lifting/moving big rocks with a B7610/B7800?

[Northland]

I am deciding between a B7610 w302/352 or B7800 w/402 loader.

I live in Northern Ontario Canada with 20 acres of hilly maple woods with rocky soil and some big rocks in spots.

I was just outside checking out some of the rocks that I would like to move about.There are about 15 rocks a bit larger then the ones pictured on this link I found on TBN. This member has a B7610 w352

FEL Rock Moving

It occurred to me that that this guy's rocks may not be able to be lifted or a least moved easily by even a B7800 w/LA402 loader. I am not sure what rocks like this weigh but it may be better for me to get a real big backhoe into do that work and buy the 7610 w/302 or 352.

Any ideas on what rocks like this might weigh?

 

[WayneW]

Not sure on the weight of a rock that size, never had to pull one off my foot. <g>

I move rocks about that size with my 7610/352. In my experience:

1. The rocks are too large to fit IN the bucket, therefore have to be tied in with a strap of some sort. (I use a couple "rachet" 2" straps)

2. Because of this, the rock is far away from the pivit point of the loader, which is a place where the lift capacity if no where near the approx 1000 lbs lift at the pivit pins. You can lift a lot more by lifting the bucket slightly, then curling it back. Rocks too big to be lifted too high can be rolled or drug backwards slightly off the ground (inches)

3. Always thought I bend my bucket. And I did, just not where I thought I would. Bottom in actually pretty tough. The upper lip bent up and back slightly from large rocks slamming into the bucket.

4. I will not suggest doing this, BUT, with considerable rear ballast (loaded tires and 5' box blade and 4 cement blocks) the 7610/352 will pick up rocks (strapped onto the bucket) still heavy enough to lift the rear tires off the ground. With practice I was still able to move these rocks around on just the front tires. The ground must be pretty flat when attempting to do this!

5. Center your load or put it on the "uphill" side of the bucket. USE EXTREME caution on hills. Up, Down and esp traversing. Be certain the tractor is in 4wd and in low gear.

6. Map your route from beginning to end BEFORE you attempt to travel it with your loaded tractor.
It 7610 really is quite a machine. I'm sure the 7800 and 3030 would amaze me. Enjoy and play it safe.

 

[mike69440]

Rocks that size my L-39 can barely move. I doubt they could even be straped into a 4' 7610 bucket.

You might be able to a handle an 1100-1200 LB Rock, Those are close to a ton.

 

[The Gardener]

it may be better for me to get a real big backhoe to do that work

That would be my vote. We hire out many jobs to a local guy who owns a huge backhoe and a decent size bulldozer. The guy charges $120/hr these days. He's been here six different times for six different jobs. He started years back at $80/hr.

The rocks that you pictured are picked up and tossed around like pebbles with his backhoe and hydraulic thumb. Rocks considerably larger than those pictured are rolled with ease by his bulldozer.

By hiring out these huge efforts, you can purchase a tractor that will handle all of the routine chores and projects that you want to tackle on your own.

Good Luck!
The Gardener

 

[dirtworksequip]

Just for future reference: sandstone 145 lbs per cubic foot
concrete 150 lbs per cubic foot
granite 168 lbs per cubic foot

 

[Northland]

Thanks for the insight and advice guys. I know now that the B7610 will accomodate my needs.

When I had my trails put in a few years ago at various times I had a Linkbelt excavator, a big JBC & CAT backhoe and a JD mid sized dozer out here pushing the rocks and trees out of the way. At the time I never thought much about it as I wasn't even considering a piece of equipment.

Now I just need to find a deal on a new or slightly used B7610 in Ontario, Michigan or maybe even Ohio

 

[frank_f15]

I have a B2400 A FEW ROCKS SLIGHTLY SAMLLER THAN THOSE now bear in mind i said moved, not picked up as they won't fit in the bucket even if you could lift them! i just scooted them along the ground till i got them where i wanted them.

 

[dillo99]

I have moved lots of rocks like that with my b7500. One bit of advice, make a sled. I have an old car hood that I chain to the drawbar. Rocks can be easily rolled on the car hood and then dragged with the tractor. I can handle much larger rocks with this method than I would be able to handle with a loader (even a larger loader). I also think it is safer.

ps - get the largest tractor you can afford. You won't regret having more horsepower.

 

[IslandTractor]

I agree with Dillo99, get an old car hood from a junk yard and use it as a sled. You can pull way more than you can lift. Medium size (but still too heavy to lift) rocks can be pushed along with the FEL but the real monsters are better pulled on a sled.

 

[john_bud]

Not sure on the weight of a rock that size, never had to pull one off my foot. <g>

I move rocks about that size with my 7610/352. In my experience:

1. The rocks are too large to fit IN the bucket, therefore have to be tied in with a strap of some sort. (I use a couple "rachet" 2" straps)

2. Because of this, the rock is far away from the pivit point of the loader, which is a place where the lift capacity if no where near the approx 1000 lbs lift at the pivit pins. You can lift a lot more by lifting the bucket slightly, then curling it back. Rocks too big to be lifted too high can be rolled or drug backwards slightly off the ground (inches)

{SNIP}QUOTE]


Wayne,

Could be wrong, it's hard to tell from pictures, but....

The rocks in the picture look to be about 3'x'3' x3' of granite. If so,that would put them about 4500 pounds, which is about double the weight of the tractor. I don't think they are liftable without a MUCH larger tractor.

