All I’ve learned in. 50 years of moving heavy objects you two working together by communication and working together you seem to be figuring things out by intuition, well done guys
A couple of things to remember. 1: "never saddle a dead horse" Meaning on your wire clips never put the saddle of the wire clip on the dead end. Always put the saddle on the live end of the cable. This will make your connections much stronger and less likely to pull out. However even though about half of your wire rope clamps were on correctly and the other half not. Although none pulled out that we saw on the video. The next one is more important. Never hook your cable up high on the tractor like we saw. for two reasons. One it can flip the tractor over hooked up high like that, and two it can break the casting on the tractor. Always hook on to the fixed drawbar under the tractors rear axle. It is made for heavy pulling strength wise, and won't flip your tractor over. Also I saw right off that your chains were not heavy enough. With your rigging you are putting some pretty big stresses on the chains on the rock and those little 1/4 inch chains just can't stand up to that. 3/8 chain would have been a lot better. Yes I know none of those things happened that I mentioned, but it doesn't mean it won't happen next time. "never saddle a dead horse" and always hook down low on the fixed drawbar.
James B “Never Saddle a Dead Horse” This leads me to believe you have a working knowledge of wirerope and rigging. Your advice/recommendations are spot on. The only thing I would add is if wirerope is the choice (though I would high recommend the use of Amsteel Blue or similar dyneema) how to make a Flemish Eye splice. They are simple and much more secure/safer than using wirerope clips alone.
I would also love to see some shipping blankets over the cables. Also you can use electrical tape to hold the cable to cut it. Be careful when welding on galvanized plated steel. Very nasty fumes.
Forget the horses.... You don't want the U-bolt crushing the wire rope on the "live" line. The saddle is contoured to fit around the strands of wire rope, and you want that nicely-fitted piece in contact against the live side of the eye.
You guys are just wonderful folks. The most basic issue of this kind of outdoor work was clear expressed by John's Wife---" We can't seem to move ahead on this (or any) project until we first do another project we discovered".
I ran into y’all’s Chanel by just falling in a rabbit hole but I am thankful I found you both I love how the both of you work together as a team and are hands on with everything and the love the both of you have for each other it’s genuine and I hope to one day have and share the same type of love as the both of you. Keep doing y’all’s hard work and keep posting finally I find something that makes me happy inside and not just a smile from silliness or junk thank you.
One thing I have used when moving big rocks are load binders. These are the leverage devices you see tow truck and semi drivers use to lock down loads. I got mine at Harbor Freight. I will sometimes dig under the rock just enough to get a chain through, trying to pick a spot where the chain naturally will stay in place. Pull the chain around the best 'waist' you can find & use the load binder to pull the cinch or belt of chain tight. You may need to put your pull chain on before levering the load binder down. This will be a good secure place to pull from without as much chance of the chain slipping off.
There is something about kids happiness and squealing in the background that puts a video in a different light. I don’t know exactly what it is but it is soothing. Thank you for that.
You are making the most incredible videos with explanations of every step you do - ALONG with doing all of this work! Rock on! Your endeavors are wonderful to watch.
When horses and mule's we're used to move heavy items, they also used a "Stone-boat" to carry the item which slid the item to a new location. Currently, Stone-boat are used in "pulling contests" where mules or horses pull the stone-boat loaded down. Object is to move the stone-boat a determined distance. Once double tree chains are pulled and lifted off the ground, they stop, and are told go, then must pull the distance. Heaviest load who keeps chain off the ground till load traveled to destination wins. I won 3rd place in Boise Idaho's Horse pulling contest years ago at LeBoi race track with a mini-weight mule team. You've brought back memories of breaking the mules and going to Boise.
I only started watching a couple months ago, and haven't missed a video since. Love your place. You guys are living the dream. The beginning of this video reminded me of the opening to Hoosiers.
I wish I was there to help you. I learned years ago, almost exclusively by doing it the hard way, how to do these types of things. I appreciate your effort to get it done. Good work.
I’ve had really great luck when chaining rocks by using slip hooks or rigging a grab hook to loop and hook back on itself like a choker. It makes it so the chain tightens around as you pull either a log or rock and won’t slip off. Same concept as using a slip hook for dragging lumber but around a rock! I am definitely going to try cables and pulleys now though!
I love how Meg works right along with you.RARE she is! It must make life so enjoyable that she likes to do the things she does. I wish I had a Meg! You are a lucky man…
Love how you both work together so well! Suggestion: look for vids on drilling and wedging rocks to split them. Less work, and highly effective. Best of luck to you!
I have friends that live in the Bull Mountains of south central Montana. Bobby has probably spent the last 20 years making his place. He's had a lot of fun. It started as a trailer in the trees, Sure sounds like J.J. Cale to me.
love my pulleys as well, i've used them for 30+ years and found that putting a little engine oil between the plates and pulley wheel helps when angles aren't perfect great channel, like the hat, have one i call my fudder (elmer fudd)
I have really enjoyed watching your videos. Thank you for sharing your projects. It makes me feel as if I have a part in what you are doing. Being able to have those little victories that come after a problem presents itself and problem solving takes over my mind. It is a great way to inspire me to get creative and start looking for some projects of my own. I wish you guys the best in your endeavors. Just one thing I would highly suggest is be highly careful. The machinery and cables and all of those cool new things you're trying, are easy to distract and all it takes is a second and something can snap or do something you weren't expecting and someone can get seriously hurt. Just be safe and thanks
James B is spot on . Also rigging 2 chains and making a bridle and pull the rock from the middle . But to me if the rocks were just in the way and not needed you do have a backhoe . Dig a hole next to the rock deeper than the rock is tall and push it in the hole with the tractor . Just a suggestion . And the wire splice is very easy to master . Just found your channel and will be keeping up with your progress . Two very determined young people you two are ....
