Using tractor to work burn piles ????

nrowles · Feb 3, 2017

I am getting ready to clear about an acre of trees (very thick, young, 15 year old trees, lot of material). It is for recreation, food plot, etc. At first I was going to have the excavator windrow the trees around the edges, but that doesn't look too appealing to me. I am thinking of having him create some smaller piles (maybe 8) so I can burn them.

What input do you have as far as working these burn piles with my tractor? It is a 1966 MF135 with a front end loader. I have forks for the front. I have a box blade for the back.

Do I wait for the pile to go out completely and re-work it? Or do I work the pile while it's burning but once it tames down?

What does working a burn pile do to the tractor and equipment as far as any damage?

4520BW · Feb 3, 2017

Have him pack them in one big pile and let it burn for a few days then start pushing it with the tractor. It will burn for weeks. If you are away from people throw a few tires under it the pile as you build it. We took a drum of used oil and had the excavator "pour" it over the pile before we lit it.

Ken Macfarlane · Feb 3, 2017

Here we would windrow it with the excavator and light one
end. Excavator is so much easier to use for this task than the
tractor. Use tractor to clean up ashes etc later.

rustyfarmall · Feb 3, 2017

Working the pile won't hurt the tractor at all provided you use common sense. You have to realize that a tractor with a front end loader is NOT a bull-dozer, and should NOT be treated as such.

Tractors do burn. Sometimes very quickly.

jwuertz · Feb 3, 2017

Try and sell it for firewood.
Maybe someone could haul to an area that has that need.

nrowles · Feb 3, 2017

(quoted from post at 06:12:59 02/03/17) Have him pack them in one big pile and let it burn for a few days then start pushing it with the tractor. It will burn for weeks. If you are away from people throw a few tires under it the pile as you build it. We took a drum of used oil and had the excavator "pour" it over the pile before we lit it.

I am really hesitant for 2 reasons to make 1 big pile. I did this when we built our house. I cleared about the same amount of trees and the pile was 20'x80' and 12' high. It is a TON of material. I am not in the open but surrounded by pines. When I lit this thing the fire got massive and freaked me out big time. Flames were 40' in the air. Also, when it was done burning there was too much material for my tractor to move around. That's why I was going to make smaller piles that my tractor could deal with. Obviously there is some dirt mixed in so it doesn't completely burn down.

nrowles · Feb 3, 2017

(quoted from post at 06:26:13 02/03/17) Try and sell it for firewood.
Maybe someone could haul to an area that has that need.

So a little more detail on the trees. They only average maybe 4" at the base. They are young trees. The land was cleared 15 years ago. The trees aren't worth anything.

Bill in IL · Feb 3, 2017

When I push up burn piles I scrape with the loader bucket pointing downward. That way the bucket will not scoop up the coals. I watch the ground to be sure I am scraping all the coals an maybe a little dirt with it so my tires are not running over coals. Stay out of the really hot stuff.

Geo-TH,In · Feb 3, 2017

I've been clearing an old gravel pit for years. Asian honey suckle is hard to
burn. Branches are too far apart to make a constant burn.

Best thing is to get the larger logs burning first by putting the sticks and
honey suckle on top of the logs. Once you get the logs burning, then feed fire
by piling more the sticks and brush on the logs.

I keep cardboard boxes and fill them with grease rags, paper towels from shop,
anything that will burn I use as a fire starter. I also use my used motor oil
to get the fire started.

Then the obvious, stay upwind or you will need a shower to get the smoke smell
off you.

So have logs piled up in a safe place and brush set aside in smaller piles so
you can pick them up to feed the fire.

Bring hot dogs. In Indiana an open burn it technically illegal, but never
enforced in some counties. Having a bond fire to cook hot dogs is not illegal.

No one bothers us in the country, but no burning in the city.
geo

grandpa Love · Feb 3, 2017

We have cleared trees, brush, and
kudzu off a couple acres. chainsaw
work. Dragging brush with tractor.
Pile it up and light it. As it burns
we keep adding more. Drag it up
close and use boxblade to push it
in. Common sense rules.

Philip d · Feb 3, 2017

Be careful a guy not far from her burned a tractor
doing that

nrowles · Feb 3, 2017

(quoted from post at 07:25:12 02/03/17) We have cleared trees, brush, and
kudzu off a couple acres. chainsaw
work. Dragging brush with tractor.
Pile it up and light it. As it burns
we keep adding more. Drag it up
close and use boxblade to push it
in. Common sense rules.

