Cobbled Together Bucket Boom

TMcD_in_MI · Oct 8, 2005

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 · Oct 8, 2005

Second Pic to show that it really did work.

Tom

Tractors4u · Oct 8, 2005

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 · Oct 8, 2005

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 · Oct 9, 2005

( ...you have it extended way out there so that it might have a tendancy to tip forward. )

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 · Oct 9, 2005

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 · Oct 10, 2005

( 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).)

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?

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

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

Tom

HomeBrew2 · Oct 10, 2005

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

fig · Oct 10, 2005

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 · Oct 10, 2005

( Tom,

Is that a power line in the second picture? )

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

sodamo · Oct 10, 2005

Great job
I have a similar project, a tractor shed requiring 9 pipes, 4 inch diameter, 14 ft long. They will have to be lifted and set in 12 in diameter holes 56 inches deep.
I intend to modify my boom pole to attach to my loader via 3pt quick hitch.
Boompole mods
I don't have any power lines though.

Guess I need to post under Projects for advice on alignment and height control.

David

Nat · Oct 11, 2005

I made one simular to set the trusses on my shop. It is 10 feet from floor to bottom of trusses and I set them all, by myself in a little while using an old backhoe that I had bought just to have around while building. Only you who are there can say whether it is safe and I don't think anyone smart enough to build one is dumb enough to use something they don't trust. Good job and keep cobling stuff, it's what made America what it is now, later, Nat

JRP · Oct 15, 2005

About the picture of the PTO driven windmill pump jack, I think the builder did not post a discussion thread on TBN before he started building it.

If he had posted, he might use a chain drive off the pto and a very long chain with sprockets. With the top sprocket on the mill fan the only problem we would have to solve is how to make the tractor on the ground spin if the wind picked up and rotated the fan.

LBrown59 · Oct 15, 2005

This ones holding down a windmill tower... 

The simplicity dealer here has a Simplicity tractor on a pole on top of his sign. 

 He had a Bolens tractor up there when I bought my new bolens from him in 1966.
When Troy Built took over Bolens he put up a Troy Built.
After MTD bought Troy Built he quit them and went with Simpilicty.