Moving a big rock

IndyIan · May 7, 2012

My excavator found a nice flat chunk of limestone when he dug our pond, but of course its in the wrong spot. So this weekend I decided to move it to its final location. I could just barely lift the small end up, and pushing it across the pond outlet wasn't going to happen so I decided to use some 4000 BC technology.

It actually worked pretty slick if a bit slow with moving the rollers and rails every 8'. It also was a good use of the HST just to creep along.
Here's some more pics.

Here I was lifting the heavy end using the log as a pivot in the middle, to get the rails and another log in to get started rolling.

I should've taken a closeup of the bucket edge on this one as it was flexed about 2" down, but it came back to pretty much straight to my surprise.
It was a fun little project but I'm glad I did have to move the rock 400' that way!

bcp · May 7, 2012

Stone figures on Easter Island weighed up into the 80+- ton range and were moved without tractors.

Interesting reading:
Moai - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bruce

Egon · May 7, 2012

Darned, you did way more work than needed but them rollers look like fun.:thumbsup:

Fill bucket with something heavy, chain up rock and lift a little with the three point and pull it to where it serves it's purpose. Just keep your eyes on the front wheels and your foot on the clutch or resting easy on the hydro pedals.:thumbsup:

creekbend · May 8, 2012

Innovative. :thumbsup:

vtsnowedin · May 8, 2012

Next you will be driving your tractor in circles turning a capstan to launch an ocean liner.

Thomas · May 8, 2012

Goes to yer w/little time just about anything can get done...nothing busted on tractor or hand..good work.

JerryK · May 8, 2012

You could also hire out as a post debarker... Maybe get a couple semi-loads of posts and shove the rock back and forth on top of a layer of them.....

IndyIan · May 8, 2012

Egon,
I didn't even think of trying to use the 3pth and some chains... I have a draw bar but and one "good" grade 70 logging chain (4000lb WLL)and a few regular logging chains that I bought for ATV logging many years ago (2200lb WLL). Probably would've worked but I didn't want to sink my tractor or the rock into my pond outlet either... Next time I move a big rock I'll try it though.
I don't really know how heavy the rock is but I'm guessing 5-6k lbs judging how hard it is to lift the light end, or the heavy end with part of the rock balanced on the pivot.
Once I got it on the logs it rolled pretty easily using the tractor atleast but did need some "steering" with the loader. I had to watch handling the heavy end, that if it slipped off the rollers it didn't hang up on the bucket on the way down, as it might either pickup the back end of the tractor or bend up the bucket or loader... A couple of the posts aren't usable either anymore so its not a great way to debark them...:laughing:

vtsnowedin · May 8, 2012

Limestone runs about 153 pounds per cubic foot. Take your average measurments not the extremes and multiply it out L*W*T*153=
Using your loader bucket in the picture as a very rough ruler I'd guesstimate that pebble at about 7300 lbs.