Rolled on a sheet of steel and towed, sure! But not lifted by a small SCUT or CUT.


jb

 

[Slacker]

I have moved lots of rocks like that with my b7500. One bit of advice, make a sled. I have an old car hood that I chain to the drawbar. Rocks can be easily rolled on the car hood and then dragged with the tractor. I can handle much larger rocks with this method than I would be able to handle with a loader (even a larger loader). I also think it is safer.

ps - get the largest tractor you can afford. You won't regret having more horsepower.

+1 on the sled. Its what I use. I moved very large rocks with a JD 750 (20hp)
on a hood and it was quite easy. I tried picking one up and the hydraulics just went into bypass, but I could push them around no problem.

 

[The Gardener]

... make a sled. I have an old car hood that I chain to the drawbar. Rocks can be easily rolled on the car hood and then dragged with the tractor.

This sounds great. I have used a piece of plywood for years, but a metal car hood would slide so much better.

Could you please post some images of how you connected your chains to the car hood.

Thanks So Much!
The Gardener

 

[Egon]

My B7100 HST Kubota has moved rocks of the sise shown except for the last one.

I drag them by using chains around the rock and attaching to my three point hitch and then lifting the hitch to get downpressure on the rear tires. The bucket will be full of rocks to keep the front end down. The biggest problem is going downhill. The hitch must be short, one must go straight downhill or the rock may decide on it's own course and pull the tractor with it. Rounded rocks are the most difficult to move.

Please Note: This is not an approved method. I would not do this without an HST transmission. My foot is also resting on the clutch when I do this. I would never tie a rock to the loader if it can't lift it.

Gona get slamed by SLAMFIRE again!

 

[The Gardener]

The biggest problem is going downhill.

Agreed.

I have no doubt that you have mastered the technique. Yet, I'd still worry about a boulder behind me on a decent. I always air on the side that something can go wrong, and, if it does, what is the worse case scenario.

1. The boulder takes off right or left and the tractor rolls.

As unlikely as this sounds, it could potentially happen, and that, to me, is enough of a reason to choose a different method.

I have always favored and used the sled approach. My sled has been plywood with 2" x 5" walls bolted in place on some occasions. I curved the leading edge of the plywood by soaking it in water and then applying bucket pressure in the sun for several hours.

I was fortunate in that all of my boulder moves with the plywood were uphill pulls. If I had to go downhill, I would have attached the sled to my tractor bucket with the curved, leading edge out in front. With some chains and/or rope and some hooks bolted onto the plywood, I suspect I could have held a boulder snugly in place for the decent ahead of the tractor.

I have since sold the tractor, and we have used the plywood sled behind our car using the trailer hitch and ball. Again, all of our pulls are uphill.

Just voicing a suggestion because of a concern.

Sincerely,
The Gardener

 

[WayneW]

Wayne,

Could be wrong, it's hard to tell from pictures, but....

The rocks in the picture look to be about 3'x'3' x3' of granite. If so,that would put them about 4500 pounds, which is about double the weight of the tractor. I don't think they are liftable without a MUCH larger tractor.

Rolled on a sheet of steel and towed, sure! But not lifted by a small SCUT or CUT.


jb

I'm no rock expert, so I can't say what type of material the rocks that I've moved are. Though I do know that there were no where near 4500 lbs. If I had to guess, I'd say maybe 1000-1500 lbs. Of course that is a complete guess. Though I did try to prop some rocks up on bricks and lift it with the carry all on the 3pt. It didn't budge them. So I figured they were over 1060 lbs.

Perhaps I misjudged the size the the rocks in those pictures. To me some looked flatter in one dimension, instead of being a round rock. Over this weekend, I'll take a few pics of the rocks I've moved, and post them here.

I have also used the sled method, though my homemade "sled" tore up the ground pretty well. (An old car hood would be better I'm sure) Did have one roll away from me once. No, it wasn't tied to the sled. Very scary on a hill when a large round rock gets rolling.

I've found that dragging it with the bucket, even just a hair above the ground, did less damage.

 

[Raddad]

For the really big rocks, I built a basket with some grade 5 bolts, washers and 3/8 chain. I roll the rock onto the basket using my tractor. On some 3 point hitches there are two sets of holes in the lower links, for the lifting arms to attach, use the holes near the ends of the link. These give the 3 point less travel but more lifting power. I use a long tool bar on the 3 point hitch and then lift the rock. This way the rock is directly below the link ends so I have maximum lifting power. I think on most tractors the 3 point has more lifting power than the front end loader. Do everything you can to weight down the front end and you will be surprised at the size of rock that you can move. I think it’s safer than using my front end loader for the really big rocks. I have moved some this way that I couldn’t completely lift off the ground but with that much weight on the tractor it had pulling power enough to drag the rock and this was using my old B7100.

Regarding buying a B7610, if price is an issue you can find B2400s for less money and they are basically the same tractor.

 

[Charlesaf3]

wow, the car hood sled idea is a good one! Yet another thing learned off here.

 

[Minicup28]

I agree with the car hood sled also. A long time ago when I was young we pulled a large iron stone boat with horses and later with a JD 60. We would roll the rocks onto the boat and drag it to the nearest gorge and roll them off.

 

[m7040]

If the rock is too big to lift or hard get to go into the bucket I will generally just push it with the loader bucket. The damage to the gound is pretty minimal and it gets the job done right there without having to go look for a sled or other device to use. When the Logs are too big to lift with the FEL such as one time I had a 5 ft diameter log about 20 ft long I hooked up the tree point with a chain to lift one end slightly and then dragged it on the ground. worked just fine.

 

[rswyan]

Here's one I dug out with the LA402 on our B2910. Couldn't lift it but I was able to use a chain to drag it up out of the hole and then roll it to where it currently resides. It's granite and was probably 28" or better in diameter.