Big rocks, small tractor.

[andyfletcher]

I saw a chain basket used once for this. There are 4 main leaders that merge into 1 at the top. There is a basket about 4ft round made of chain spaced in about 8inch squares. The bottom of the basket unhooks like you would a tire chain, and the whole things works like a tire chain in principle. The basket is wrapped around the rock and the link fastened. It's good for tree planting too.

I was thinking of making a 3 prong grapple. It would look like a 3 prong gear puller in principle. The main rod in the center is pushed down by a standard bottle jack on top of it. As it's pushed down the arms are pushed together at the tips by cam action. So any sized rock can be locked then removed.

Still on the conceptual drawing board.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Hey Hoss, thanks for the post. Man, one could grab a whole lot of things with that! Goes down to 5.5", so would grip brush piles, rocks and many other things. Sure costs a lot, but if one had the need... John

 

[mrcaptainbob]

Hey! That sounds a lot like what I made a few years ago! Basically just made a net of chain about 4 x 4 and chain 'lines' from the four corners. We yanked a lot of rocks from the creek with that!

 

[B7510]

Better watch out for the DEQ when your yankin them rocks from the crick. They get sort of touchy about disturbin the habitat. I would recommend you substitute 2 or 3 old tires for every big rock you take. Just to resore the habitat, so to speak.

 

[B7510]

O.K. Snow finaly melted and I found the pipe I plan to build this critter with. But now I have a whole new set of questions. First, can anybody tell me what this pipe is for? It looks like it was a special purpose component and I am rather curious.

THere are two sizes, both are in lengths of about 3-4 foot with male threads on each end. The threads appear to be a stainless steel insert that is shrink fit into each end of pipe.

THere are two sizes; the little stuff is 1 1/2" OD and 1" ID. THe threaded fitting is marked:
D+B 4330 170
G179 BMN-END

The bigger stuff is 2" OD and 1 5/32" ID.
THe threaded fittings on it are marked:
D+B 4330 190
G382 MN-END

Both sizes of pipe are stainless on the outside but look like they may have a carbon steel center with a 1/16" stainless jacket on the outside.

I've attaced photos. If you have a clue what this stuff is let me know. It was out behind the pole barn when I bought the place.

Next question is about welding to stainless. I have been told that you need to use argon and stainless wire. I have also been told that you only need argon and stainless wire if you are worried about corrosion and that if you use multiple light passes and pre/post heat with a torch that the weld will not crack on you.

I only have 25/75 gas and realy don't think I need a complete stainless steel rock carrier. My other option is to bolt the stainless to the mild steel frame.

 

[B7510]

End view of pipe

 

[Egon]

Think the 4330 may be the type of stainless steel the fitting is made off. No idea on the rest or what it may have been used for.

Egon

 

[mrcaptainbob]

My Gawd! I never thought of that! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gifAnd I thought I was doing two things....enhancing the area where the rocks would be 'preferred' and the other ... to make the creek flow better. Thanks for the 'enlightenment'! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[kid_108]

Here's a set of rock tongs that I built to move some stone around. The stone in the photo must be over 300 pounds. It lifted the front end of the tractor off the ground until I put the stabilizers down. There still some work to do, but it is almost ready. One thing that needs done is to lengthen the attachment that holds the hook for the chain. Right now it is about 1' long, but really needs to be about 2' to keep it away from the bucket. Also, a couple handles on the tongs will make it easier to open the tongs to put around the stone. Last, I'm thinking of replacing the channel used for the grips with some angle that lift thr stone from the bottom.

 

[jmarotz]

I have moved many rocks the size you are talking about both with the FEL and if they were to big I would use the 3 point. Using the 3 point you would lower the 3 point as low as possible tie chris cross a chain from the quick coupler with the lower arms touching the rock then simply raise the 3 point. If you happen to have a hydraulic center link have it extended the shorten it when you raise your 3 point. This keeps your center of gravity low so side hilling is no problem.