3 tons jack enough for 12,000 lbs tractor?

[SPYDERLK]

It will depend on where you place the jack. You usually have to lift from a point on the axle between the tires. You therefore lift more than 1/2 the weight that is on the axle.
larry

Have you ever looked at how the left rear tire of a tractor unloads when you jack the right rear? I didn't think so. Your statement about "tilting the load, not purely raising it" is total nonsense. There is more to jack safety than its load rating.

[No] Actually some zilch point was valid, but it is not obvious to me that he understands the limit to its validity. [Leverage on the center of mass.] I know you do.
larry

 

[JasG]

I'm in agreement with RickB. A great many times jacking anything from 1 corner I have raised or unloaded another corner. It depends on many factors, placement, frame weight distrbution etc. Tractors have between a 60/40 and a 70/30 weight split, so most of the weight is on the back.

When it comes to jacking I always try to have at least twice the jack I need and then crib and block the object anyway. I can't count the number of times I find myself under something I didn't plan on being under. You know, go to change a tire and then see something that needs looking at under a machine.

 

[Soundguy]

A 3 ton jack will be marginal for lifting a rear wheel on 12K tractor. It will become apparent when you realize how much effort it takes to pump the jack.

Big ditto on that.

I have a hi-lift farm jack, 3 ton.. I had to jack up my 7610s to change a tire.. it was all it and I could do to get the tire up enough so I could get it off. I was jumping and bouncing on the jack arm and using a long pipe for leverage.. and it was a circus act to do it.. didn't feel safe at all.. marginal would be generous. I'm not sure what that 7610s weighs off hand.. but figure it has to be close to 9000#.. rears are wet, and the front weight bracket is fully populated with oem suitcase weights.

soundguy

 

[some zilch]

the further you place the jack away from the center of gravity (away from the centerline of the tractor or axel) the less weight resistance on your jack. I used 2 ton jacks in triplicate to split a 48" log.

this is what i was getting at, i probably did not word it correctly

Have you ever looked at how the left rear tire of a tractor unloads when you jack the right rear? I didn't think so. Your statement about "tilting the load, not purely raising it" is total nonsense. There is more to jack safety than its load rating. The base of a 3 ton jack is far smaller than a 6 or 8 ton jack. Jacking the rear of a tractor usually requires most, if not all the stroke of a jack of the 3 ton size assuming you want use a jack that small. The small base, probably sitting on blocking as well, coupled with near-full extension is nowhere near as safe, easy and effortless as using a higher rated jack that costs little more than the puny 3 ton jack if you shop around. I said it would be marginal, and I stand by that statement.

dont you own a floor jack? those stupid bottle jacks are way too tippy for me. my 3 ton floor jack is probably 30in long, 12" wide. my 5 ton floor jack is all of 5ft long, so much more stable.

[No] Actually some zilch point was valid, but it is not obvious to me that he understands the limit to its validity. [Leverage on the center of mass.] I know you do.
larry

i know what i am trying to get out, but it may not have come out right, but i see you know what i am getting at.

 

[Robert_in_NY]

this is what i was getting at, i probably did not word it correctly



dont you own a floor jack? those stupid bottle jacks are way too tippy for me. my 3 ton floor jack is probably 30in long, 12" wide. my 5 ton floor jack is all of 5ft long, so much more stable.



i know what i am trying to get out, but it may not have come out right, but i see you know what i am getting at.

I am quite sure Rick has plenty of experience with a bunch of jacks and jacking up tractors. Given he has worked at ag dealerships for quite a few years. I am in agreement, a 3 ton jack is marginal for the job of lifting a 6 ton tractors rear corner. A 6 ton jack is not that much money and is something that will come in handy if he keeps this tractor.

 

[RickB]

this is what i was getting at, i probably did not word it correctly



dont you own a floor jack? those stupid bottle jacks are way too tippy for me. my 3 ton floor jack is probably 30in long, 12" wide. my 5 ton floor jack is all of 5ft long, so much more stable.

A 5 ton floor jack is more than I am going to drag in and out of the service truck at work. I have a 3 ton floor jack and 12 ton bottle jack on the truck all the time, as well as jack stands. Not everyone works exclusively on concrete in a shop. I have two 3 ton floor jacks of my own at home, as well as 6, 12, and 20 ton bottle jacks. I don't use the 3 ton floor jacks to lift tractors, and won't write the check to buy a 5 ton floor type. Not sure what any of this has to do with jacking up a 6 ton tractor with a 3 ton jack. It sounds like you don't do that, either.

 

[some zilch]

A 5 ton floor jack is more than I am going to drag in and out of the service truck at work. I have a 3 ton floor jack and 12 ton bottle jack on the truck all the time, as well as jack stands. Not everyone works exclusively on concrete in a shop. I have two 3 ton floor jacks of my own at home, as well as 6, 12, and 20 ton bottle jacks. I don't use the 3 ton floor jacks to lift tractors, and won't write the check to buy a 5 ton floor type. Not sure what any of this has to do with jacking up a 6 ton tractor with a 3 ton jack. It sounds like you don't do that, either.

no, i dont work at a heavy equipment dealership. no, i dont often work out of a company-owned/stocked service truck. no, i havent been in the heavy truck/heavy equipment repair industry for 10+years (maybe youve done it longer, i dont know), and no, i dont work on concrete all the time. as the ole' saying goes; "i guess were gonna have agree to disagree"

 

[Mace Canute]

The year before last, a guy I know gave me a bunch of laminated beam cutoffs, varied from about a foot to a foot and a half long, 2 inch thick and about ten-twelve inches wide. I found these were extremely strong and just the thing to use to set a 20 ton bottle jack on when we wanted to jack up a tractor. After using them, I would never use a floor jack except as a last resort. The thing I have noticed about jack stands is they seem to be getting lighter and lighter built (for the same rating) as time goes on. It sure wouldn't hurt to examine all the welds to make sure they are actually holding both pieces of steel together, especially on the Made in China ones. (I have a couple of John Deeres...a gas 3010, an R and a gas 70. My buddy has a trio of Ds, an AR, a couple of As, and a couple of Cockshutt 30s. Great old iron!)