Cheap and Dirty Boom Lift

[ricky racer]

I wasn't able to make the auction in New Paris, the doctor put me in the hospital Thursday afternoon for observation and I didn't get out until Friday afternoon missing that part of the auction! I was pretty bummed.
I guess it just wasn't meant to be.
Bruce.

Your doctor or your wife put you in the hospital? Seriously, I hope everything is okay with your health. Regarding the T-bar, I have no idea where it came from or what it was, it was just something I found in the barn and it filled a need as I was piecing the thing together. The lift boom has sure has made my life easier around the homestead. The older I get, the better easy is…..

[staninlowerAL]

The lift boom has sure has made my life easier around the homestead. The older I get, the better easy is…..

Hydraulic and air pressure tools and devices were invented for OLD PE0PLE to enjoy life more!! I know this because I'll soon be 72 (and blessed every day).

[leerenovations]

How about some private welding lessons I can't seem to get my stick welder to lay down a bead that nice

Get a MIG, once I got my new MIG I rarely pull out the old sticker. With flux core wire I can use it anywhere.

[snoman7c]

Rick, I sure hope that your Boss where you work, realizes what a Genius he has working for him ! Your projects, I'm sure, amaze all of us on this forum. Very NICE work !

[knightentc]

I like it!! Been wanting to build something similar myself.

[Gary B]

Rick great job on the boom !!!

[Bus Driver]

Clever design to get the additional travel at the outer end of the boom. But it does reduce the lifting ability.

[ricky racer]

Rick, I sure hope that your Boss where you work, realizes what a Genius he has working for him !

Careful, don't confuse Genius with Laziness.... They say that necessity is the mother of all invention. I'm here to tell you that laziness is right up there too! Laziness is one of my main driving forces, I'm just lucky that I like to tinker and try to make things easier on myself.
Thanks for the kind word though, guys.

[TurboRoadster]

oustanding data to compare to, job well done!

[Trent M]

Ricky, thanks for the load capacity info. Good stuff!

[LeoM]

That is genius. Would you have time to take some measurements and share them ? I am going to build one, with the help of my buddy the welder. I am thinking of a shorter boom maybe 5' or 6'. Is there a reason you chose 8' ? Did you calculate the lift capacity or was that just from personal experience ? Either way this design meets so many needs it is a necessity. Thank you.

[ricky racer]

Thanks Leo. The dimensions needed are given in the body of the post. Why 8' long? I had the material laying around and it's easier to shorten it up if the length is to long than to add length if it was to short. The lifting capacities stated in the post are from actual testing. If you make a boom lift keep in mind you Touch Control will only lift so much, however once you've reached the extent of the TC's lifting ability, you can manually pull up on the boom and lift an additional amount of weight (depending on how much you can physically lift) and the TC will hold the additional weight.

[Lt.Mike]

I like it. Wish i could weld.

Nice job

Mike it's not really all that hard. Get yourself a Lincoln electric wire feed welder, read up on it and go for it! Sure your welds will look rough at first but the more you do it the better you'll get.
Fair warning though, it's addictive and fun.

Rick I like your design. It's Genius and you've kept it simple. (K.i.s.s. Theory used)
I have the same hitch and lift on my Cub.
Wish I knew of this earlier.
I have a platform on the back of my A and have wrestled an engine hoist onto it, strapped it down to make a redneck tow truck out of it. That's worked to lift and move things I otherwise couldn't but getting the engine hoist onto the platform isn't easy either.
How heavy is the boom and how easy is it to mount?
Mike

[ricky racer]

Thanks Lt.Mike, I've never weighed the lift but if i had to guess, I'd guess around 35 lbs. The box tube I used was thin wall, if I recall it was 1/8" wall. The T-bar added strength over the length.
Yes, it's easy to mount. I slide the short anchor tube into the hitch then set the long arm over the short tube and insert the 1/2" pin and connect the chain to the rock shaft.

[lliberto]

What great idea, thanks for sharing.