Rock in a Hole

[kday64]

All,

I am looking for the best way to get a 1.5x2x3' granite rock out 2.8' deep hole. The rock is in a tight place (surrounded on trees on 3 sides). Forth side has my lawn

I am guessing the weight of this rock exceeds my FEL capacity so just lifting it out is not an option.

I can wrap a tow strap around the rock and sort of drag;
1) Jinny (My BX) spins her tires
2) My truck (Sara) spun her tires.
3) Tow strap with 10 ton ratchet strap moved the rock nearly 6 inches then the ratchet strap ran out of room.

I just ordered a 30', 3 Ton Come A-Long to pull the rock out. One end of the come along goes to a tree 15' away. The other goes to the tow strap which is around the rock.

This rock needs to be moved so that I can make my lawn less dangerous for Jinny. It looks like I have about 10 of these rocks to move/remove from my lawn.

I am looking for a cheap solution.

~Kevin

 

[JimRB]

Are the trees substantial? If so then lifting straps wrapped around substantial tree and use the come along to move it? When I need to lift something heavy I use my 3 point hitch. I have an old 3 point hitch hay mover frame made of 3" square tubing that I wrap a chain around to lift things up. My rear has an almost 1,900# lift rating. No idea what the breakout rating is of my front loader but it is less, and less safe. Seat belt and roll bar in place of course.

 

[CurlyDave]

Read this entire thread http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/projects/191735-large-boulder-must-go.html .

Essentially, breaking it up by building a hot fire on it will get it into manageable pieces. For a small rock like you have force a draft with a leaf blower and then quench the rock with water. It will break into smaller, easily removed pieces.

 

[JOHNTHOMAS]

I paid Roy Vice $65 an hour with his rubber tired skid steer to move mine and put them where I wanted them, exactly. Shouldn't take an hour or two to do ten and not tear up the area. Sure you have a Roy Vice near you.
Some jobs need to be hired out same as before you bought a tractor, I know some get tore up over the thought but it's true.

 

[oakwoods]

This might be a good time to try this product:
Dexpan Non-Explosive Controlled Demolition Agent: Dexpan Intro Non-Explosive controlled Demolition, Dexpan Controlled Demolition without Explosives

 

[tawilson]

If you can move the rock at all you can put some smaller rocks or blocks of wood around it, then as you shift the rock these will slide under it, maybe throw in some dirt or sand, and you might be able to get the rock up higher. Then maybe scrape out a bit of a slope down to it, just to make it easier to drag out. This rock kept poking up out of my road a little more each year and that's how I got it out. I've dug out a lot of rocks and stumps, and found that once I can get them to move just a little, they are history.

 

[jbrody44]

This might be a good time to try this product:
Dexpan Non-Explosive Controlled Demolition Agent: Dexpan Intro Non-Explosive controlled Demolition, Dexpan Controlled Demolition without Explosives

I used this stuff to break up a rock the size of a car when excavating for my barn. It took a full day of drilling and a day to crack it, but it did the job. This rock was huge, the full size deere 510 backhoe could not handle it, broke it into 6 pieces, then we were good.

 

[Ductape]

Just dig a larger hole on the open side right next to the rock.......... and roll or drag the rock into it. Then bury it.

 

[jimmyj]

Put a lock and chain on it. By tomorrow it will be stolen.

 

[chopped]

seconds to Ductpe s idea..