Lifting a lawn tractor with a harbor freight engine hoist?

[ukiltmybrutha]

Hey, I am trying to pick up my lawn tractor using this engine hoist:

2 ton Capacity Foldable Shop Crane

Amazing deals on this 2T Foldable Shop Crane at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

If I remove the front legs, the back wheels come of the hoist come off the ground. If I put the legs back on, the lawn tractors tires get in the way.

Any ideas or do I just need to use something else? I need to get to hard to reach places and my jack stands and suv floor jack just don't cut it.

Thanks.

 

[shawhite]

Maybe jack up the tractor enough to get the front wheels of the engine hoist under it.

 

[CN Spots]

Are you wanting to string it up like a deer or just raise the front enough to get under it to change belts? I've got one of the HF lawn mower lifts that's proven to be extremely helpful for belt changes. I've used a hoist before but it was sketchy and hard to work around.

 

[no704]

put one front on?

 

[Doc]

I have done this but I added a strap to the front /rear and lifted with that. So I could clear the legs.

 

[cjarvis]

Are you wanting to string it up like a deer or just raise the front enough to get under it to change belts? I've got one of the HF lawn mower lifts that's proven to be extremely helpful for belt changes. I've used a hoist before but it was sketchy and hard to work around.

If you’re trying to do what I think you are, the lawn mower lift will be what you need, otherwise you’ll wind up killing yourself.

 

[Renegade1LI]

How high do you want to go? I would get the HF gantry which is a great bang for the buck, if you have the room. Another option is their hydraulic table or motorcycle lift. With a few mods the mc lift is very handy and can be stored upright. The hydraulic table is another must have for the shop, add a couple 4 x 4 and you can lift up the tractor easily, just a few options.

 

[mike93lx]

Trying to use an engine hoist with the legs removed tells us that you should never be using an engine hoist.

They are absolutely required.

What are you actually trying to accomplish with this?

 

[JeepYJ]

Lay a sheet of plywood over the legs. Drive mower up on plywood. Lift it up.
I wouldn’t get under there with only the hoist’s hydraulic cylinder supporting it.

 

[AA/FC]

Trying to use an engine hoist with the legs removed tells us that you should never be using an engine hoist.

They are absolutely required.

What are you actually trying to accomplish with this?

Yeah, I hate to be negative, but....... for someone to think an engine hoist is still usable with the legs completely removed is not good.

.

 

[Aileron]

The Titan table used to come with side adapters,I put my x350 up on it last year.

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[jd_1138]

Yeah, I hate to be negative, but....... for someone to think an engine hoist is still usable with the legs completely removed is not good.

.

Yep, the entire center of gravity is all different, and the weight isn't distributed well -- without the legs. It would be unstable meaning the load will fall.

 

[Crabman]

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/lawn%20tractor%20lift?

 

[cjarvis]

Guessing by the lack of a response from the OP, “ukiltmybrutha” is now “Ikiltmyself”…

 

[sparky 1971]

I've never really been one to follow safety protocols so, this is what I would do. Get the tractor as close as possible, lower the crane, put a clevis in the hitch part of the tractor, hook the clevis to the crane with as short as possible chain. As the tractor goes up, it should roll back and under the hoist. Make sure the wheels are straight. It might be a ***** getting it back on the floor though. I'd rig up something though, probably try to lower it on to a low profile jack.

I've never picked up any of my mowers with an engine hoist, but all of them (3) go in the air at least twice a year using my chain hoist. Getting the blades off and on for sharpening is a breeze.

 

[Leaflessshadetree]

Honestly I don't like the idea. The legs of the lift will get in the way of you getting to anything under the mower. How big is the mower and why do you want to lift it?
The few times I had to lift a mower a conventional jack, stands or ramps worked fine.

 

[AA/FC]

How big of a lawn mower are we talking about here? Is it basically your typical home owner grade front engine riding lawn mower? Or are we talking about a larger tractor with possibly a diesel engine, rear PTO, maybe a 3 point hitch, etc, etc? If it's your typical "big box store" riding lawn mower.... I just pick those things up myself and set them on a set of jack stands. They're not very heavy....

 

[ItsNemo]

Yep, the entire center of gravity is all different, and the weight isn't distributed well -- without the legs. It would be unstable meaning the load will fall.

The engine hoist will tip over long before you lift even 100lbs

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

I ended up simply approaching the lawn tractor from the side and then picking it up with a towing ******** one wheel and it worked perfect.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Guessing by the lack of a response from the OP, “ukiltmybrutha” is now “Ikiltmyself”…

Lol, I wouldn't go that far but good one.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Trying to use an engine hoist with the legs removed tells us that you should never be using an engine hoist.

They are absolutely required.

What are you actually trying to accomplish with this?

You are grandstanding a bit. Not everyone knows everything and I am just here to learn.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Are you wanting to string it up like a deer or just raise the front enough to get under it to change belts? I've got one of the HF lawn mower lifts that's proven to be extremely helpful for belt changes. I've used a hoist before but it was sketchy and hard to work around.

Like a deer. I really needed to see the entire mower as opposed to tipping it on it's side or working under it with jackstands.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

I

How big of a lawn mower are we talking about here? Is it basically your typical home owner grade front engine riding lawn mower? Or are we talking about a larger tractor with possibly a diesel engine, rear PTO, maybe a 3 point hitch, etc, etc? If it's your typical "big box store" riding lawn mower.... I just pick those things up myself and set them on a set of jack stands. They're not very heavy....

