Big Stump, Little Tractor

Another setup pulling a stump with a high mechanical advantage rigging system. The system shown uses a 35:1 MA, pulled by an 18hp compact tractor.
For more like this, check out the PLAYLIST "Stumpin' " and the VIDEO "E/E Anchor Sling Proof Testing"
On the handheld shots, you may notice some strange distortions/movement ... it's an artifact from the Google shake-reduction software.

[@joewoodchuck3824]

A man with a plan and the equipment to go with it. It must have taken some serious time to plan and set it up. Very cool from every aspect.

[@WalterKerr]

I don't know anything about mechanical advantage, but I do recognise a very sensible man when I see one.

[@tbearrails9983]

In my 63 years that is the coolest thing I have seen.

[@deanc2006]

I used your video for inspiration and was able to use my small tractor to accomplish great thing thanks for the video. I used cable from tractor supply but would but the rope if I had it to do over again. Thanks

I have no tractor, or tree that needs being pulled up, but this was very satisfying to watch. The sound was neat.

[@TractorHoarders]

That was probably one of the smartest ways to pull out a tree stump that I've ever witnessed. Great video!

[@gordonmccoy4537]

Had to smile watching this Vid... You MUST be a sailor - no other endeavour could come up with the mechanical advantage system that you put together.! GREAT Vid and a nice classroom for others..! Thanks for posting! Gordon

[@jamess9117]

Amazing . . . I wouldn't have believed it possible if you hadn't videotaped it !

[@dave4854]

it's nice to see someone who knows how to use snatch blocks

[@jackolantern6692]

a useful tool to avoid damage to an anchor tree is a semi-trailer truck mudflap. whenever i have used another tree for leverage (usually with a chain in my case) i first wrap the tree with 2 or three layers of corrugated cardboard and then the rubber mudflap, then the chain wraps over that. the mudflap only needs to cover the side exposed to the chain, and the chain can be an open loop. this will protect the tree and the thick, stiff material of the mudflap prevents it moving or sliding. i have never had any damage to a tree using this method. it would be one small improvement to tom's method. often times, you can see and retrieve one of these mud flaps along the highway where they have fallen off a big rig.

[@captaincoyote1792]

Mr. Hoffmann....absolutely brilliant use of physics and mechanical principles! I’m retired now....both Navy and federal law enforcement....lived throughout the south, but my heart and soul belongs in New England. Once my wife follows me into retirement, we’ll relocate to Portsmouth-Durham area or Cape Cod. A word to the wise.....many of my New England friends pulled roots and moved south to warmer climes.....ended up regretting it and found it difficult to find it affordable to return. You may want to hold on to the homestead....at least for awhile.....to give you a return plan should you grow tired of hurricanes, large and numerous insects, flood prone lands and monotonous weather and / or landscapes. Regardless sir, thank you for a great video....best of luck to you!

[@Thomasuki267]

Amazing how the root makes that jet sound when letting go.

[@jacobrice5452]

This video explains the abilities of mechanical advantage. Comments about anything otherwise expose the viewers inability to understand the premise

[@TheLittlered1961]

Very impressive. Had a tree I wanted gone. Had power company come in and cut it down and limb it. They left me with a 10' stump, per my request. Did it the old fashion way, brute force. Attracted cable at top and pulled it out with a Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Was much quicker, but harder on the vehicle. Neighbors laughed at me with my 8" root ball in my yard. Hats off to you sir.

[@1963JamesT]

Amazing! That was no rotten stump either, awesome mechanical advantage.

[@semperfi3811]

Mr. Hoffmann, You are very clever with your levers & pullies and mastering the leverage of the old days! A science and an art that you have mastered as that now works for you & your little plow horse! If you gave classes I would sign up as the science & mathematical options are more complicated than you made that look! Mind over matter. Outstanding job!

[@bluefidle]

this guy sure understands his equipment ! amazing .

