FLtractor 56 #1 Posted Friday at 07:34 PM (edited) Afternoon, Anyone ever use a hoist such a this to lift a garden tractor by using a 4 way sling that could firmly and safely support the weight? Edited Friday at 08:13 PM by FLtractor 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gasaholic 297 #2 Posted Friday at 08:04 PM 28 minutes ago, FLtractor said: Afternoon, Anyone ever use a hoist such a this to lift a garden tractor by using a 4 way sling that could firmly and safely support the weight? I'm assuming there's a picture somewhere but it didn't make it into the post? I somehow suspect you refer to a shop crane/ engine hoist? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLtractor 56 #3 Posted Friday at 08:13 PM 8 minutes ago, Gasaholic said: I'm assuming there's a picture somewhere but it didn't make it into the post? I somehow suspect you refer to a shop crane/ engine hoist? Forgot to post .. fixed see above Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 42,024 #4 Posted Friday at 08:37 PM Never used an engine hoist to lift an entire tractor, but till you got the required rigging on, I don't think you would have much lift height remaining. I use a small overhead hoist to lift the front end only for installing and removing decks. To lift the entire tractor, I think you would be better served to use a garden tractor lift or a scissor lift table if you want it higher. 4 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FLtractor 56 #5 Posted Friday at 08:57 PM 19 minutes ago, Ed Kennell said: Never used an engine hoist to lift an entire tractor, but till you got the required rigging on, I don't think you would have much lift height remaining. I use a small overhead hoist to lift the front end only for installing and removing decks. To lift the entire tractor, I think you would be better served to use a garden tractor lift or a scissor lift table if you want it higher. Good point about lift height and the hydraulic table.. thinking of different ways I could remove and replace the rear tires and remove the deck eventually. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ri702bill 9,445 #6 Posted Friday at 09:42 PM An old fashion floor jack works well for removing rear tires. Just be careful as the tractors tend to be right side heavy and the frame will revolve on the front axle pivot pin.... 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
JoeM 8,347 #7 Posted Friday at 10:29 PM 45 minutes ago, ri702bill said: frame will revolve on the front axle pivot pin I have a couple door stop shaped wood wedges that I tap in the gaps between the frame and the top of the front axle. 4 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 60,069 #8 Posted Friday at 11:07 PM 1 hour ago, ri702bill said: An old fashion floor jack works well for removing rear tires. Just be careful as the tractors tend to be right side heavy and the frame will revolve on the front axle pivot pin.... Once the first tire comes off the other side WILL go down so don't jack the rear any higher than needed. I prefer to jack the rear up and use jackstands or cribbing under both sides to stabilize the frame prior to doing any work. I use my engine hoist to lift the front end for mower removal / instal like @Ed Kennell. 2 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 42,024 #9 Posted Friday at 11:26 PM 17 minutes ago, 953 nut said: I use my engine hoist to lift the front end for mower removal / install Can you roll the deck in and out from the front with the engine lift? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
SylvanLakeWH 28,440 #10 Posted Saturday at 09:53 AM Here's what I use for decks. Harbor Freight pick up truck crane mounted on 2" hitch winch plate: Works great! 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 60,069 #11 Posted Saturday at 10:59 AM 11 hours ago, Ed Kennell said: Can you roll the deck in and out from the front with the engine lift? I turn the deck and roll the hoist over with the deck between the legs then attach a sling around the mule drive to lift the front. Once it is high enough I roll the lift and Wheel Horse back and twist the deck into alignment. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gasaholic 297 #12 Posted Saturday at 11:29 AM Hmm.. I find all that to be too much work for R&R the deck - I always just slid it in from the side (which side depends on which side the deck height adjuster is on) far faster than hooking up a lift... As far as a lift for service work, I've been thinking to make one (out of wood, who needs steel.. other than the hardware and lift screw) just so I'm not bending over my tractors for extended periods (hard on my bad back) but as infrequently as I'd work on my tractors, I just can't justify the shop space one would take up.. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 3,261 #13 Posted Saturday at 11:32 AM (edited) I would not think using an engine hoist to lift a tractor would work well. I agree you will have too much length in the rigging to get it very high, and you will need to have the boom very far out. The weight ratings at the different boom length are what the ram can lift, and often much lower than the actual weight at which the assembly becomes unbalanced. To lift an axle for tire service this is at best the wrong tool that might do the job, but poorly, akin to using a large wrench as a hammer. A floor jack with proper support is far better, and they don't get too unbalanced. My kids can both hold the tractor level while it is on a jack. To lift a tractor the whole way off the ground, you can go ahead and try, but please do it far away from me. To get the deck out, detach it, turn the front wheels the whole way to the right, and slip the deck out from the left. Sometimes tipping it up a little bit to clear the lift link is required, but that's all the more "lifting" I've ever had to do on my 855. Edited Saturday at 11:35 AM by adsm08 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Ed Kennell 42,024 #14 Posted Saturday at 11:58 AM 23 minutes ago, Gasaholic said: hard on my bad back) Mine too. That's why I don't attempt to slide my decks in and out from the side while on my bad knees. Just roll it in from the front. 3 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
953 nut 60,069 #15 Posted Saturday at 12:17 PM 43 minutes ago, Gasaholic said: I find all that to be too much work for R&R the deck - I always just slid it in from the side When I was younger I did it that way too. Now I am 80 years old, have had a stroke and need a bit of mechanical help to do the job, but I can still get-r- done. 5 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
clueless 3,248 #16 Posted Saturday at 02:23 PM (edited) 2 hours ago, 953 nut said: When I was younger I did it that way too. Now I am 80 years old, have had a stroke and need a bit of mechanical help to do the job, but I can still get-r- done. I think Gasaholic may be a bit younger than a lot of us here, but those days coming. Edited Saturday at 02:36 PM by clueless 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Gasaholic 297 #17 Posted Saturday at 06:45 PM 4 hours ago, clueless said: I think Gasaholic may be a bit younger than a lot of us here, but those days coming. Could be. Im a couple years shy of 60 , but my back is seriously messed up (3 fractured vertebra) as well as radiiculopathy and knees that give out when they feel like it (usually in winter) but I can quite easily minimize the effort with a bit of rope and a long pry bar (or a Peavey) - can still drag deck under and out in less time than it'd take to unfold a shop hoist and rig up the sling (not to mention clearing space in the garage to do the trick and I'd still have to lift and position the deck to roll 'er under - so my deck R&R's happen outside) so the hardest part of putting the deck on is getting it lined up for the tach-a-matic hitch and then putting the belt on (both which require getting down on the knees and bending over either way you slice it) Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Marv 982 #18 Posted Sunday at 12:10 AM 9 hours ago, clueless said: I think Gasaholic may be a bit younger than a lot of us here, but those days coming. Sneaked up on me real quick.. Almost didn't see it coming. Hasn't slowed down either. i can't run fast enough to stay ahead of it. Marv 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
adsm08 3,261 #19 Posted Sunday at 01:51 AM 7 hours ago, Gasaholic said: so the hardest part of putting the deck on is getting it lined up for the tach-a-matic hitch and then putting the belt on (both which require getting down on the knees and bending over either way you slice it) I lay down, roll the anti-scalp wheel up on a piece of 2x4, and that holds it in just the right spot to line the bar up with the frame brackets. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites