Transporting a 1917 South Bend 15" Lathe

[Maui]

I just purchased this 15" South Bend lathe at an estate sale. It came with a boatload of accessories. It's been well cared for, and is in good working condition. The only problem I have is moving it from the estate sale location to my pole barn, which is about an hour drive. It weighs approximately 1,500 lbs without any of the tooling or motor. I have a set of casters that I can fit beneath it to roll it as well as a come along to load it onto and off of a trailer. I decided to have a trailer hitch mounted to my 1969 Ford Galaxie and rent a trailer from U-Haul to pick up the lathe and transport it. But I have no idea where to go to get a trailer hitch installed on my car. I live in upstate New York. I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions about what type of trailer hitch to buy, and what places to go to have it installed properly? I am open to suggestions. Thanks for any insight you can provide.

Maui

 

[ez-duzit]

Have a professional machinery mover do this.

 

[larry_g]

Look at my build below and you will see a drop deck trailer that I used to move my equipment. I highly recommend it. That said I'm going to say that if you have never done this before that professional help is not a bad recommendation. That is a good looking lathe and you might consider disassembling it for moving as its perty easy to pull apart. Move the chunks with a cherry picker. Read about Stroutys experience moving a lathe somewhere on here. Let me save you the trouble of looking :

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=225100&highlight=lathe

lg
no neat sig line

 

[Maui]

I have moved a lathe of this size before. But I haven't done it with my own equipment. Thanks for the link Larry - I'll take a look.

Maui

 

[oldldh]

If all else fails...

Your local "Flatbed Wrecker" service might be able to handle the job...

U-Haul does trailer hitches...

You need a Class III hitch, at the minimum...

Be very careful moving your lathe...

 

[A_Pmech]

Beware that U-haul is very **** about what vehicle you hitch to their trailers. If it isn't listed as "compatible" on their computer, you're screwed as they won't rent the trailer.

 

[MadMechMaster]

Unless you want the hitch for other reasons, just rent the truck too.

 

[Regnar]

Flat bed wrecker to pick it up and push it off the back into a Uhaul Box Truck. When you get to your destination call a flat bed wrecker to off load it.

Uhual's Car haulers are empty in the middle so you cant use that. Uhuals other trailer ramps will never support the weight of the lathe so you have to make ramps for it.

Some things to think about bringing with you are iron pipes, car jacks some 2x6s and 2x10s. Lathes are top heavy so try to break it down as much as you can before transport.

 

[zkling]

I don't know much about the hitch, but just a heads up on making sure you have it anchored down in every direction. It will be very top heavy and tippy. Tail stock comes off or locks down easily. Carrage/saddle locks easily. Motor should come off easily to centralize weight. Don't lift by the spindle. Have fun, be safe, enjoy your new machine.

Beware that U-haul is very **** about what vehicle you hitch to their trailers. If it isn't listed as "compatible" on their computer, you're screwed as they won't rent the trailer.

I want to see the look on their face when he pulls up in the 69 galaxie. "Uhm, I'm sorry sir our records only go back to 1981"

 

[G_P]

Just hire a machinery transport company or have a tow company move it on a rollback. Tow companies are used to hauling big toolboxes between shops so a lathe is doable if you can get dollies under it.

Uhaul is going to just look at you funny and maybe laugh when you tell them what you are towing with and if you tell them 1500lb lathe as cargo they will probably refuse on those grounds too as you are likely to destroy their trailer if you tip the lathe over on it.

 

[A_Pmech]

I want to see the look on their face when he pulls up in the 69 galaxie. "Uhm, I'm sorry sir our records only go back to 1981"

I had that problem.

In my case it was a 1980 C-20. "Not in our computer sir, but we do have a 1981 C-20."

Close enough.

 

[zkling]

I had that problem.

In my case it was a 1980 C-20. "Not in our computer sir, but we do have a 1981 C-20."

Close enough.

At least that is a truck. The Galaxie on the other hand, not so much. O to be a fly on the wall in that conversation. Every once in a while you'll see a mustang or the like with a hitch. I mean the power is now doubt there, but it's just not what most would associate as a towing vehicle.

 

[G_P]

Several Uhaul places flat out refused to believe that you can put a hitch on an 86 Monte Carlo. Finally found one where an old guy was working the counter and he rented to us.

