Big rocks, small tractor.

[B7510]

I need to haul some large (1 1/2 - 2' diam) rocks from the back 40 so I can rebuild the old timber retaining wall thats starting to loose it. Was thinking of welding up something shaped like a 3-point bucket, but made up of series of pipe, sort of like a manure bucket. The ground is a bit rough so I need to keep the load low and stable.

Anybody got pictures or plans for somehting that will fit the bill?

 

[ronjhall]

B7510

I moved many large rocks with a Utility Scoop before I bought my B2910. See attachment.

Here are some links to how others have moved rock with their tractors.
Click Here
Click Here
Click Here

There was a thread on how a TBNer bent his 3PH pallet forks that I did not find. It has some good info on moving rocks.

 

[RalphVa]

I moved a couple rocks about 2' diameter with my Gravely dump cart. Just back up to them and tilt the cart down. Crowbar them into the open,down end of the cart and tilt it up.

Ralph

 

[B7510]

Ron,
Lots of good info on those links. Thanks.

Most of them talk about using a bucket or tongs hung from a chain though. I have some very hilly ground. If I lift these things up with a bucket it really screws up my center of gravity. Trying to move these things in the bucket of my old 9N was somewhat of a thrill last summer so I put the project on hold till I could come up with something safer. (thats my story and I'm stickin to it) I can only imagine what having one of these puppies swinging on a chain would be like. YAHOOOO!!

Right now my thought is to build a bucket similar to a 3-pt bucket, but without any solid plate. More like a basket or bar grate with 2 or 3 inch openings. Backup and spear the forks under the rock, lift with the 3-pt to roll it back into the basket. This would keep the load tucked right down between the back wheels.

Was thinking I could start with a couple of old leaf springs and a roll or three of wire for the welder but wanted to see if anybody had done something similar. I am concerned about getting the 3-pt attachment points right so it tilts and lifts correctly.

Anybody know of a web page with geeked up 3-pt range of motion details?

 

[Taylortractornut]

B7510 you could find an old rear mounted 3 point manure highlift for an 8n. I have one Im using for a pattern. One time I had to move a few rocks with dads YM3000 and didnt have room to bring in my backhoe or dump truck. I made a manure foork type thing out of an old 15 foot drill rod and spaced the tines 3 inches apart. I made the a small portion of it boxed in like an old manure bcket to hold smaller rocks. It looked alot like an carry all frame with a 2 position trip latch to hold it an angled rake to pry and gater the stones then you released it then let the lift down and relatched it. to put it in carry mode. It worked pretty good. I sold it a few months ago to a landscaper.

 

[leaddog]

I made a rock bucket for my fel that works great. I used car axels for the tines. I bought them for less that 2 bucks a piece at a junk yard. they are really tough and don't bend easily. search for rock bucket for a pic. It would be easy to make a 3pt one using a hyd top link for the pivot. i use my 3pt forks to move LARGE 1 tonners. Just slide them under and off I go.

 

[jmc]

B7510,

Even though you asked for help from people that have actually done this, I can't resist a good "archair project". How about a pair of rock tweezers?

The tweezer arms are your two lower links, with enough slack in the anti sway bars to permit the links to move toward each other enough to squeeze the rock.

Squeezing is done manually by a turn buckle or chain binder connecting the two lower links in an area where the rock isn't. (either farther from the tractor on improvised link extensions or closer to the tractor).

The link ends require improvised steel pads that, when squeezed, cradle the rock. It would be handy to mount those pads in the links' end holes but that may damage the edge of the female spherical surface when the pin droops.

In use, back up to the rock with the links set to a height just below the rock's "equator", get off, tighten the turnbuckle, and that's it.

John

 

[MarkV]

Could you skid them on an old car hood? Has worked well for some projects I have done.

MarkV

 

[DIYGuy]

Here's an article I wrote for the CTOA doing just this very thing...

Rock Moving Techniques

 

[rdbrumfield]

I see some good ideas with the forks and such for spearing under rocks to pick them with the 3pt. To get it to rotate, put the top link hole a bit higher on the emplement. As you pick it up the unit will have to tip toward the tractor.