Are you able to get it burning good with it being "green"?

paul · Feb 3, 2017

Well, common sense.

Typically the center burns down to coals, push the sides back in to the coals with the loader, keep the front tires off the coals. After things die
down.

Slow and st ready.

Paul

Mike M · Feb 3, 2017

George: You need a brush chipper then you could use It to mulch all those flower beds.

Dan in North Houston · Feb 3, 2017

I build my burn piles no larger than about 6' high and about 12' diameter. I stockpile any additional material around it at a safe distance and use a bucket on the front end loader to push the additional material into the pile when the fire dies down. Pushing the new material into the fire keeps me and the tractor a little farther away from the flames, and pushing the new material into the fire also stirs up the fire and helps get a better burn.
I took a fire extinguisher and screwed some large magnets on the mounting bracket, and then mount the whole think on the loader upright. That keeps it in a very handy spot in case I need it.
Always be thinking about what will happen if you stall the tractor. If it doesn't always start on the first lick, then you need to be very cautious.

grandpa Love · Feb 3, 2017

We put some scrap lumber in the pile
to get it going, then keep shoving
green wood in. Burns all day.

Doug-Iowa · Feb 3, 2017

I had some close calls using a skid loader to push up burn piles, so I made a push bar that slips over the forks. I took two 5" pipes about 8 feet long and welded a 4' piece of I beam across one end, and a little bracing between the two pipes on the other. I run the forks into the pipes and a short chain over the frame to keep it from pulling off. Now I can push into the burning pile from a safe distance, and if it does get caught I just slip off the chain and back out. Keeps me and my machine out of the heat and nails. Sorry I don't have a picture to post.

4520BW · Feb 3, 2017

Open burns are legal only if its natural material and it is being tended to. Several years ago the state cleared a ditch along our field and they had there contractor burn it. Some idiot with the local volunteer fire dept would show up at dark and put it out. Guess no burning after dark. We spend weeks sometime burning drift in the river bottoms.

Stephen Newell · Feb 3, 2017

Unless the wood is wet you won't be able to get close enough to it while it's burning. The heat will burn the skin off your face while sitting on the tractor. I normally wait until it's 90% gone before pushing the outer wood in that didn't burn. I've never had any difficulty tending a fire with any of my tractors.

Dopp Creek · Feb 3, 2017

In my area alot of hazelnut orchards are being cleared and re-planted. The piles get burned within a couple weeks of getting pulled out with an
excavator. Most guys put a bale or two of straw at the bottom and soak it with diesel to get the pile burning. As mentioned before, the center
burns so wait til there's a big pile of coals and then push in the edges.
Two guys have lost tractors with embers getting sucked into the intake so I would not lift the pile as you advance, just push it in. That may keep
the embers from floating. My experience is a pile the size of a pickup bed gets really hot so I would make several piles no larger than that or you
just can't be anywhere near.

tim s · Feb 3, 2017

All these ideas are good,,but be sure to have a large extinguisher close,,a hot stray spark landing down in some left over brush hogging fuzz will light up fast, and if you need to "look" for a fire extinguisher your too late..

Nick m · Feb 3, 2017

I've watched my uncles burn old apple
trees/brush for years. When they retire a
group of trees, they have a local guy come
in with a big front end loader and pop them
out of the ground then push them into big
piles. They get them burning in the middle,
then push the outside edges in as needed.
When it gets to the burn stage, they just
use a little Massey loader tractor (30b).
They bought that tractor new and haven't
burnt it yet. A little common sense goes a
long way.

oliverplow · Feb 3, 2017

I had a very large burn pile from eight 80 ft pine trees. They were green and we got too much snow to get to burn. I got mad at
it and threw a bunch of gas on it and then had a buddy throw a road flare at it. I had 40 ft flames! Way too hot to push in while
burning. I waited a couple of days, pushed it together and did the same thing. Much safer, and kinda fun too! Lol

john *.?-!.* cub owner · Feb 3, 2017

Might be a good idea to have someone close by. Several years ago a brother of my close friend was workign a burn pile with a dozer when it died. Before everyone had a cell phone. By the time he walked over a mile back to the house and got another rig to pull the dozer clear it was too late. Just scrap metal.

