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theoldwizard1

Pulling posts

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theoldwizard1

My son bought a house last year. Good deal on a foreclosed fixer upper. Neighbors were happy to not have an empty house on the block.

Well, the above ground pool was dead, so it went out. Now he has a reasonably large pressure treated. 4' high deck next to where the pool was. Removing the deck rails and planking is easy. But there is about a dozen post that need to go. They are 4x4, likely set in concrete about 40" deep. Soil is heavy clay. (Gumbo in early spring.)

No tractor available. Basic tools (shovels, etc), 5' pinch bar, hydraulic floor jacks and bottle jacks. We pulled some galvanized posts the other year, the hard way, and I'm too old to do that again. And of course I don't want to but a tool that I will never use again.

Anyone want a free deck and live near SE MI ? Some dis-assembly required !

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mr.pipes

I tackled the same project two years ago. I ended up digging a hole right next to the sonotubes to push them twords so I could jiggle them back and forth to get loose. Then either pulled them out or used a lever to get under them. I don't remember it being to difficult.

I have had to replace many fence posts where I did not want to dig a hole that would loosen the soil for the new post. I have tried everything from levers to jacks to pull them up. There was just to much friction and suction or something would break. The wood posts seem to always be wider at the bottom. You may have better luck with a jack than I have if they are sonotubes as the diameter will be the same top and bottom.

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C-Series14

I repair fence on a horse farm and have several ways to remove them. From using a big tractor to using a shovel and steel bar to using a fence stretcher. You can also build a tripod using 4x4 posts and attaching a chain hoist to the top and pulling them out. Digging around the post is the best way to start. When all else fails, I hook a 20 ft. log chain to the back of the Duramax and yank them out!!! :thumbs:

Still in South Carolina for 3 more days.....

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Redbirdman

Try hooking a garden hose (a pump would be better) to a 3/8 or 1/2 galvanized pipe about 3 to 4 feet long with a 'pipe thread to hose thread' adapter and pushing the pipe into the ground with the hose running full blast. The water may actually 'float' the concrete mushroom loose. Well not that easy but it helps....It's the way you sink pilings in sand and we used it all the time to pull fence posts out.

If it don't work..............well ya get wet feet :thumbs::thumbs:

If it works, ya owe me :thumbs:

ed

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AMC RULES

Why not rent a backhoe for a half day? :thumbs:

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B-8074

I pulled a bunch out last summer. Dug around them to expose the top of the concrete, wrapped a logging chain around it a couple times and put the GMC in gear.

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wh-jason

i use the snowplow lift pump on my truck, hook a chain to the lift arm and around the post, then flip the switch that raises the blade...work smart not hard :thumbs: and besides that the neighbors usually get a good show watching my redneck engineering :thumbs:

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bmuone

Dig down about two feet...get a chain saw and cut them off...cover up. Or dig down to the concrete....get a long heavy duty crow bar...beat the concrete away from the wood and then pull them out leaving the concrete. Good luck.

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theoldwizard1

Or dig down to the concrete....get a long heavy duty crow bar...beat the concrete away from the wood and then pull them out leaving the concrete. Good luck.

I did that on one last summer. It took more than 4 hours to break up the concrete enough to pull the post out.

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theoldwizard1

I pulled a bunch out last summer. Dug around them to expose the top of the concrete, wrapped a logging chain around it a couple times and put the GMC in gear.

One problem. They are behind a 6' high wood fence. Of course that can be removed.

I do have enough chain and a truck, but I'm not certain I can get enough traction, even on pavement.

I'll probably try this with a little twist I saw on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LsVrrkdsOyU.

Same basic set up, but take the spare tire from your truck. Lower the air pressure to about 10-15 psi. With the tire standing upright and as close to the post your trying to yank as possible, run the chain over the tread of the tire down around the concrete. Use an oversized hook on the end of the chain so that as you pull the chain will tighten. Now as you pull, the tire will roll and there will be a lot more upward force applied.

I may also try this method as I happen to have some 8' 2x6 and bricks/blocks

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