I was looking for different types of buckets for my loader. I came across forklift tines and attachments. Work Platform (s) from AMH: Wholesale, Guaranteed, Ships Today! .. would it be safe to put forklift attachment on the loader and use one of these platforms?? or would the chance of the tines tipping cause the platform to fall off with people in it? Or what? Anyone thought about this or would it be safe or insane?
forklift platform and FEL??
- Thread starter Charles
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I guess basically what I am asking, Would you trust the hydrolics to run smoothly enough and be stable enough to do what i am asking? If your Fel lifts 10 feet, then you could use a platform to trim branches and so on. I am talking about a decent sized FEL like a backhoe size...
California
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I think you will find a safety sticker on your loader saying don't use it for a manlift.
And personal experience: I worked out of an employer-fabricated manlift cage on the front of a forklift one morning, installing a complex second story window.
Then when I went to move the forklift to the next window, the whole forks carriage, manlift and all, fell down the forklift mast. I found a fresh, broken, slaggy weld where the lift chain met the fork carriage - on top of many prior broken welds. That employer must have injured a few employees before my close call, and never told me anything about the risk. I insisted on scaffolding for the rest of the project. Moral of the story - if it isn't certified for lifting people, I wouldn't use it above maybe three feet off the ground where a tumble, basket and all, wouldn't kill me.
And personal experience: I worked out of an employer-fabricated manlift cage on the front of a forklift one morning, installing a complex second story window.
Then when I went to move the forklift to the next window, the whole forks carriage, manlift and all, fell down the forklift mast. I found a fresh, broken, slaggy weld where the lift chain met the fork carriage - on top of many prior broken welds. That employer must have injured a few employees before my close call, and never told me anything about the risk. I insisted on scaffolding for the rest of the project. Moral of the story - if it isn't certified for lifting people, I wouldn't use it above maybe three feet off the ground where a tumble, basket and all, wouldn't kill me.
Absolutly, I have spent hundreds of hours in a basket like those that I made. I primarily use it on a skidloader but have put it on a FEL also.
J_J
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You probably can, but you must consider the fact, that the loader cylinders might leak down, and slowly tip the basket. You should always chain the man-lift to the fork frame. You could put shut of valves in line to the lift cylinders, to prevent any fluid from leaking out of the cylinders, through the loader valve. That will not prevent some cylinders from bypassing and maybe tilting the man-lift, even with good valves. If your loader valves have zero leak down, it might work OK for you. It is done all the time, whether it is safe or not is debatable.
Egon
Epic Contributor
Try using one on a commercial job site! 
The loader valves are not fail safe and can let you come down in a hurry.
Many folks do use their loader but it may not be the best idea!
There have been other threads on the same subject basically deteriorating to "Yes I can"/ " No you shouldn't"
The loader valves are not fail safe and can let you come down in a hurry.
Many folks do use their loader but it may not be the best idea!
There have been other threads on the same subject basically deteriorating to "Yes I can"/ " No you shouldn't"
Try using one on a commercial job site!
They are used on forklift, offroad forklifts and Lulls all the time.
Ok, so its possible but there are dangers associated with it.. I am a FEL noob so I was curious. I guess you make it as safe as you can, with chains, valves, a belt tie off and so on. Everything has risk, so as long as I am aware of the risks associated, I will be better prepaired to deal with them. I wouldnt be using this method that often, but I do see where it would have its uses.
Charlie
Charlie
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I use a platform manlift on my skid steer and FEL. My manlift is 8' tall to the floor of the lift with 3' tall guard rails around the platform. The platform is 4x4'. This translates to a 9' FEL height, 8' raised platform and 6' person is around 23' and can still reach a couple feet higher. Platform is chained to my pallet forks. It can be tricky to keep the platform level when raising because little movements in the curl/dump cylinder moves the top of the platform a fair distance. It works best with self leveling loaders and skid steers. I know it may not be the safest but I honestly feel much safer than trying to work off a ladder at that height.
mjncad
Super Member
Charlie:
Any machinery is dangerous, even used properly; but you answered your own question quite well by knowing that risks are involved and whether you are willing to accept them or not.