[@josemontalvan5671]

Don't know much on pulleys and tractor stuff ... But when I saw that hard hat and all of that set up.. This guys knows his shit... I was looking at all kinds of ways people have tried getting rid of there stumps and I bow down to you.. It was awesome watching you work.. Intelligence goes a long way... Nice job👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Puckgrinder85]

The snatch block is considered a "rolling lever", doubles the force but slows line speed by 1/2, that and you have to pull twice the distance (note how far he's travelling vs how much the tree moves). Of course this only works with certain applications of the blocks. He's just set this up with a shitload of line and tons of blocks which works because of the use of the anchors (trees) and the rigging being strong enough. They have an exhibit at some tow shows where 4-5 kids will pickup a truck or re-right an overturned one all due to proper rigging like this. You can move anything with enough line and pulleys.

[@bobfidyschorfheide5695]

The rigging brings back memories of Ocean Going tug (ATF) Navy days rigging beaching gear for pulling ships off the beach, or reefs, etc. A lot om mechanical advantage gained with the shieves and pulleys etc. Great job sir. Hope the galded tree will survive.

[@johnC-ss9sj]

I had family stationed on the USS Luiseno (ATF-156). You don't see the ATF mentioned often, but we could not do with out them.

[@Dan-friend.of.the.forest]

The tension and anticipation leading up to the stump releasing its final grip on the Earth is oddly riveting. Your video has inspired me to finally go after this ingrown hair on my neck that has been festering for the last six months. Thank you so much.

[@baltsosser]

Finally! A man that says stump and actually has something that is more than 6" across. Nice looking arrangement I see on that.

[@tghoffmann]

Check out the vid "Mechanical advantage vs. straight pull rigging". Go in to about 0:55 sec and you'll see 21" and 22" BHD live oak stumps pulled with this rigging. Damn things were so big I couldn't lift them with my bucket.

[@baltsosser]

If you were going to guesstimate how much money you have in riffing gear here represented by the set up you used, how much do you think it would run? I'll have to check out the other video too. I'll have another massive stump to deal with in about 3 weeks, and unfortunately it's a standalone affair, with absolutely nothing to tie off too. Looks like I'll be using a farmer jack set up as a bi-pod on that one.

[@angusmacdougall9770]

We now know who helped build the Pyramids !! Nice Work !!

[@ericjenkins1425]

Well done. With the understanding of mechanics such as this it goes to show why mankind has come as far as we have.

[@martinez19d]

Outstanding, pulling that large stump with pulls; using a that small tractor. Thumbs-up

[@MilanDupal]

Great performance and applied physics lesson! Thanks for posting.

[@aaronmiller112]

Good video. I struggle with digging and yanking with my truck and breaking straps and bending frames and ripping bumpers off.. Thank you for teaching me something new!

[@lloydprunier4415]

Very satisfying ! I learned the advantage of compound blocks on my shrimp boat career of 18 years. A cathead (capstan) and a 3x3 block could really do some work. Just have to stay out of the direction the line might travel if it snaps.

[@Joshua79C]

Most i got was slight rope burn or bruise from broken rope, but wire on the other hand, watch out for your life.

[@richarddaniel2109]

Wow Tom, that's some impressive pulling with mechanical advantage. I would not normally have thought that possible! Thanks for another great video.

[@tghoffmann]

+Richard Daniel Richard, I've won a case of beer from a 12T (!) loader operator with this rig! He couldn't get a stump with his rig and he absolutely thought that my Boomer 18 would be a joke. To see much bigger stumps I've pulled, check my vid "Mechanical Advantage vs Straight Pull Stumpin' " at the 55 second mark.

[@richarddaniel2109]

I'd have probably lost money on that too! I've tried to pull and even get those stumps and roots out with a back hoe and it was a challenge.

[@Joe-gu6oe]

I believe my ancestors used mules or horses along with your knowledge. Thank you Sir.

[@SolidTempesT]

I don't do any of this stuff, nor do I like doing this kind of stuff. But watching you do this stuff for some reason is very interesting. Thanks for the video!!

[@mike8hunter]

Awesome video, very educational, love the little tractor, my grandfather had an old gravely (I think) he'd go and pull out whole trees instead of in pieces, I love yard sales of handymen, never no what odd tools you never knew you were living with out.

[@tghoffmann]

For Earl: The SWL of the three pulley systems are 4T (block and tackle), 8T(two snatch blocks) and 17T(dual snatch). I don't have any experience doing this without an anchor tree. Plenty of rigging texts illustrate various ground anchors but you will need something really BIG, for sure. Again, without experience on this, I would guess that no good anchor disqualifies this technique and calls for hydraulic equipment to come in.

