OT: your plans for a hand operated t-post puller

Al L. in Wisc. · Feb 6, 2013

I acquired a 12' section of square tubing; holes on four sides; as used by townships for road signs. I'm looking to fab one as most folks set them and leave 'em. "use a tractor and chain" they say...noey, goey, it's gotta be 'armstrong' powered Anyone got any good dimensions, plans, photos, etc. to share? Experience as to what works or doesn't also. I see one sold in Lehman's catalog that is 39" high. Thanks in advance for any input.

FBH44 · Feb 6, 2013

Just me, but I wasted a lot of time trying to invent one, used chains, posts, pipe, bars, pry-bars, crow-bars, what-all, and finally gave up wasting time and went to the front end loader.

Brendon-KS · Feb 6, 2013

Years ago my dad showed me how to pull a T-post using only a board (a 2x6 or the like) about 3 feet long. Lean the board against the "knobbed" side of the post at a steep angle and support it with your foot like it's a gas pedal, press the post away from you until the board "ratchets" under a knob, and pull the top of the post towards you. Repeat until the post is out of the ground. This technique works well even with posts set deep in hard ground.

LenND · Feb 6, 2013

I didn't have aloader tractor so Iused my Handmanjack and a small chain with a hook on one end. Worked great on a half mile of steel posts.

Duner Wi · Feb 6, 2013

Instead of a 2X6 I use a hand cart. Place blade against clip knob. Pull post towards you and push down on hand cart handle. I try to do this in the spring after frost is gone if I have 80 posts to remove.

uncle henry · Feb 6, 2013

made this one last year 3/8 plate steel and a bumper
jack

DENNIS MIN · Feb 7, 2013

Uncle,

Great and simple, useful and cheap!

Please consider these high-order compliments.

D.

Farmallhal · Feb 7, 2013

Al, It's Pay Back Time - Remember how you helped me with the battery cover for my Farmall 240 restoration - I bought you one this morning at our local Co-op and it is on the way north to Wisconsin. Trust you should receive it either Saturday or Tuesday (Fed Ex must not deliver to your town on Monday). I will send an email with the tracking number and other information to your email address. I've pulled hundreds with mine just like the one I'm sending you which is very easy to use. Bad news you will have to find another use for the steel you were going to use on this project and sure you can. Enjoy and hope you find it as nice as I have with the one I bought a few years ago, Hal.

Huskers86 · Feb 7, 2013

(quoted from post at 15:05:53 02/06/13) I acquired a 12' section of square tubing; holes on four sides; as used by townships for road signs. I'm looking to fab one as most folks set them and leave 'em. "use a tractor and chain" they say...noey, goey, it's gotta be 'armstrong' powered Anyone got any good dimensions, plans, photos, etc. to share? Experience as to what works or doesn't also. I see one sold in Lehman's catalog that is 39" high. Thanks in advance for any input.

I know it doesn't help you much but we always pulled them by hand. Wiggle the post and pull and repeat if nesessary. That got a bit harder to do the older I get so I have a engine hoist/cherry picker on my service truck and I just hook a chain to them or take them out with the lift on the back of a tractor.

LMack · Feb 7, 2013

If you have the sign post, use it for a pry bar with a short section of 1/4" chain (about 3-feet) with a hook on one end. Be sure to shake the post a few times to loosen it up. Loop the chain around the post twice and hook it tight over the pry bar near one end. You may need a short section of board, fire wood, rock, or block to keep the short end from going into the ground. Lift on the other end. Move the chain down and repeat until you can pull the post with your hands. After you have bent the sign post go get a solid 1.25" high strength steel rod and finish the job (old rail road "Dickey Bars" work fine.) This will also work on some round wooden post but it is more difficult. You asked for a way to use the bar, but I just use a good shovel. If the tip will not pry the post out I dig a little and shake the post until it will.

TomA in CA · Feb 8, 2013

I have a t post puller I bought for about $50. You could
make one easily, probably like the one in Lehmans. I dont
have it here to give you measurements. Much easier than
jack, bar, bucket or anything else. I would not even try to
pull one by hand, too easy to get hurt.

Al L. in Wisc. · Feb 8, 2013

Farmallhal;

This is a really suprise-shocker...I read this and it almost brought tears to my eyes. I'm in Trempeleau, Wisc. at the Public Library, heading south and thought I would peek at this post. I wanted to get a photo of where this utensil is going to be used...will still try. Greet your wonderful wife Carol; thanks for thinkin' of me and I'm really glad the battery cover worked for you. If you folks have met Farmallhal through this site, or better yet in person, well...he is a good guy ain't he! I'll peek at the e/m late tonight. Mange Takk!

Chief 83 · Feb 8, 2013

I'm not a big fan of lots of stuff from Harbor Freight....but I do have a T post puller from there. Works great and is $30 bucks. Look anywhere and you can find a 20% discount coupon. I don't think you could make one that cheap if you had all the parts in front of you..

OT: your plans for a hand operated t-post puller

Al L. in Wisc.

Well-known Member

FBH44

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Brendon-KS

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LenND

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Duner Wi

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uncle henry

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DENNIS MIN

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Farmallhal

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Huskers86

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LMack

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TomA in CA

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Al L. in Wisc.

Well-known Member

Chief 83

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