I got my butt whipped by a stump today. Only a 36" or so cottonwood but electric, phone and water lines had it surrounded. I only had a ditching bucket on the excavator so I'll be back tomorrow with the proper tool. A tooth bucket to pop some roots will help a lot. I was pushing 20'+ up on the tree with a 45,000# machine with no success.
A note about all of this chain talk. The proper grade of chain is probably more important than the link size. I won't have anything less than grade 70 around my place. I've busted 1/2" grade 70 chains on a dead pull without jerking. The low grade china junk will kill ya quick. I can't remember the last time I spent less than $80 on a chain.
The best tool for pulling trees or brush with smaller machinery is a logging choker. Wrap it around the bush and slide the ball in the clevis end of a 3/8" chain. Quick and easy. I used to buy them for about $15 back in the day.