Having someone come in with an excavator could clear all the trees and rocks from your driveway and building site in a day or two.I know it's costly to do and takes away the fun of working together, but the aggravation and time it saves is worth it.
Hey Vince, we're in this thing to make memories and do all the work ourselves, purely for the adventure. Not for the cost savings or the aggravation - but to look back one day and be proud and have a tremendous sense of accomplishment. We are going to be building our house by ourselves too - stick around and watch if you're interested.
Do holes and there's some putty stuff you just put it in there and it just expands and buster right in half pretty simple amazing too;! good point you made
Feathers and wedges are just a couple of wedges that push out as they go deeper. Break a rock 7-12 times deeper then the drilled hole. Dexpan is a concrete base that is a slurry u pour into drilled holes and can break a rock up in line when u drilled . Good luck
The wire feed weld on the cable is an okay option. Brazing the cable has the advantage of securing the ends quite a bit better though. Whatever works for you is good of course.
I see you used the pine after all for the attic so apparently you discovered they were pine beetle holes not termites, If you peel the logs beetles do not get in them. Take the bark of as soon as you can by hand for little to no holes. Holes in boards are used in furniture for uniqueness. The only thing I see wrong with your videos is they do not come fast enough lol. Jon makes my day every time I watch one. Everybody gotta love that guy!!!!
Haha, thank you for the praise Zockery. Wound up using some oak. Sorry we didn't get a close up shot. I don't have a lot of pine on the property, but I did have some big oak logs I was saving for a small bridge over the creek on the driveway. I decided to mill them now instead of setting them aside to spoil. Can always find something else to use for the bridge. Didn't want to risk insects in the wood after all the work on that shed. Didn't even look that close. I saw bugs, and said, "Nope!" Haha!
Hey Guys, great video!!! I did a search for how to rig a snatch block and found yours! I love this type of work, the stumps and rocks you moved were really interesting, that big one will be a great reinforcement to your driveway / road. Can't wait to watch other vids of your project! I have a similar tractor - SA424 and have run out of jobs on my own property, wish i lived closer I'd be happy to lend a hand.....amazing what can be done with some thought and teamwork.
Hey Tom, glad you found us and enjoyed watching! Those little tractors are pretty versatile and freakishly strong. Once you use snatch blocks in different combinations and learn how they work, it makes life a lot easier. It's a great skill for tractors owner to have. Feel free to ask questions if I can help in any way.
@@WalnutsandWineberries Thanks for the reply!! Good luck on your project, it sounds like you are close to your building site now? My wife and I enjoy all your videos!! Merry Christmas from Agawam MA.
Now you understand how this was done in the earlier times of Horses as tractors. That is why they call it horsepower. And, as you have experienced, the pulleys double your effort. The wisdom is in the rigging.
Pulleys can double the force if rigged correctly, but far too often here on UA-cam, they are not rigged correctly. Then they serve as nothing more than a redirect.
Something else the may save a headache in the future is to go on your chain to the tractor instead of the how. You might also think about a $400 electric winch to save on the tractor. The badland 12000# winch from harborfreight has good reviews. Taping the ends of the cable before you cut it will keep them from greying.
@out west country living, you have watched a lot of off-road recovery stuff Casey Liddell up in Oregon and he removed a worn winch from his recovery trailer and put on a harbor freight Badlands winch and you're right save the tractor that's a little tiny tractor not even a real tractor hate to see it destroyed by overworking it.
i just got done binge watching all your vids and i love them, i have the rk 24 too great tractor, just orderd my grapple bucket from titon thanks for the link.havent seen ya for a couple of weeks hope all is well. hope you make more vids soon.
Hey Glen! Great to hear - glad you enjoyed our adventure this far. We try our best to post new vids Friday evenings or Saturday mornings. Took this past week off for Thanksgiving, but Meg is working on a new episode now. You need weight in the back with that grapple on the front. If you have the backhoe attachment for your RK24, it's the perfect counter balance. Don't be shy to comment on future episodes. I love chatting with other tractor buddies 👊
You used lag screws to hold the planks down. About 50 yrs ago we put planks in an old garage we used 6 or 8 penny nails. We still use the garage. We still have stuff in the rafters.
In the future if you have a long rock like that you should dig a tunnel under the rock near the center and wrap the cable around the rock about six times locking the cable on the first loop. When you pull it will cause the rock to roll and it will be like pulling a wheel it will move very easily.
Mad Meg is a little badass on that Jackhammer! Glad to see y'all have mastered the Snatch Blocks too. I love your enthusiasm and determination to get those rocks removed. That's going to be one heck of a driveway.
She sure is. I caught myself just watching her on that hammer thinking, "Yup, that's my girl." I keep thinking how neat all those boulders are going to look after a few years of settling and the woods take them in to the ecosystem.
