Electrical Trenching

[BeezFun]

Looks like a good candidate for aerial.

 

[sodamo]

Know someone with a really good winch ? Winch it out of the hole.

David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

 

[tractchores]

Can you rent a jackhammer?

Possibly, though it would likely be a long job to try to chip it up. That may be the last resort.

Looks like a good candidate for aerial.

Aerial? What's that?

Know someone with a really good winch ? Winch it out of the hole.
David Sent from my iPad using TractorByNet

Don't know anyone with a winch, I did try the last one with a come-along and broke the come along (4k lb). I haven't tried using pulleys to force multiply, that may be an idea...

Likely I'll have to dig a hole nearby and try to pull it forward beyond the tree and then push to the side in a hole. 'course that'll rely on being lucky about not finding a rock the same size or bigger where I have to dig the hole! I could rent a mini-ex to finish the last 100', but I'm thinking anything I can rent easiy won't be able to lift it either.

 

[BeezFun]

Aerial? What's that?

Aerial means running the cable above ground on poles, like the electric company does. As many trees as you have you almost wouldn't notice it. There's pros and cons to each, aerial is subject to ice and falling trees, but it's easy to get at and fix. Buried isn't vulnerable to much except backhoes and post hole diggers, but it's tough to get at and replace.

 

[tractchores]

Aerial means running the cable above ground on poles, like the electric company does. As many trees as you have you almost wouldn't notice it. There's pros and cons to each, aerial is subject to ice and falling trees, but it's easy to get at and fix. Buried isn't vulnerable to much except backhoes and post hole diggers, but it's tough to get at and replace.

ahh ok thanks! All our utilities are underground because of the large number of trees, it'd be getting taken down constantly. It sure would have been quicker to go that route though!

 

[pinetree10]

I'm surprised you've been able to move rocks that big with a tractor that light. On the bright side, you'll have a bunch of nice rocks for landscaping later. Thanks for the pictures and good luck if you're still working on it.

 

[Grandad4]

Well I managed to get the latest boulder exposed today after work.
View attachment 338082
I'm now officially wishing I had a MUCH larger machine and hydraulic thumb! Anyone have any ideas on how to get this one out?

I normally would dig to the side of it and push it in, but this one is right between a paved driveway and a tree, so I have to drag it somewhat. I tried to build a ramp and pull it out, but couldn't even budge it (not enough traction). I can stand it on end with the BH and thumb, but cannot get it out of the hole. I've got a new diamond hole saw coming later this week so may try the feather and wedge method again, though it has yet to work on these rocks.... Progress is at a stand still until I can get past this one.

Mother nature certainly left you with all kinds of surprises in your ground, didn't she? That's a great job you're doing with your backhoe, though. I wish I had better advice concerning how to deal with that boulder, but don't have much experience since my place doesn't seem to have many big rocks. My only suggestion: when we have a really large stump that can't be lifted, dragged or pushed out of its crater, we'll use either the FEL or the BH to roll it up and out. If you can stand that rock up like you say, maybe you can keep it going so it rolls, making one or more platforms to bring it up to ground level. Of course you'd have to figure out some way to safely keep it from rolling back. Good luck!

 

[schmism]

dexpan and a hammerdrill will take care of those large rock issues

 

[JerryK]

You can try the crib method... If you can get one corner of it up, throw a log or timber under it. Then lift the other end up, repeat. It also helps to fill in around the cribbing you put in the hole with dirt or any other fill you have nearby. That makes it a little safer keeping the cribbing from moving around under the rock. Once you can finally get it up to ground level, then you can try to wrestle it onto a metal skid or sled. Afterwards, dig out all the junk you put under the rock. I did this once with a huge rock that was just showing the top of. Lots of fun... !!!

 

[tractchores]

Good news! I just managed to get it out of the way. I used something similar to the crib method, I dug an area out next to it and then was able tolift sides and slide other rocks etc under it until I could tip it on edge. I was barely able to move it around with the BH and with a lot of flipping about finally got it positioned off to the side out of the path of the trench wedge among a couple of other rocks in the same hole. I'll post some pics tomorrow. Thanks for the support and encouragement, only 100' to go!

By the way - talked to the electrical inspector today. My contractor gave me some bad info, the regulation for this run is that it needs to be down 12" since it's in conduit, 120v and GFCI!!! I think I'll do the final 100' at 18" so I can bed it and still have clearance to meet code, that'll make it MUCH easier.