Looking for advice for moving large granite block

[NHhomestead1775]

Hopefully someone can give me some advice. I want to move a granite block that is 14in x 6ft x 2ft. I calculated that it is approximately 2300 lbs. I have a MF 1540 hydrostatic with bucket and 3 pt hitch. Before I try anything I want to make sure I am not going to damage the tractor. I am pretty sure that the bucket capacity is well below that. But what about the hitch? Any thoughts and or suggestions. Could it be pushed and/or pulled with the bucket, or again am I asking for trouble?

Thanks for any helpful input.

 

[bcp]

The old ways still work.



Bruce

 

[Fawken]

Hopefully someone can give me some advice. I want to move a granite block that is 14in x 6ft x 2ft. I calculated that it is approximately 2300 lbs. I have a MF 1540 hydrostatic with bucket and 3 pt hitch. Before I try anything I want to make sure I am not going to damage the tractor. I am pretty sure that the bucket capacity is well below that. But what about the hitch? Any thoughts and or suggestions. Could it be pushed and/or pulled with the bucket, or again am I asking for trouble?

Thanks for any helpful input.

I've actually pulled heavier junk with my Ford, but use the 3-pt not FEL. I attached a chain to one end of the concrete slab, and attached chain to the box blade to lift that one end slightly, 4wd, and go.

 

[Egon]

No idea on your tractor. You may be able to push the rock? Try it. Don't try and pull with the loader.

If you pull load the loader first and then attach to the main draw at or the three point but keep in mind the hitch height and backflips.

 

[groundcover]

I'm with bcp, not sure how far you want to go but some rails ,rollers and levers may be the way to go.

 

[tcreeley]

Good pic on link below, takes less tractor with a stone boat than to move it with a loader. Work the corners with leverage to shift it.


http://www.mytractorforum.com/71-ford-post-1990-new-holland/153532-homemade-stone-boat.html

 

[JerryK]

I have had a lot of luck horsing around heavy stuff by hitching a chain or heavy strap on one end of something like that. If you can hitch it up close to the rear of the tractor, as you pull forward, it will also lift some of the weight onto your hitch bar and also give your rear tires more bite. If it is laying flat on the ground, you can dig underneath it some, then push the chain/strap under the slab with a stick.

 

[300UGUY]

Depends on how far you need to move it. If you have something like a sled, that's how the old timers moved them. You could make one up with some 4x4's or 4x6 and some lumber. Your calculation on weight is pretty good.

 

[4570Man]

Your 3pt is rated to lift 2800 pounds. Your loader is rated to lift 1800 pounds. A set of 3pt forks would lift it. My loader has a very close rating and if I wasn't going far I would use my pallet forks to lift as much weight as I could then just push it.

 

[Sawyer Rob]

The old ways still work.

View attachment 431094

Bruce

BUT, where do you get that many slaves today???

SR

 

[pmsmechanic]

I don't know if your on soft dirt or grass. On method I've used on grass is to put the weight on a 2x12 plank and then lift it a bit with the three pint hitch and pull. Having an assistant walk along and wettig the grass in front of the plank makes it slide easy on grass.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I've rolled them if I couldn't pick one up. Even if they're not round you can sometimes get the bucket under an edge, lift and push.

 

[Wagtail]

BUT, where do you get that many slaves today???

SR

It's not the number of 'indentured' workers, per se, but the right overseer to 'direct & motivate' them.

 

[Wagtail]

Good pic on link below, takes less tractor with a stone boat than to move it with a loader. Work the corners with leverage to shift it.
View attachment 431118View attachment 431119

http://www.mytractorforum.com/71-ford-post-1990-new-holland/153532-homemade-stone-boat.html

A very good method and one that I'd recommend.

They have Work Horse Sledge Driving competitions at the Royal Shows (State Fairs?) here in Aus. That first picture is how it's done with one or two 'heavy' horses.

 

[AxleHub]

NHhomstead, I see numerous responses to your question . . . but you don't explain where this piece of granite is (inside or outside). Or if it is on dirt or a hard surface. Or if it is high or low.

How far do you need to move it? Etc. Etc..

before machines . . our ancestors used various combinations of weight to move weight combined with leverage and friction reduction.



If your only option is dragging . . Then that needs to be with rigid support because granite is hard . . but subject to directional cracking.

 

[tcreeley]

Sounds like a block of granite used for an old foundation. We get them around here in that size from time to time -old barns that have rotted away. A man in Albion, ME sells blocks that are in his pasture. I'd love to have them - but transport to and on the highway is something I don't want to deal with. - I used to have a student who scouted them out for quick money. -Used a pick up and jury rigged ramp to get them in the truck.

 

[timster2]

Find yourself an old car engine hood roll the rock on top attach a chain to the hood and drag away....A little dish soap on some wet grass and it will slide along quickly. Over some rougher terrain or pavement you don't want to rough up lay some pipes or small logs down as rollers, just be careful the rock doesn't pass you by.

 

[oldpilgrim]

You could try any of the ideas above or you could just say to heck with it like I did.

 

[AxleHub]

You could try any of the ideas above or you could just say to heck with it like I did.

Makes sense. When you see how tiny your tractor looks in comparison to that rock . . It looks a whole lot more than just 2 feet longer than your tractor is wide.

Good grief . . At the same time . . Leaving it there sure does lend itself to useful land space lol.

 

[oldpilgrim]

I measured it ..sorta... and it's about 9 feet by 5 feet by maybe 3 feet thick. I couldn't tell the thickness as I couldn't get all the way under it. You never know how big a rock will be, based on what is sticking out of the ground.

I have moved a couple of others that were 3x3x3 or so with the rolling method I mentioned above.

The tractor is a Mahindra 3016, which is by no means a large tractor, but it's no toy, and it's certainly bigger than it looks in the pic.