Love this! We are looking to buy some land and do exactly what you are doing and this is giving us a preview of what we would have to do!! Thanks again for the videos!! You should have used that big rock as a speed bump!! Is there any way that we could talk with you and get some more tips on what you did?
Wind tape around the cable. Cut through the middle of the tape. No unraveling. Edit to say, not just a wrap or two of tape. And not masking tape, or scotch tape. LOL I figured you'd know, but who else is reading. =0)
On the huge rocks. You guys have a jack hammer. Maybe a good idea to split the rocks in half to make it easier. Just a thought. And be careful with standing around too close when the wire is under great tension less it hits you if it lets go somewhere. Safety first.
Rock drill, then wedges and shims, and a hammer, and you have a lot more manageable sized rocks. :) Also, if this project goes into Winter and freezing temperatures, just drill some holes, fill them with water, and the expansion of the water should crack your rocks into pieces. Need to seal the top somehow so it doesn't just push out an iceberg. I hear good things about Tannerite too.
Those last 2 rocks you are hoping will be low enough that they can stay will eventually rise from soil movement each season. I had a couple of those. As I drove over and around them, the soil would compact. When the rains came, hydrostatic pressure forced them up; sometimes as much as 3 inches per rain.. I eventually had to dig them all out over a 4 year period as they kept popping up.
I agree. Not to mention that if you add gravel over top a flat section, it creates a very slippery situation, and the gravel never stays atop. Not a fan of speed bumps, especially on my own driveway. Haha!
Rocks that big are amazing, yall are lucky. :D Build a wood sled, get the rock on it, and you should have a semi easier time for rocks this big in the future. (Couple downed trees with rounded ends, would do wonders.)
If you are just concerned with straight mechanical advantage, you could get extra out of replacing the way you do the first three snatch blocks to make it more like the second two. Certainly wouldn't suggest doing that until you upgrade the strength of some of the parts, though. I was not surprised at all when the chain broke, since it was a very small chain. You may also want to throw some blankets over the cable to prevent it from snapping back should it break.
Hey, you could also try and drill an anchor point into those rocks. Less probs with chains slipping..? Better ability to pull in the direction you want.
Cut the boards and keep all of the solid ones. if they have termites after cutting spray raid on the effected area and sticker the boards every course about 16" apart let them air dry the rest of the way. Mother nature will take out the extra Bug spray after a few days / weeks unless you over dose the boards.
Now you know how they got the stones from Wales to Stonehenge where it was erected. What about pivots or breaking up the rock. Dynamite or something along this line. I'd be blasting to make is suitable as a solid driveway. Your going to get a lot of soil erosion there once the rocks are gone.
When a chain breaks, use a shackle to rejoin using undamaged links. It's weaker but may be an only option vs driving 50 miles or so to buy and replace.
Yes, yes and yes!!! I will have plenty to arrange in an artistic way. They really help with the banking along the turns of the driveway. Don't have to worry about them eroding away!
I love your enthusiasm and drive to do it yourselves; however when you calculate your time, cost for snatch blocks, etc. would a single day rental of large excavator or dozer be more efficient and cost effective? That being said, I am about to tackle some stump removal myself with my 30hp tractor and arsenal of 6 snatch blocks. Question- What size cable are you using?
I know you guys made this video last year but there is a two part chemical compound that you drill holes in the rock and pour the mixed chemicals into the holes and they will split the rocks making the job to move them easy. I know good information to have when you are all done. :) By the way great video :)
You guys are really entertaining but your rigging is driving me crazy, haha. You need an anchor point in the center of your road, which is easily created using two trees, one on each side of the road. You could use a steel cable about 50 feet long with a termination eye one each end. Tie your chain anchor on each tree , stretch the cable across the road, and attach your eyes to the chains on the trees. The center of the stretched cable will be your anchor point. Now this angle created, once pulled tight, has to be 90 degrees or less ideally. You create this angle by the length of your cable or the spacing of your trees, either way, this angle is important. I would leave a pulley in the center solely to keep the cable from kinking. Use the eye of the pulley as an attachment point for your system. Now you can create your mechanical advantage system in line with your load, which will greatly help you out and be much safer. Even though the system you set up was technically a 16:1 it didn't even come close the way you had it rigged. Plus it was unsafe, notice you broke a chain. That's because your forces were fighting each other. Look into Spansets too for anchors. They are nylon loops that are just as strong as the chains and much easier to handle. Makes your life much easier. You guys are fun. Good luck
Lots to learn and perfect along the way. I guess the point is to have more than enough mechanical advantage so some loss due to conditions of angles and friction can be spared. I like your idea about the cable across the road to get the anchor more precise. Sorry to drive you crazy - haha. Just working with what we've got! Many people think the solution is to rent a huge machine. We find these situations a challenge and have fun figuring it out 👍
There is a much easier way to move those really big rocks. Drill holes with a masonry bit and get some expanding epoxy, it will crack those rocks in no time. Or, if you really want to have fun, drill them and blast them with explosives! This is the miners way!
Eubainda acredito que para abrir estas estradas com tantas Rocks vcs precisam de uma Máquina MUITO GRANDE E POTENTE! DAQUELAS USADAS EM ABERTURAS, TERRAPLANAGENS E ETC...
