Cobbled Together Bucket Boom

[TMcD_in_MI]

I wanted something to help raise some 14 foot 6x6 posts for my little tractor barn project, so I welded this 10 foot A-frame bucket boom together. It's not real pretty and I don't expect to lift anything too heavy with it, but it did do the job.

Tom

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

Second Pic to show that it really did work.

Tom

 

[Tractors4u]

I hope you rear tires are loaded. I don't see any counter weight on the back of your tractor. Even though that post doesn't come close to the maximum weight, you have it extended way out there so that it might have a tendancy to tip forward.

 

[bobodu]

COOL!!!! /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif


BTW...out here...them Deeres ARE counterweights /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

This ones holding down a windmill tower...

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ...you have it extended way out there so that it might have a tendancy to tip forward. )</font>

Thanks, Tractors4u, for your words of wisdom. You made a good point.

With the boom horizontal, the load is a little over 4 times farther in front of the front axle than just the bucket. So I figured that it could lift a little under 1/4 of the max. bucket load without a tipping problem. Conservatively, I put that at 250 lb.Once the boom gets angled up in the air, the load gets closer to the front axle and the tipping tendency gets a lot less.

Still, I was pretty darn careful the first time I picked up one of the poles, but I didn't feel any sense of the rear end getting light, and once the pole was vertical the tractor felt nice and stable as I moved the pole around.

And yes, the rear wheels are loaded. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Tom

 

[chim]

It would be easy enough to test before picking the load by rigging the pole in the center and slowly trying to lift it (so you are picking the max weight at the weakest angle).

What would scare me more would be the prospect of the pole kicking right or left and flipping the tractor onto its side..............chim

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( It would be easy enough to test before picking the load by rigging the pole in the center and slowly trying to lift it (so you are picking the max weight at the weakest angle).)</font>

Sorry for being dumb, but I can't figure out what you mean by 'rigging the pole in the center'. Are you talking about moving the support chains or moving the load?

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( What would scare me more would be the prospect of the pole kicking right or left and flipping the tractor onto its side..............chim )</font>

Yeah, that would scare me too. How would that happen? Won't the chains keep the boom from moving left or right?

Tom

 

[HomeBrew2]

Great job! I like cobbled-up "anything" ! It's all about getting work done.
Cheers!

 

[fig]

Tom,

Is that a power line in the second picture? If it is just be carefull and make sure you know what is around you. Good idea and I am sure it made things a lot easier on the back.

Newton

 

[TMcD_in_MI]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( Tom,

Is that a power line in the second picture? )</font>

Crikey! You're right! I didn't even think about it being there. It's a bit behind where I was working, but it bothers me that it never entered my mind. I think there's a good chance that the boom could get high enough to hit the bottom wire.

Thanks a lot for the alert, Newton. You may have saved my bacon at some point in the future.

Tom