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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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crunch
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 271 Niagara County, NY
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2008-06-12          154547


I have a large rock that will just fit in my bucket and hangs a foot or two out. Maybe 2 foot high, 4.5 feet wide, 2.5 foot deep. My JD4310 430 bucket can barely get it an inch off the ground but only at times. And I have to watch my rear tires because they may lift off the ground when I do this. I have already wrestled with this rock a bit when I pulled it out of the ground under a stone wall.

I would like to get this rock from my lower yard to my upper yard. I could just put it in the bucket and put some upward pressure on it to lighten it and let the bucket slide on the ground. Or I could put my rear forks on and try to pick it up - but could I break the 3 pt pins? I have lots of old decking planks, maybe I could make some sort of sled out of them.

This is a perfect sitting rock and I would like to have it as a rest stop on my nightly walks with the wife. Any advice on how to get this up the hill? I have a short road with a fairly gradual grade to the upper yard.




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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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crunch
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 271 Niagara County, NY
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2008-06-12          154548


I forgot to mention I could also just plain tow it up the hill and just tear up a bit of turf on the way and in my upper yard. ....


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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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kwschumm
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 5764 NW Oregon
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2008-06-12          154550


The 3-point is rated to lift more than the loader. I forget the numbers but it's like 530-0% more. You may need to put more weight in the bucket to balance it out. ....


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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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DRankin
Join Date: Jan 2000
Posts: 5116 Northern Nevada
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2008-06-12          154551


I agree, If you have rear forks give them a whirl. ....


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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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crunch
Join Date: Jan 2007
Posts: 271 Niagara County, NY
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2008-06-13          154554


Thanks Ken and Dr. I think I'll give the rear forks a whirl! ....


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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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earthwrks
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 3853 Home Office in Flat Rock, Michigan
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2008-06-13          154555


I have had to do the same thing with stumps and concrete footers that were too heavy. Simply wrap some chain or tow straps around the bugger and lift it with the loader. Be sure your bucket is reinforced at the pickup point or it will end up looking like the bucket is grinning like the Cheshire Cat. And the loader needs to be raised high to take advantage of leverage. That said, be sure the rock won't swing into the tractor when you drive--especially up hill--you'll need to drive backward. In any event keep the rock low to the ground to prevent tipping over. ....


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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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hardwood
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 3583 iowa
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2008-06-13          154557


My 4310 is a seasoned veteran when it comes to digging out and moving rocks from farm fields. I dig them out with the #48 hoe then if the loader won't lift them I have on occasion for the bigger ones just rolled the rock by using the bucket curl to roll them ahead a curl at a time till I get them moved out of the way. The ones that the hoe won't pull out of the ground I just dig along one side of the rock and when the hole is big enough tip the rock into the hole and cover it up. Sometinmes the rock just keeps getting bigger as you dig down along it, so then you either just put the soil back and go away or call a big backhoe to get it out. Frank. ....


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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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kthompson
Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 5275 South Carolina
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2008-06-13          154561


Your 3 pth probably will work fine, if not and you can get you hands on an old car hood, flipped they can be a good slick drag. kt ....


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Moving a Large Rock with JD4310

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auerbach
Join Date: Sep 2007
Posts: 2168 West of Toronto
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2008-06-13          154567


I assume you want it for a decoration. Looks better if you sit it in a hole dug for the lower quarter or so, rather than perched entirely on the top of the surface.

Get a car hood from a wrecker, and roll it onto the middle. One driver pulls the hood with a 4WD vehicle while you push it with your bucket.

....


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