[@rcnelson]

Most complicated rigging I've ever seen. It'd be great to see a detailed breakdown on how you set it up and the equipment you used.

[@jimfiorentino7741]

Tom Thinking about getting a pair of forks for my tractor. When you have your yard sale, keep me in mind. When I need to pull a stump, I have my grandfathers 3/8" chain driven come-a-long. Built in the US of A Tulsa, Oklahoma, probably about 1945. More work than you are doing but very nostalgic. Thanks for the video, always enjoyable.

[@M0torsagmannen]

that slow and steady lift out was satisfying to watch

[@lengthmuldoon]

Wouldn't have believed it possible - extraordinary, well done

[@scottvincent1596]

Almost spit my coffee out!! Lol <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2161">36:1</a>!!!!!!! Pulling the stump 10' means the tractor will have to travel 360'!!!!!! If the tractor can pull 1000lb.s then approx. 36000 can be pulled on the stump!!!!! Lol! I enjoyed the video!

[@tghoffmann]

You've pretty much nailed it, Scott. The dual snatch is 12T/17T swl milspec/commercial. the chain is 1/2" Gr100 rated 15T in the basket. That's 4/5 of the total force on the stump without invading any safety factors.The wind-damaged cherry was no match for this rig. If you want to see what it really can do, surf the video "Mech Advantage vs Straight Pull" and scrub through to the 0:55 mark. 22" dia, completely healthy, in firm ground.

[@zavatone]

I always expected a block and tackle to be a great way to move very heavy items without massive (unaffordable) equipment. Glad to see it in action.

[@jroberts7387]

Anybody else find that cracking sound extremely satisfying?

[@lexscripta1]

Hey Tom, after watching your video, I wish I hadn't cut my tree so close to the ground. Now I have to look at stumps, unless I get a stump Grinder - which I may. One thing you said about moving to warmer climate. I am 62, and I still think I would miss those brisk, sometimes frosty late fall mornings... ;>) Just something about the freshness...

[@chemicalmike646]

+Tom Hoffmann i admire your usage of rigging.i just watched another video with a tractor that was 3 times larger, (no rigging) and even though it succeded, it stuggled to do the job. peace :D

[@chemicalmike646]

p.s; the rootbase was of similar size as was the stump height and width. actually, i think your stump was bigger. :) heres the link if you are interested. /watch?v=tkRxg0TcDR8

[@loganeley2342]

give a man a long enough lever and he'll move the world...give him a low enough gear ratio and he will tow it.

[@TrapMusicNow]

Where we're from, we cut the stump down and then smolder burn it overnight until it turns to ashes.

[@briansierzega]

Reminds me of getting my kids up for school

[@terryhale9006]

Impressive power!Please pardon two suggestions. First, it would probably be easier on your anchor trees if you used more of them to lessen the load on each. Second, fastening higher on the stump would give you better leverage to get initial movement and would lower the load on the anchor trees.Definitely impressed with the hardware you've accumulated.Hope you can continue posting great videos after you move.

[@tghoffmann]

+Terry Hale Agreed! Thanks for the nice thought. For the leverage, check of my vid "Widowmaker Trip. And I think an equalizing bridle might be a useful project."

[@terryhale9006]

Yes. I hope you can find the time and situation for that project.

[@tghoffmann]

+Terry Hale Terry, check the new playlist "E/E Anchor Sling". Extendable/Equalizing. A new idea using rigging thimbles.

[@terryhale9006]

Nicely designed experiment! Talk about anticipation.

[@e.m.5499]

Wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it w/my own eyes... Particularly not w/that tiny tractor. 🚜 ... Good job & thx for sharing. With a good lever & a block & tackle I suppose one could move a mountain.

[@tghoffmann]

This was a small pull. Check out the Playlist "Mechanical Advantage Stumpin' ". You'll see pix of much bigger stuff: a 22" dia live oak with no rot whatsoever.

[@NeWx89]

For some reason this makes me want to see a compilation of a trees bark healing and growing back after something like this <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="174">2:54</a> , a picture everyday kind of thing.

