3-Point Hitch Boom pole lift expectations

[VroomVroom]

What weight have people lifted with their boom poles. I have a mahindra 2816, I was wondering what I could expect to lift with a boom pole. I know it would depend on the length of the boom pole, and of course safety. But generally what would one expect to lift with this. I wanted to build one to lift an engine out. What is the standard distance or length of a regular boom pole. Thanks.

 

[Baby Grand]

Depends on your tractor's 3pt lift capacity as well as your personal tolerance for failure relative to the task you are trying to do. How well built the implement is and how far back you hang the load (as you noted) will have a lot to do with your outcome. You have to make this assessment every time you use an implement based on the particulars of the job you are about to do.

I have easily lifted more than the 500# rating on my boom pole. Most recently I did so skidding out a 20' live maple trunk about 24" diameter at chest height. It was from a blowdown & I figure that was a good 3300# (assuming it would just barely float). Grabbed it at the butt end & lifted, so about 1600# on the tongs hung from the eye about 3 or 4' aft of the lower hitch pins. Probably not the smartest thing I have done, but a real motivation to weld up a proper 3pt skidder from a recently acquired HF quick hitch. This will allow me to do as I say & use the right tool for the job.

Be careful that you don't buckle it! Dropping a log in the woods is not the end of the world - dropping a good motor could be very damaging or dangerous, especially if you have helpers standing nearby.

-Jim

 

[VroomVroom]

Yeah It would be. I could work it out I suppose as well. Normally when they rate the lifting capacity they are talking about pins, would that be the ball ends of the lift arms or where the actuators link onto the lower lift arms? If I knew which one they were talking about, I would work out the torque and then weight at various distances. Im not sure how heavy the engine is. I think the 3pt is rated at 2600 lbs on the 28hp tractor. Im just not sure at which point they are rating the lift. The engine would be a few hundred pounds no doubt. Flat head 6 dodge .

 

[/pine]

I don't think you would have any problem lifting an engine with a boom pole...

I only have a small 17 HP b series and I move an old scrape blade around that weighs over 400#... can pick it up and load it on a trailer etc...


If your front wheels come off the ground...make sure you disconnected everything...

 

[VroomVroom]

Hey pine, how long is your boom pole from the 3pt hitch on your tractor?

 

[crashz]

Its a simple lever if you assume that the lower links and boom pole rotate at the same horizontal point. You know the lifting capcity at the pins is 2600lbs. So say your lower links are 3 feet long from pin to pivot point on the tractor. The availabe moment at the lower link pivot points (attached to the tractor) is 2600 lbs * 3 ft = 7800lb-ft. If your boom pole reaches 10 feet (horizontal distance) from the pivot point, that leaves you with 7800lb-ft / 10ft = 780 lbs. Variation in geometry through the 3ph may tweak this, but its a start for assuming the load capacity

 

[Runner]

Here's a thread on my home-built boom pole:

http://www.tractorbynet.com/forums/build-yourself/151776-boom-pole-my-jd2520.html

The boom pole is 8 feet long and I think I maxed out at 641 lbs on the three-point with it, however, it is designed for 1000 + lbs. It has several lifting eyes, so could probably do more on the intermediate eyes.

If I remember correctly, I think I could barely lift 473 lbs or so with it mounted on the loader.

 

[/pine]

Hey pine, how long is your boom pole from the 3pt hitch on your tractor?

Sorry I can't measure it but it's the typical 1000# capacity boom that TSC and others sell....I would guess it's about 7' ....no problem lifting loads from the bed of a pickup backed straight up, tailgate down...



...there is also a 500# capacity version available

 

[SPYDERLK]

Its a simple lever if you assume that the lower links and boom pole rotate at the same horizontal point.

However, they do not - so it isnt a simple lever. The 3ph is a parallelogram linkage which, if perfect, would lift the boompole straight up without pivot/rotation. Such a condition would quarantee a very hi % of the lift at the eyes was available at any point on the boompole. Since it is not perfect you lose about 30% behind the eyes.
larry

 

[Soundguy]

What weight have people lifted with their boom poles. I have a mahindra 2816, I was wondering what I could expect to lift with a boom pole. I know it would depend on the length of the boom pole, and of course safety. But generally what would one expect to lift with this. I wanted to build one to lift an engine out. What is the standard distance or length of a regular boom pole. Thanks.

i have an old red TSC 'KK' boom pole. said it was the 500# model, though I have lifted an 800# disc from the end before. not that I advise that. but it has done it. normally for a heavy weight I'd use the mid point comnnection.

I have rigged it with a pulley and electric winch before too. nowadays a chain over the loader bucket does my lifting for me though with no wheelies

soundguy

 

[c23380]

Lifting an engine isn't an issue as for weight. I pulled the engine out of my honda and my only issue is that 7' out there the, the ability to lift it 1/4" is not really good. My lift is smooth but, the length magnifies the amount moved. I have lifted a 275 gallon drum somewhere between 1/2 and 3/4 full of fuel oil. Had to use the hook closer to the tractor because when i lifted it at the hook out at the end, the only thing that raised up was the front of my tractor.