 

[scottv]

Rent a U-Hall pick up or van to pull the trailer. It would be cheaper.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I just purchased this 15" South Bend lathe at an estate sale. It came with a boatload of accessories. It's been well cared for, and is in good working condition. The only problem I have is moving it from the estate sale location to my pole barn, which is about an hour drive. It weighs approximately 1,500 lbs without any of the tooling or motor. I have a set of casters that I can fit beneath it to roll it as well as a come along to load it onto and off of a trailer.
Maui

These lathes are VERY top heavy. I would avoid the skates as it is very easy to tip the lathe over.

If I were doing it, I would bolt heavy wood runners left to right connecting the legs so I could roll it on small diameter pipes. I would also put wood outriggers sticking out front to back. You want the end of the outriggers to almost touch the ground so that it will prevent the lathe from tipping over. Rolling it a few small pipes is quite easy. Search the web or practicalmachinst.com for examples.

Make sure to use LOTS of quality ratchet straps for a holding it to the trailer. Also you might consider bringing extra wood, saws, screws etc. and build a frame in the trailer that boxes in the legs to the sides of the trailer so it cannot slide sideways.

If you can rent a drop deck trailer, it makes the move so much easier. Attached is photo of one from the web. These are available in single and dual axle versions. Usually they want you to use a 3/4 ton pickup for the dual axle versions.


Good Luck!

 

[Steinmetz]

I just purchased this 15" South Bend lathe at an estate sale. It came with a boatload of accessories. It's been well cared for, and is in good working condition. The only problem I have is moving it from the estate sale location to my pole barn, which is about an hour drive. It weighs approximately 1,500 lbs without any of the tooling or motor. I have a set of casters that I can fit beneath it to roll it as well as a come along to load it onto and off of a trailer. I decided to have a trailer hitch mounted to my 1969 Ford Galaxie and rent a trailer from U-Haul to pick up the lathe and transport it. But I have no idea where to go to get a trailer hitch installed on my car. I live in upstate New York. I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions about what type of trailer hitch to buy, and what places to go to have it installed properly? I am open to suggestions. Thanks for any insight you can provide.

Maui

Let U-Haul install the hitch also.

 

[rsanter]

If it was me....
I have moved several pieces of equipment over the years and that is what I would look at doing
Take off the motor, tailstock, compound, chuck, and any other easily removable items/componets.
Get a pickup and a cherry picker
Get the lathe to the back of the pickup and lift enough with the cherry picker to get the legs off and slide it into the back,of the truck.

Do the reverse when you get home

Bob

 

[rodm1]

You should be able to remove the legs then bolt it to 4x4s.

 

[Maui]

I think that my best bet is to follow the approach suggested by rsanter. I've rented a cargo van from U-Haul with a load capacity of 3,500 lbs. I'll buy a folding cherry picker from Sears and remove one of the legs with the other leg on casters, and then slide the lathe onto some sturdy pieces of wood in the back of the van. Then remove the other leg, slide it the rest of the way in, and transport it. When I arrive at my destination I'll do the reverse. The cherry picker I plan on getting is this one:

http://www.sears.com/dragway-tools-...-SPM5941511505?prdNo=1&blockNo=1&blockType=G1

I'm heading out to the place I bought the lathe at tomorrow after work to get the casters mounted onto the feet and prep the lathe for pick-up later in the week. I'll take some photos to share and let you know how I made out. Thanks again to everyone for the excellent advice. It is appreciated.

Maui

 

[Regnar]

If you don't need a cherry picker you could always borrow one from autozone or other parts stores.

 

[jakemac]

Take pictures of the move - We want to see !!

 

[JonnFX]

Yep, a drop trailer, like what tool_scrounge showed, and a Johnson bar are your friends.

 

[rsanter]

Use a sling in the webbing of the bed toward the head of the machine.
If you have to use a chain then be sure to have some towels or padding to put between the chain and the metal of the machine.
Do not have a chain anywhere on any precision machined surface or shaft

Bob

 

[Maui]

We successfully moved the lathe yesterday. I'd like to thank everybody for their helpful advice. I took a few photos along the way to show what we did. I rented a U-Haul cargo van to transport the lathe. It worked beautifully. We jacked up the lathe with two hydraulic jacks and put the lathe on casters. I should point out that I was wrong about one thing in my original description - it's a 16" lathe, not a 15". It was more difficult to get rolling than I thought it would be since it weighed about 1700 lbs. We parked the van outside the garage because it was too tall to fit inside. But that actually worked out in our favor - the driveway sloped downhill. In the first photo you can see how we supported the lathe on a jack stand and removed the leg. Then we backed the van up slightly to get the lathe over the bed of the van for support. We used two broken wooden broom handles to roll the lathe forward over the plywood sheets that we placed on the floor of the van. Once we rolled it far enough in to properly support it, we took the other leg off and I just pushed it by myself the rest of the way into the van. We drove about an hour over some choppy roads to the intended destination, and then reversed the procedure. It worked like a charm.

