The Handiest Thing I ever Built (Manlift)

[mjncad]

Looks great, I want to do one also since I have the forks already, to bad there isn't a way to control the loader remotely from the platform that way it could be a one man operation.
JB,

I suspect someone who is clever with hydraulics could figure out a way to make it remote operated.

 

[Stampeder]

When I bought my mew tractor I want to build something for it, I purchased my pallet forks, which I must say is the best investment for a tractor, I dont pick up anything anymore. Then I went to work on my manlift. This was so easy to build, and I must say that it has been the handiest thing I have ever built. I knew I was going to build a pole barn and I couldnt see doing it with out one of these. I wish I had pictures to share of every application I used it on building the barn. But I couldnt have done it with out this. And yes before the hydraulic police show up dont bother, I will take my chances over a 16 foot step ladder any day. I welded safety chains to attach the tractor for a little extra. I just thought I would share. Fun project though....and come in so handy.

By yzbdsbp, shot with VPC-S500 at 2008-04-22

By yzbdsbp, shot with VPC-S500 at 2008-04-22

By yzbdsbp, shot with DSC-P73 at 2008-04-22

By yzbdsbp, shot with DSC-P73 at 2008-04-22
And I couldnt have built phase 1 of this without it

By yzbdsbp, shot with VPC-S500 at 2008-04-22

How high did you decide to make your top rail on the manlift?
I really don't care about the failing hydraulics etc. ( I usually maintain my tractor and keep the hoses in good repair).
I picked up some steel yesterday for the floor and some C channel.
My fork measure 4 inches by 1 3/4" thick at the base so I can't use 4 inch C channel. I had to opt for 6 inch to get the clearance and to prevent sticking. We have a really great hardware store here that has a steel division and fab shop. The guys in the shop are really great and helpful. The get all kinds of different projects and already had made several manlifts and fork extenders so they pointed out that with my 4 inch forks the inside dimension of the 4 inch C channel would not quite be enough.
We have a 15 foot high front gate to paint coming up....that is after all the steel fencing is finished and the hay fields are finished the seeding.
Hmmmm let me see we bought this place so we could ride our horses. I think Christmas day was our last ride.....What's wrong with this picture????

 

[SPYDERLK]

Don't kid yourself, 2 gallons squirts out of a 1/2" hose mighty fast.
But I'll keep my nose out of the thread.

I think the bananas fell so fast because of the shear weight of them 4 tons pushing down is different from a 200# man. I no expert but such a light load would not compress the hydraulics as fast. Either way I have worked out of forklift mounted baskets a lot and plan to build a man lift myself.

Yes to both. It is a matter of pressure to cause the necessary flow so there will be noticeable retardation of a light load - the entire supported load.

A free fall from 10' takes T^2 = 2H/A, = 20/32. T= 0.8sec =~ 1/76 minute. So that would have to flush 2Gal at a 152 GPM rate. Whatever pressure that takes would resist the fall. Im guessing that most of our lift cylinders combined are well under 2G displacement, and that supported weight including man is more like 7-1000#. It would be a pretty quick fall. Something equivalent to 4 to 6' freefall impact. Trouble is that you would be rotating with the arms and at the same time trying to remember to unlock your knees. Pretty scary. Still, Ive got a 3 foot pallet stack on mine. Gets my feet about 14' up. Wife drives. Thats the scary part. Not cuz shes not good, but because she has little experience on my tractor and none on the platform.
larry

 

[yzbdsbp]

How high did you decide to make your top rail on the manlift?
I picked up some steel yesterday for the floor and some C channel.
My fork measure 4 inches by 1 3/4" thick at the base so I can't use 4 inch C channel. I had to opt for 6 inch to get the clearance and to prevent sticking. We have a really great hardware store here that has a steel division and fab shop. The guys in the shop are really great and helpful. The get all kinds of different projects and already had made several manlifts and fork extenders so they pointed out that with my 4 inch forks the inside dimension of the 4 inch C channel would not quite be enough.
We have a 15 foot high front gate to paint coming up....that is after all the steel fencing is finished and the hay fields are finished the seeding.
Hmmmm let me see we bought this place so we could ride our horses. I think Christmas day was our last ride.....What's wrong with this picture????

The top rail i believe is 40"....I do belive the OSHA standard for a manlift is 42" But unless you were using it on a job site I wouldnt worry to much about that. Actually 40-42 is perfect becasuse you can still bend over the rail and reach out without any fear of falling out. Stampeder I cant wait to see yours, please let me see some pics. When you get it built you will wonder how you ever did wothout it. Not to say that I use mine every day, but it sure is handy when you need it.

And just think this lift will make such light work of that 15' gate that you will have that afternoon to ride horses. Please remember to take some pics of the painting. It is usually me and my friend operating this basket and we forget to take some pics of it actually working!

 

[Stampeder]

I'll definitely take some pictures of it once I've finished with the build.
It's my wife who gets to paint the gate......We'll see how she does with heights. Hee Hee. I'm planning on using a shackle (actually two ) to secure it to the pallet forks. I've been planning on building this for some time now and to date have just used a pallet when changing the barn light to high pressure sodium.
But I really prefer the safety of the manlift. How's the pole barn coming?
Here is a picture of the gate she is going to paint.....

Glenn.

 

[yzbdsbp]

It's my wife who gets to paint the gate......We'll see how she does with heights. Hee Hee. I'm planning on using a shackle (actually two ) to secure it to the pallet forks. I've been planning on building this for some time now and to date have just used a pallet when changing the barn light to high pressure sodium.
But I really prefer the safety of the manlift. How's the pole barn coming?
Here is a picture of the gate she is going to paint.....

Glenn.

Nice Gate... Im sure she will do fine with the new manlift! Watch her though she might want to start painting alot more once she works out of the nice lift you are building.
And as far as the barn.....gona start digging in the poles Wed. for the 2-12' lean-to off of the main barn, I will post some pics as soon as we get started.

 

[Stampeder]

Nice Gate... Im sure she will do fine with the new manlift! Watch her though she might want to start painting alot more once she works out of the nice lift you are building.
And as far as the barn.....gona start digging in the poles Wed. for the 2-12' lean-to off of the main barn, I will post some pics as soon as we get started.

Looking forward to more pictures of the pole barn.
We've got a couple of really big oak trees in the back yard that need trimming up the inside. In a good wind we get dead branches coming down and it would be a bummer for someone to be under when one comes down.
She said now with the new manlift that I can get up with my 11 foot pole saw and clean them out.........Hmmm...let me see angle iron, expanded steel I think I will need another gas bottle for the MIG welder.

Cheers.
Glenn.

 

[Redbug]

I have a set of pallet forks, (just got it), and one of the things I was interested in building was a manlift. I have access to getting an empty IBC container. Do you think one of those would work if you cut the top out? They are the square chemical tanks on pallets with a metal cage around them. See my pic... What are your opinions, guys?

 

[sandman2234]

Save the tank, and build one like everyone else. Use the tank with small sprayers to distribute liquid fertilizer, water down a dusty dirt road, or water the yard till you get that sprinkler system put in.
David from jax

 

[Iplayfarmer]

FWIW I heard a quote the other day that seems relevant to this discussion about the safety aspects of putting a lifting cage on a FEL...

"Don't let perfect be the enemy of good"

"Perfect" is the concept of having all the safety valves and pressure maintaining equipment and all necessary bells and whistles to make a bona fide OSHA proof super safety person lifting dedicated machine.

"Good" is that we nearly all use our FEL as a man lift or scaffolding and we're a whole lot safer in a cage than just standing on the open bucket.