Excellent work, I am learning from you. I wonder if mounting a remote Atv winch will give you more pull than the tractor? Maybe safer too? I have a similar project, I'm thinking about mounting a winc to a removable receiver?
@@WalnutsandWineberries The problem with electric winch is very short duty cycle, which means you can only run it a minute before giving it many minutes of cool down. They also will kill a battery fast. They don't make sense outside of emergency or very limited use. Also an atv winch is quite small. I am looking into all of this right now and have decided that this tractor and pulleys setup is much more efficient and versatile.
Great video! I recently bought a Rk24 and it's exciting to see what these pulleys can do with a small tractor. What size tires are on the back of you RK?
@@WalnutsandWineberries Yes I love mine already. I don't know why I waited all these years to get one. I wish I would have got the ag tires to start mine came with the smaller industrial ones that dont do that well in the mud. Thanks for the reply, and I'm going to be catching up on you guys videos on my vacation next week.
i happened on your video and watched it to the end. Thats saying a lot. maube you"ll be able to use the rock as an art piece along the future drive way. you metioned that eg didlocated her shoulder as as a result of doing ahigh five. Be careful. I have had over 25 dislocations that started with a high five. Two major surgeries and i'm great. I just can't hit a golf ball any more. Hope to see the driveway soon.
Hi John, the boulders are making excellent reinforcement for the low side of the road. I don't know if you could get anything better. We did grab a few interesting ones and placed them decoratively as you mentioned. I'm sure it won't be long until nature reclaims them with moss. Sorry about your shoulder. Ouch! Meg and I will do fist bumps from now on. Her shoulder popped out randomly while sleeping and it was still sore during this episode. I think she's on the mend now - fierce and as strong as ever 💪
//with large longer boulders I found that they take up less space if sticking in the ground standing up. If you can dig a hole big enough once the boulders is partially over the whole they stand up fairly eaily. With your snatchblock set up you could rig from above and pull it up. I am about to do the same thing with a row of large Long boulders.
Please stand far enough off to the side of the pull that wire rope can't whip and get you, and when chain links fail it can produce some incredible projectile speed. Be safe and get back.
Why stop at 16:1? With those 5 snatch blocks you can do 32:1. Just break down your 3 snatch blocks in the 4:1 setup and re-do it as 8:1 (or use 1 less snatch block to get 16:1).
@@WalnutsandWineberries depending on how you arrange them, with 1 to 5 snatch blocks you can do 2-4-6-8-9-10-12-16-18-24-32. You just need more rope, shackles, and chains.
@Walnuts and Wineberries I just mean if you can dig below the level of the bottom of the boulder, the first tug may slide the boulder onto the skids. This would prevent some of the plowing of the dirt. Sarcasm noted.
All I’ve learned in. 50 years of moving heavy objects you two working together by communication and working together you seem to be figuring things out by intuition, well done guys
A couple of things to remember. 1: "never saddle a dead horse" Meaning on your wire clips never put the saddle of the wire clip on the dead end. Always put the saddle on the live end of the cable. This will make your connections much stronger and less likely to pull out. However even though about half of your wire rope clamps were on correctly and the other half not. Although none pulled out that we saw on the video. The next one is more important. Never hook your cable up high on the tractor like we saw. for two reasons. One it can flip the tractor over hooked up high like that, and two it can break the casting on the tractor. Always hook on to the fixed drawbar under the tractors rear axle. It is made for heavy pulling strength wise, and won't flip your tractor over. Also I saw right off that your chains were not heavy enough. With your rigging you are putting some pretty big stresses on the chains on the rock and those little 1/4 inch chains just can't stand up to that. 3/8 chain would have been a lot better. Yes I know none of those things happened that I mentioned, but it doesn't mean it won't happen next time. "never saddle a dead horse" and always hook down low on the fixed drawbar.
James B “Never Saddle a Dead Horse”
This leads me to believe you have a working knowledge of wirerope and rigging. Your advice/recommendations are spot on.
The only thing I would add is if wirerope is the choice (though I would high recommend the use of Amsteel Blue or similar dyneema) how to make a Flemish Eye splice. They are simple and much more secure/safer than using wirerope clips alone.
I would also love to see some shipping blankets over the cables. Also you can use electrical tape to hold the cable to cut it. Be careful when welding on galvanized plated steel. Very nasty fumes.
Yeah, you see the mistake @19:47 because she wanted the nuts on her side.
@ James B,
They got that message about hooking to the tow bar not the bucket etc several times in there first video. Too bad they had to get it again.
Forget the horses.... You don't want the U-bolt crushing the wire rope on the "live" line. The saddle is contoured to fit around the strands of wire rope, and you want that nicely-fitted piece in contact against the live side of the eye.
You guys are just wonderful folks. The most basic issue of this kind of outdoor work was clear expressed by John's Wife---" We can't seem to move ahead on this (or any) project until we first do another project we discovered".
I ran into y’all’s Chanel by just falling in a rabbit hole but I am thankful I found you both I love how the both of you work together as a team and are hands on with everything and the love the both of you have for each other it’s genuine and I hope to one day have and share the same type of love as the both of you. Keep doing y’all’s hard work and keep posting finally I find something that makes me happy inside and not just a smile from silliness or junk thank you.
