be. I'd be surprised if a 6 ft steel bar would give enough leverage to pry, let alone twist. Roots can really grab. Every one you can cut prior reduces the force required by a lot.
I've put a cable 15' up pine and maple trees and my ~8000lb (loaded) tractor with R1's would struggle. Granted, trees were a bit larger diameter, but I had a lot more leverage. It's really going to depend on soil conditions and roots.

 

[CADplans]

I had an 18" maple stump that even with a four foot perimeter trench,, and my 10,000 pound tractor pulling, I could not rock it,,

Then, I hooked the wood splitter to it with a chain,, and chained the splitter to a standing 24" tree,,

That stump could not resist the 40,000 pound pull,, the splitter pulled the remaining roots,,
once the stump got moving good,, the tractor could then pull it,,

I flush cut a 12" locust, and an 18" oak tree, back in 1982,,
yesterday, 37 years later, I drove over them as I mowed the field,,,
those stumps are as intact as the day I cut those trees down,,

 

[Rustyiron]

Look on you tube. I came across what your talking about and the rigging was explained. They used draft horses for the muscle.
This was a while ago, sorry for no link.

 

[Industrial Toys]

That's what I always say. Your wooden deck is garbage in two years but that unwanted stump in the ground is good forever, it seems. Grinding them has always been my preferred method. Provided, they are not going to be in the way underground.

 

[Fuddy1952]

Years ago when I had no money here's what I did.
First I got one of those heavy galvanized metal spools wire comes on. They're big, about 3-4ft across & the same height.
The stump I'd drill holes, maybe inch or so, few inches deep, pour gasoline and used motor oil on it. Let it soak in real good.
Then barrel over it, propped up an inch or two like four around base to ground. This lets in air. A little paper, little oil light it.
It would burn for over a week. Eventually we'd see flames way underground roots would be burning.

 

[Fuddy1952]

I left out words...
Then barrel over it, propped up an inch or two with old bricks like four-five around base to ground.

 

[CobyRupert]

Years ago when I had no money here's what I did.
First I got one of those heavy galvanized metal spools wire comes on. They're big, about 3-4ft across & the same height.
The stump I'd drill holes, maybe inch or so, few inches deep, pour gasoline and used motor oil on it. Let it soak in real good.
Then barrel over it, propped up an inch or two like four around base to ground. This lets in air. A little paper, little oil light it.
It would burn for over a week. Eventually we'd see flames way underground roots would be burning.

Yep, I've done something like from something I saw here on TBN.
I took some tin sheets and made little "pup tent" over a 3'-4' long, odd shaped maple stump, with roots extending a few feet on each side.
Soaked with old motor oil for a few weeks prior.
It was close enough where I could run an extension cord and plug in a box fan to keep air moving through the "tent". Then once or twice a day hit it with the leaf blower to clean out the ashes, exposing the burning embers to fresh air and get it roaring before it would coast/smolder for another 12 hours. After a week all I had was a huge hole in the ground.