Peter Charles Fagg wrote:
Rick, please excuse me but I was alarmed at reading the suggestion to
pull over this tree with a tractor. A tractor can be used quite safely
to pull trees over but there are a few ground rules to be aware of
before attempts are made.

Most of which are common sense but that doesn't mean that people
observe them.


I was employed as an agricultural engineer for many years. IF anyone
uses a tractor for any form of towing job please do not attempt pulling
something from a height, it can destabilise the tractor and literally
flip it over, likewise do not attempt to attach ropes above the drawbar
height, the tractor can in some circumstances literally climb over
itself backwards.

When using our tractor for 'guiding' trees that we're felling I
usually do it in reverse with the rope attached to the bracket at the
front which can carry weights or a snow plough, that's down at the
front axle level. Doing it in reverse means that the person driving
the tractor can observe the tree without effort. It's a 4WD tractor
so traction is rarely a problem.


The rope length as you state is critical not only as regards the
tractor, it should be fitted with a safety frame anyway nowadays, but
also it must be a straight pull rather than on the skew.

Again common sense but still a good thing to point out.

One other thing to be aware of is the amount of energy stored in a
stretched rope. If it breaks or the thing it's attached to breaks
then that energy has to go somewhere and mostly will tend to throw
things at the tractor with considerable force.

--
Chris Green