Love the way you guys listen to each other's ideas and learn together. That place you picked for a homesite is beautiful
I love watching John McGyvering whatever he needs to get the jobs done. You both are amazingly resourceful.
One thing I have used when moving big rocks are load binders. These are the leverage devices you see tow truck and semi drivers use to lock down loads. I got mine at Harbor Freight.
I will sometimes dig under the rock just enough to get a chain through, trying to pick a spot where the chain naturally will stay in place. Pull the chain around the best 'waist' you can find & use the load binder to pull the cinch or belt of chain tight. You may need to put your pull chain on before levering the load binder down. This will be a good secure place to pull from without as much chance of the chain slipping off.
There is something about kids happiness and squealing in the background that puts a video in a different light. I don’t know exactly what it is but it is soothing. Thank you for that.
Proud to say that my kids' playground is the woods!
You are making the most incredible videos with explanations of every step you do - ALONG with doing all of this work! Rock on! Your endeavors are wonderful to watch.
When horses and mule's we're used to move heavy items, they also used a "Stone-boat" to carry the item which slid the item to a new location. Currently, Stone-boat are used in "pulling contests" where mules or horses pull the stone-boat loaded down. Object is to move the stone-boat a determined distance. Once double tree chains are pulled and lifted off the ground, they stop, and are told go, then must pull the distance. Heaviest load who keeps chain off the ground till load traveled to destination wins. I won 3rd place in Boise Idaho's Horse pulling contest years ago at LeBoi race track with a mini-weight mule team. You've brought back memories of breaking the mules and going to Boise.
I only started watching a couple months ago, and haven't missed a video since. Love your place. You guys are living the dream. The beginning of this video reminded me of the opening to Hoosiers.
I wish I was there to help you. I learned years ago, almost exclusively by doing it the hard way, how to do these types of things. I appreciate your effort to get it done. Good work.
Absolutely love your can do attitude ,,,I learned something today ,,great content !
To save on the trees you want to keep, you might want to get a nylon strap to put around the trees instead of using a chain
Wrap the tree 3 times and pull two of the wraps to secure snatch block to that way it won't slip and lessen the chance of strap breaking
You guys Rock !! I like the way you work through your issues. Keeping it real.
I’ve had really great luck when chaining rocks by using slip hooks or rigging a grab hook to loop and hook back on itself like a choker. It makes it so the chain tightens around as you pull either a log or rock and won’t slip off. Same concept as using a slip hook for dragging lumber but around a rock! I am definitely going to try cables and pulleys now though!
I love how Meg works right along with you.RARE she is!
It must make life so enjoyable that she likes to do the things she does.
I wish I had a Meg! You are a lucky man…
That's some good info on the pulleys, I have a little tractor and a mess of tree stumps too. No Rockasauruses, thank god.
Love how you both work together so well!
Suggestion: look for vids on drilling and wedging rocks to split them. Less work, and highly effective.
Best of luck to you!
That is one big rock!! Drill a hole and put a charge in it like Gold Rush White Water.
Now you're talking my language!
The 'moral' of this video: Thank God for Wives.
Rocky is now King Rocky ! That driveway will be lined with boulders, and a story behind each one. Love your channel. 🙌
Thank you Brenda! You see our vision of making memories through hard work. To us, this is what living is all about!
The wood on the big pen would be some amazing trim and paneling just need to know how to work with it, I love barnwood great job guys
I have friends that live in the Bull Mountains of south central Montana. Bobby has probably spent the last 20 years making his place. He's had a lot of fun. It started as a trailer in the trees, Sure sounds like J.J. Cale to me.
love my pulleys as well, i've used them for 30+ years and found that putting a little engine oil between the plates and pulley wheel helps when angles aren't perfect great channel, like the hat, have one i call my fudder (elmer fudd)
I have really enjoyed watching your videos. Thank you for sharing your projects. It makes me feel as if I have a part in what you are doing. Being able to have those little victories that come after a problem presents itself and problem solving takes over my mind. It is a great way to inspire me to get creative and start looking for some projects of my own. I wish you guys the best in your endeavors. Just one thing I would highly suggest is be highly careful. The machinery and cables and all of those cool new things you're trying, are easy to distract and all it takes is a second and something can snap or do something you weren't expecting and someone can get seriously hurt. Just be safe and thanks
Just found your channel love the content.
You move mountains.. respect.
Few people ever understand the struggle you can encounter with a big rock.
James B is spot on . Also rigging 2 chains and making a bridle and pull the rock from the middle . But to me if the rocks were just in the way and not needed you do have a backhoe . Dig a hole next to the rock deeper than the rock is tall and push it in the hole with the tractor . Just a suggestion . And the wire splice is very easy to master . Just found your channel and will be keeping up with your progress . Two very determined young people you two are ....
From the looks of the area, I don't think they could dig that deep of a hole.
Wifee the rigger! Great video folks 👍
Having someone come in with an excavator could clear all the trees and rocks from your driveway and building site in a day or two.I know it's costly to do and takes away the fun of working together, but the aggravation and time it saves is worth it.
Hey Vince, we're in this thing to make memories and do all the work ourselves, purely for the adventure. Not for the cost savings or the aggravation - but to look back one day and be proud and have a tremendous sense of accomplishment. We are going to be building our house by ourselves too - stick around and watch if you're interested.
