Lifting a Power Trac

[woodlandfarms]

Well, tinkering around in my free time with a shop idea maybe for this fall. Was looking at auto lifts. Started thinking about lifting the PT (really don't know why but I am sure I would think of something). This all said, I get the feeling that unless the PT is supported at the tires you could really do some damage. Maybe I am wrong on this (most of the lifts are chasis lifts).

Any thoughts?

 

[MossRoad]

Well, if you lift it what are you going to get at underneath? Everything is above the solid steel bottom and the only thing accessible from undeneath is the one grease zerk on the center nut.

I would think that if you put the lifts points right under where the wheel motor mounts meet the frame, you would be safe. But, again, I can't ever see a reason for lifting the PT that far off the ground. Maybe a floor jack to get the rear corners off the ground to change your tires, but the front can be lifted with the FEL and jack stands placed underneath.

 

[Barryh]

Well, tinkering around in my free time with a shop idea maybe for this fall. Was looking at auto lifts. Started thinking about lifting the PT (really don't know why but I am sure I would think of something). This all said, I get the feeling that unless the PT is supported at the tires you could really do some damage. Maybe I am wrong on this (most of the lifts are chasis lifts).

Any thoughts?

Funny.. I was thinking along the same lines the other day. Would be nice to build a platform to drive the PT up on in the garage. Just to get it up high up enough, so I don't have to get down on my knees on the cement floor to change the oil, clean it ect. Would be nice just to lean over to inspect the engine compartment.

I have some extra wooden pallets around here and plywood. I may make a few ramps, and do this. The problem is storage, finding a place to keep the platform once they are binded up together, and then dragging them around from one place to the next. I had also looked into some of the lifts. My other thought would be to use my 16 foot car trailer just drive it up on the side, and then stepping up on something to inspect it just outside the garage. I need a bigger shed

 

[RegL]

Funny.. I was thinking along the same lines the other day. Would be nice to build a platform to drive the PT up on in the garage. Just to get it up high up enough, so I don't have to get down on my knees on the cement floor to change the oil, clean it ect. Would be nice just to lean over to inspect the engine compartment.

I have some extra wooden pallets around here and plywood. I may make a few ramps, and do this. The problem is storage, finding a place to keep the platform once they are binded up together, and then dragging them around from one place to the next. I had also looked into some of the lifts. My other thought would be to use my 16 foot car trailer just drive it up on the side, and then stepping up on something to inspect it just outside the garage. I need a bigger shed

Here's one

eBay Motors: Mid-Rise Car LIFT Air Powered 5000Lbs (item 330117169782 end time May-13-07 09:48:20 PDT)

 

[woodlandfarms]

The reason I brought this up was my concern about torquing the connection between the front and the back.

I guess the tractor uses that area everyday so it must be strong. But would lifting it (2 points holding the rear, lets say at the tires) and two points lifting the front cause damaging stress?

Carl

 

[KentT]

The reason I brought this up was my concern about torquing the connection between the front and the back.

I guess the tractor uses that area everyday so it must be strong. But would lifting it (2 points holding the rear, lets say at the tires) and two points lifting the front cause damaging stress?

Carl

I've had mine entirely up on jackstands several times...

I just put a floor jack in the center on each end and jack away. You have to be careful because it will pivot on you (what PT calls oscillate) side to side...

Compared to the stress you're putting on that joint when you have all it will lift in the bucket, lifted as high as it will go, stresses from lifting up the weight of each end of the machine are minimal...

 

[RegL]

The reason I brought this up was my concern about torquing the connection between the front and the back.

I guess the tractor uses that area everyday so it must be strong. But would lifting it (2 points holding the rear, lets say at the tires) and two points lifting the front cause damaging stress?

Carl

I don't see where four lifting points would be any more stressful than the tractor sitting on four wheels, as long as those lifting points were near the wheels.

 

[cqaigy2]

Funny.. I was thinking along the same lines the other day. Would be nice to build a platform to drive the PT up on in the garage. Just to get it up high up enough, so I don't have to get down on my knees on the cement floor to change the oil, clean it ect. Would be nice just to lean over to inspect the engine compartment.

I'll have to admit i've thought it would be nice to get things up where i don't have to lean over so far or get on my knees to work on it, but other then changing a tire, i haven't really needed to put PT up in the air. I wonder how tall WLF's 1850 is?

