[My craftsman 917.27308]

Latexyankee, Watch this video of a fellow using a Farm Jack. I hope this helps you.

 

[HeyYou]

I just wrap my chain around whatever I am pulling at least twice, then hook the chain to itself. This way, the harder I pull on the chain, the tight the chain grips whatever it is I am pulling.

 

[tractorPete]

If you have to get into root cutting a sawzall with a roughing blade makes short work of it.

 

[My craftsman 917.27308]

Small bushes I cut to the ground and use a Farm Jack to pull them out. A large bush like an evergreen I cut them flush with the ground and use a stump grinder.

 

[latexyankee]

Imho, you want one that has one 'grab hook' nd one 'slide' hook. Transport chains typically have 2 grab hooks.

You will want a slide hook for the choker end grabbing whatever you are pulling out, and the grab hook can be used to and the puller end, and can shorten the overall length as desired.

This is just a random picture, but it shows the 2 hook types.

View attachment 2492718

Musta been someone else giving advice about chopping roots with an axe (but I think I'd avoid that if at all possible)

Yea this is the most versatile. So I could just buy the lenght of chain I want and purchase the hooks separately if its cheaper that way right?

Latexyankee, Watch this video of a fellow using a Farm Jack. I hope this helps you.

MY MAN! You rock bro

 

[latexyankee]

Small bushes I cut to the ground and use a Farm Jack to pull them out. A large bush like an evergreen I cut them flush with the ground and use a stump grinder.

dude I dont know whats growing out there lol. Im taking pictures today and measuring trunks and will post them all here tonight. Im excited to get laughed at.

 

[latexyankee]

If you have to get into root cutting a sawzall with a roughing blade makes short work of it.

Got a makita sawzall, roughing blade on the list now. It seems every day another tip. Love this place.
Thanks

 

[latexyankee]

Hey random question about chain integrity.

How is the weight rating calculated? Say chain rated for 3k lbs, is that some kind of force/torque rating? Or lifting weight?
Wondering how the rating translating into the task at hand.

 

[My craftsman 917.27308]

According to this , tow trucks use a grade 43 and truckers use a grade 70 or higher. I would think a 43 or higher is enough.

 

[Flaken]

A reciprocating (Sawzall) is great for the roots. Get the saw blades for green wood as the regular wood blades tend to get gummed up from the sap.

https://www.amazon.com/Pruning-Reciprocating-MRCGTCE-Straight-Cutting/dp/B07Y1CP1FJ/ref=sr_1_13?dchild=1&keywords=reciprocating+timber+blade&qid=1614463012&sr=8-13

 

[x738]

Yea this is the most versatile. So I could just buy the lenght of chain I want and purchase the hooks separately if its cheaper that way right?

Yes, but it might be cheaper to buy a pre-made one.

 

[Frogmore]

I have 3/8" grade 43 chain from HF and 5/16" grade 70. They both have the same weight rating. If you read the lawyer approved warnings, the chain is NOT approved for lifting overhead. This is due to liability insurance, so you won't win if you try and sue them when someone gets hurt/dies when you use the chain to lift something.

The 5/16" chain is easier to use (lighter and longer). I have used both for skidding logs with my CUT. I don't use it with my X534. It would be way overkill.

Chain and straps are typically rated to work at 1/3 of their breaking strength. Safety is very important when dealing with large forces. So, always think about what happens if the chain/strap breaks. Shock loads are the worst. I have never broken a big chain, but I have broken the little 1" straps from hold downs, when I was using them in unapproved ways at forces well beyond their capability. I was lucky and I could tell when they were about fail and I switched to a different one.

So, I would get the 5/16 grade 70 chain in 20" length. The package was cheaper than getting just the chain from other places. I also got a slip hook, which was easy to add.

 

[latexyankee]

Alright went out to really study today and boy am i in trouble. So here we go.

For scale this was a giant dying bush that was just chainsawed down a year ago by neighbor. the diameter is about 5 feet so Im assuming the root bed is all kinds of crazy. I do want this one gone as its close to the patio and unsightly. This looks to be very challenging.

After examining this closer its just going to cut down as close as I can to ground level. Its way in the back and almost covered under some pines so no real traffic back there, should be fine to chop down. No way I have anything to pull this out.