Good grief! Super!👍
Another good thing that is old as the pyramid is feather and wedges . Drill a hole and break big rocks into small ones . Simple machines are great!!
Do holes and there's some putty stuff you just put it in there and it just expands and buster right in half pretty simple amazing too;!
good point you made
Feathers and wedges are just a couple of wedges that push out as they go deeper. Break a rock 7-12 times deeper then the drilled hole.
Dexpan is a concrete base that is a slurry u pour into drilled holes and can break a rock up in line when u drilled . Good luck
Great job moving that mammoth piece of granite!
when your breaking a big rock, create a line along the desired break, hammering into each in succession until it pops.
I'll ride around on the tractor and you can jackhammer the rock🤣
Hell of a woman right there!
Enjoying your channel
The wire feed weld on the cable is an okay option. Brazing the cable has the advantage of securing the ends quite a bit better though. Whatever works for you is good of course.
I see you used the pine after all for the attic so apparently you discovered they were pine beetle holes not termites, If you peel the logs beetles do not get in them. Take the bark of as soon as you can by hand for little to no holes. Holes in boards are used in furniture for uniqueness. The only thing I see wrong with your videos is they do not come fast enough lol. Jon makes my day every time I watch one. Everybody gotta love that guy!!!!
Haha, thank you for the praise Zockery. Wound up using some oak. Sorry we didn't get a close up shot. I don't have a lot of pine on the property, but I did have some big oak logs I was saving for a small bridge over the creek on the driveway. I decided to mill them now instead of setting them aside to spoil. Can always find something else to use for the bridge. Didn't want to risk insects in the wood after all the work on that shed. Didn't even look that close. I saw bugs, and said, "Nope!" Haha!
Hey Guys, great video!!! I did a search for how to rig a snatch block and found yours! I love this type of work, the stumps and rocks you moved were really interesting, that big one will be a great reinforcement to your driveway / road. Can't wait to watch other vids of your project! I have a similar tractor - SA424 and have run out of jobs on my own property, wish i lived closer I'd be happy to lend a hand.....amazing what can be done with some thought and teamwork.
Hey Tom, glad you found us and enjoyed watching! Those little tractors are pretty versatile and freakishly strong. Once you use snatch blocks in different combinations and learn how they work, it makes life a lot easier. It's a great skill for tractors owner to have. Feel free to ask questions if I can help in any way.
@@WalnutsandWineberries Thanks for the reply!! Good luck on your project, it sounds like you are close to your building site now? My wife and I enjoy all your videos!! Merry Christmas from Agawam MA.
Now you understand how this was done in the earlier times of Horses as tractors. That is why they call it horsepower. And, as you have experienced, the pulleys double your effort. The wisdom is in the rigging.
Pulleys can double the force if rigged correctly, but far too often here on UA-cam, they are not rigged correctly. Then they serve as nothing more than a redirect.
Something else the may save a headache in the future is to go on your chain to the tractor instead of the how. You might also think about a $400 electric winch to save on the tractor. The badland 12000# winch from harborfreight has good reviews. Taping the ends of the cable before you cut it will keep them from greying.
@out west country living,
you have watched a lot of off-road recovery stuff Casey Liddell up in Oregon and he removed a worn winch from his recovery trailer and put on a harbor freight Badlands winch and you're right save the tractor that's a little tiny tractor not even a real tractor hate to see it destroyed by overworking it.
i just got done binge watching all your vids and i love them, i have the rk 24 too great tractor, just orderd my grapple bucket from titon thanks for the link.havent seen ya for a couple of weeks hope all is well. hope you make more vids soon.
Hey Glen! Great to hear - glad you enjoyed our adventure this far. We try our best to post new vids Friday evenings or Saturday mornings. Took this past week off for Thanksgiving, but Meg is working on a new episode now. You need weight in the back with that grapple on the front. If you have the backhoe attachment for your RK24, it's the perfect counter balance. Don't be shy to comment on future episodes. I love chatting with other tractor buddies 👊
You used lag screws to hold the planks down. About 50 yrs ago we put planks in an old garage we used 6 or 8 penny nails. We still use the garage. We still have stuff in the rafters.
In the future if you have a long rock like that you should dig a tunnel under the rock near the center and wrap the cable around the rock about six times locking the cable on the first loop. When you pull it will cause the rock to roll and it will be like pulling a wheel it will move very easily.
Awesome idea. I'll have to try this on the next one.
Mad Meg is a little badass on that Jackhammer! Glad to see y'all have mastered the Snatch Blocks too. I love your enthusiasm and determination to get those rocks removed. That's going to be one heck of a driveway.
She sure is. I caught myself just watching her on that hammer thinking, "Yup, that's my girl." I keep thinking how neat all those boulders are going to look after a few years of settling and the woods take them in to the ecosystem.
haha good stuff.. was thinking at the onset I'd hammer drill through the front of the rock and feed chain through
Love this! We are looking to buy some land and do exactly what you are doing and this is giving us a preview of what we would have to do!! Thanks again for the videos!! You should have used that big rock as a speed bump!! Is there any way that we could talk with you and get some more tips on what you did?
