Lift or Not Lift?

[Robby]

Hello I am new to the board so I hope I get this right. I have run my old Cub Cadet purchased new in 1972 and being disabled always used a 12 volt winch to lift the front of the cadet up in the air to be able to set on a chair and remove the mower blades for shapening. Well 2 weeks ago the old cadet finally bit the dust so I went out and purchased a new John Deere GT-235. Does anyone think I will be able to lift this tractor the same way without bending it all up? I know the newer tractors are being built a lot lighter.
Thanks everyone.
Robby...

 

[Casimir]

Robby:

Welcome to TBN! That is a fine looking machine.

You might be able to buy or have a welder fabricate a front brush guard that attaches securely to the frame and give you a good lifting point that won't tear things up. Lifting by the rear hitch should be OK also. In any case, try to be as safe as possible and block things up. Sure would hate to hear that the cable on that winch broke while you were under the tractor.

Kip

 

[CVHoss]

Robby,
You might ask your dealer about one of these. JD site says the MSRP is $95.00. It may work for your needs plus you end up with a heavy duty bumper to protect the front of the tractor.

Hoss

 

[Ozarker]

I do my Sears lawn tractor the same way but I always remove the hood first to get it out of the way of the strap I use for lifting. It simply lifts off after I unplug the wires to the headlamps.

 

[GerardC]

Use straps around the front axle (both sides) and lift away. G

 

[Slamfire]

I like that lift the back end idea. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[MossRoad]

This brings up another question for another forum... how often do you sharpen your blades?

Have you looked at engine hoists or motorcycle/atv lifts? They are made to lift the machines so that you can work on them safely at a comfortable height. As to your question about where to attach to it without bending it up, hard to say these days. Some type of extension out front welded or bolted to the frame comes to mind.

 

[MossRoad]

Oh yeah, I almost forgot, Welcome to TBN! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

 

[Robby]

Thanks fellows for all the answers and thanks for letting me come aboard. I dont know what we would do without these nice forums to ask things about. This is the first John Deere I ever had and just purchased it last week brand new and sure dont want to bend it up.
Thanks again Robby.