Stump Removal Question

[Challenger 604]

I have been clearing land using my BC S185 (68 inch bucket with teeth). I cut the red pine trees down with a chain saw and then remove the branches and cut the logs into 6 foot sections. I then clear the area of the logs and brush and dig out the stumps using my Bobcat.

I do this by digging under and around the stump to loosen it and then either pushing the stump over with the bucket or getting under it and lifting it out of the ground with the boom.

A couple of times the stump hasn't been as loose as I thought it was and when I applied hydraulic pressure the stump stays in place and the back of the loader lifts. However, I try to avoid stressing the machine like this - my question is if this happens am I damaging the boom on my machine?

[ALLPro Landscaping]

You are using the bobcat for the stumps, if so what size is it

[ALLPro Landscaping]

Im sorry so your using the skid steer for digging out the stumps, how far are you digging down? I cant imagine down enough, and how big are the stumps, usually we use the excavator to dig out all stumps of larger size, if we don't care about ripping the turf, if we cant mess up the turf the we use a stump grinder, if the stump is big enough while using the skid, you absolutely can cause damage, especially to the arms

[Challenger 604]

The trees I am clearing are 16 year old red pine trees. They are typically 8-12 inches in diameter and 40 feet high.

As I stated I have been using the bucket to dig down in front of the stump (when I cut the tree down I leave about 10 inches remaining above grade) and then move to the opposite side and do the same thing. this generally loosens up the stump enough so that I can simply push it over, or slide the bucket under the stump and lift it up. Occasionally, I have to remove dirt from the sides of the stump if it is larger.

It seems to work ok on these tree stumps. However, I am concerned about stressing the machine if I try and lift the stump up and instead the back end of the machine lifts. I would think that doing this frequently would damage the boom.

[SellingIron]

Your not going to hurt the boom unless you are running into a concrete wall all day long.. The hyrdraulics are going to go over relief before you hurt the boom. (Your not going to hurt the boom). Us an excavator to dig the root ball..

[stuvecorp]

Your not going to hurt the boom unless you are running into a concrete wall all day long.. The hyrdraulics are going to go over relief before you hurt the boom. (Your not going to hurt the boom). Us an excavator to dig the root ball..

Umm, you can hurt the quick tach or pins.:hammerhead: Don't ask me how I know but it does get expensive.:cry:

[westcoh]

Pick up one of these digger attachments from Bobcat. I bought mine for cheap and it's surprisingly effective for digging out stumps and boulders.

[rocketranger289]

How much did you pay for that stump attachment and where did you get it and is it a bobcat brand?

[YellowDogSVC]

check out one of the blue diamond stump buckets. It will get anything out.

[ff1221]

Pine trees are generally shallow rooted, cut the tree off 6 or 7 feet up, and use the trunk for leverage, you can just push them right over and out of the ground, works great.

[Junior M]

Pine trees are generally shallow rooted, cut the tree off 6 or 7 feet up, and use the trunk for leverage, you can just push them right over and out of the ground, works great.
You'd pay hell doing that down here in the land of pine.. ;) even if it is sand, they go deep here.. Most the pine stumps we remove have to be dug down to atleast 4ft. You can push on them, but its just as much work to push them over as it is to dig the stump. On clearing jobs we do the samething Chris does, dig a little on each side of the tree and then push it over. But since we've got smaller machines, its a little more challenging..

[ff1221]

You'd pay hell doing that down here in the land of pine.. ;) even if it is sand, they go deep here.. Most the pine stumps we remove have to be dug down to atleast 4ft. You can push on them, but its just as much work to push them over as it is to dig the stump. On clearing jobs we do the samething Chris does, dig a little on each side of the tree and then push it over. But since we've got smaller machines, its a little more challenging..

With our short growing season, pine trees here don't generally root more than about 8"to 18", just goes to show how different things are in geographical areas.

[westcoh]

How much did you pay for that stump attachment and where did you get it and is it a bobcat brand?

Can't remember exactly what I payed for it, but I've seen them go for as little as a few hundred dollars at auctions. New at a dealer would probably be about the same price as a new bucket. It is made by Bobcat but I'm sure there are other brands out there that work just as well.