As others have said, chain things up to minimize movement. If you are going to be working alone, you will need a ladder to get into your manlift. With that in mind, fabricate an adjustable jackstand to place underneath to keep the manlift from falling if the hydraulics let go.
shane
Gold Member
I just love these little safety debates. Everything in life is a calculated risk. Getting in a car every day is far more dangerous, even with all the safety gizmos, than most everything we come up with here on TBN yet folks don't seem to stop driving.
J_J
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What gets me is that there are some on here that are always worried about the safety police. Their comments reflect what they may not do, but how many follow their own rules, and never break any safety rules. Yet those same people will drive above the speed limit risking other peoples lives, and even drink while doing it. One does what one has to do with what is available. What are you gong to do when you get in a hurry, or get old and can't remember all the rules. What are you going to do, call a boom truck to put that sign up high, etc.
mwb
Platinum Member
I made one and I find it really nice to work from. My platform has slots that the forks fit through so it can't flip off if you stand at one end; it is also chained from sliding off (it would be one thing if you fell off the front but having the platform follow you down just adds insult to injury). I do not move the tractor or hydraulics while anyone is on it. As a matter of fact I am the only one who has been on it and nobody is allowed near the tractor (wife, kids). I raise the platform to the desired height and shut it down; use a ladder to get onto it. Worked really well for installing soffit and fascia.
I really should put a guard rail around it though
My platform only reaches 8' - so far I can still bounce from that height.Lately I mostly use it as a work bench; works good for putting a snowmobile on and lifting it to a nice work height and then block it up.
Egon
Epic Contributor
They are used on forklift, offroad forklifts and Lulls all the time./QUOTE]
Do these machines have the proper set ups for fail safe operation?? If not the fellows checking the safety factors will shut you down.
But I can do it because I inspected the equipment and it was good!
Here hold my can of beer while you lift me up to change the lights!
They are used on forklift, offroad forklifts and Lulls all the time./QUOTE]
Do these machines have the proper set ups for fail safe operation?? If not the fellows checking the safety factors will shut you down.
They must be kosher with OSHA because I see them all the time.
But really just because OSHA doesn't approve of it doesn't mean it can't be done safely with common sense. OSHA is the gov't and common sense doesn't come into play.
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Forklifts and Lulls have velocity fuses and/or flow control valves to stop or slow hydraulic flow should a catastrophic hydraulic failure take place. I have never seen either on a CUT.
Driving a car is not more dangerous. People spend more time in cars than in a man-up platform on a CUT. I could care less if people go on these things. All it means is that there is a better chance of me collecting my Social Security when the time comes.
If anyone knew their history they would know that OSHA came to be in 1970 because people did not use common sense! I'm not saying that they are perfect but workplace deaths and injuries plummetted after they got involved.
Driving a car is not more dangerous. People spend more time in cars than in a man-up platform on a CUT. I could care less if people go on these things. All it means is that there is a better chance of me collecting my Social Security when the time comes.
If anyone knew their history they would know that OSHA came to be in 1970 because people did not use common sense! I'm not saying that they are perfect but workplace deaths and injuries plummetted after they got involved.
Here is a thread on the one I built with some more info from others. I love the thing! I dont know if i would do one with the forsks that mount to the bucket, but if you could get some forks that mount to the loader arms then I would go as high as the tractor could reach
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/120149-handiest-thing-i-ever-built.html
http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/120149-handiest-thing-i-ever-built.html
J_J
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For anyone that is interested, they do make a radio remote control to control hydraulic cylinders. Such a unit might be used in the man lifts, as long as the tractor is running. This is something that would be controlling an electric valve. Once you hook it up, you get in the cage, and press up button, and you go up. You would set the speed of lift by tractor rpm. The lift stops when you release the up button. To go down, press the down button, and you descend to the ground, and release the button. Although it cost around $400 , it may be useful, and save you time and money in the long run.
You could also run a manual switch line up to the man lift.
Bailey Hydraulic Cylinders Manufacturer
See Valves-Electronic valves # 301-114
You could also run a manual switch line up to the man lift.
Bailey Hydraulic Cylinders Manufacturer
See Valves-Electronic valves # 301-114
I like it.