The lawn tractor is a big box store one and weighs 590 lbs. You must be a very strong guy.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/search/lawn%20tractor%20lift?

Yeah had thought about it but starting to run out of floor space.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

If you’re trying to do what I think you are, the lawn mower lift will be what you need, otherwise you’ll wind up killing yourself.

Still alive. My brutha died though.

 

[mike93lx]

You are grandstanding a bit. Not everyone knows everything and I am just here to learn.

This isn't grandstanding.

When you have no clue how a tool works, especially one that can kill you, you should learn something about it before using it. Like reading a manual, at the minimum

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

This isn't grandstanding.

When you have no clue how a tool works, especially one that can kill you, you should learn something about it before using it. Like reading a manual, at the minimum

It is truly a form of moral grandstanding. For all of your "concern", the task was completed. Your comment is actually very cliché. It's like saying that someone can never use a screwdriver in their life again because they once used it as a prybar 20 years ago. Now go elsewhere and make sure that you search around on the internet and find each person who went under a car once with a floorjack and no jacktands and help them too. Tell them to go turn their wrenches in to you and to RTFM too. Make sure you go on Youtube and comment on every video where they are making a mistake and ensure that they turn in their license to the tool police's very own Sgt. Mike while at it.

 

[mike93lx]

It is truly a form of moral grandstanding. For all of your "concern", the task was completed. Your comment is actually very cliché. It's like saying that someone can never use a screwdriver in their life again because they once used it as a prybar 20 years ago. Now go elsewhere and make sure that you search around on the internet and find each person who went under a car once with a floorjack and no jacktands and help them too. Tell them to go turn their wrenches in to you and to RTFM too. Make sure you go on Youtube and comment on every video where they are making a mistake and ensure that they turn in their license to the tool police's very own Sgt. Mike while at it.

Glad it worked out so great for you. Best of luck

 

[AA/FC]

I

The lawn tractor is a big box store one and weighs 590 lbs. You must be a very strong guy.

Well, I guess I'm a strong guy then. lol. I don't pick up the entire machine at once, only one end at a time....

 

[Slednut]

I remove the mowing deck first, usually leaves enough room to get the hoist under the mower.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

Here is how I went about it. You guys do have me thinking of the impact of failed hydraulics, I will say that. The second time I wrapped it around one of the axles. It moved around more but no jacking it up first.

 

[Bad Eye Bill]

Well, I guess I'm a strong guy then. lol. I don't pick up the entire machine at once, only one end at a time....

My brother and I have picked up an entire machine and put it into a truck many times.

 

[JeepYJ]

I loaded this free roadside find LX188 into a Toyota Sienna by myself. Had the mower deck too that I strode on edge alongside the tractor. And I’m not a strong guy. Work smarter not harder as they say.

 

[isb cornbinder]

Yeah, I hate to be negative, but....... for someone to think an engine hoist is still usable with the legs completely removed is not good.

.

You are anything but negative. I would call it observant. I think it may be time to get the Darwin Award nomination list out.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

My brother and I have picked up an entire machine and put it into a truck many times.

You are anything but negative. I would call it observant. I think it may be time to get the Darwin Award nomination list out.

That doesn't in any way preclude me from feeling sorry for your mother.

 

[isb cornbinder]

There is a thread in this forum about lending out tools.
My wife's company lawyer told us that I/we have a responsibility to make absolutely sure the person borrowing the tools fully understands the tool and how it applies to the situation. I can be held responsible for harm and or damage to the borrower and his property.
The maker/seller of the hoist likely has liability insurance. The insurer can and will tie a civil action up in the courts until the other party "blinks". I cannot afford to do this. My insurance does not cover lending tools.

 

[ukiltmybrutha]

I loaded this free roadside find LX188 into a Toyota Sienna by myself. Had the mower deck too that I strode on edge alongside the tractor. And I’m not a strong guy. Work smarter not harder as they say.

Great, you do you.

 

[isb cornbinder]

That doesn't in any way preclude me from feeling sorry for your mother.

Forget mother. If you need someone to feel sorry for, think of my dad. He married her.

 

[Badger 13]

Unless I missed it, what is the objective, working under it, or loading it into a vehicle ? If you need something to just raise it, the MoJack lift systems are great, and secure to work under the tractor.

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[Firebrick43]

It is truly a form of moral grandstanding. For all of your "concern", the task was completed. Your comment is actually very cliché. It's like saying that someone can never use a screwdriver in their life again because they once used it as a prybar 20 years ago. Now go elsewhere and make sure that you search around on the internet and find each person who went under a car once with a floorjack and no jacktands and help them too. Tell them to go turn their wrenches in to you and to RTFM too. Make sure you go on Youtube and comment on every video where they are making a mistake and ensure that they turn in their license to the tool police's very own Sgt. Mike while at it.

There is a huge difference between misusing a screwdriver or not realizing jack seals can fail compared to completely failing to realize an engine hoist requires the most basic of physics principles to operate.

As far as Moral grandstanding, the definition includes that the person making said statements would benefit in standing with the public. Mike did not. The only benefit was to you and your well being. He cared for a stranger, or should I say did until your reaction.

Some people don’t have and can not be taught mechanical abilities. Many here would see you trying to use a hoist in the manner by your own admission, would constitute a lack of the basics.