Digging stumps

[koja]

Will I harm my 2014 BX25D digging out stumps ? My thought is "NO" . The hydraulics will only pull so much before the relief valve kicks in . Using common sense I think I'm ok , but some of you have more experience on this machine than I and would appreciate you sharing your advice on this.

 

[Stubbyie]

Depending on your soil conditions and particular stumps you are going to find digging stumps slow going at best.

Take small bites and pull the roots in two, working in a circle around the stump. Then dig deeper close around and get under the sucker and lever him out. Leave enough sticking up when first cutting to use as a lever to work it back and forth by pushing and pulling. An aftermarket thumb might help.

You have a smaller tractor but even the largest backhoes have to work some stumps using this process. Very few stumps over a foot diameter come out in one bite with any commonly seen commercial backhoe.

Using our L-35 takes about a half hour per 1-ft dia oak stump in rocky soil to get it out and roughly backfilled--longer if bone hard dry.

I've had some success using two people (goes faster) and 50-ft of chain to set tractor in center of clump of trees or tall stumps and setting chain on trunk about as high as can be reached then using hoe to pull tree over. Once tree is canted in ground digging is easier and so is cutting / trimming.

On larger trees I've found it easier than digging alone to use chain and a lever hoist to tilt it over or pull it out and then finish it by digging. Unless you're a pro cutting a 2- or 3-ft diameter tree to leave anything but a short stump will get you hurt and a short stump doesn't leave you anything to work with (rocking, pushing, pulling with hoe bucket, levering).

Please post back your experiences so we may all learn.

 

[GWD]

Stubbyie pretty much has the technique down.

As far as hurting your machine, it is doubtful. That is what they are made for. And, indeed, the relief valve is there to protect the tractor's hydraulic system.

However, you may want to check the cylinders for excess heat. Hydraulic oil will thin out and break down faster when hot so some lubrication is lost.

Usually, just putting your hand on the a cylinder is enough to tell if it is too hot. If your hand is uncomfortable then it is OK. If you recoil in pain then it may be time to take a break.

Harbor Freight has an infrared temperature gauge that may help you establish a baseline for what is too hot and what is not.

http://www.harborfreight.com/non-contact-infrared-thermometer-with-laser-targeting-69465-8905.html

 

[85Hokie]

Will I harm my 2014 BX25D digging out stumps ? My thought is "NO" . The hydraulics will only pull so much before the relief valve kicks in . Using common sense I think I'm ok , but some of you have more experience on this machine than I and would appreciate you sharing your advice on this.

I am with the other guys, you will not hurt it, but it will take longer than you might think and the soil is the big factor.

When I first got my BX25D I went "at it" and was somewhat disappointed....but my expectations were too high, after using some common sense and got a hellava lot better on the hoe, I find it to be like working a puzzle!!!

Here is a rather large stump I got out of the ground....and it did take me about 10 hours, but really I could have done it in about three had I known what and how to do it !

 

[koja]

Sounds like I'm doing it the right way. The soil is sand and the trees are maples. Easy digging. Thanks guys. She is a strong little machine , will do a lot more than what you'd think by looking at it. I have two pulled out already and will post some pics tonight. Do have to get a little creative getting it out of the hole though lol .

 

[Billdog350]

One suggestion that has worked out well for my father with his L48 Kubota and D2 dozer with winch, is to dig around one side of the stump while the tree is standing, the side opposite that you want to drop the tree. Once its properly excavated, run a winch line to another tree and a snatchblock, and then over to the dozer winch. With a little tension, you can take down the whole tree AND stump in one action. Of course you need to be careful doing things this way so you don't drop the tree on top of yourself, but it sure saves time stumping!

With a smaller BX, everyone's suggestions to dig around the base, cut the roots with a sawzall, and then remove the stump is the key.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I built a ripper tooth for the little hoe at work. Two foot diameter willow stump took an hour to rip out. Way easier on machine, cuts roots with ease.

 

[koja]

Here is a couple of pics of the stump i dug out last weekend . The next two are about the same size , but are only about three feet apart from each other . I'm sure they are not coming out easy .

 

[koja]

Do you have a pic ? Sounds like a very good idea .

 

[Tooljunkie]

Something similar to this. I cut one piece of 1/4" plate the shape of the tooth.used the leftover plate and traced two more with plasma 1/2" smaller.
Welded the three together with 7018 rods and ground an edge all around.
Made mounting bracket, installed it and
Stuck it into a stump and tried to wreck it. Wrecked the stump, tooth held up great. Even used it to rip a little frost once.

 

[Eric McCarthy]

My suggestion would be to flush cut the stumps.and rent a stump.grinder for the day and grind them out. Even a tree company with a decent size grinder may only charge 100 bucks a stump.

Dont worry youll still get to play on the tractor as you may want to.get the shavings out the hole.

 

[koja]

My suggestion would be to flush cut the stumps.and rent a stump.grinder for the day and grind them out. Even a tree company with a decent size grinder may only charge 100 bucks a stump.

Dont worry youll still get to play on the tractor as you may want to.get the shavings out the hole.

I thought about that too , but, maples have a ton of those tiny sucker roots that run near surface and want those out the yard also . So if I'm going to dig them up I might as well dig the stumps out too. Going good so far , just slow going. It will be worth it when I'm done though .

 

[Ezlife45]

I had a chance to rent a BX25 once and I attempted to dig a stump. Granted I did not run the engine up to proper RPM's but it appeared that the backhoe had enough strength to somewhat pull the entire machine around. Small bites are key.

 

[gottaride68]

Dig the dirt around the stump, then burn it. Have a fire to commemorate the beautiful stump...load it with other wood, and used motor oil and let'er burn...then bury the hole...