Need ideas to build a "stone boat"

[CADplans]

No stone boat is needed when the ground is dry, we have had no rain in over three weeks,,

I chained the stone to the IH tractor,, and off we went,,

I actually think a stone boat would have been a negative as far as this move is concerned,

You can see that neither the tractor ,, or the stone tore up the grass,, (much,, :laughing

The stone is now at my shed,,,

 

[BBHomestead]

How do you use a stone boat,, when the rock weighs over 7,500 pounds,, and it is in a hole,,??

That stone is over 5X5 feet square,, and 28 to 34 inches thick.

You can use a stone arch if its built strong enough!

 

[BBHomestead]

Also if you manage to get it on its flattest side and a chain around it you can slope the dirt in the hole and drag it out then log arch or sled !

 

[quicksandfarmer]

How do you use a stone boat,, when the rock weighs over 7,500 pounds,, and it is in a hole,,??

That stone is over 5X5 feet square,, and 28 to 34 inches thick.

We're gonna need a bigger boat.

 

[oosik]

Perhaps - - an ARK.

 

[Renze]

How do you use a stone boat,, when the rock weighs over 7,500 pounds,, and it is in a hole,,??

That stone is over 5X5 feet square,, and 28 to 34 inches thick.

Then you need this:

Degelman Rock Digger RD320 - YouTube

 

[WranglerX]

Old car hood.....

Dale

 

[CADplans]

Then you need this:

Degelman Rock Digger RD320 - YouTube

DANG, I would build that in a heartbeat,,, IF I had the tractor big enough to pull it,,,

:thumbsup:

 

[Jstpssng]

The one that we have is about 3x8 feet, if memory serves me correctly, made from 3" oak planks, tapered on one end. It was made to pull behind a horse, and loaded with pry bars and sweat... lots of sweat.

 

[Renze]

DANG, I would build that in a heartbeat,,, IF I had the tractor big enough to pull it,,,

:thumbsup:

You dont need that big a tractor, let the hydraulics do the prying. And of the drawbar lifts the rear end of your tractor, just use a longer drawbar. Wasnt it Archimedes who said "with a long enough lever, and a fulcrum, i can move the entire world"

 

[metalbender]

Cadplans, I noticed that you pulled from the three point, not the drawbar. I'm still pretty new this tractor stuff, but all the reading here tells me that's the first thing on the no no list.

 

[CADplans]

Cadplans, I noticed that you pulled from the three point, not the drawbar. I'm still pretty new this tractor stuff, but all the reading here tells me that's the first thing on the no no list.

Getting on a tractor is "the first thing on the no no list", so, each person has to determine their risk level,
yes, operating ANY tractor is a risk. The tractor in the pic is 40 years old this year,,
it does not have Tier 4 emissions controls, which is a health risk no no,,,
it would take three paragraphs to explain why I did that,, but, in this case, it was perfectly safe.

The Readers Digest abbreviated answer,,
1) there is a HEAVY loader on the front of the tractor, the front of the tractor can not lift,
2) the tractor does not have a 1940's hand clutch that locks when over-torqued,
3) the engine was operated at an idle, so there was plenty of time to react,
4) the tractor was headed down a grade, not going up a grade,
5) on,, and on,,,

 

[metalbender]

Trying to keep it civil. The Reader's Digest list is merely a list of excuses that come after the fact. The right answer is , Yup, I know better.

 

[LouNY]

Trying to keep it civil. The Reader's Digest list is merely a list of excuses that come after the fact. The right answer is , Yup, I know better.

The right answer is that the tractor will pull more and easier that way.
An experienced operator will work equipment in the most efficient way, that may not be the way recommended to inexperienced operators.
Especially when needing to pull an object up from a lower level, where a lower hook would have buried the chain and pulled object into the dirt,
not up and on top of it.
Also the size of the tractor has a lot to do with it,the larger frame tractors can pull much more then a smaller lighter one of the same Hp.
Also many implements for the larger farm tractors are semi-mounted, they just use the lift arms.

 

[Renze]

The right answer is that the tractor will pull more and easier that way.

A tractorpull was never won with the front wheels on the ground the whole time.

Americans like their trailed implements, while in Europe, heavy tillage implemenys like rippers are predominantly 3pt mounted, so the weight of the lifted soil rests on the driven tractor wheels to aid traction, not on the implement wheels where it is just dead weight.

 

[Big Barn]

Need ideas to build a "stone boat"

A tractorpull was never won with the front wheels on the ground the whole time.

Americans like their trailed implements, while in Europe, heavy tillage implemenys like rippers are predominantly 3pt mounted, so the weight of the lifted soil rests on the driven tractor wheels to aid traction, not on the implement wheels where it is just dead weight.

On two wheel drive tractors we used the three point hydraulic lever for “traction control” on mounted chisel plows.

Also for front height adjustment with just enough weight on front axle to keep the tractor straight without having to use steering brakes. LOL.

 

[metalbender]

So far so good, mounted implements will prevent a flip, a chain hooked to a solid object is a recipe for disaster. As noted, I am fairly new to tractors and haven't had the opportunity to try sketchy operations.

 

[Fallon]

So far so good, mounted implements will prevent a flip, a chain hooked to a solid object is a recipe for disaster. As noted, I am fairly new to tractors and haven't had the opportunity to try sketchy operations.

Lol, ignorance & a new machine is usually when the sketchfest stuff often happens. Once you get some experience you realize all the stupid stuff you did before you knew better & wonder how you didnt hurt yourself or your machine.

As a general rule, ya, always pull from the drawbar for safety. That said I'll often use a 3pt trailer mover. But I do it knowing if I'm on hills , at higher speed or dealing with a heavy trailer things could roll the tractor. But at this point I have an understanding of the physics involved & know when i can do it safely. I didnt when i got my first tractor.

Experience comes from poor choices. It's much better if its somebody else's poor choices such as YouTube videos or TBN stories about rolling a machine.

 

[BBHomestead]

Well it all come down to what $$ level you are at if you can always afford whatever tools are safest and best for the job most likely you won't be doing anything that is very dangerous because you also have so much money that you won't be lifted rocks you just pay others lol
Im experienced operator of many things and out of practice on many of them but i can if need to use a teem of mules to move things or a tractor or with experience could use a crane but the mules cost too much time the crane for personal use has a very big price tag so i will lift heavy things with my tractors either frot wheels will lift or back wheels lol

 

[Sno]

One option for very big rocks in the wrong place that we used in the fifties (when big machines simply weren’t available) was a big torch and a 100# propane tank. Prop the torch to heat the rock about one foot above the ground and let it roar for a couple hours. Often the rock would just crack in two or more pieces (especially if on wet, cold ground). If it didn’t crack after a couple hours, I remember discussions about where to pour cold water and how to do it safely. I was about age ten, so could be off on the time allowed. I do have a clear memory of one rock that was well over half the size of the John Deere bulldozer that was being used. The torch looked impossibly small to me but the rock broke. The stone boat used for smaller rock was I think 3/16 steel plate with a thicker bar on the front.