[@1cummins4life65]

amazing what can be done with a block an tackle

[@davidjacobs8558]

when you adjust the rigging after initial lifting of the stump, put a brace or two between the raised root and the ground, so that it does not settle back down.

[@catdieselpower193]

you did a fine job pard worked great!

[@jugiholic4388]

Best stump removal video I’ve seen apart from the bark stripping 👍🏼

[@DennysCountryLife]

Nice job! It's always nice to win on a big stump like that!

[@Bobster986]

This has to be the way they built the pyramids. Very cool!

[@whistledawg7206]

"Give me a lever and I will move the world". Very impressive

[@J-Bo_Galaxy]

Using this principle, you can pull a car by hand. Tie several loops in the rope / strap and reverse the rope's direction a few times. Obviously, pulleys work even better! My wilderness teacher in high school demonstrated this and let all the students pull his car.

[@stevenlopez5553]

This was so satisfying to watch. I totally could have used your help in my college biomechanics class.

[@MyOLD36chevy]

I like the idea of doing this alone if you have the tools and the know how you don't have to wait for on any one else. The problem with your rigging is it takes a lot of rope but it worked just like Gram Pa would have done it ( with a horse ). Fun to watch thanks .

[@tghoffmann]

+MyOLD36chevy So right! Everyone likes to focus on the big force end of the rig. But GramPa's horse has to do a lot of walking!

[@sardu55]

Why not keep the stump for seasoning a later as some good furniture our neat cherry wood projects.

[@zaappp1588]

Impressive but that's probably about $700-900 worth of rigging. I'm thinking I could remove it with about $10 worth of tannerite and turn it into mulch at the same time!

[@TheDadPenfield]

That is some awesome pulling power. I am surprised those ropes did not break. I snap 3/4 inch rope like string with my tractor and have to resort to chains or straps.

[@Joshua79C]

If you use local or hardware store type rope, its not strong enough at all nor made for that type of use, if you look up Samson they make the best in the industry and sold at reasonable prices per foot and made to pull thousands of pounds, not hundreds. what you get at the local hardware department is basically cordage variety for just a few hundred pounds rating are twisted for most part or single braid if braided, and for pulling or lifting you need something with more strength and better braiding such as double braid or multi strand. FYI, he was using Samson - Amsteel II (Uncoated I assume) at 7/8" (22 mm) rated at 50,000 lbs (22,700 kg) average mbs (max breaking strength) he bought for $1/foot, very reasonable price.

[@bushna2007]

The man knows his stump!

[@hermanwulf771]

I appreciate you videos, and I love the fact that you, like only a few other on KZbin who are doing stuff which is potentially dangerous, take reasonable precautions, and stress safety. Well, someone has to be the adult in the room.

[@WireWeHere]

Seeing the hard hat brings back memories. I remember the good old days, 'round '75 if memory hasn't been overwritten, deleted or corrupted, the future my as... I was saying, we came home to find our little Iris seriously injured. A damn crow who's been sneaking around working odd jobs for the beavers well he had pecked and spit at her the whole day. It was also apparent that he had tried pushin' her buttons to see if she'd focus him. We had her tied to the cherry tree in such a way her couldn't get her off using just his beak. He must have tried hard though, his stuff was all over in layers. My Mom was so upset and luckily our neighbour, a nurse hadn't left for work so Mom wrapped Iris carefully in my Grandma's showl so none of that damn crow stuff would mess up her car seat. I still remember Mom's next words, "chuck this crap away at work if you don't mind". We hit the Wish Book and our little Sony showed up a few days later all shiney but her life was cut short by a poor storage choice and springy, sprung tractor seat. Shoot, your camera hard hat would have saved em both, to rephrase, in the dumb old days...

[@Dahkeus3]

Sorry to hear of the loss of a tree that you had so much history with. Still, this was very impressive. This reminds me of learning about 'simple machines' in school when I was a kid. I think a lot of people forget about how much potential is in simple things like pulleys and levers, but you certainly didn't!

[@Bryan-wq9vq]

Very interesting film enjoy the mechanics of the snatch blocks and how you look tractor didn't even strain itself

[@mrgimble2]

Excellent video! I'm sure you've seen other videos of stump pulling and those knuckleheads could really learn a lot from you as I did! Just goes to show what a little ingenuity and common sense and brains can do for you. Watch the video, if you haven't, where the guy goes flying out of the truck trying to pull a tree down, Hilarious but not too smart.

