Loader Rock Removal

[NYBOB]

I am trying to move this large rock to use in landscaping around my house. I have a JD 3720 and I put my pallet forks on to try and pick it up. I got them under the rock easily but my loader could not pick it up. I had my ballast box on the back loaded with concrete, my tires have weights on them and are loaded inside. Could not budge it....

My question is, if I can chain it, could my 3 point hitch pick it up?


Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Bob

 

[Tx Jim]

That depends on the size of the rock!! This rock AKA my tombstone stood a large backhoe FEL on it's nose.

 

[bcp]

You hitch will probably lift 50%+ more than the loader, but the rock may still be too large.



Bruce

 

[vtsnowedin]

You hitch will probably lift 50%+ more than the loader, but the rock may still be too large.

View attachment 374446

Bruce

Depends on which machine and loader I suppose. My 553 loader will lift 4000 and the 3PH is rated at 3198 lbs. I often find I can use the tractors loader and weight/ traction to pry a good sized rock up out of it's hole but then can't lift it clear of the ground. I end up getting the bucket under it and sliding them over to the edge of the field and into the woods. Sometimes right to the property line.

 

[NYBOB]

I am trying to move this large rock to use in landscaping around my house. I have a JD 3720 and I put my pallet forks on to try and pick it up. I got them under the rock easily but my loader could not pick it up. I had my ballast box on the back loaded with concrete, my tires have weights on them and are loaded inside. Could not budge it.... My question is, if I can chain it, could my 3 point hitch pick it up? Any help would be appreciated. Thanks Bob

Forgot to attach the photo

 

[Tx Jim]

Depends on which machine and loader I suppose. My 553 loader will lift 4000 and the 3PH is rated at 3198 lbs.

I'm curious what you could pick up & move weighing 4000#s that is attached at the pins on loader boom with a tractor weighing just over 5000#s? Move that load 2+ ft out in front of the pins and watch your tractors rear wheels clear the ground attempting to raise 2 TONS with the FEL.

 

[Verticaltrx]

I'm curious what you could pick up & move weighing 4000#s that is attached at the pins on loader boom with a tractor weighing just over 5000#s? Move that load 2+ ft out in front of the pins and watch your tractors rear wheels clear the ground attempting to raise 2 TONS with the FEL.

I agree. We have the same tractor/loader, and while it is a stout loader it will not pick up anywhere near 4000lbs. I regular unload bundles of 5-6" treated fence posts that weigh about 2500-2700lbs and that is the limit for the 553 loader. With that much weight it won't lift more than half height and it has very little curl power. Not to mention, even with wheel weights, fluid in the tires and a 1000lb+ implement on the back it is hard to keep the rear end on the ground.

Now, maybe he is talking about just the breakout force, ie lifting the edge of a 4000lb rock a few inches off the ground. No way the 553 loader can actually 'lift' that much.

 

[vtsnowedin]

Tell it to the rock.

 

[RDrancher]

Tell it to the rock.

If that rock weighs 4000 lbs, I'll videotape me eating your dirty old hat and post it right here. :laughing:

 

[madmax12]

[h=1]Caterpillar CAT 992K plays with a Big Stone[/h]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oYmxrnzzNs

 

[deerseeker001]

back hoe or excavator.

I am trying to move this large rock to use in landscaping around my house. I have a JD 3720 and I put my pallet forks on to try and pick it up. I got them under the rock easily but my loader could not pick it up. I had my ballast box on the back loaded with concrete, my tires have weights on them and are loaded inside. Could not budge it....

My question is, if I can chain it, could my 3 point hitch pick it up?


Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks
Bob

 

[vtsnowedin]

You ain't getting my John Deere hat even if you win a bet, and no I'm not going to dig that rock up off the pile it rests on and truck it to a scale to settle it.

 

[vtsnowedin]

[h=1]Caterpillar CAT 992K plays with a Big Stone[/h]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oYmxrnzzNs

Nice loader and well run. I could not operate one of those day after day being careful to not damage any of the trucks I loaded or anything else with only the occasional big rock to challenge me. Takes a different mind set.

 

[Hill-Billy]

When my tractor can't lift something with the bucket, I drag it using a car hood. I went to the junk yard and got a car hood. I put the smooth side on the ground and roll whatever I have to move onto it and then drag it where I need it. If my tractor can roll it on top of the hood, it can drag it.

 

[SI2305]

This might be an out-there idea, but is it possible that you could break the rock in half? Judging from the picture, it appears to be limestone (could be mistaken). This rock could be relatively soft and therefore breakable. I remember as a child camping next to Lake Superior that some people would find granite stones lying around, heat them up in a bonfire and then, using a plank of wood, throwing the rock into the water where the sudden temperature change would shatter the stone. Like I said, this is only one idea


SI2305

 

[hhsco]

You might could chain it up and lift it with your 3pt (a boom helps) but don't be surprised if it lifts the front end of your tractor off the ground.

 

[pinetree10]

[h=1]Caterpillar CAT 992K plays with a Big Stone[/h]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1oYmxrnzzNs

Now THAT rock must weigh somewhere near 4,000 lbs. He must have done some damage dropping the back end like he did.

This past week I barely picked up a 15-foot, 8-inch diameter Dogwood tree and root ball from its temporary hole in the ground and transplanted it to a new spot. I was glad I had my 425 lb. chipper hanging off the back of my 2720 and I had to dig a gradual ramp and play with the tree for a bit before I finally wrestled it from the ground. This is why anyone considering a first-time tractor purchase should definitely consider the kind of work they plan to do with it before they choose a size. It's always better to have too much power behind the controls and a little extra weight built in than to be short on either one.

 

[madmax12]

Now THAT rock must weigh somewhere near 4,000 lbs. He must have done some damage dropping the back end like he did.

This past week I barely picked up a 15-foot, 8-inch diameter Dogwood tree and root ball from its temporary hole in the ground and transplanted it to a new spot. I was glad I had my 425 lb. chipper hanging off the back of my 2720 and I had to dig a gradual ramp and play with the tree for a bit before I finally wrestled it from the ground. This is why anyone considering a first-time tractor purchase should definitely consider the kind of work they plan to do with it before they choose a size. It's always better to have too much power behind the controls and a little extra weight built in than to be short on either one.

I've been told rock weighs more than one thinks by looking at it.
What would you estimate the dimensions of the boulder in the video to be?
Take those dimensions to the site below.

Check out this site:

Boulder Sizing and Weight Estimation


Now, check out this site (Loader specs):

Cat | 992K Wheel Loader | Caterpillar



How much do you think the boulder in the video weighs now?

 

[CalG]

Try picking up just half the stone, move it a little ..

If you can, slide a roller under it. There are no rocks smarter than a man....

 

[vtsnowedin]

I've been told rock weighs more than one thinks by looking at it.
What would you estimate the dimensions of the boulder in the video to be?
Take those dimensions to the site below.

Check out this site:

Boulder Sizing and Weight Estimation



How much do you think the boulder in the video weighs now?

Not knowing the exact bucket size on the loader it's just a guess but say 6' X8' X 9'X 62.4 x2.8 = 75,000 or there abouts.