Largest load I'll ever pick up with my Grapple (pics!)

[Industrial Toys]

NICE pictures all around. But what's next? Another, "I broke my front axle thread"?

 

[LD1]

We need a flashy light thingy to signal the safety police arrived.

 

[Industrial Toys]

It's all fun and games til someone looses an axle!

 

[oosik]

I know what my M6040 and grapple will lift because ONCE I lifted a large chunk of my virgin, freshly cut pine. Life is too short and repairs simply to costly to justify any "super lifting". I have developed a "log weight" chart and will keep any heavy lifting to less than 60% of max at all times.

Keep it low, go slow and live to see another day. Both life wise and financially.

 

[PJSprog]

We need a flashy light thingy to signal the safety police arrived.

:laughing:

 

[BigBlue1]

We need a flashy light thingy to signal the safety police arrived.

I hope you're not talking about my post. I didn't tell him what to do. I just said _I_ wouldn't trust the hydraulics. Everybody who is an adult can make their own decisions and learn from their life lessons.

Rob

 

[jeff9366]

I was of the understanding that if the hydraulics would lift it, it wasn't too heavy for the machine and wouldn't do any damage.

Until, during transport, a wheel drops into a hole, increasing the FEL load by 40%. The FEL can bend or your axle or wheel can bend, break or roll under. Pressure surge can blow a hydraulic line.

 

[FTG-05]

Until a wheel drops into a hole, increasing the FEL load by 40% for long enough for something to bend or break. The FEL can bend or your axle or wheel can bend, break or roll under.

And this is why I didn't take it very far, went very very slowly and stayed on the (relatively) straight and level driveway vs. cross country. Fortunately, where I wanted to put it wasn't very far either.

And the reason I wanted to do it in the first place, as opposed to simply cutting it in half, was to see how the tractor reacted to a load that heavy in case I ever had to do it for real or an occasion I had no choice but to lift and go. Seemed like a fairly low risk experiment under the circumstances.

I still need to get out there and measure it to get a better idea how much it weighed.

 

[Xfaxman]

Xfaxman: You're putting an awful lot of trust in those hydraulics to keep you alive. Not going to lecture you because you're a big boy and can make your own decisions, I'm just saying I wouldn't do it.

Rob

We need a flashy light thingy to signal the safety police arrived.

I hope you're not talking about my post. I didn't tell him what to do. I just said _I_ wouldn't trust the hydraulics. Everybody who is an adult can make their own decisions and learn from their life lessons.

Rob

I appreciate your concern, I have gone under the raised arms a lot in the 12 years since I put it together. I always thought if a hose burst I would have time to get clear, but maybe not.

All but the curl cylinder hoses were new back then. Guess I need to inspect them now to see if they are showing signs of deterioration.

Thanks

 

[Xfaxman]

NICE pictures all around. But what's next? Another, "I broke my front axle thread"?

At least my front axle is stronger than the rear and doesn't pivot, making the loader more stable with a load.

Here is a good view of it. :

 

[k0ua]

Thanks, that is a very nice view of the axle arrangement. But I am not sure I would have chosen to flip it over by that mudhole.

 

[LD1]

We trust our lives to hydraulics everyday. Power steering and brakes in our cars.

Inspections and keeping things in good shape mitigate risk.

Have I ever been under a load suspended by hydraulics, yes. Do I make a habit of it, no. But sometimes there isn't another reasonable way.

 

[jeff9366]

Now THAT is FUNNY. (Photo & comment in Post #30.)

 

[IslandTractor]

Now THAT is FUNNY. (Photo in Post #30.)

Agree, but we need a follow up photo of Xfaxman's shorts. I'm sure he'll blame it on the mud.

Glad he survived to take the photo.

 

[rt014]

I tested the limits of my L4701 this past weekend too with a huge hard maple log that I couldn't raise higher than 3 ft off the ground. Useful to know what the limits are.

 

[Xfaxman]

Thanks, that is a very nice view of the axle arrangement. But I am not sure I would have chosen to flip it over by that mudhole.

I didn't really chose do do it there, gravity got the best of me.

Now THAT is FUNNY. (Photo & comment in Post #30.)

Agree, but we need a follow up photo of Xfaxman's shorts. I'm sure he'll blame it on the mud.

Glad he survived to take the photo.

Didn't have time to stain my shorts.

Here is the rest of the story: http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/...o-groundsmaster-put-together.html#post3204714

 

[buckeyefarmer]

I said pull over, not fall over.

 

[check]

At least my front axle is stronger than the rear and doesn't pivot, making the loader more stable with a load. Here is a good view of it. : <img src="http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=503163"/>

Looks like my dog when he wants tummy rub!

 

[Xfaxman]

Looks like my dog when he wants tummy rub!

Yep, ours too!

 

[FTG-05]

Another pic of the log in it's final resting place:



The end of the tape measure is right at 13' at the top of the face cut and the bottom cut is right at 14'; I'm gonna call this one 13.5'. 24" top end, 28" at the bottom; 3,375 lbs according to the woodweb calculator posted above.