boompole

[KenNTx]

Re: boom pole

EagleEye, check out the N Tractor Club, alot of the old members moved over there..Also lots of N photos..

You donot have to own an N, just have knowdledge and interest in them..

www.ntractors.intranets.com

 

[dmccarty]

Re: boom pole

DutchMan,

EagleEye covered the problems when one uses a boom pole to
drag something. But I'll add my two cents....

One does not want to drag something that is attached to the
tractor higher than the drawbar otherwise you can cause the
tractor to roll over backwards. Your tractor manual will warn
against this. The leverage of the boom pole will just make it
worse.

When I first got my tractor I started to dig out my first big
stump. It was a 36 inch pine with a tap root that was trying
to find China. 8-( After I had dug out quite a bit of the stump
I figured the Mighty JD could just pull this out of the ground.

Are you laughing yet? /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I had my box blade on the tractor. It had been raining and I
was ankle deep in mud. I attached a chain to the stump and
then needed to get it on the tractor. I was paronoid about
putting my arm under the raised box blade which is a good thing
and I did not want to crawl in the mud so I attached the chain
to the box blade. I think I just wrapped it around the box
blade, top to bottom.

Now my chain was only a couple of inches about the draw bar
and I knew this was kinda iffy so I got on the tractor, put her
in MFWD, A range, first gear and gave her a bit of throttle.

Well the front end of that tractor moved up as quick as a snap
of the fingers! I don't think I had 1500 RPMs on the engine but
the nose start rising and I started pushing in clutches while I
dropped the RPMS. I don't think the front wheels moved but a
couple of inches off the ground but my heart tried to jump out
of my chest and my fruit of the looms had to be replaced. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Now pulling this stump is not something one does every day but
I have hit many an object that would stop the tractor from
moving. I have had my rotary cutter wheel or sides grab
something and stop the tractor. This is not a problem since
it is attached correctly. But I could see a load on a boom pole
that is being dragged catching on something which could then
cause a problem.

That is what happened to my wife's aunt in my earlier append.
The tank she was dragging was a round steel fuel tank on a
barn yard that had been compacted by over 100 years of use.
That tank somehow found something to latch onto and it almost
rolled that tractor. If she had been running the engine RPMs
that she should have been that MF 165 would have rolled.

I would not use a boom pole to drag anything.

Later,
Dan

 

[Joe1]

Re: boom pole

EagleEye peaked my interest when he started talking about the physics of using a boom pole. My JD 770 has an 815 lb Hitch Lift Capacity at 24 inches behind the lift links. Obviously, one could not lift 815 lbs with a boom pole, but how much of a reduction do you spose there would be? I suspect, the max lift at the end of the pole would be around a third of that. Much more than that, the length of the pole would have a substantial leverage effect on the 3 PT.

Anyone have any idea on that? The 1/3 limit is just my SWAG (scientific wild .ss guess).

Thanks

Joe

 

[SteveM]

Re: boom pole

I think a boom pole is a super useful cheap tool, esp if you dont have a loader. I use mine for lifting heavy picnic tables, moving snowmobiles in the spring and fall, and lifting heavy tree trunks when clearing land. I also find it a quick and easy way to move a brush hog without hooking it to the 3pt. As lift capacity, my MF compact had a 1200lb capacity 24" out, and it easily lifts a 600lb snowmobile centered near the end of the boom. The important factor is making sure your tractor is heavy enough to remain stable....my previous little kubota went up on 2 wheels every time! /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Dutchman]

Re: boom pole

Thanks all,

That clarifies things. As long as I can get everything off of the ground safely and within the operating limits of the machine I can move it. Even though it has a wheel, it's best not to use a boom pole to move it if it isn't off of the ground. Perhaps I should look at building a dolly for the brush hog.

Dutch

 

[Dutchman]

Re: boom pole

Steve,

I'm curious how you lift the brush hog, since mine is my attachment that gives me the most problems relocating. I had been attaching a chain to the lower points and looped around my FEL to raise the front of the hog slightly off the ground. Then I would slowly maneuver it to where it was needed. I don't much like that method because I can't see through the FEL to the brush hog that well. I guess to get the hog fully off of the ground in a balanced manner, the attachments are somewhere along the rim?

My CC has 1653lb lift capacity at 24" so I won't have a problem with lift and the tractor/FEL is heavy enough to be stable.

Before I get a boom pole I want to make sure I will safely fulfill my needs.

Dutch

 

[EagleEye]

Re: boom pole

Joe, It's been nearly 18 yrs since I took those physics courses in college... the basic concepts are all I can offer at this point... formulas are definitely fuzzy at best... at this point. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

Conceptually, you're right on the movement toward the tractor translating to more lift capacity but I don't recall how to figure out how much.

 

[Joe1]

Re: boom pole

EagleEye:

Thanks. I don't have a boom pole, but they don't look very expensive, and could be handy in some instances.

The best way would be to start light and build up. I was thinking about lifting my 450 lb bush hog onto a fairly low trailer. I

A boom pole should handle it, but I'm going to try if first with my FEL and two chains with hooks at each end for a 4 point lift.

Joe

 

[EagleEye]

Re: boom pole

Joe, you just hit on why I don't bother with a boom pole... if you have a loader, I can't see the need for one.

 

[chim]

Re: boom pole

As you said, I'd rather use the FEL for most lifting. It is easier to control, and it's out in front where you can keep an eye on it. Just watch out that swinging loads don't swing into the radiator.

I built a BP before I got the FEL-equipped Kubota. Every once in a while it came in handy. As others have pointed out, there's a real limitation of BP lift capacity on the smaller tractors (ie: it's easy to pick up the front of the tractor).

Since getting the Kubota, the BP has only seen use as part of a drag I made. Here's a shot of smoothing out the sand volleyball court.........................chim