White oak removal with B2650?

[Rock Crawler]

A neighbor is asking me about removing some white oaks that he had cut, he wants the root balls removed, not ground down. I implored him to call in a tree grinder guy, but he says that he's done it before and it brings insects and eventually sink holes. He is dead set on digging the balls out.

So, I have B2650 TLB and the request is that I dig them around, cut the roots, and get the balls out on the 5 trees. These are white oak, so there is some sort of a tap root sticking down in the center.

I told him I'd give it a go, start with the smallest tree and work up from there if it looks like I can do it.

My thoughts are, dig a V shaped moat around the base, picking at it to expose the major roots. Use my DeWalt reciprocating saw with timber trimming blades to cut the roots as I scratch the dirt away, get enough cut that I can get on the otherwise and push it... Hopefully getting the saw to the tap root. Then they should roll right on out.

I told him I wouldn't do it free, but I wouldn't charge much, I also told him that I'd think 7 hours for sure to do 5 roots, but it is what it is. A tried again to suggest a grinder, he's pretty dead set on digging, not grinding.

Am I insane for even thinking that this can be done with a BH77 on a B2650?

Pictures of his 5 white oak trees...

 

[4570Man]

Of course it can be done but I think you're over estimating your backhoe by double or more. Depending on soil conditions I'd guess you're closer to 2 hours to dig it out and another hour to level the hole. Then comes the problem of getting the stump out of the hole. Your machine definitely isn't going to lift it and even dragging it might be a stretch. Next set of problems is getting rid of the stumps. Then dirt is going to have to be hauled in. It sounds like you already know but this is a dumb idea. Grind them and fill in the sink hole in a couple years.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I have a thumb on the backhoe, so I'll likely just grab and lift them. If not, I'll use the loader and roll them up and out.

All I'm doing is dragging the balls to the back edge of his property where he's going to let them rot for all eternity.

He is dealing with bringing dirt in and leveling it out, all I'm doing is digging, cutting, knock dirt off as much as reasonable with the backhoe teeth, get the ball out, and then push any dirt I dug out... Back in. After that, I load up and leave, and the retired dude will poke at it over the spring.

 

[Oldoak]

I think you better plan on more than 7 hours. Fresh cut healthy White Oaks are going to have a tough root system and will require starting to dig further away from the stump with your machine than you may have planned on.

Your wise to start with the smallest one and see exactly what it is going to take.

A small excavator equipped with a claw and thumb would have all of them out in less than an hour.

 

[747driver]

I just took down a 60' white oak. I dug around the tree base starting at 4' from the base and cut the roots out as I went. It took me at least 6 hr to do this. Would have been quicker if I had a backhoe on the tractor. White oaks root system is close to the top so didn't have to dig very deep. There were high winds one night and come morning the 60'er was on the ground. Not much of a hole...but a nice big stack of firewood ! Like 4570 said....you are under estimating the time you will need.

 

[Rock Crawler]

I just took down a 60' white oak. I dug around the tree base starting at 4' from the base and cut the roots out as I went. It took me at least 6 hr to do this. Would have been quicker if I had a backhoe on the tractor. White oaks root system is close to the top so didn't have to dig very deep. There were high winds one night and come morning the 60'er was on the ground. Not much of a hole...but a nice big stack of firewood ! Like 4570 said....you are under estimating the time you will need.

If you didn't have a backhoe.... How did you dig it out?? *Gasp!* Not by.... hand.... Or did you dig it out by hand?

 

[/pine]

Should not be typical (straight down) "tap" roots on a white oaks...

 

[Rock Crawler]

Should not be typical (straight down) "tap" roots on a white oaks...

If that is true, then they shouldn't be as bad as I'm fearing. The reciprocating saw will make quick work of roots as I find them.

 

[4570Man]

If you didn't have a backhoe.... How did you dig it out?? *Gasp!* Not by.... hand.... Or did you dig it out by hand?

My grandpa said they dug all the stumps by hand and could do it pretty fast....... Right after they blew them up with dynamite.

 

[4570Man]

If that is true, then they shouldn't be as bad as I'm fearing. The reciprocating saw will make quick work of roots as I find them.

I think that's a better idea on paper than it actually is. All except the biggest couple roots you could scratch around and probably break them faster. I don't know how much strength difference there is but my BH-90 is nearly useless for stump digging which is why I sold the setup. I miss that tractor. I should have tried to convinced my grandpa to trade me and sold his L3800 instead.