 

[mdelmarcelle]

However, they do not - so it isnt a simple lever. The 3ph is a parallelogram linkage which, if perfect, would lift the boompole straight up without pivot/rotation. Such a condition would quarantee a very hi % of the lift at the eyes was available at any point on the boompole. Since it is not perfect you lose about 30% behind the eyes.
larry

This never occured to me! I have always thought of it is a simple swinging arm, where the lift capacity decreases dramatically with distance. Understanding it this way helps me to understand how a 3pt can lift larger, heavier implements like a brushcutter where a considerable amount of weight is quite a ways away from the lift points. Great post!

 

[LD1]

However, they do not - so it isnt a simple lever. The 3ph is a parallelogram linkage which, if perfect, would lift the boompole straight up without pivot/rotation. Such a condition would quarantee a very hi % of the lift at the eyes was available at any point on the boompole. Since it is not perfect you lose about 30% behind the eyes.
larry

:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

 

[Baby Grand]

Yeah It would be. I could work it out I suppose as well. Normally when they rate the lifting capacity they are talking about pins, would that be the ball ends of the lift arms or where the actuators link onto the lower lift arms? If I knew which one they were talking about, I would work out the torque and then weight at various distances. Im not sure how heavy the engine is. I think the 3pt is rated at 2600 lbs on the 28hp tractor. Im just not sure at which point they are rating the lift. The engine would be a few hundred pounds no doubt. Flat head 6 dodge .

Okay - so the engine in question isn't out of a Mack Superliner. You should be fine. Just keep in mind what c23380 mentioned - that fine movements may not be an option. Another bit of excitement can be had if you hang something heavy off the end of a 7 foot pole from a single chain and start it swinging side to side - say by turning hard and then tapping the brakes. Try to attach at 2 or 3 points with the shortest lengths of chain or rope you can manage.

-Jim

 

[clemsonfor]

You can adjust fine amouts going down (at least with my tractor) but going up is sometimes more of a chalenge but can be done. Lowering can be a lot smoother of an operation so make sure your lined up and put one side in first then lower till the other is inline

 

[/pine]

If the boom pole does not have winch...a hand held (ratchet) come-a-long can be hooked to the lifing end of the boom...

 

[k0ua]

If the boom pole does not have winch...a hand held (ratchet) come-a-long can be hooked to the lifing end of the boom...

Now that makes a lot of sense, a winch or come along. or a chain hoist. to lift the motor with finesse, the boom pole just provides the "sky hook" and the transport to where you want. it.. I know it would be the only way I could lift a motor with a boom pole on my L3400, with notorious jerky 3 pt, a boom pole to actually lift the motor out of the engine bay would be a mess. Course why bother with the boom pole. just use the front end loader to begin with. That is what it is there for.

James K0UA

 

[VroomVroom]

Hey, thanks for the replies. Well, Im not sure I can get in close enough with the loader to lift the engine straight out. And I thought a boom pole is quite easy to make. I am not familar with 3pt hitchs as the old tractor we always used didnt have one. I'm more nervous of breaking the 3pt in some fashion. As for a long boom pole stuck way out behind a tractor, well, I wouldnt be lifting things too far, and if I did, it would be excrutiatingly slow to prevent swinging on those 3pt arms. I'm not quite sure where they rate the 2600lbs from, what pins are they talking about? Is it the lifting links? Is it the ball ends of the 3pt arms? If I keep the 3pt in a parrallelgram fashion, what change in height would I expect in the outer shackle of an 8 ft pole. Thanks for all the replies.

 

[LD1]

Hey, thanks for the replies. Well, Im not sure I can get in close enough with the loader to lift the engine straight out. And I thought a boom pole is quite easy to make. I am not familar with 3pt hitchs as the old tractor we always used didnt have one. I'm more nervous of breaking the 3pt in some fashion. As for a long boom pole stuck way out behind a tractor, well, I wouldnt be lifting things too far, and if I did, it would be excrutiatingly slow to prevent swinging on those 3pt arms. I'm not quite sure where they rate the 2600lbs from, what pins are they talking about? Is it the lifting links? Is it the ball ends of the 3pt arms? If I keep the 3pt in a parrallelgram fashion, what change in height would I expect in the outer shackle of an 8 ft pole. Thanks for all the replies.

1. If your 3PH is rated for 2600lbs @ the pins, that means the ball ends. Where you would attach it to the "pins" of the implement, or in this case, the boom pole.

2. If you keep it as close to parallel as possible, this will move the end of the boom pole the slowest and least distance. It will also give it the greatest lift force. So if your tractor has mutiple points to attach a toplink on the tractor, the highest setting will give you the slowest/least movement. As well as making the TL as long as you can and still have enough threaded together as to NOT come appart.

 

[VroomVroom]

I have to read up the specs again, thats quite a lot of weight at the ball ends. Quite impressive.