Moving a big rock

[IndyIan]

My excavator found a nice flat chunk of limestone when he dug our pond, but of course its in the wrong spot. So this weekend I decided to move it to its final location. I could just barely lift the small end up, and pushing it across the pond outlet wasn't going to happen so I decided to use some 4000 BC technology.

It actually worked pretty slick if a bit slow with moving the rollers and rails every 8'. It also was a good use of the HST just to creep along.
Here's some more pics.

Here I was lifting the heavy end using the log as a pivot in the middle, to get the rails and another log in to get started rolling.

I should've taken a closeup of the bucket edge on this one as it was flexed about 2" down, but it came back to pretty much straight to my surprise.
It was a fun little project but I'm glad I did have to move the rock 400' that way!

 

[bcp]

Stone figures on Easter Island weighed up into the 80+- ton range and were moved without tractors.

Interesting reading:
Moai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bruce

 

[Egon]

Darned, you did way more work than needed but them rollers look like fun.:thumbsup:

Fill bucket with something heavy, chain up rock and lift a little with the three point and pull it to where it serves it's purpose. Just keep your eyes on the front wheels and your foot on the clutch or resting easy on the hydro pedals.:thumbsup:

 

[creekbend]

Innovative. :thumbsup:

 

[vtsnowedin]

Next you will be driving your tractor in circles turning a capstan to launch an ocean liner.

 

[Thomas]

Goes to yer w/little time just about anything can get done...nothing busted on tractor or hand..good work.

 

[JerryK]

You could also hire out as a post debarker... Maybe get a couple semi-loads of posts and shove the rock back and forth on top of a layer of them.....

 

[IndyIan]

Egon,
I didn't even think of trying to use the 3pth and some chains... I have a draw bar but and one "good" grade 70 logging chain (4000lb WLL)and a few regular logging chains that I bought for ATV logging many years ago (2200lb WLL). Probably would've worked but I didn't want to sink my tractor or the rock into my pond outlet either... Next time I move a big rock I'll try it though.
I don't really know how heavy the rock is but I'm guessing 5-6k lbs judging how hard it is to lift the light end, or the heavy end with part of the rock balanced on the pivot.
Once I got it on the logs it rolled pretty easily using the tractor atleast but did need some "steering" with the loader. I had to watch handling the heavy end, that if it slipped off the rollers it didn't hang up on the bucket on the way down, as it might either pickup the back end of the tractor or bend up the bucket or loader... A couple of the posts aren't usable either anymore so its not a great way to debark them...:laughing:

 

[vtsnowedin]

Limestone runs about 153 pounds per cubic foot. Take your average measurments not the extremes and multiply it out L*W*T*153=
Using your loader bucket in the picture as a very rough ruler I'd guesstimate that pebble at about 7300 lbs.

 

[scoutcub]

Nice project...and property.

Looks like a good "sittin and ponderin" rock.....:thumbsup::laughing:

 

[newbury]

<snip> Next time I move a big rock I'll try it though.<snip>

If there's going to be a next time build a sled for the rock, wait till early spring, make an ice road (I'm assuming you get cold temps and snow in Campbellford, ON.). Should slide real easy.

I've got a similar situation on my land in Vermont.

There's a stone formation folded such that it looks like a big stuffed couch, I'm waiting for a winter project to go pull it out.

 

[deerseeker001]

I HAVE PULLED BIGGER WITH CHAIN OFF THE DRAWBAR,ONCE YOU GET THEM MOVING GOES GOOD.

 

[IndyIan]

Nice project...and property.

Looks like a good "sittin and ponderin" rock.....:thumbsup::laughing:

Thanks, it took us quite a while to finally pull the trigger on the pond, but its turned out pretty good so far, a 1/5 acre swimming pool!
I have done some "sittin and ponderin" on that rock too, trying to figure out where things should go, and the boy likes to climb up and jump off it so it will be a while before it gets covered by moss...

 

[carpenter383]

For those interested it's VERY difficult to get a dk40 to raise the front tires when dragging something with the 3ph! I've dragged lotsa stuff even logs from the end of a RAISED boom pole! It will almost always spin the fluid filled r4 tires before lifting the front end with an EMPTY bucket :thumbsup: I'm always very careful and usually in low gear if I think the front end might get light and when it has it was slow enough I could hit the clutch with plenty of reaction time. That was on fairly level ground, I would'nt try that going up hill.

 

[sparc]

I HAVE PULLED BIGGER WITH CHAIN OFF THE DRAWBAR,ONCE YOU GET THEM MOVING GOES GOOD.

and if you have a helper throwing rollers in front of it as you pull it will go even easier. need about a half dozen rollers.

 

[zing]

Log rollers like that are how we beach fishing boats for the winter and launch them again in the spring. Put a cribwork cradle beside the boat to support it upright when it is out of the water, but the same idea. You can move many tons worth of awkward and unweildy load with a set of rollers and a four wheel drive. Nice work bro.