Removing a ground spike.

I have an old rotary washing line that I would like to replace with a new rotary washing line, the old hole is smaller than the new one needs so I’ll replace the ground spike.

I want to keep it in the same location so any genius ideas on how to get the old one out so I can drive the new one in? I don’t want to wiggle it around using leverage as it will disturb the ground too much to support the new one, I also don’t want to use concrete to secure it.

I take it the old one isn’t concreted in.
If you can get a hold on the old one, attach that to a lever and lift the lever with a car jack.

Thankfully the old one isn’t concreted in, I don’t think there’s anything to get a purchase on to lever the old one out.

Im going to have to change the location of it aren’t I!

Dig around it a little then drill holes in either side about 3cm down and slide a metal rod through (something like a large screwdriver) then spin it to dislodge it whilst slowly pulling it upwards.

Just removed one myself this week. I used a trenching spade (spit) and a flat piece of wood. Dig around spike to loosen and use the spade as a lever with the wood underneath to spread the load. Refill hole tamping down as you go along. I used a pick axe handle for that. Btw my spike had side lugs to lever under.

Leave the old one where it is and put the new one next to it.

Either that, or look for the world’s largest easy-out.

 I don’t think there’s anything to get a purchase on to lever the old one out.

Dig a tunnel and push from beneath? 😉

Or, tap wood into the spike so it’s tightly packed, then drive a coarse-threaded hook into the centre.

Hook spreads the timber like a wall plug and you have a purchase to yank on. Glue the timber in for added oomph….Maybe.

Can you drive the current one in further ?

Drill a hole in it, tie a rope to it, attach to your car and drive off at speed. 🤔

Our spike has a reducer in it that can be removed for wider diameter poles- might be worth checking your current one for similar.

Place new one next door is best answer, followed by dig it out. You might be able to attach some sort of slide hammer to pull it out but it’s only thin so any attachment may pull out.

Or melt it to the bottom of the hole with thermite

Thanks for the ideas,

it’s annoying as I only have a very small area where it can go, I suppose the other answer is to get a smaller rotary that will fit in the existing hole.

The ground is solid so no way I could tap it down further, there is no reducer in it, it’s all hole.  The drill and lever could work.

Drill a hole in it, tie a rope to it, attach to your car and drive off at speed.

On it!

depends what sort of spike it is

the spike for the rotary I just installed has small holes at the top which you might be able to get some polypropolene rope through – that’s what I did when I realised that no, it wasn’t going in straight

Leifheits are designed to screw in / out

maybe uncover the top cm or so of the existing spike to see if there’s anything there you can use

Massive drill bit and drill it out like you would a seized bolt?

Use a hacksaw blade and cut it into strips from the inside?

When you say the new one is smaller, could you just shim it with a bit of PVC pipe or something if the old ground spike is otherwise sound?

Edit: Sorry, not enough coffee, now read the OP properly. Please ignore.

Petrol.

I managed to screw up the installation of a rotary spike last year, so needed to pull it out and try again – this was my method:

I used an old brake cable to feed through the holed in the spike, which was as per nbt posted above. This does of course assume you have a chain-block at your disposal

sorry for the thread hijack – but any ideas how I get this out? – I’ve tried WD40

sorry for the thread hijack – but any ideas how I get this out? – I’ve tried WD40

PlusGas is usually next on the agenda, isn’t it? Or heat the rock gently…

This does of course assume you have a chain-block at your disposal

No, no I don’t 😂

there are no holes in the top, and it has no fins, it’s just a cheap tubular spike. Not sure I could drill holes into it to aid removal as suggested.
maybe it’s time to install it in another location.

Welder of any description? JCB? Or even

Glue/weld the centre pole of the old line into the spike and then use that to pull it out?

Can you clamp opposite sides of the tube tightly with a couple of mole wrenches then try to wiggle it a bit whilst pulling up?

If it’s a thin as you say it might be worth bending the wrenches out a bit first to give a bit more grip on them/the tube.

How solid is the new spike? If it’s not a screw in type can you not just hammer it through the old thin tube? If it’s been in the ground for a long time it’s possible it may have corroded below the surface so wouldn’t put up too much resistance.

I just put some polypropolene cord through and a long piece of wood to use as a lever. one end against the ground (maybe with another plank as a spreader plate), through the cord, lift the other end

I had to do this a few months ago. Drilled a few 5mm holes, threaded some brake cable through and around an old mtb handlebar, crimped the cable with an electrical choc, block. Brace and heave. Easy

I’ve got one I could do with getting out, I let you know how I do it if I ever get around to it

+1 for just knocking the new one in next to it

I want to know more about that gif above, it’s giving me ideas for when I have to dig holes at work or for tree stump removal