Rock Jaws

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I have checked them out....they are not big enough to get around large boulders in the 2000lb range. )</font>
Yep, that would be a mouthful.
Get a fabricator to make some just like the timber ones with serrated mouths on them. Should still cost a lot less than buying one.
John

 

[JimMorrissey]

Check out BX2230Dude's posts on his rock jaws (links below). He's made himself a great solution. I'll be making one of those in the near future.

 

[KiotiJohn]

Jim, are these the links you meant?
rock grapple


Rock grapple 2

BX2230's term, rock grapple, not mine.
John

 

[davidseaquist]

What do you think about these log skidders from wallenstein. They have a 24" a 36" and a 72" modle David.

 

[davidseaquist]

These are the two smaller models I saw them on e-bay from 24-7 farmer. This is a picture of the other two sizes they cost $1,400, for the smallest $1,800 for the medium $2,800 for the large. David

 

[davidseaquist]

Here is another device for picking up bolders. Called a
" Mechanical bolder Grab FUZ-un from the United Kingdom web page
I haven't contacted them yet to see the cost. David.

 

[davidseaquist]

picture

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( " Mechanical bolder Grab FUZ-un from the United Kingdom web page )</font>
Now that one looks way beyond the scope of using a compact tractor!
John

 

[davidseaquist]

maby it is but it could be scaled down to work with a compact tractor. I would think three fingers would be more stable that two fingers David

 

[BigDogues]

davidseaquist, your link seems to be dead. Here it is again.
Actually it looks a lot bigger than it is and once you read the specs you get a better feel for it's size. While it may be a little too large for my CK25, a larger tractor like a DK45 would have no problem with it at all.
I really like this design. Notice all the grab points to help postion the stone.

 

[KiotiJohn]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Actually it looks a lot bigger than it is and once you read the specs you get a better feel for it's size. )</font>
Yep. The link wasn't working, and I didn't have time to go look.
Thanks.
John

 

[JimMorrissey]

I tried the link with no luck and I tried to seach Google on your quotes....nothing. In fact it's the first time I've ever been returned zero from Goggle.

 

[BigDogues]

Jim,
I reposted a working link three posts before this one. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[davidseaquist]

I decited to purchace the rock Jaws I am paying $950. plus $120 dollars for shipping. They told me they weigh less than 100 lbs. Compared to what is on line. The hydraulic skid steer modle for $5,500 dollars they seem like a bargin and matiance free and easy to store. Heck they are only tongs. I should get them in a week or so. Other lifting tongs were a fiew thousand dollars. If these work as advertized and I get some jobs wth them I will be satisfied, David /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[davidseaquist]

I got the rock jaws today and tried them out on a neighbors yard. I moved about 5 bolders it worked well. I hooked it to a huge bolder and tried to drag it, it bent the flat portion of the bar stock. My fault i shouldn't tried to drag a huge bolder my tractor couldn't lift. I should be able to straighten them out and realign the Jaws. David.

 

[mike69440]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( I decided to purchase the rock Jaws I am paying $950. plus $120 dollars for shipping. They told me they weigh less than 100 lbs. Compared to what is on line. The hydraulic skid steer model for $5,500 dollars they seem like a barging and maintenance free and easy to store. Heck they are only tongs. I should get them in a week or so. Other lifting tongs were a few thousand dollars. If these work as advertised and I get some jobs with them I will be satisfied, David /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif )</font>

My new self designed "Mini Me" Rock Jaw Grapple is for myself and the wife to build rock walls.
At her old home before we sold it she had be build a set of primitive steps up through a laterally running stone wall. I previously had dumped a lot of soil on the uphill side for her go size garden. The neighbor was freaking out that we selling to "new" people and we were concerned that they would run a fence making access to our garden difficult and we wanted to do right for the new owners so they would not have to climb over the wall to get at the garden.
PS, The landscaping sold the property, so tractors are an "investment"

At the time The L39 was brand new and I had a real hard time using the hoe with the Mechanical thumb to place rocks exactly where she wanted them.

So when we go to build walls on our new property these tongs ought to help. More Photos are located:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/showflat.php?Cat=0&Board=buildit&Number=884004&Forum=All_Forums&Words=l39&Match=Entire%20Phrase&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Old=1year&Main=884003&Search=true#Post884004

 

[davidseaquist]

Nice work. Would you want to sell a pair ? They are very similar to the pair I bought. MIne work well I moved a fiew rock. They did a good job. Did you modify a large pair of skidding tongs ? David

 

[mike69440]

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?in_merch=1&storeId=6970&productId=200307445&R=200307445

 

[mike69440]

http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?in_merch=1&storeId=6970&productId=200307445&R=200307445

 

[kid_108]

Here's a few images from the stone tongs that I made. The stone in the photo is probably around 300 to 400 pounds. It lifted the tractor front end off of the ground until I put the stabilizers down.