How to Pull a Flag Pole?

[rbattelle]

I need to pull a small residential flagpole (3" diameter?) for a friend.



At first, I thought maybe a hi-lift jack and a strong nylon strap with slipknot might work. Now I'm thinking the easiest method might actually be to dig out the pole - concrete and all.



Before I do this, does anyone have any suggestions for an easy way to pull a small flagpole? The pole must be pulled intact, because it's being transplanted to another friend's house.



Ryan

 

[sdstriper]

Scratch my idea then... Sawzall! You could rent an electric jack hammer and knock out the concrete, or if you dig it up first a few hits with a sledgehammer has knocked the concrete off posts for me.

 

[rbattelle]

You could rent an electric jack hammer and knock out the concrete, or if you dig it up first a few hits with a sledgehammer has knocked the concrete off posts for me.

I didn't even consider chipping off the concrete. I assumed there wouldn't be enough that we couldn't lift it into the bed of the truck. But if there is a large amount, then chipping it away will be worthwhile.



That means I need to bring my sledge.



Ryan

 

[AMink]

If it's been in the ground any length of time, a few good whacks with a sledge should break it up pretty easily. Sometimes the vibration will allow you to pull the post out of the concrete before it breaks.

 

[DCreed]

a strap wrench should help with grip

 

[sdstriper]

I have installed many sign posts and bollards over the years, removing them sucks, the quantity of concrete will make or break a man...

 

[PToombs]

Wrap the strap around several times, then make the bottom loop go thru the top, then pick with the bottom loop, this way it binds itself, won't slip. Old loggers trick!

When you put it back in, sleeve it. I watched them do it at work. 1 foot in the ground for 10 feet of height. Plastic sewer pipe, 6"-8" diameter, put in ground correct depth with concrete. Put pole in sleeve, hold straight and fill with sand. I wouldn't have believed it, it worked great! If you need to pull it, it comes right out!

 

[bighammer]

Take a couple ropes and tie them together around the pole and use the flagpole rope to take it up most of the way. You can have a person on each one, or just stake 2 or 3 ends if you're short handed. (loose enough to lift it up)

Remember, IT GETS HEAVIER as it gets closer to the ground!!! The person under "walking it down" should be an expendable ox. (sorry, I can't help)

You can stablilize the top and walk the bottom out from under, or using the hole to brace the bottom, walk down the top.

Get a pipe that slides OVER the pole and set that in concete. (with a brick under it so you have a bottom) Then you can stand it up and slide it down in. If you ever want to paint it, replace the rope, etc. it's an easier job.

 

[rbattelle]

Thanks guys... tomorrow's the big day. I'll let you know how it goes.

Ryan

 

[JFlagg]

Soooo, How did it go?

 

[rbattelle]

Oh, man, I forgot to update this thread.

It went pretty well, once we realized that the sissy way of doing it using some nylon straps tied around the pole wasn't going to cut it.

We dug around the concrete base a bit, then wrapped some 3/8" transport-grade chain around the concrete. A few thousand pounds with the high-lift jack, and it popped right out.

It would've taken less than an hour if we had just gone for the chain from the beginning.

The whole time I kept thinking, "man, it's a good thing I didn't set this pole in here... no one on Earth would be able to remove it (except Chuck Norris)". Whoever set it only buried it 2 feet down in a concrete plug about 8" in diameter.

In the end, the guy who was going to take it decided he didn't want it. We bent it slightly while rocking it to loosen up the dirt a little.

Ryan