Wind tape around the cable. Cut through the middle of the tape. No unraveling. Edit to say, not just a wrap or two of tape. And not masking tape, or scotch tape. LOL I figured you'd know, but who else is reading. =0)
What I have learned is to keep some red cedar near the wood pile and the bugs stay away. It was a happy accident but it works wonderfully!
On the huge rocks. You guys have a jack hammer. Maybe a good idea to split the rocks in half to make it easier. Just a thought. And be careful with standing around too close when the wire is under great tension less it hits you if it lets go somewhere. Safety first.
Rock drill, then wedges and shims, and a hammer, and you have a lot more manageable sized rocks. :)
Also, if this project goes into Winter and freezing temperatures, just drill some holes, fill them with water, and the expansion of the water should crack your rocks into pieces. Need to seal the top somehow so it doesn't just push out an iceberg.
I hear good things about Tannerite too.
As you are surrounded by trees, have you considered employing the Egyptian system of using tree trunks as rollers under your boulders. Regards Robin.
Elmer Fudd, if I ever saw a cartoon.
Those last 2 rocks you are hoping will be low enough that they can stay will eventually rise from soil movement each season. I had a couple of those. As I drove over and around them, the soil would compact. When the rains came, hydrostatic pressure forced them up; sometimes as much as 3 inches per rain.. I eventually had to dig them all out over a 4 year period as they kept popping up.
I agree. Not to mention that if you add gravel over top a flat section, it creates a very slippery situation, and the gravel never stays atop. Not a fan of speed bumps, especially on my own driveway. Haha!
Rocks that big are amazing, yall are lucky. :D
Build a wood sled, get the rock on it, and you should have a semi easier time for rocks this big in the future.
(Couple downed trees with rounded ends, would do wonders.)
If you are just concerned with straight mechanical advantage, you could get extra out of replacing the way you do the first three snatch blocks to make it more like the second two. Certainly wouldn't suggest doing that until you upgrade the strength of some of the parts, though. I was not surprised at all when the chain broke, since it was a very small chain. You may also want to throw some blankets over the cable to prevent it from snapping back should it break.
Hey, you could also try and drill an anchor point into those rocks. Less probs with chains slipping..? Better ability to pull in the direction you want.
Awesome living
You gotta watch Advoplank boards with chain saw
Having to fix stuff so You can do something else is the story of farm life. 🤣
That rock has been there 50 million 24 kizillion and 1yrs and 10 min ago moved it with tractor and pulley system 👌 WOW
Your comment wins!
The American spirit can't be squelched its a breed apart that sets us apart from all the others God and freedom with these we can do anything
Cut the boards and keep all of the solid ones. if they have termites after cutting spray raid on the effected area and sticker the boards every course about 16" apart let them air dry the rest of the way. Mother nature will take out the extra Bug spray after a few days / weeks unless you over dose the boards.
He should have said your the brains of the operation.
Very cool, thanks for sharing, John. I see pond development soon and get a little ecosystem going.
Meg, you need to convince Jon to make a concrete foundation for the mill.
Definitely on our list. Moving the mill at the same time we do that.
Mad Meg 🤣🤣 Meginator😂😂
Now you know how they got the stones from Wales to Stonehenge where it was erected. What about pivots or breaking up the rock. Dynamite or something along this line. I'd be blasting to make is suitable as a solid driveway. Your going to get a lot of soil erosion there once the rocks are gone.
When a chain breaks, use a shackle to rejoin using undamaged links. It's weaker but may be an only option vs driving 50 miles or so to buy and replace.
I want to see you stand up the rocks and make your own Stone Hedge.
Yes, yes and yes!!! I will have plenty to arrange in an artistic way. They really help with the banking along the turns of the driveway. Don't have to worry about them eroding away!
cedar no bugs in that almost guaranteed
Don't let that bouncy thing end up in a tree, pretty windy there dudes.
If the cable end is hooked to you anchor instead of what you are trying to move, it might work better.
A leatherman is wonderful for split pins.
Use feathers and wedges to break the rock into smaller pieces.
I was going to comment this very thing!
Grade 70 chain will solve the chain breaking problem.
Dynamite!
Might be resorting to that on the next one, Bryce. It's bigger than this one. 😳
I love your enthusiasm and drive to do it yourselves; however when you calculate your time, cost for snatch blocks, etc. would a single day rental of large excavator or dozer be more efficient and cost effective? That being said, I am about to tackle some stump removal myself with my 30hp tractor and arsenal of 6 snatch blocks. Question- What size cable are you using?
I know you guys made this video last year but there is a two part chemical compound that you drill holes in the rock and pour the mixed chemicals into the holes and they will split the rocks making the job to move them easy. I know good information to have when you are all done. :) By the way great video :)
No worries... We did just that if you look a few episodes further. It worked great! 👍
Just think, Meg, when your house is finished and you get bored you can build driveways for other people.
You guys are really entertaining but your rigging is driving me crazy, haha.
You need an anchor point in the center of your road, which is easily created using two trees, one on each side of the road. You could use a steel cable about 50 feet long with a termination eye one each end. Tie your chain anchor on each tree , stretch the cable across the road, and attach your eyes to the chains on the trees. The center of the stretched cable will be your anchor point. Now this angle created, once pulled tight, has to be 90 degrees or less ideally. You create this angle by the length of your cable or the spacing of your trees, either way, this angle is important. I would leave a pulley in the center solely to keep the cable from kinking. Use the eye of the pulley as an attachment point for your system.
