Pallet jack attachment for PT422?

[Marks481]

What if I wanted to move something around that is in then 800-1500# range (heavier machinery like a milling machine)... my PT422 would be stressed to pick up anything more then 500-600# on the forklift attachment (I know it is rated for 800#, but if the COG is 18-24" in front of the QA plate, then it is going to pick up alot less).

So how about something like a pallet jack that the PT could attach to the QA plate? Or maybe an axle with wheels on the forklift attachment? Then the PT wouldn't have to lift all of the weight, just half of it? I wouldn't really want to pick it up, just move it around.

 

[MossRoad]

Somebody posted pictures of something like that a while back. I cannot recall who. In a nutshell, it was a forklift that attached to the rear of a 3pt hitch tractor and ran off of the tractor hydraulics. It pretty much supported most of the weight by itself.

 

[ponytug]

Tim,

Have you thought about using the PT to lift an edge to put the item on a series of rollers, such as fence posts to roll it to wherever you want? You could use the PT to pull, once the item was on rollers. Yes, you would have to keep feeding the rollers under the pallet, but if it is a one time deal, it works really well for moving heavy items. It is pretty amazing what you can move, how far you can move it, and over really rough ground with this age old trick.

If this is something that you plan on moving lots of times, you might consider putting it on wheels that cam up and down. Or just put it on temporary casters.

Or buy a used pallet jack. They are pretty cheap.

Or....

Care to share what you are planning on moving?

All the best,

Peter

What if I wanted to move something around that is in then 800-1500# range (heavier machinery like a milling machine)... my PT422 would be stressed to pick up anything more then 500-600# on the forklift attachment (I know it is rated for 800#, but if the COG is 18-24" in front of the QA plate, then it is going to pick up alot less).

So how about something like a pallet jack that the PT could attach to the QA plate? Or maybe an axle with wheels on the forklift attachment? Then the PT wouldn't have to lift all of the weight, just half of it? I wouldn't really want to pick it up, just move it around.

 

[Marks481]

Care to share what you are planning on moving?

Milling machine in the 700-800# range. I move around alot (military), so I don't want to buy a machine that I can't pack up myself, which pretty much limits me to the capacity of the PT lift.

Typically you can just lift one edge of a pallet and drag it with a forklift, so you don't actually have to lift the entire weight to move it. I was thinking that instead of lifting it, I could build the base strong enough (built in QA plate...) and put it on casters so the PT could move it onto a trailer up a ramp if needed. Some thing like that tends to be top heavy, so you gotta be careful when you are at the limits of the PT.

 

[toy]

Milling machine in the 700-800# range. I move around alot (military), so I don't want to buy a machine that I can't pack up myself, which pretty much limits me to the capacity of the PT lift.Typically you can just lift one edge of a pallet and drag it with a forklift, so you don't actually have to lift the entire weight to move it.* I was thinking that instead of lifting it, I could build the base strong enough (built in QA plate...) and put it on casters so the PT could move it onto a trailer up a ramp if needed. Some thing like that tends to be top heavy, so you gotta be careful when you are at the limits of the PT.

You mentioned that it is top heave so you are aware of that. Is it a stand alone milling machine or one of the combo units? Is it a one peice unit or does it sit on a table? Have you thought about using an engine hoist to load it on a trailer or would that be possible given your situation? However you decide to move it be careful. I reread your post sounds as if you partly wanted to make it mobile in your shop so that you could move it* from place to place, If that is the case when you come up with a solution let us know how you did it.

 

[ponytug]

Tim,

Well, since it is a milling machine, you could machine yourself a stand to go under it of bolt on wheels with leg bolts to replace the existing leg bolts. Then you could roll it into place, drive the leg bolt/pads down and you would be ready to mill away. Then, you could reverse it to move it. That way you could get enough clearance and shock absorption to move the mill safely.

I don't know how precise your machine is, but for precision mills, they generally take very poorly to being knocked or jarred, so I would be very careful moving it. You might want to double check the alignments post moving so that you get all of the axes concentric and intersecting orthogonally. Because mills are so finicky, my inclination would be not to use a QA plate, mainly because I would be concerned about knocking or applying too much torque to the mill. How about a mule to lift the edge and then you could put a padded set of moving wheels under it?

If it has a lift point, could you do the reverse, and break the mill down into smaller pieces, using the PT and a sling? Then you might be able to move pieces that were more tractable (or is that tractorable?) and perhaps less top heavy.

All the best,

Peter

Milling machine in the 700-800# range. I move around alot (military), so I don't want to buy a machine that I can't pack up myself, which pretty much limits me to the capacity of the PT lift.

Typically you can just lift one edge of a pallet and drag it with a forklift, so you don't actually have to lift the entire weight to move it. I was thinking that instead of lifting it, I could build the base strong enough (built in QA plate...) and put it on casters so the PT could move it onto a trailer up a ramp if needed. Some thing like that tends to be top heavy, so you gotta be careful when you are at the limits of the PT.

 

[3238dpw]

These are ideas, but doesn't sound like they would work for you.
This a cool attachment, but it does cost. Anyway maybe it will give some ideas
Forkster.com - All Terrain Forklift Attachment for Skid / Mini Skid Loaders
I think this may be what Moss was refering to
Agritek :: Tractor Mounted Forklifts

 

[MossRoad]

The agritech link is what I was thinking about, but I now recall seeing that Forkster stuff. They have some really neat stuff there. The only problem I see is that it would be very easy to put one of those on a PT, get a load way up 8' high, lean it forward and find out we don't have enough counterweight. With something like that, even if you slap the joystick forward my guess is either the lift arms will bend or you will be catapulted forward and to the side quickly.

How much does a Toro Dingo weigh compared to, say, a PT425?

 

[MossRoad]

Here's a link to a Toro Dingo specification page. It shows a 2000# dingo with a tip capacity of 1580# and a reated oeprating capcity at only 35% of the max, or 553 pounds.
The PT425 weighs 600#-700# less, but has a rated capacity of 800#. However, we all know that the PT will go nose over at or near that weight, while the dingo could probably pick up the PT without going over.

So, put one of those forklift attachments on the PT and we'd better do som tip over tests.

 

[Marks481]

The Mini-skidsteer forkster was exactly what I was thinking about. A couple wheels in front to increase the stability of the PT by moving the pivot point forward, since now the weight that you are lifting is now between the front wheelset and the PT, which should eliminate the PT pucker issue.

I am sure that for what ever it retails for, that I could easily buy a beat-up old propane powered and electric forklift with 5x the capacity...