Man lift for fel

[CreekyB]

Rent something proper to do the job, you will be healthy enough to sit around and think about all the money you could have saved with some redneck engineering.

If you redneck engineer it you will have a good opportunity of not thinking about much of anything anymore.

Speaking as a redneck engineer of some great stupidity, but have came to my senses, most of the time.

 

[bcp]

Do whatever it takes to take the pole down this time, then fix it so it will be easy next time.

Pole down is better than man up.

Bruce

 

[zzvyb6]

Couple of thoughts for some options just in case the ironwork doesn't fly::laughing:

Get a farmer near you with a JD kick baler. Stand in the pan with the new rope end in your hand and have him toss you up to the top of the pole. As you fly by, neatly tuck the rope end through the top pulley.

Buy a hot air ballon ride and get picked up at home. You should be able to guess the rest.

Find someone with a 40' hay elevator. Crank it up and walk the plank. Extra points if a buddy can run the motor until you just get to the top.

Stack firewood and crawl up there in your best scaffolding style.

Use a bow and arrow to launch a designated round up to the top and through the top eye. Make sure the string is long enough to make both ends meet at the bottom level. Might take some practice but at least you won't have to leave the ground.

Hire a neighbor kid to climb up to the top.

Buy a drone and use it to hover over the top ball. Add a jib arm to thread the needle, so to speak.

Slip a $50 to a local electric company repairman with a boom truck. Tree trimmers do 'guvie' jobs, too.

Buy a new pole and install it properly this time. Cut down the old one and sell it on Craigslist for much more than the new one cost. Include a free flag (made in China of course). I'd wait for a few choice holidays for this option (memorial Dat, July 4, June 6, etc.

Plant a fast growing tree and be patient. When you get the job done, you can cut it down and heat your house.

Change your cable or internet options to satellite. Tell the installer you want the dish 'up there' ...

Check with your subdivision's Home Owner Agreement terms. Maybe a patriotic flag is forbidden because it may insult some of your illegal neighbors. Might want to do this one first, It sure would save a lot of time and trouble.

 

[Deere Dude]

I have worked maintenance where baskets were put on forklift forks. Chain them down and away you go. But, they were on flat concrete...the platform stayed flat and wouldn't tilt much at all...the operation of forklifts is very smooth compared to a tractor...the operator drives them every day and are good drivers. Of course that was a long time ago but they were sturdy. I know of a couple instances where they slid off or the person fell out even though they were flat and level all the time.

I am somewhat of a risk taker but that is not something I would do. The bucket or fork movement by the hydraulic operation from the controls magnifies itself the farther and object is from the center of the bucket. You would never be able to hang on because of any jerky movement.

if a tractor had forks that stayed level all the time I might risk that but if they can curl up or tilt down, no way.

 

[hslogger]

Best thing to do. Google "hinged flag pole" images.
In your heart you know it is the right sane thing to do.

 

[jcummins]

Guys the flagpole is NOT coming down. Pulling that flagpole would require a crane. This is not a two bit skinny flagpole but a commercial grade pole in a concrete culvert with sand around the base...installed the same way a commercial 40ft pole would be installed.

The rickety picture of a lift attached to a bucket is NOT what I intend on building. It will be a no nonsense constructed man cage, lifted by the forks.

 

[jeff9366]

Tractors are inherently unstable.

1. high ground clearance

2. narrow for length

3. small front wheels, large rear wheels

You could not select a worse chassis to build a man lift on.

Nothing "fail safe" on hydraulic system.

 

[CobyRupert]

Whatever you do, take video of your attempt and post.

 

[LD1]

I am in the dont do it camp.

How tall is the flagpole? Around here, you can rent a 34' tow/trailer type boom lift for $75/4hours.

Seriously, for $75 is it worth trying what you are planning?

 

[jcummins]

I am in the dont do it camp.

How tall is the flagpole? Around here, you can rent a 34' tow/trailer type boom lift for $75/4hours.

Seriously, for $75 is it worth trying what you are planning?

The reason I tend not to do that.....there has been countless times, I need some height to do something, and ladders by them selves I have trouble standing on for any length of time. Few months back I installed some security cameras on my soffits....I can't tell you the number of times I moved, went up down ladders, etc getting them installed. With the man lift, it would have been a cakewalk. So...there are innumerable others uses that I have in mind without the step ladder in the lift too. I have gutters that need cleaned, and now I do it with a step ladder strapped into a utv to get to them...the man lift would be VERY stable compared to that. I have a security light...just waiting to go out, and placing a ladder against that tree it's on, I wouldn't like. The list can go on.

So yes...if it was just that ONE purpose, but it's not.