small lifting crane

[asgard]

Well, the lure of some scrap steel was too much and I put together this little lifting rig.

It mounts onto a drawbar and is located with a section of C-section, bolted through the drawbar with a 3/4 inch bolt. The top link allows for forward and back adjustment and I just fitted the small winch I have as an add on, I intend to mostly use a chain as its function is to suspend logs so I can drag them.

I did my first test lift today and managed without much effort to lift my snowblower, a combination of winch and lift of the 3 -point.

It is quick to install and after all, it was free, so what's not to like.

Not the prettiest thing I have ever seen but functional.

 

[Tooljunkie]

That looks handy. Not bad at all. Just add a roller for the synthetic rope. Slick nonetheless.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

I intend to mostly use a chain as its function is to suspend logs so I can drag them.

That's really not the best Idea, you'll find out the first time the tractor does a wheelie and become very uncontrollable.

It is way better to pull from below the rear axle, and not from so far up.

 

[asgard]

I am a little lost with the wheelie idea.

I didn't just by a Dodge Demon.

The 3 point hitch lifts a reasonable load.

As I can lower the 3 point and drawbar down to its lowest point and then have just a little ground clearance, not to mention I am dragging a cut log not lifting the entire log length, how would this be the required overload to afford this effect. I lifted my B2781B snowblower completely off the ground and that must weigh at least 300lbs, that is a log I would not try to lift.

A wheelie is not the effect of applying a load to a static object that I think is a pivot, a wheelie is an Angular Momentum and Torque.

I will test it further.

 

[North Idaho Wolfman]

It's not a matter of being able to lift it or how high you lift it or even how much HP you have.
It's all a torque, angle, resistance equation, you have torque to the wheels and too high of a pull angle and the log is going to have a variable amount of resistance as you drag it.
Any heavy log worth the effort of dragging will cause the front end to come off the ground, and TAA-DAA no steering and that is if your going in a strait line, any turn and your going to tip the tractor right on it's side!

 

[coachgeo]

Not talking about a wheelie caused by torque like on a drag car... but more of one like a SeeSaww.

More weight on one side of a pivot point and the opposite side lifts. Increase the height of weight on one side... less weight it takes to make it lift opposite side.

 

[bcp]

NIOSH Warns: Improper Hitching to Tractors Can Be Fatal


https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/updates/tractor1.html

Bruce

 

[asgard]

I think you are confusing a small lifting action to hauling out a complete tree. I see no difference in this attachment to that of lifting the dead weight of any 3 point hitch implement, it is all down to sense and responsible action.

You could no doubt cause the tractor to wheel stand but then I suppose you could do the same in reverse with an overloaded FEL.

I don't know how many operations that are done with a tractor are safe or dangerous, it all relies on operator skill and or knowlege.

This is just a shorter version or a boom pole, which is made and supplied by many reputable companies, these are higher and have a much longer lift point related to the rear wheels if this is what you are looking at as you see-saw pivot.

 

[RCW]

I don't know how many operations that are done with a tractor are safe or dangerous, it all relies on operator skill and Knowledge.

Bingo!

You know the risk. A lower hitch would be much preferred.

Just use your knowledge to use it safely, please!

Kinda cool - several things I'd want to use something like that for, within reason for my tractor...

I can't mow my lawn without a wheel or two off the ground, but I know it, and am slow/careful doing it.

Be safe, and best wishes!!!

 

[scdeerslayer]

Lifting the end of the log isn't the problem, it's dragging the log with such a high attachment point. The attachment point being the top of your boom pole.

You don't need to pick up logs much to drag. We just tighten a chain a much as possible to a scrape blade and lift it just a couple of inches with that. That also provides protection in case the log doesn't stop when the tractor does.

Also electric winches aren't really made for holding a load, you probably should include some way to attach a chain around the log once it is lifted.

 

[Tooljunkie]

I believe the purpose here is more of a retrieval than skidding. With that rig set low via the 3 point it should draw the log close to the machine. Driving willy nilly through the forest dragging a 500 lb log is asking for trouble on so many levels. I do not think this is the case here.

