2520 Rock Digging

picframer · Apr 26, 2009

The kids have been after me to start landscaping our own yard while getting paid to do it for others so the first order is rocks and boy do we have a lot of them. This is what the 2520 will do with a hoe, this is probably right up there and may be the biggest I have lifted out, how much does it weigh? Let me put it this way, I filled the loader bucket with crusher run, probably 900 pounds, ran the RPM up as I knew I would need the power and probably 3 min later it was out, it lifted the bucket clear of the ground twice.

Then I swung around to push it over a hill, I started to lift it with the bucket however even with the backhoe on it started to lift the back of the tractor off the ground so I just pushed it over the hill, it would go a few thousand I am sure. I did this late yesterday, beautiful day here, 30 done, multiples of that to go.

This leads me to a question, has anyone ever bent a 200CX loader lifting, just a straight on lift and say carrying something? Just concerened a little, I have no idea what this thing will lift but I am here to tell ya, be on your toes as she is fast and has a bad attitude when things don't want to come out.

Andy

Team_Green · Apr 26, 2009

can i make one suggestion.. get a local welder to weld a wear plate on your back hoe. those rocks can be hard on hoes.

slkpk · Apr 26, 2009

People here in the states would pay good money for that size rock. Glad the ole JD is earning it's keep. slkpk

picframer · Apr 26, 2009

Team_Green said:
can i make one suggestion.. get a local welder to weld a wear plate on your back hoe. those rocks can be hard on hoes.

Where do they weld it on? Do you have a pic? My neighbour down the street is a welder and I could get him to do it as he wants to barter some work, Chris is an amazing welder, mainly works on trains.

Rodney in VA · Apr 27, 2009

picframer

Great job and super pics! That 46 hoe must have a healthy attitude for sure. :fing32:

BLIND REF · Apr 27, 2009

Picframer thanks for the action shots. You can weld a plate on back of the
shaft of your hoe that catches big rocks. If it was me, I would weld 3-5
5" plates on the back. TeamGreen has a great suggestion that will save
the wear and tear and also apperance of your hoe. Keep up the great work!

Greenster · Apr 28, 2009

That's a big rock alright. Seems like it would make a good landscape addition in the right place.

Upper5Percent · Apr 28, 2009

slkpk said:
People here in the states would pay good money for that size rock. Glad the ole JD is earning it's keep. slkpk

Come up here to Vermont....I'll GIVE you the rocks...

picframer · Apr 28, 2009

BLIND REF said:
Picframer thanks for the action shots. You can weld a plate on back of the
shaft of your hoe that catches big rocks. If it was me, I would weld 3-5
5" plates on the back. TeamGreen has a great suggestion that will save
the wear and tear and also apperance of your hoe. Keep up the great work!

Thanks, I had Chris come have a look at it late yesterday and I showed him your suggestions, he is going to weld it up on the weekend.

Have a great day!

Andy

BLIND REF · Apr 28, 2009

Good deal Andy. And remember....:wwp:

JDBrian · Apr 28, 2009

Hi Andy

You weren't kidding about attitude. That rock drarfs the hoe.
About the loader. I would never try to lift a rock like that in mine. Even if it could lift it there is a good chance of bending the bucket. With material, the weight is spread out evenly across the bucket. With a large rock the weight will likely end up concentrated on a couple of points. If one of those points is at the front center of the bucket and you are prying at it with the bucket curl then you will probably bend the bucket. Almost 2000lbs of force could be applied to the front centre of the bucket in that situation. Just look at the buckets on some of the trade in 4000 and 3000 series tractors at the dealer. Usually they are bent to some extent.
Here is what I have done in the past. I use a 2 x 4' piece of plywood and push or roll the rock on. Then I attach a sling to a 2" hole in the plywood and drag it where I want it. I have used this for rocks up to about 500lbs. The plywood will self destruct after a while. For larger rocks you could use a piece of 1/8 plate with a shackle to attach a sling or chain to. I usually attach the sling to a draw bar on the 3pt and lift up a bit on the front so it won't dig in. You could use the loader hooks to lift up on it and drag it backwards.
This won't work all the time but is cheap and easy to make. Drag it with the loader bucket to where you want it then use the hoe to push it off the plywood/steel plate and into a hole or wherever.

Cheers
Brian

2520 Rock Digging

picframer

Attachments

Team_Green

slkpk

picframer

Rodney in VA

BLIND REF

Greenster

Upper5Percent

picframer

BLIND REF

JDBrian

Top Contributors this Month

Recommended Communities