[@salmonhunter7414]

Very nicely done. That required some math and some big pulleys.

[@78wesley]

wow, I've never seen anything like it. classes example of how trees fall over shallow root system

[@bipedalbob]

Did not think you had a snowballs chance of pulling that stump, pullers pulling other pullers pulling even more , I'm thinking it took more than one cup of coffee to put that all together in your head.

[@mikebockey4125]

a little more line and a few more blocks and you could have just called the wife to pull it out and saved on fuel! :D

[@presidenttrump7470]

LMAO !!

[@billgebhart420]

WOW Tom -- You have your :STUFF" together! Good Job!!!

[@justglenng]

Archimedes would be proud of you Sir

[@matthewmorrison262]

I love your use of mechanical advantage. digging it out with a dozer or excavator seems stupid now. I'd leave the dozer on the trailer and use it as my anchor point.

[@davesstuff1599]

Nice job! The only think scares me is all that rope that has to stretch so much. I have a big coil of aircraft cable for this stuff and lay blankets on it for safety in case anything snaps.

[@Joshua79C]

Despite what you and others who also assume, synthetic rope does not act the same when it comes to breaking as it does not store energy under tension like steel wire rope. Though due to the nature of what is being pulled it is wise to put a safety blanket by the point where a pulley is being used, just in case it comes free, cause that will hurt when it flies. However most I got was a slight bruise or a burn from snapped synthetic rope. If you still think rope does the same as steel wire, I suggest you look up rope strength testing and see it does nor will not whip as it is so light in comparison. Samson is a good source of these video demos of snapping. It does sound like a gun shot or firecracker when it goes though.

[@yellowhammer4747]

NICE DEMO ON BLOCK AND TACKLE WORK.

[@ClayLoomis1958]

Doing Archimedes proud. Nice job.

[@JandJfish]

Pretty sure this guy is a wizard.

[@CandleMFG]

Awesome -- Love the plane going over. I would have my ROPS up however.

[@lKropt]

Amazing!! thank you for uploading that. Now I will implement that type of system in a problem I am having right now with lifting some dirty clothes in a hotel to the fifth floor, beacause there is no elevator and stairs with that heavy load are insane.

[@bobhart360]

Perfect display of extreme mechanical advantage with the use of block n tackle. Only point of improvement I could see if the the twin block strap was double wrapped the ancor tree might not have been damaged. Great vid tho!

[@stanwilson7566]

I was station at Pease AFB in NH from 73 too 77 I enjoyed it but I must say the winters was hard.

[@bobw7066]

Well done, in my pinion you used the wrong tree as a anchor point. the tree that you used is leaning towards the stump so when the tension came on the sling naturally slipped up as we observed taking the bark with it, the tree along side of the one you used would have been a better choice. Again good job

[@vitalrights7390]

Bob W Actually could have used both trees by wraping around both tree stumps....

[@barbfoxdvm1189]

I have never had all that many snatch blocks to use but I have pulled stumps in this fashion before. I cut an inverted notch nearer to the top of the stump and took advantage of the maximum amount of leverage that I could use against it. Great video Tom and very interesting. Sorry about your tree damage. Oh well. It is live and learn. Gary Fox, Iowa

[@gordonyoud5975]

Would it not have been better to have pulled it out as a mainly full size tree. The advantage of pulling higher up the trunk and the added weight of the falling tree would have pulled that stump out with less effort. I do like your idea of using rigging, great video.

[@bnaudie]

Why does the fairly big cherry stump pull out instead of the much smaller anchor tree pulling over?

[@tghoffmann]

Great question. Two reasons: the cherry feels 25% more force than the anchor tree because of the strands going off to the block and tackle and the tractor; plus the cherry had already been pushed over by about 30 degrees in a windstorm, threatening the driveway ... that's why I had to take it down. If I had been unsure of the outcome, I would have used my E/E Sling to spread the forces to two ground anchors. See vid "Extensible/Equalizing Anchor Sling".

[@bnaudie]

Thanks much Tom! I've subscribed for a while but haven't seen all of your videos yet. Found this one this morning....