Now you can create your mechanical advantage system in line with your load, which will greatly help you out and be much safer. Even though the system you set up was technically a 16:1 it didn't even come close the way you had it rigged. Plus it was unsafe, notice you broke a chain. That's because your forces were fighting each other.
Look into Spansets too for anchors. They are nylon loops that are just as strong as the chains and much easier to handle. Makes your life much easier.
You guys are fun. Good luck
Lots to learn and perfect along the way. I guess the point is to have more than enough mechanical advantage so some loss due to conditions of angles and friction can be spared. I like your idea about the cable across the road to get the anchor more precise. Sorry to drive you crazy - haha. Just working with what we've got! Many people think the solution is to rent a huge machine. We find these situations a challenge and have fun figuring it out 👍
A boric acid solution sprayed on the termite infested lumber should give you more usable lumber.
You guys never considered explosives? Blow 'em rocks to shreds and clear the place with that garden digger: easy!
Good to know I'm not the only one who mistreats his tractor lol
There is a much easier way to move those really big rocks. Drill holes with a masonry bit and get some expanding epoxy, it will crack those rocks in no time. Or, if you really want to have fun, drill them and blast them with explosives! This is the miners way!
Two episodes later that is just what we do! :)
Careful hooking that high on the tractor. Careful, careful.
Eubainda acredito que para abrir estas estradas com tantas Rocks vcs precisam de uma Máquina MUITO GRANDE E POTENTE! DAQUELAS USADAS EM ABERTURAS, TERRAPLANAGENS E ETC...
Hah. My wife and I are the same way. She's always making fun of my lag bolts.
Excellent work, I am learning from you. I wonder if mounting a remote Atv winch will give you more pull than the tractor? Maybe safer too? I have a similar project, I'm thinking about mounting a winc to a removable receiver?
Especially since you can operate with a remote from a safe distance 👍
@@WalnutsandWineberries The problem with electric winch is very short duty cycle, which means you can only run it a minute before giving it many minutes of cool down. They also will kill a battery fast. They don't make sense outside of emergency or very limited use. Also an atv winch is quite small. I am looking into all of this right now and have decided that this tractor and pulleys setup is much more efficient and versatile.
Great video! I recently bought a Rk24 and it's exciting to see what these pulleys can do with a small tractor. What size tires are on the back of you RK?
You won't regret that tractor. I love mine. The backs are 9.5-16-R1
There was an option for ag tires when I ordered mine from RK.
@@WalnutsandWineberries Yes I love mine already. I don't know why I waited all these years to get one.
I wish I would have got the ag tires to start mine came with the smaller industrial ones that dont do that well in the mud.
Thanks for the reply, and I'm going to be catching up on you guys videos on my vacation next week.
i happened on your video and watched it to the end. Thats saying a lot. maube you"ll be able to use the rock as an art piece along the future drive way. you metioned that eg didlocated her shoulder as as a result of doing ahigh five. Be careful. I have had over 25 dislocations that started with a high five. Two major surgeries and i'm great. I just can't hit a golf ball any more. Hope to see the driveway soon.
Hi John, the boulders are making excellent reinforcement for the low side of the road. I don't know if you could get anything better. We did grab a few interesting ones and placed them decoratively as you mentioned. I'm sure it won't be long until nature reclaims them with moss. Sorry about your shoulder. Ouch! Meg and I will do fist bumps from now on. Her shoulder popped out randomly while sleeping and it was still sore during this episode. I think she's on the mend now - fierce and as strong as ever 💪
I put concrete under my saw. It was the only to stop settling
Dynamite is your Friend!
Oh, that's the driveway picture at the begingof the video isn't it? weii, its very nice.
👍
Yall need iron pipe or tree "wheels" to roll rocks/boulders like this. That's how I do it anyhow
//with large longer boulders I found that they take up less space if sticking in the ground standing up. If you can dig a hole big enough once the boulders is partially over the whole they stand up fairly eaily. With your snatchblock set up you could rig from above and pull it up.
I am about to do the same thing with a row of large Long boulders.
The outcome would look killer, not to mention.👍
Please stand far enough off to the side of the pull that wire rope can't whip and get you, and when chain links fail it can produce some incredible projectile speed. Be safe and get back.
If thT rock could talk he would tell you about the creation 🕎
Why stop at 16:1? With those 5 snatch blocks you can do 32:1. Just break down your 3 snatch blocks in the 4:1 setup and re-do it as 8:1 (or use 1 less snatch block to get 16:1).
Compounds all the way?
2-4-8-16-32. 🤔
@@WalnutsandWineberries depending on how you arrange them, with 1 to 5 snatch blocks you can do 2-4-6-8-9-10-12-16-18-24-32. You just need more rope, shackles, and chains.
What about getting boards under the front and then use them as skids. It looked like the Boulder plowed a bunch of dirt
Rollers would even be better
@Walnuts and Wineberries I just mean if you can dig below the level of the bottom of the boulder, the first tug may slide the boulder onto the skids. This would prevent some of the plowing of the dirt. Sarcasm noted.
I love the colour of that pink wood you were milling!! What was the species? _Douglas Fur?_
Eastern Red Cedar.