Why it's a bad idea to put your tractor on a car hoist

[Rod in Forfar]

Old Grind:

Don't worry. I ran the tractor up as an experiment and discovered it wasn't stable enough so I took the photos and let it down. Then I found another way to work on the blades after getting advice from the Kubota dealership. The chain attached to two lift arms to raise the front of the tractor seems pretty safe, though one commenter suggested chassis jacks as a safety measure. Sounds reasonable.

It crossed my mind that the loader on my larger tractor could lift the front of the Kubota as easily as the car hoist, but I think the garage environment is a bit more stable than the shade tree approach.

The point of this posting was to fill a gap in the body of advice accumulated on TractorByNet because when I recently went looking for information on this subject there was a conspicuous gap. Hopefully the next newbee will find this article in time.

Rod

 

[Ken45101]

It crossed my mind that the loader on my larger tractor could lift the front of the Kubota as easily as the car hoist,

NEVER stand under anything supported by a loader! All it takes is one small failure (hydraulic hose burst, or a connection come loose) and the loader will drop like a rock! Even an empty 500# bucket landing on your head can be a problem!

 

[Tig]

Nice pics and write up. I agree on the chassis jack, second means of support comments. I like more than just me between a machine and the ground.

 

[the old grind]

Rod, I apologize for the sarcasm & poking fun at a sincere warning of 'how not' in the frustration & silliness of my insomnia. :ashamed:

It seemed so far from my own approach, & I almost included that alternative vs just being an a__ with the USA sit-com-like banter. btw: a friend who watches a lot of TV keeps calling me 'Sheldon', whoever that is. I don't think it's a compliment, as I'm known for not saying the right thing at the right time. :confused3:

Could be a 'shade tree' way, but I'd have backed a CUT onto 2-piece ramps & removed the ramped parts to gain deck access. Then I'd just hoist the front axle several inches (floor jack) onto jack stands as I do to get at my ZT mower's blades.

og

btw: I can be a slob & my garage will never look that nice ... :drool:

 

[Rod in Forfar]

Could be a 'shade tree' way, but I'd have backed a CUT onto 2-piece ramps & removed the ramped parts to gain deck access. Then I'd just hoist the front axle several inches (floor jack) onto jack stands as I do to get at my ZT mower's blades.



The one thing I was NOT prepared to do was run the Kubota up the set of ramps which dumped my old 4Runner sideways into a post some years back. Apparently the stable floor's concrete had some serious pits in it. Cost me a new fender, plus paint.

Rod

 

[the old grind]

Don't know what I like less; running driving wheels up slippery-faced ramps to install/service a frame hitch, or a RWD's fronts up ramps for an oil change on too smooth a floor. I've survived both but not without grunting & wincing, even if just spotting for someone else who tries either one. Might have made-up better ramps by now if I hadn't had so many close calls already.


Point taken.

 

[Rod in Forfar]

Nice pics and write up. I agree on the chassis jack, second means of support comments. I like more than just me between a machine and the ground.

SAFETY UPDATE, 19 June, 2014:

During mowing season for the last year I have used the chain/hoist technique twice a week without mishap. Today while preparing to put the mower deck under the wheels of the tractor, I wound the chain around the front bumper in a more elegant manner than my usual tangle of knots. My dad used to call the knot a “cat’s paw” but I may not have tied it correctly. As I was lowering the tractor the winding suddenly let go and slid down the chain until wheels hit floor with a thump.

This provided cause for thought: once the chain slipped one link it sent a wave of shock through the chain/bumper structure which began to vibrate my tidy wrapping into a liquid cascade of chain, quickly dropping the tractor to the floor.

All of the other times I have lashed the chain to the tractor’s bumper, I have tied it untidily and irregularly. If the chain slipped a link, no matter. It just bound itself tighter. But not this time.

I’ll make up a prefabricated chain yoke to do the job and let you know. The hoist is still a great way to lift the front of the Kubota for mower installation. I just need to work on the chain part.

20 June, 2014: $27 worth of grab hooks and 5/16″ chain seems to have produced a workable solution (See above for photos). With the new hooking system it takes me four minutes to install or remove the mower.