Help! The rocks are breeding

Djwalker · Apr 17, 2000

After removing (I thought) all of the rocks from our riding arena last year, the rain has made more rocks surface. I am wondering what would be the most efficient way of collecting them. Last year I did it by hand. This year I'd like an easier way. What is the best way to separate out 1-1/2" to 3" rocks while leaving the dirt and sand behind? A landscape rake? Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Dave

TomG · Apr 17, 2000

There are implements called rock pickers. Here's the text of an ad on @agriculture:

Rock pickers stalk rocky fields

Two new heavy-duty, hydraulically powered rock pickers by Vermeer include a unique bogie wheel design that sweeps up potential equipment-damaging rocks, leaving the soil in the field. Both models feature a hydraulic reel drive with a guided reel to improve rock-picking performance. A vertical apron, plus grated bucket design, help to keep more dirt in the field.

The large 8-inch bogie wheels (with sealed bearings) follow a special track that guides the reel arms parallel to the ground and creates more than a foot of sweeping “lift” action in front of the apron. This helps reduce the “battering” action that's more prevalent in round reel designs, especially when encountering smaller rock diameters.

The RP-78 cleans a 7-foot swath and features a large 3.3 cubic yard bucket capacity that reduces unloading and return times. Its 8-foot dumping height allows it to easily unload into a truck or trailer – or dump rocks onto high rock piles. The RP-6084 has a 5-foot pickup width, a 7-foot dumping height and a bucket capacity of 2.4 cubic yards.

For more information, contact Vermeer Manufacturing Company, P.O. Box 368, Pella, Iowa 50219 (515) 621-7615.

W5FL · Apr 17, 2000

After I have to sell my tractor to buy it, what will I pull the rock picker with? /w3tcompact/icons/smile.gif

Seriously, are there any affordable solutions to this problem.

I have tried a landscape rake and it works fair, where the rock density is pretty high. It takes a lot of soil with the rocks, though. I believe there are some power rakes that work better (they have one or two power rollers) but you may still have to sell your tractor to afford to buy one.

I could use a good solution to removing rocks from loose soil that cost less than $2000 but $1000 sounds a lot better.

MChalkley · Apr 17, 2000

Wen, what are the chances you could rent a rock-picker and use it all day and all night for 48 hours straight to get your money's worth?

fgable · Apr 17, 2000

I used a 4' york rake connected to a 3pt hitch to clear my breeding rocks. Good luck

Djwalker · Apr 17, 2000

Has anyone tried a landscape rake with every other tine taken out so you have 1" gaps between teeth? I would think that big rocks or dirt clods would get picked up and little things would go through. I don't have a rake and would like to know if it might work before buying one.

gerard · Apr 17, 2000

DJwalker,
I do that exact thing with a 6ft woods rake to drag an indoor horse arena. With each tooth in it collects too much of the sand when all I really try to do is loosen up the sand. Works better with every other tooth out but you still have to use a light touch or the sand will build up. I'm actually considering going to every thrid tine to see how that works. Re the rock situation have you priced rock picker's that replace your loader bucket? Kind of like a big manure rake, same principle. Don't know what they cost though.....

MChalkley · Apr 17, 2000

The only problem with removing half the teeth is that, if you build up much weight, it starts pushing through the teeth because the spring pressure has been halved, too.

Perhaps while you're researching the problem, you should at least spray the area with a rockicide to keep them from proliferating too quickly. Any of the standard ones will do: Rock-up, Rocka-T, Rock-a-thion, Rid-a-Rock, etc. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Djwalker · Apr 17, 2000

I tried seeding the area with sterile rocks to prevent conception with the hope that they'd just die out (like you can do with insects) but that didn't seem to work either.