Pulling fence posts

[alchymist]

Perhaps a little off topic, but: I have a fence to tear down, and need a way to remove the posts. These posts are 4-5 inches in diameter, and from what I can find out, are hydraulically driven into clay soil about 2-3 feet. Even after all the rain we've had, they are rock solid. We tied pulling them with a chain on a scoop on the front of a farm tractor to no avail. Would lift the rear of the tractor off the ground. Even broke one chain. Several that needed to come out at any cost we broke off - they break off at ground level, and don't push sideways at all. I swear they are screwed to bed rock! We tried pushing them back and fort from several sides with the tractor, they will not budge. So, any ideas? (No, I'm not gonna dig them out). Personally, I carry a gun because I’m too young to die and too old to take an ass whoopin’.”

[mitchntx]

Gonna be hard to describe but.

Back on the farm we used to take a 4x4 that was about 6" taller than the hitch on the tractor.

We would lean the 4x4 against the post to be removed with the top of the 4x4 about hitch high. So the botoom was about 6 inches or so away from the post at ground level.

We would wrap a heavy log chain around the base of the fence post several times and then run up the post and between the leaning 4x4 and fence post. (hard to visualize, I know ... even harder to describe).

Then hook the other end to the tractor and drive straight away.

As the chain pulled tight, it would try and stand the 4x4 up thus pulling striaght up on the fence post with as much force as the pulling tractor had, which is more that the leverage a bucket has.

If the ground is soft, you can use cribbing to keep the 4x4 from burying itself.

HTH

[FarmForward]

I've used that method as well... what it does is use the 4x4 post as a fulcrum to leverage the fencepost out of the ground. It usually works pretty well, although I've managed to break off some posts doing it this way, but that may be due to rotting posts or over-enthusiasm on my part.

I take it that simply sawing them off at ground level is not a viable option?

[alchymist]

Yeah, I know the angled 4X4 routine, used it to pull other fencing without problems. Wouldn't even budge these posts with that method. (Managed to splinter a couple of 4 X 4's & a 6" round post that way). These posts are really in there. Sawing them off is an option, but not a good one, as 1) I'd like to reuse the posts, and 2) couldn't plow where the posts are. All else fails, I'll dig down 6" or so and saw them off. Just thought someone might have a solution.

Thanks for the suggestions, though, keep them coming!

"The world is a dangerous place to live, not because of the people who are evil, but because of the people who don't do anything about it." Albert Einstein

[mudmaker]

Get a bigger tractor!

[workinman]

How about jetting around them to loosen them up ? I've used a pressure washer to bore holes for piles.
just a thought / good luck.
jeff

[alchymist]

That's what I love about FTE....someone's always go an idea...I wouldn't have thought of that one...now all I have to do is get my hands on a pressure washer, and give it a try...


"I think the best possible social program is a job." Ronald Reagan

[Homemade]

If all else fails cut them off a foot above ground then try splitting them and removing that way.

[Chaosracing]

I say backhoe and dig them out. When they are hyrdro hammered into the ground, they are in there better than if the hole was dug and concrete poured around them. Thats why old bridge builders used to use wood poles and pile drive them into the ground.

If you do wind up cutting them off, I would go deeper than 6". I can guarentee if you cut them at 6", you will still hit them with a plow.

[GLR]

If you want to re-use the posts and are going to plow the land, why not rent a mini back hoe- excavator and dig them out? You should only have to dig down a couple of feet on one side of the post.

[jroehl]

Jackhammer around them, then pull them with a bucket and chain.

Jason

[alchymist]

In a word .$$$$!. Talking 40-50 posts. Fence has been sitting there for a year because time and $. Will get the fence wire off it this month, then worry about the posts. Already have removed close to 1000 feet of fence so far. Fortunately most of those posts were not set as tight and were able to pull them with the truck. I'm guessing if I can't get my hands on a pressure washer to try, will probably cut off just below the surface, and make it lawn. Anyway, cost of the post vs cost of digging it out is a no win.

”Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety” Benjamin Franklin

[fellro86]

I'll try to scan and post a diagram of what a few have mentioned above about the fulcrum and such, actually had that as a project in Statics...the group that had the project did a demonstration with a pickup...

[lvmadsigntist]

Used to remove billboard posts by bolting angle or wrapping a cahin around the post and lifting straight up with 2 4x4 Hi Jack jacks. Cranes and back hoes always seem to have a tendancy to skew a bit but that straight up motion usually broke em free.