moving the 5000lb engine lathe

[schmism]

say you wanted to upgrade to a larger lathe for your machine shop on your farm.

say you found a Leblond 19x54 for $4k with tooling, and phase converter for 220v.

say the only place you have to put it is your current pole barn/machine shop which features (not by my choice) a gravel floor.

How would you move it?

My FEL is woefully short in lifting capacity, my 3pt comes up short in lifting capacity. A heavy duty engine hoist MIGHT lift it, but youd never roll it anywere on gravel floor.

I COULD get a larger 100hp tractor from a neighbor, but maneuvering such a size tractor around the shop to place it is near on impossible. (30x30 area)

a forklift is how its normally done, but most "indoor" forklifts have MASSIVE PSI forces for the front wheels, especially when lifting upwards of 5k. and would likely not work well on gravel floor.

most every way i know to move something this small weighing this much is usually all centered around a surface like concrete. airbag cushions, hockey pucks, tank treads.

I suppose the only good option is Egyptian style? 6" fence posts and a couple of breaking bars?

 

[Sackett2]

Wow, great question
We moved 2 lathes into my brother-in-laws shop but it was on concrete, one seems a bit larger than yours. A neighbor brought his medium sized tractor and it was too much for it.
I suggest your going to have to bite the bullet and see about a fork lift, they will work on gravel....

 

[CurlyDave]

Just thinking out loud here, but how about splitting two pieces of 1 1/4" flooring plywood into 2' x 8' sections and laying them down one in front of the other to let the forklift roll more easily on the gravel.

Of course, then you are left with the question of how to lift up the lathe when you upgrade the floor to concrete.

 

[schmism]

Of course, then you are left with the question of how to lift up the lathe when you upgrade the floor to concrete.

Ive considered plywood mats... a mear 3/4" worked surpriseing well when they moved our trailer across the soft front yard.

Moveing the lathe for concrete later... thats easy The plan is to do the shop in halfs. so i just move it (useing the same method) to the concrete side. Once its poured it should be cake relatively speaking.

 

[kennyd]

Hold off buying the lathe and spend the 4k on concrete...

 

[Egon]

Will the forklift have the necessary vertical clearance?

Plywood mats on the floor should do it.

How delicate is the lathe balance. Can it be tipped easily?

 

[archeryantny]

If you have a set spot where the lathe is going to go, I would poor a small concrete slab to desired thickness as a base for the Lathe. Something slightly larger than the lathes footprint that you could comfortably work on without the fear of twisting an ankle if you stepped off the slab.Once the slab is poured you never have to move the lathe again. When you get the scratch to pour the rest of the floor just line the existing poured slab with expansion joint and pour around it and your done.

For moving I would have bargained for delivery

 

[JoelD]

Take you take the lathe apart, more manageable pieces?

 

[yooperdave]

Can you obtain a low clearance trailer?
Put the equipment on the trailer and roll it in.

Yooper Dave

 

[Larry Jones]

Have the lathe delivered with a roll back. Provided it will fit in the building, just back up to the spot, tilt the bed, and slide it off, under controll of course.
I second the idea of having a concrete base all ready for putting the machine on.