How to Remove a Broken Wood Fence Post

Removing a broken wooden fence post is back-breaking work that can take hours to complete. The concrete plug that holds the fence post in place can be 30 inches deep in the ground and does not move easily. To ease the task of removing a broken fence post, rent a fence post puller that is able to connect to and remove a broken wooden fence post and the concrete plug. Once the broken post is removed, the hole can be reused to install a new wooden fence post.

Difficulty: Moderately Challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hammer
• Threaded eyelet
• Large screwdriver
• Fence post puller

1. Remove the fencing from the area of the broken wooden fence post. Clearance is required for you to work safely around the broken fence post. Examine the broken wood fence post to determine the proper way to hook up the fence puller. Depending on the type of fence puller you are using, you may need to use the threaded eyelet to attach the fence post puller to the broken wooden post.

2. Attach the fence post puller to the broken wooden fence post. If the post is broken off close to the ground, you will need to thread the eyelet, with the screwdriver, into the center of the broken wooden post to pull it from the ground. Fence post pullers have a tension jaw attachment that is used when there is only a small section of wooden fence post protruding from the ground.
   
   The more tension applied to the tension jaw, the tighter the jaw bites into the wood. To attach the tension jaw to the fence post puller, attach the supplied chain to the hook on the arm of the fence puller. Then attach the other end of the chain to the tension jaw.
   
   Wrap the chain twice around the fence post if it is long enough for the chain to angle and grab the wood. Attach the two end links of the chain to the hook on the fence puller to hold the chain in place.

3. Apply pressure to the broken fence post by pumping the hydraulic pump handle. If you are using an eyelet and the wood post is too rotted to pull from the ground, you will need to dig around the post to expose an adequate amount of fence post to attach the tension jaw to the post.
   
   Continue to pump the hydraulic handle and the broken post will begin to come loose from the ground. While pressure is applied to the post and the post does not move, hit the concrete plug or the fence post to loosen it. Apply more pressure to the fence post. When the post finally breaks free from the ground, tilt the fence post puller back onto the wheels to roll the broken fence post out of the way.

4. Dispose of the broken post, install the new wooden fence post and reattach the fence.

References

• Fence Post Puller