These two are the same bush/tree whatever the heck it is. So this one is inside a soon to be mulched area I will be keeping so it has to be addressed. looks like some 2in diameter trunks in the middle, but plently of stragglers around with 1in trunks could be pulled. Im debating on trying to jack it up and remove, OR prune, shorten considerably by 4-5 feet and round it out. Im afraid if I choose the latter i will kill it. Not a green thumb here and I know pruning isnt always just cutting something down. It does produce green so if i could shape it who knows. downside is its very close to the house and I dont need more rootsystems invading the foundation.

All the rest are of the same area

So here we have a ton of brush with the big boy in the center. These trunks measure 1 to 1 1/2 inch. This thing is out of control and probably approaching 13/14 ft tall. This is all wrapped in a corner mulchbed which I initially planned to rip everything out and throw seed down. I can clear the all the brush around it but the center bush/plant is so big, wide and mature Im not sure what the best route is. If i could chop it down and shape it I would most likely leave it and clear everything around it throw down soil and try to get some grass growth around it. My other worry is after removing all the extra around it, that it would then need tilled which in turn may hit the roots of this bad boy and possibly kill it? then id have a DEAD unremovable giant bush and worse off than before. So Im will to compromise on things if it makes sense from a labor perspective with a decent - or at least better than now result.

This is the same area/bed as above with the giant bush but these line the front. I cut them down last fall as they look bad when the season turns. I have no idea what they are but they grow upwards very tall in "stalks" and produce a nice white flower. When they turn they look and feel like bamboo? Very rigid and very strong. Maybe a half in diameter but as you see there are 4-5 stalks coming from each plant, Im not quite sure how to remove them, looks like im going to be digging them out. They are beautiful in bloom but need constant care in the other seasons. Couple who lived here were Hawaiian, both retired and did NOTHING but manicure the property. Aint nobody got time for that.


So those are the big areas, there's much more i didn't post since Ive learned through this thread what I can handle with the tractor alone. Im seriously considering picking up one of the brushgrubber chains or maybe even the original brushgrubber. Gets awesome reviews but most I find are using a pickup, CUT or SCUT. However with these small 1in plants everywhere im afraid a chain on slip hook or even the brushgrubber chain alone will just slide up the trunks. Doesnt seem like theres much to grab onto, where the brushgrubber has the teeth.

I still have loads more questions but Ill leave this here for the night. Also found this today in store for $79.99

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/bulldog-farm-jack-48-in

If I needed one think Id go with this over the HF.

Enjoy

 

[latexyankee]

I have 3/8" grade 43 chain from HF and 5/16" grade 70. They both have the same weight rating. If you read the lawyer approved warnings, the chain is NOT approved for lifting overhead. This is due to liability insurance, so you won't win if you try and sue them when someone gets hurt/dies when you use the chain to lift something.

The 5/16" chain is easier to use (lighter and longer). I have used both for skidding logs with my CUT. I don't use it with my X534. It would be way overkill.

Chain and straps are typically rated to work at 1/3 of their breaking strength. Safety is very important when dealing with large forces. So, always think about what happens if the chain/strap breaks. Shock loads are the worst. I have never broken a big chain, but I have broken the little 1" straps from hold downs, when I was using them in unapproved ways at forces well beyond their capability. I was lucky and I could tell when they were about fail and I switched to a different one.

So, I would get the 5/16 grade 70 chain in 20" length. The package was cheaper than getting just the chain from other places. I also got a slip hook, which was easy to add.

Yea i was thinking the same earlier. 5/8 20ft good compromise and can just add whatever hook I need for $15.

Thanks

 

[skiwithjohn]

Look up a device called Pullerbear. I have one and it works great on lots of shrubs and small trees. Works great on invasive buckthorn and honeysuckle.

 

[smcgill]

Start with the chain around one and see how bad it is ... some time these breakup .into smaller pieces..

 

[My craftsman 917.27308]

I found one of these brush pullers for $87.

https://www.northerntool.com/shop/tools/product_200365512_200365512

 

[smcgill]

This chain setup works better

From tractor supply
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/brush-grubber-shrub-clump-grubber?cm_vc=-10011

 

[Flaken]

The bush with the hollow stems appears to be a non-native variation of the bush honeysuckle. Produces fragrant white flowers. To remove, you have to cut the branches close, then dig out the root balls by hand as the stalks are quite brittle and break easily.

 

[My craftsman 917.27308]

This chain setup works better
View attachment 2492869
From tractor supply
https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/brush-grubber-shrub-clump-grubber?cm_vc=-10011

Oh , I like that one.