Pix of FEL strengthening / stiffening mods?

[Secret Squirrel]

You did not comment on the 3PH fork idea. Is it because you need to lift very high? I picked up a used worksaver rear fork that will go to about 6' on my little tractor. Of course you do need rear remotes. 3PH's generally can lift 30 - 50% more than a loader on the same tractor, and it will allow you to stop abusing your loader and front axle. It's probably safer too.

I did comment on it by thanking you for your alternative thoughts. It had been suggested earlier in the Mahindra forum, however we ruled it out due to cost. The cheapest one we could find was over $2000 delivered.

Sorry, but right now we are 100% focused on fixing and stiffening the FEL boom. Buying a new tractor, forklift truck, skid steer loader or anything else is not in the cards right now.

Rusty

 

[Gittyup]

You might could be pick one up used for less than it will cost you to modify your loader. I found one for $500 on Craigslist. It's also pretty simple and can be very cheap to modify any set of forks for a 3PH. Of course, this pretty much assumes the 3PH will lif high enough for you. Just think what you are doing to your loader and tractor isn't good in the long run.

 

[Reg]

OK, as a sweeping generality I dislike the idea of "single point of improvement" modifications.
They typically open opportunities for dangerous stress elsewhere or instability.

That said, FELs are long fairly flexible parallelograms and I have often thought that some diagonal bracing would make them less flexible for very little cost or weight penalty.
When a FEL frame flexes the load shifts (Yeah, obvious) and those little wobbles could add up to a tip over, which is what I think the O/P has been telling us.

Looking at my tractor with the loader down I think a couple of straps could be added in the form of a cross that would just about center over the hood.
Then a similar cross on the front arms centered in front of the grille.
Maybe 2 inches wide, 1/4 or 3/8 think ?
I don't think this would obstruct visibility significantly, add much weight, or cost a lot.
I think I would only weld the ends, at least initially.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

OK, as a sweeping generality I dislike the idea of "single point of improvement" modifications.
They typically open opportunities for dangerous stress elsewhere or instability.

That said, FELs are long fairly flexible parallelograms and I have often thought that some diagonal bracing would make them less flexible for very little cost or weight penalty.
When a FEL frame flexes the load shifts (Yeah, obvious) and those little wobbles could add up to a tip over, which is what I think the O/P has been telling us.

Looking at my tractor with the loader down I think a couple of straps could be added in the form of a cross that would just about center over the hood.
Then a similar cross on the front arms centered in front of the grille.
Maybe 2 inches wide, 1/4 or 3/8 think ?
I don't think this would obstruct visibility significantly, add much weight, or cost a lot.
I think I would only weld the ends, at least initially.

I will agree that diagonal cross bracing could make the boom very stiff and stronger, but I'm not willing to make permanent modifications that are that far out of the norm and potentially obstructing visibility for the sake of this temporary heavy pallet work. I think the plan is set and repairs will be as described above. Now we've just got to figure out when we can give up the tractor for a few days.

Rusty

 

[sandman2234]

I am not familiar with the Manidra's axle problem, if indeed it is a problem, and not the result of owner abuses. However, it brought to mind a reinforcement to an axle housing that I saw years ago. Basically a plate of 1/4" steel was shaped to fit over the axle from end to end, and bolted to it every place they could find, and in a couple of places they used U-bolts to add regidity. If it is the axle housing and not the axles themselves that are breaking, then this might be an option. If it is the axle itself breaking, then you might want to consider what that costs compared to a larger machine because if it breaks, your going to probably wish you had upgraded before this happened, no matter what banker's tail you had to kiss to get the money. If the machine goes down for a broken axle, your going to loose operational time, and be in a crunch to find the same money that right now you don't have and don't want to spend. (and I don't blame you in this economy)
Another way that you might consider, and this is said not knowing what product you are handling, is to contact your suppliers and explain to them that their product is too heavy for your equipment, and could they reduce the amount of product on each pallet by 25%? Depending on the supplier, this might be the easiest way, but none of them are going to "want to do it". It adds to their cost to have to put you on a special handling list, but some are willing to do it, just to keep their customers. I know I would if it meant insuring a loyal customer. However, the number of pallets on a flatbed truck is restricted by just how much floor space is available, and if your already using the entire floor space of a 53' trailer, then your pretty much out of luck. However, if your delivery truck is smaller than that, then a larger truck could handle a few more pallets, unless the pallets can be double stacked.
If the supplier left the same amount of product on each stack, but put another pallet holding half that amount in the middle of that stack, and shrink wrapped it together, it would allow the same floor space on the truck, and allow you to handle things at less than your currently having to. I think that would be your best plan of attach, but only you know what your handling and what the options for their delivery are.
Just remember, pay me now or pay me later....but your going to pay!
David from jax