 

[dandeman]

Have witnessed personally a Farmall tractor that went straight up vertical when trying to pull out a stuck dump truck. The only thing that kept the tractor from flipping back over and killing the operator was the chain (attached above the axle line) stayed tight enough to keep it vertical. The NIOSH site about how fast the tractor will flip is is true..

Believe it or not this was at a car dealer/automotive service garage... The first fool took a dump truck that had been in for repairs out onto a recently graded & muddy adjoining the lot and got it stuck. Second fool hooks tractor up to the truck with the chain attached well above the axle line. A couple of other mechanics ran out and helped the operator get the tractor back on the ground.

The scary thing is just how little time (a fraction of a second to maybe a second) it takes to yank a tractor up vertical when load attached above the axle. There will not enough reaction time to dump the load before the tractor is up in the air on the way over.

 

[MadMax31]

My L175 used to do wheelies pulling my bush hog in the golden rod. Thats why they made split brakes, right? With a FEL, the ballast is much better.

Ill give the OP credit for knowing his machines limits. I will add, after owning a synthetic rope winch, you definitely want rollers, in a larger diameter. Broke my rope several times on the fairlead.

 

[chknscratch]

I am sure you have a good understanding of torque, but this diagram may help explain why it is so dangerous.

http://imgur.com/a/kkv1U

When lifting a log or any object, you will probably be lifting/dragging at an angle. Two forces are at play, one in the x and y coordinate plane. I do show them as "a" and "b". To get the torque on your rear axle, it would be A*a+B*b. As others have said, it can become dangerous quick. You are probably fine for light use, but definitely keep your ROPS up and seat belt on.

 

[Tooljunkie]

Yes, knowing the limits of the tractor and yourself as an operator can be enough to keep machine from overturning.

My 5' mower lifted front wheels when i first got it. I added weight to front end and now it cant lift at all. Heavy loads on 3 point will lift it, but moving slowly and using brakes while carrying load its not as dangerous as you may think.
Reverse keeps wheels planted,espesially if there is any grade to climb.

 

[flyidaho]

On a related subject, I noticed my 48" forks tip can reach 13' high, with the FEL all the way up and curled a bit. I have a hole burned in the end of one fork, and a short length of chain with a grab hook in it, so I have a good way to pick..... whatever.

Keeping in mind the obvious center of gravity and weight concerns, it goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway!

 

[asgard]

Well, after all, the debate about wheel stands and the like I decided to do a static lift test.
I noticed on the wheelstand thread that it was mostly as a result of the object that was being pulled in fact still being fixed, tree not fully cut through and the like.
I only had a 12-foot length of a utility pole with a 12-inch base, this is heavy but not wet wood or fixed to anything else.
It was just to see if the winch would lift it with the unit at the lowest position, and if it did was there any noticeable lift to the front, the second was to lift the winch as high as possible again with the unit at the lowest point and see if any front lift occurred and the last was winch high and the unit at max lift on the 3 point, again to see if any front lift was noticed.
All 3 actions resulted in no noticeable lift. These were all static tests, no moving was involved, it was just to see what if anything happened.
I am in the process of making a small dolly that will fit under the trailing end of the log so it is fully off the ground, a bit like a semi and trailer.
I do not log in wood at my property, this is for when I get log lengths delivered and I want to relocate them if they are in the way. It is also just to lift things that are too heavy for 1 person to move.
I am sure all their safety comments and concerns are valuable to other maybe looking to achieve a more radical outcome from this attachment. As always sense and foresight are paramount.

 

[origami]

I'm far from an expert in this, but have been following this discussion. It seems to me that the point of the cautious concern centered not on a static lift test, but on the effect of leverage that an above-the-axle attachment point combined with drag forces resulting from forward motion pulling on a heavy load. A simplified visual would be chaining the top of your ROPS to an immovable object and trying to drive away. The speed of the resulting end-over might be too fast to counter, endangering the operator. The concern sounds valid from even this simplification. Your dolly may help reduce some drag forces, but it might take very little to make it a very bad day. Good luck and be careful!

Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

 

[bcp]

Now put a hook on the drawbar and a choker around the log. Then the pulling force would be much lower than with the boom alone.

Bruce

 

[asgard]

Thanks, at last, a constructive suggestion.

Not one trying to tell you how dangerous it is to tie your tractor to an immovable object and try to pull it.