JimS · Feb 3, 2017

I had an employer who thought he knew something. I had a burn pile going and used the tractor to push ends in. He gets on the
tractor and drives into the pile. He leaves and the tractor which is running oddly. I rip the hood open and find he has sucked
embers into the intake and the air filter is ablaze. I manage to get the filter ripped out but not without getting a pretty good
burn.

The short of my tale is you can set the tractor on fire. Be careful and not too aggressive.

Pair-a-dice farm · Feb 3, 2017

It will work, just be careful and use common sense. Personally I would be reluctant to use a gas burner tractor but if you keep a fire extinguisher handy you'll be ok. I burned a dozer pile that was about 150' x50'x 15'tall. It took almost a week but there was some pretty large green box elder in there.

James Howell · Feb 3, 2017

"<font color="#6699ff">[b:654c4848f0][i:654c4848f0]What input do you have as far as working these burn piles with my tractor?[/i:654c4848f0][/b:654c4848f0]</font>"

I agree with your plan on 8 small burn piles.

If feasible/possible, let the burn pile "cure out" over the summer.

Since you are surrounding by pine trees, as we are on our farm, burn only one pile at a time after a good rain.

The small trees that you described below (4" diameter) should be easy to handle by hand once they are burned.

Once the fire burns down, throw remaining small pieces in the fire.

Approximately 24 hours after all pieces have burned down to coals, then rake out the coals with a steel garden rake.

Once all the coals are burned out, then use the box blade on your tractor to "smooth" the ground.

There is really no need to expose your tractor, especially if it is a gas tractor, to a fire based on the size of the wood that is being burned.

Hope this helps.

David G · Feb 3, 2017

I see no reason to make little piles. You can push it together, after it has died down and coals are left, make sure and scoop any coals in with the bucket so you
do not drive over them with the tires.

Be careful, if it does not feel safe, it probably is not.

nrowles · Feb 3, 2017

Tractor is a diesel.

To anybody mentioning to cut and then burn, I want the stumps to be gone and that's why I'm having a dozer come in.

(quoted from post at 12:13:03 02/03/17) I see no reason to make little piles. You can push it together, after it has died down and coals are left, make sure and scoop any coals in with the bucket so you
do not drive over them with the tires.

Be careful, if it does not feel safe, it probably is not.

My second or third post explains why I want to go with small piles.

farmerwithmutt · Feb 3, 2017

In my younger dumber days we wouldn't even
use a loader just keep cutting into smaller
parts and throw it on . I use a blade and
push into a fire but be careful it's awfully
hard to shift in a hurry and if it flares it
gets real exciting. I burn a lot through the
summer just pile it then throw the burnable
garbage on. I helped a guy clear a lot in
town he was wondering what to do with the
stumps he was thinking of hauling them i
told him dig a hole and bury them that might
be an idea for you have someone dig a hole
use that to burn in then whatever is left
just push it in and bury it. Use caution on
tires the have wire in them it will make a
mess you can hook that wire and pull your
pile apart. To help start a fire i use a
pump sprayer with diesel or old oil. Then
pump that carefully on a fire that well get
it going.

Geo-TH,In · Feb 3, 2017

Mike, ever try chipping honeysuckle? The branches are all bent, difficult to chip unless you have a very large commercial chipper..

When tree trimmers are in my area clearing power lines, I get the chips. One summer I got about 50 truck loads. I could use 50 loads a year and still not have enough.

Burning brush also generates potash which I blend in with compost. Easier to burn than even think of chipping..
geo

Frank 41 · Feb 3, 2017

In the old days when I ran a dozer pushing into burn piles, we turned the fan around to push the air out. Solved a lot of problems.

Traditional Farmer · Feb 3, 2017

Get the guy with the track loader to dig a pit then put some diesel soaked hay or straw bales in the bottom and then put in some brush get the fire going and you can keep adding brush to the fire as it burns down.Thats the only way contractors are allowed to burn brush in my county and it works real well.

nrowles · Feb 4, 2017

I originally thought of using the forks to "stir" the pile, but I guess that is a bad idea from what you guys say. That might stir up embers that could float into my intake.

Using tractor to work burn piles ????

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