Anyone make a one man FEL lift?

[Industrial Toys]

That might work well, if a guy didn't have five hundred unfinished projects but was highly unmotivated.

 

[mike48130]

Someone just tried to sell me one, but there was a misunderstanding. He called it a "lift". Turns out to be a truck mounted unit. Made me shudder, just thinking about maintaining an old truck! It would be the same old thing. You want to do a quick job, but end up messing with the old POS truck! And the horrible junking up of your property, for something that most of would use only very rarely.

HYDRO showed up here last week in a brand new F550 with an Altek lift to take a sample of the transformer. No outriggers, but I disliked the way that thing rocked on it's tires. They had square boards like for under outriggers, and the guy said they were meant to be driven on. Strange!

I looked at the bucket trucks just for the mobility aspect. But costly to maintain. Never considered the 1 day permit, but was looking at maintenance, insurance and registration so opted out. Same with my dump trailer would like a dump truck, but same situation.

It gets a little uneasy feeling 45 ft in the air on rubber tires rocking around. Mine suck, but foam filled, so not worried about a blow out. Don't think I would ever go with air filled tires on these. Looking at replacing mine and will get them filled again.

So funny story. Hahah. Was cutting down my trees this weekend and mas moving while I was up in the air about 25 ft. and a branch hit the switch on the lower unit and killed the power. I was home alone, but luckily there was someone over the house digging up some hostas I was selling, so I had them flip the switch so I had power again. There is a door that covers the switches, but the power switch has one of those red emergency flip covers and it is really close to the door when it is closed, so I usually leave the door open because I was always afraid the door would shake and hit it off. And I usually keep an emergency rope and hook in the basket, but forgot to grab it when I moved the lift. So yeah, a little better planning maybe. I think I want to start closing that door, but might need to check that there is no way that switch will get hit. Just seems like it sticks out to far.

 

[mike48130]

Sounds like may be my best choice. I also have to put lights up high as well.

Menards sells the heavier stuff, and very reasonably priced if you have them in your area.

 

[Industrial Toys]

I thought of that before. Have a rope with knots in it in your basket.

Kidding! I bought a heavy rope years ago and thought I would hang it up in the barn to climb it, as I could never do that in gym class! Still, couldn't!

 

[mike48130]

I thought of that before. Have a rope with knots in it in your basket.

Kidding! I bought a heavy rope years ago and thought I would hang it up in the barn to climb it, as I could never do that in gym class! Still, couldn't!

Easier going down. I have more gravity assistance than I did in high school.

 

[jeff9366]

Instantly? I want to buy a 4x4 Diesel Genie Lift. Curious if they have any safeguard against hose failure.

Every OSHA approved man-lift apparatus has fail safe drop protection, whether electric lift or hydraulic lift.

 

[Industrial Toys]

Interesting. Do forklifts?

 

[Diggin It]

15 ft isn't that high.

Maybe not, but if you happen to lose your grip, the sudden stop at the bottom can be a real ..... pain.

On quick hydraulic releases, neighbor has a Ford 3415. He was out hogging one day for a couple of hours. Started back to the shed and for no apparent reason, both the hog and the FEL dropped to the ground with a thud. He managed to get it back to the shed and parked. Next day there was a puddle of Hydro fluid under it. Figured he popped a hose and just never had time to get it fixed. Sat there for a year or so, untouched. One day a few months ago, a couple of us decided to figure out which hose and get it replaced. Everything was bone dry with no signs of ruptures or leaks. Figured we had to get it running and get some pressure up to find the leak. Checked hydro fluid and it was very low. Added fluid to bring it up to level. Took a while to get it running since it had been sitting so long ... bad fuel and all. Once we did, the FEL and hog suddenly lifted to normal position and stayed there. No sign of any leaks. He's been using it normally since, with no repeat. No idea what happened.

 

[Diggin It]

And I usually keep an emergency rope and hook in the basket, but forgot to grab it when I moved the lift. So yeah, a little better planning maybe.

I thought of that before. Have a rope with knots in it in your basket.

More than a few feet up, the knots are in my stomach.

 

[mike48130]

Maybe not, but if you happen to lose your grip, the sudden stop at the bottom can be a real ..... pain.

On quick hydraulic releases, neighbor has a Ford 3415. He was out hogging one day for a couple of hours. Started back to the shed and for no apparent reason, both the hog and the FEL dropped to the ground with a thud. He managed to get it back to the shed and parked. Next day there was a puddle of Hydro fluid under it. Figured he popped a hose and just never had time to get it fixed. Sat there for a year or so, untouched. One day a few months ago, a couple of us decided to figure out which hose and get it replaced. Everything was bone dry with no signs of ruptures or leaks. Figured we had to get it running and get some pressure up to find the leak. Checked hydro fluid and it was very low. Added fluid to bring it up to level. Took a while to get it running since it had been sitting so long ... bad fuel and all. Once we did, the FEL and hog suddenly lifted to normal position and stayed there. No sign of any leaks. He's been using it normally since, with no repeat. No idea what happened.

Yeah that's why I never walk under the bucket or anything like that. build cylinder locks when I have to work on the loaders with the bucket raised. That always worries me.

Sounds like maybe dirt in the relief valve or something. Seems off since the FEL and 3 pt lifts are usually on different valve circuits, so not really connected after the main line.