[@mansourq.689]

With pulleys you have tonnes of force to pull, nice and easy the engineer the way i guess

[@jeffanderson8165]

I know it wasn't easy; that Cherry Tree was an old friend, but you did it well, and most importantly, *safely*. Most folks I know would have just used ten to twenty pounds of Tannerite. Your approach was probably much more appreciated by your neighbors than that sort of approach would have been...

[@Bikerboythousand]

<a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="248">4:08</a> Where ya going?.... its left hand drive! :D Amazing how a little tractor can pull a tree out that used to withstand 80+ mph wind. All because of a bit of clever rigging up. Well done that man.

[@baltsosser]

God bless mechanical advantage! I was using some of that on a smaller scale this morning to take a stump out.

[@paulscrapman]

That was never an 18hp motor,I could hear the jet engine kick in.

[@tghoffmann]

There's an idea! My next KZbin will be how to fit a J6 afterburner on a New Holland Boomer..!

[@mycastle8498]

Archimedes strikes again. “Give me a place to stand and with a lever I can move the whole stump (world).”

[@ioccatonyz1]

Thanks for posting, I was just wondering how much length of rope you used and the tensile strength of the rope? I use steel cable but only use two pulleys with grade 80 log chain to choke the anchor and the tree I am pulling over then out. I am surprised the anchor cherry held its place it could of pulled out with the larger cherry stump. Only thing I do differently is I rig the stump as high as possible with one rap all the around for a choke. In that area no structure is at risk I would of pulled the hole tree over the weight of the tree will help with the pulling of the roots. My tracker is a diesel 33hp 4 wheel drive I would of had to do some digging of the roots to pull that size cherry over then out with my rigging. Anyway way to show us how it is done with block and tackle and ropes. It looks like you used two one hundred foot ropes that are around 7,500 lbs tensile one new yellow and one older white, with that blue rope length 100' I do not know the tensile strength of the blue rope but it is higher than 7,500 lbs. and another 100' on the anchor points. If I am correct a total or 400' of rope rigged through 1 double, 2 single, and 2 triple snatch block and 20' of log chain did the job. I have a question on the compound system ratio. The triple provides <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="361">6:1</a> that is tied in to a double that provides <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="241">4:1</a> multiplied together I come up with <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="1441">24:1</a>. I do not understand how he gets <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="2101">35:1</a>.

[@waynemack3740]

That's some serious know how.

[@lipscovc]

How can I learn to do this rigging?

[@derpinbird1180]

Having the right rigging is like having the right lever. Power only defines how long it will take.

[@sammyk3152]

bad ass bro.... how can I learn the use of these pulleys and the use of that system of the ropes ? any help will be appreciated brother. thank you

[@tghoffmann]

Good question, Sam. I found good stuff in this little publication: Dept of the Nave, TM5-725 "Rigging". Google it and you can download the .pdf for free or you can order a hard copy on eBay or Amazon for small bucks.

[@sammyk3152]

+Tom Hoffmann Tom, than you so much for taking the time to respond to me. much appreciated brother... I'll do some studying and if I get all the part and ropes I ll post a video of what I did. again thank you

[@cmoon682]

I am amazed,surprised the anchor tree didn't snap what am I missing?

[@buenaventurafaner8147]

thanks for your effort sir .. congratulations and compliments

[@prettynoose8497]

And this whole time, my wild Imagination was expecting a darkened creature straight out of an HP Lovecraft novel to crawl out and emerge from the root cavity at <a href="#" class="seekto" data-time="298">4:58</a> XD

[@wyattbrown8992]

Kim Cornell lol

[@MrHeadshot1982]

Good job keep up the good work.

[@UTubeGlennAR]

Thumbs up However glad the weaker of the two stumps in your video was the one that you wanted removed. Suspect no guarantee this will always be the case since I suspect the same force is put on either side of the pulley system, but I could be wooing obviously.

[@tghoffmann]

Right! In this case, I knew that the cherry had moved 30 degrees in a storm and the root plate was already lifting. For exactly this issue, I'm working on a new idea for an equalizing anchor that can also "stretch" you heaviest rigging rope. Watch this space for another vid ... !

[@elainabarnett3653]

Curious to know what the tractor was actually pulling in pounds.