 

[Barryh]

I'll have to admit i've thought it would be nice to get things up where i don't have to lean over so far or get on my knees to work on it, but other then changing a tire, i haven't really needed to put PT up in the air. I wonder how tall WLF's 1850 is?

Guess I'm just getting a little lazy in my old age. I may have to rig a platform up one day soon

 

[MossRoad]

The reason I brought this up was my concern about torquing the connection between the front and the back.

I guess the tractor uses that area everyday so it must be strong. But would lifting it (2 points holding the rear, lets say at the tires) and two points lifting the front cause damaging stress?

Carl

The unit already sits on the tires and the center joint supports that. The wheel motors are bolted to the brackets that are welded to the body, so the front half of the body and the rear half of the body support all the weight, right? I don't think you could hurt the PT body or center joint by putting jack stands anywhere under the body. It is just that tuff!

 

[MossRoad]

Guess I'm just getting a little lazy in my old age. I may have to rig a platform up one day soon

I made some cheap car ramps about 20 years ago. I still use them to this day. I took a 12 foot 2x12 pressure treated and cut it into three pieces, 5, 4 and 3 feet long. I then nailed them together with the ends flush on one end and that gave me 1' long steps to easily drive any car up. That gives me 4.5 inches of lift and plenty of stability and enough room to do exhaust work or an oil change.

I would think that a lift like this

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

would work on the PT425 and smaller series, especially if you put a 2 x 12 lengthwise under the PT to spread the weight out.

 

[woodlandfarms]

I am looking at something to work on my cars with...

Panther Lifts - Product » 11,000 LB TWO POST DIRECT DRIVE ASYMMETR...

Or maybe one that is on wheels so it can be pushed in the corner...

Or something like this just cause bigger is always better

Bend-Pak Mobile Column Lifting system - MCL-16: Eagle Equipment

 

[Barryh]

I made some cheap car ramps about 20 years ago. I still use them to this day. I took a 12 foot 2x12 pressure treated and cut it into three pieces, 5, 4 and 3 feet long. I then nailed them together with the ends flush on one end and that gave me 1' long steps to easily drive any car up. That gives me 4.5 inches of lift and plenty of stability and enough room to do exhaust work or an oil change.

I would think that a lift like this

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

would work on the PT425 and smaller series, especially if you put a 2 x 12 lengthwise under the PT to spread the weight out.

I appreciate the link perfect, and the price is low. Looks like it can be stored / moved out of the way easily for less garage clutter. This would work well for the PT, yard tractor, commercial mowers... ect.

 

[cqaigy2]

I am looking at something to work on my cars with...

Panther Lifts - Product » 11,000 LB TWO POST DIRECT DRIVE ASYMMETR...

Or maybe one that is on wheels so it can be pushed in the corner...

Or something like this just cause bigger is always better

Bend-Pak Mobile Column Lifting system - MCL-16: Eagle Equipment

Oh ya that last link is the one you want.

You would be the hero of the neighborhood because of the coolness factor and if somebody needed to work on something under the house, you could just bring your Mobil lift over, and up it goes. Much easier to work under the house if you can walk around.

 

[Barryh]

Oh ya that last link is the one you want.

You would be the hero of the neighborhood because of the coolness factor and if somebody needed to work on something under the house, you could just bring your Mobil lift over, and up it goes. Much easier to work under the house if you can walk around.

LoL

 

[woodlandfarms]

The truth is our road is so bad that I could never get a big truck up it to impress the neighbors with. Not sure how we are ever going to build a new house... Then again, not sure how they ever got the house we have up there. Must have used a helicopter.....

 

[bbabineau]

Well, tinkering around in my free time with a shop idea maybe for this fall. Was looking at auto lifts. Started thinking about lifting the PT (really don't know why but I am sure I would think of something). This all said, I get the feeling that unless the PT is supported at the tires you could really do some damage. Maybe I am wrong on this (most of the lifts are chasis lifts).

Any thoughts?

Not sure how high you want the PT but if all you want is easier access to drain fluid and waist high access to the engine compartment perhaps you can do as I do. With a $40 set of ramps from the auto parts store I back the PT up the ramp and then with the bucket lift the front (I use a piece of 6 x 8 under the bucket to provide more lift) then put jack stands ($20) under the body at the front inside of the wheels. Provides plenty of support and when I want it down I again raise the front off the jacks, remove the jacks and drive off the ramps. Total cost $60 and provides 8 to 10" of lift.