 

[ez-duzit]

Wonderful machine!

 

[thejudges69]

If your not familiar you shouldn't dabble. I've hauled several lathes, presses, punches and so on. I've also seen inexperienced people almost or have accident. People can get severely hurt if your not careful glad you got it moved safely.

 

[Maui]

I should also mention there was a full set of change gears, small and large face plates with lathe dogs, a huge 3 jaw chuck that is much larger than the four jaw that you see in the photos, a huge number of drill bits, some lathe bits, wrenches, steel and bronze bar stock material, etc. I bought the lathe and all of the tooling for $170, and spent less than $100 for renting the U-Haul van.

 

[A_Pmech]

Maui,

Looks like it worked out in the end. Glad to see you got it safely home. Now the fun begins.

 

[drivesitfar]

very nice lathe. thanks for sharing the pictures of the unloading with the dowels under it in the van, the two hydraulic jacks and dollies.

i really like what little of that shop i can see in the pictures. i rarely see real plywood clean walls and lots of space. take your time filling it up with some quality tools and looking forward to seeing some good stuff.

Maui was one of my favorite spots too. on our honeymoon we bought T-shirts that said Camp Kaanipalli (sp?) survival training on $500 a day and with my golf fees we were not surviving.

only been there once 26 years ago and have been saving up to go again, but now it looks like i need a lathe instead.

 

[Maui]

Thanks everyone. I've been to Maui twice and would go back again in a heartbeat. And it's already been 10 years since I was there. I think it may be time for another visit.

 

[bczygan]

I just purchased this 15" South Bend lathe at an estate sale. It came with a boatload of accessories. It's been well cared for, and is in good working condition. The only problem I have is moving it from the estate sale location to my pole barn, which is about an hour drive. It weighs approximately 1,500 lbs without any of the tooling or motor. I have a set of casters that I can fit beneath it to roll it as well as a come along to load it onto and off of a trailer. I decided to have a trailer hitch mounted to my 1969 Ford Galaxie and rent a trailer from U-Haul to pick up the lathe and transport it. But I have no idea where to go to get a trailer hitch installed on my car. I live in upstate New York. I was wondering if anyone here had any suggestions about what type of trailer hitch to buy, and what places to go to have it installed properly? I am open to suggestions. Thanks for any insight you can provide.

Maui

I don't know what means you have for loading or unloading, but lathes are very top heavy. Ask me how I know. A tilt bed won't do. If you have means for loading and unloading, a flat fixed deck trailer will work, but no ramps.

But BY FAR the easiest method is a hydraulic lift bed trailer. They make them and rent them as small as 4x9.

https://www.sunbeltrentals.com/equipment/detail/1413/0240130/4ft-x-9ft-lift-bed-single-axle-trailer/

Look around at equipment rental places for one. They are used to transport lifts a lot.

I moved a Bridgeport with one and will never move heavy equipment any other way.

 

[404]

Glad to see you got this done safely. For future readers, Lathes in general are very top heavy. Many laths have the center of gravity well above the underside of the bed. If these lathes are picked up with a forklift under the bed, they can and will roll over, fall off the forklift and break pieces off when they drop.


The green drop deck trailer shown above was how I got my milling machine home. Well worth it when getting the mill off the trailer at home.

 

[chrispyny]

Maui, where in upstate ny area you ?

 

[Zeke]

This thread is a year old.

 

[chrispyny]

This thread is a year old.

Haha. I didnt see the 2014 in the date. Dang!

 

[fasteddie313]

I bought the lathe and all of the tooling for $170, and spent less than $100 for renting the U-Haul van.

 

[Maui]

Chrispyny, I'm north of Syracuse in Oswego. It's right on lake Ontario.

Maui

 

[404]

This thread is a year old.

And yet, here we are.

 

[raddksn]

Let see the galaxie!

 

[bczygan]

Let see the galaxie!

Good threads never die.

We just keep stitching on more posts.