L39 ROCKS!

[SkyPup]

I've excuvated about 60-70 large limerock boulders with the L39's BT1000 Backhoe and lifted them with the TL1000 FEL to hold up the 175 cubic yards of fill dirt I installed to create a landscape garden on one side of our home.

The L39 is ideally suited for this purpose as the BH with 18" bucket works really well in the soil and rocks and the FEL does a fantastic job of lifting extremely heavy loads. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

 

[SkyPup]

More Rocks!

 

[SkyPup]

All these limestone rocks were outcropping sorta like an iceberg around the property as part of the bedrock leading down to a sinkhole.

 

[SkyPup]

My bushog is real happy that all the rocks are now a part of the garden! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SkyPup]

The garden is raised about 24" and is about 150 feet long and 60 feet wide.

 

[SkyPup]

Anyone that thinks the L39 is weak is wrong. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[SkyPup]

Our L-3130 with the LA723 loader would he hopeless attempting to do anything with these boulders.

 

[SkyPup]

The L39 did an outstanding job digging all these rocks out and building up the 175 cubic yards of fill for the garden. Very easy to maneuver too. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[ByronBob]

I don't see a few things which have me confused. Your in Florida right? Where is the

Beach?
Retirement community?
Disney World?
Gators?
Swamps?

And I thought you didn't have rocks down there? /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[_RaT_]

<font color="blue"> I don't see a few things which have me confused. Your in Florida right? Where is the

Beach?
Retirement community?
Disney World?
Gators?
Swamps?
</font>
What about confused voters? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[SkyPup]

We don't live anywhere near the beach or Mickey Mouse, but the swamps and gators are less than 100 yards away.

The rocks are an integral part of the Floridan Aquifier which is the base of the entire state of Florida, the state sits on top of the limerock which is floating on top of the largest aquifer in North America that extends from the Okefenokee Swamp in South Georgia down to the Everglades on the southern tip of the peninsula. The limerock percolates the rain and purifes the water as it passes through the rocks down to the aquifier. The limerock is comprised of 100% clam shells, coral, and fossilized marine organisms from a couple of hundred million years ago.

 

[_RaT_]

Are limestone rocks as heavy or should I say as dense as granite rocks? I did not know that about Florida. Out here, when you get rocks, often they are the tip of an iceberg and even the largest excavator or dozer hasn't got a pray. Blasting is the only solution. Pool companies always put this in as a disclaimer when bidding the dig portion of the job.

PS watch those bucket connections and keep them greased. One thing I have found to be true on all compacts regardless of brand is the pivot bushings at the bucket wear very quickly when not gorged in grease.

 

[SkyPup]

Limerock basically has the same consistency as cement and weighs the same, except that it may contain "X" number of air pockets within the rock structure. Limestone is the natural rock type from which all cements and concretes are derived.

I totally agree with your assessment as for keeping it lubed. I'm using plenty of EP Moly grease and have three grease guns since I quite often am running out of grease in whatever gun I am using. Every ten hours about 2-3 pumps per zerk.

 

[_RaT_]

<font color="blue">Every ten hours about 2-3 pumps per zerk </font>

You nailed it. 2 to 3 is exactly where I am at. That applies to virtually every zerk on the tractor.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Are limestone rocks as heavy or should I say as dense as granite rocks? )</font>

I don't know, those rocks look suspiciously like styrofoam.

Very nice looking house and garden and you've put those "rocks" to good use.

I visited the Coral Castle I think it was called years ago and remember the astonishing rock the place was made of. Very interesting stuff. Sort of natural cement made from coral and shells and diatoms(sp?). The guy had shaped it and built a mini castle out of it. Worth a side trip if you happen to be down that way.

Cliff

 

[familyman]

That L39 does rock!
Is the loader removeable? If it is, w/o the loader and hoe, do you think its weight would trash finished landscape (rutting)? I do alot of digging (at home and elsewhere), but other things too, and I wonder about the weight.
How do you like the GST?

 

[AntrimMan]

I agree,
there is little possibility of clear lifting the larger of those limestones with the L3130.
I end up bulldozing the big granite boulders to their final resting place with the LA723. At about 160# per cu ft granite average, some of the one's I moved calculate to 5000# but it's like riding a bronco while trying to roll them. And it ain't easy on the machine. It couldn't be done heading uphill.
The front wheels on the L39 look puny compared to the rears. Are the rears really that much larger? Me thinks I need a trip to the dealer.
So what did the missus plant in the newly finished landscape garden?
Martin

 

[SkyPup]

The loader is not removable and with the BH attached the total weight of the TLB is about 7,000 pounds. It is quite compact and extremely stout and very manuverable.

I personally really enjoy the GST, it is a dream to operate and extremely efficient.

 

[mike69440]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( That L39 does rock!
Is the loader removeable? If it is, w/o the loader and hoe, do you think its weight would trash finished landscape (rutting)? I do alot of digging (at home and elsewhere), but other things too, and I wonder about the weight.
How do you like the GST? )</font>

Remove the Loader Bucket and the BH and the L39 weight is a bit over 5,000 Lbs. I found the machine reasonably gentile on firm "turf" in 2 wheel drive.

I like the GST, except on hills where it shifts too slow and jerks. It can stall as the power to weight is not outstanding.

Sure would be nice to have 50-55 hp for zipping the grades, but the fuel economy with the 3 cylinder in good.

 

[JimMorrissey]

Sky....That bucket is looking too "nice" for lack of a better description. You don't touch it up do you? I thought you had 100 heavy duty hours on it. I've got 60 hours on mine now and the bucket paint it all scarred and missing. Been doing a fair bit of excavating rocks and dirt, so it's been taking a beating.

She's been parked for few days because I've been so busy with work, but I took her out for a stroll today. I was smiling. Love it.