 

[SPYDERLK]

I will agree that diagonal cross bracing could make the boom very stiff and stronger, but I'm not willing to make permanent modifications that are that far out of the norm and potentially obstructing visibility for the sake of this temporary heavy pallet work. I think the plan is set and repairs will be as described above. Now we've just got to figure out when we can give up the tractor for a few days.

Rusty

Deflection of one arm more than the other causes a torsional force. The best cross brace between arms is a large diameter round tube.
larry

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Deflection of one arm more than the other causes a torsional force. The best cross brace between arms is a large diameter round tube.
larry

It did not escape our notice that the larger Mahindra loaders have two round tube cross braces instead of one. But this approach would be difficult to do as a backfit. Our one cross brace is halfway between the two shown here and loader plumbing is above and attached to it.

Rusty

 

[Secret Squirrel]

I am not familiar with the Manidra's axle problem, if indeed it is a problem, and not the result of owner abuses. However, it brought to mind a reinforcement to an axle housing that I saw years ago. Basically a plate of 1/4" steel was shaped to fit over the axle from end to end, and bolted to it every place they could find, and in a couple of places they used U-bolts to add regidity. If it is the axle housing and not the axles themselves that are breaking, then this might be an option. If it is the axle itself breaking, then you might want to consider what that costs compared to a larger machine because if it breaks, your going to probably wish you had upgraded before this happened, no matter what banker's tail you had to kiss to get the money. If the machine goes down for a broken axle, your going to loose operational time, and be in a crunch to find the same money that right now you don't have and don't want to spend. (and I don't blame you in this economy)
Another way that you might consider, and this is said not knowing what product you are handling, is to contact your suppliers and explain to them that their product is too heavy for your equipment, and could they reduce the amount of product on each pallet by 25%? Depending on the supplier, this might be the easiest way, but none of them are going to "want to do it". It adds to their cost to have to put you on a special handling list, but some are willing to do it, just to keep their customers. I know I would if it meant insuring a loyal customer. However, the number of pallets on a flatbed truck is restricted by just how much floor space is available, and if your already using the entire floor space of a 53' trailer, then your pretty much out of luck. However, if your delivery truck is smaller than that, then a larger truck could handle a few more pallets, unless the pallets can be double stacked.
If the supplier left the same amount of product on each stack, but put another pallet holding half that amount in the middle of that stack, and shrink wrapped it together, it would allow the same floor space on the truck, and allow you to handle things at less than your currently having to. I think that would be your best plan of attach, but only you know what your handling and what the options for their delivery are.
Just remember, pay me now or pay me later....but your going to pay!
David from jax

The truth be known, this project is nearing an end and I don't see us giving up the tractor to get it fixed or modified until after our work is complete in another couple weeks give or take. On our own, we have jacked the boom back pretty close to level and being real careful now we are getting the materials moved and work done with acceptable speed. Odds are that I will still go ahead with the mods anyway because I'm sure these won't be the last heavy pallets I'll ever need to move. But for now, I think we've found our workable temporary solution.

Rusty

 

[Reg]

This may be not relevant to the original poster's question/problem.
I am thinking that the GENERAL problem of moving heavy palleted materials often involves unloading from trucks at about 4ft, maybe a little more, above ground level.
It can be aggravated by uneven, rutted graound that is not level.
Once the pallet is clear of the truck bed it can be lowered almost to ground level for actual transit.
IF (I know, IF, if, if...) deliveries are made to the same spot by same/similar vehicles it could be worth paving a relatively small unloading area.
Even temporary paving, say 2ft square slabs over a few inches of compacted sand, could work very well for that short distance that the tractor has to back away from the truck with a near max load held fairly high.

This wouldn't improve the tractor, but it would reduce a factor (maybe more than one) affecting stability, safety and stress (physical and mental).

 

[RobJ]

Thanks guys. I appreciate the alternative thoughts and safety warnings, but it's not helping us to repair or strengthen this FEL boom. I've got some ideas of my own. Perhaps I'll sketch and scan them later.

Rusty