Gantry Crane

[farmersammm]

Don't expect this to be done in a week. There's a lot of stuff still to be done getting ready for Winter.

I initially plugged the wrong numbers into BeamBoy I wound up with some seriously underwhelming load results

I'm taking the deal on the S6 beam. Not a steal, but a fair price for a 10' section.

I need 4K capacity. My heaviest engine is around 2600# from what I gather (Cummins 350, and Detroit 6-71). This capacity also covers about 90% of what I need to possibly lift with my small tractors.

The numbers........................................

S6x12.5 (This is the estimated weight per foot, I didn't get the details, so I'm taking the lightest specification for this depth beam.......heavier beam is 17.25#/ft)

4K load dead center 9' clear span


the numbers

At 4000 pounds, I'm at half the capacity of this size beam. 2:1 safety factor isn't ideal,, but it's good enough. The probability of dealing with heavier, or even max (4K), loads is very low. I know the limits, and what happens to the second owner is not my problem.

I'm leaning towards 3" square tubing for the verticals, but noodling around with the idea of using 4" instead. I don't envision traveling with the crane, but it could happen. Side sway could be an issue. I need to do some calculations on that too I guess. Most of the stress will be at the beam connection, so 3" might be adequate if the beam is properly flanged, and the connection well gusseted.

[farmersammm]

I still like this one better. Larger safety margin.

https://www.hoistsdirect.com/shop/2229

8" beam.

Click on specifications to look at the drawing, which shows dimensions.

[SlowBlues]

As much as I would love to watch this build in my case it was much cheaper in the end (time and money) just to buy one.


Northern Tool + Equipment Strongway Adjustable Gantry Crane — 4000-Lb. Capacity, 7ft. 10 3/10in.–11ft. 9 3/10in. Lift, 7ft. 9 3/10in. between vertical beams and good casters!

Currently $720 (on sale from $770).



I like the height adjusting feature, very slick if you use it in different height buildings.

If used for off roading I would add outer gussets to the beam and change each caster to a 2x caster walking beam setup.

[rhunt]

While looking at the above Strongway crane, for most of us guys this would probably do most jobs around the shop. But, Sammm most always makes his projects to last a life time and he, not having a concrete floor to work off, I don't think this would do what he needs. Just my thoughts, plus, this crane eliminates the challenge we all know Sammm enjoys! Bob

[farmersammm]

While looking at the above Strongway crane, for most of us guys this would probably do most jobs around the shop. But, Sammm most always makes his projects to last a life time and he, not having a concrete floor to work off, I don't think this would do what he needs. Just my thoughts, plus, this crane eliminates the challenge we all know Sammm enjoys! Bob

This one really has me feeling I might not be able to do the work. I'm not set up for this, even with a crane. We don't have a choice I guess. It's still better than sending the tractor off somewhere to be fixed.

[Steve from SoCal]

Samm,

I think you know that overhead lifting devices are speced with a 5-1 safety factor. The margins are too narrow on the material for the weight. A 6-71 or small cam/BC 350 is nothing to be under when the deflection goes oval. You could strengthen the beam with a channel cap but, that likely kills the "deal" you got on the beam

Life, your life is too precious to fool around with hooky cranes. You have a forklift? Make a riggers boom for the forklift with that beam.

[farmersammm]

Samm,

I think you know that overhead lifting devices are speced with a 5-1 safety factor. The margins are too narrow on the material for the weight. A 6-71 or small cam/BC 350 is nothing to be under when the deflection goes oval. You could strengthen the beam with a channel cap but, that likely kills the "deal" you got on the beam

Life, your life is too precious to fool around with hooky cranes. You have a forklift? Make a riggers boom for the forklift with that beam.

I think you're right. It's the reason I favor the Wallace crane with the 8" beam. Dry weight on both engines(Detroit, and Cummins) runs around 2600#. And I need to lift the Allis tractors to roll the axle out from under the front, just to be able to pop the oil pan off to look for the damage.

While I was waiting to go see the pulmonologist this afternoon, I got to thinking about the overall REAL issue.

The biggest enemy of any I beam is twist. It has to be level, and plumb. This is a real issue with something used on relatively rough ground.

I can level the crane while it's stationary, but once it has to be moved, game over. The beam will twist because the running gear will twist.

I'm right back to square one.......................I'm still looking at rectangular tubing for a beam. It resists torsion, and stays stronger when in rotational twist. On a scale from 0-3, a pipe beam is #1, square tubing #2, with rectangular tubing coming in at #3. Square/rectangular shapes are easier to design a trolley for.

I might be overthinking it. I have no experience with structural steel. I'm not familiar with how it behaves when in a warp.............but common sense says it's a bad thing

I've come up with a system to keep the trolley from moving side to side as the beam tilts, but I'm now totally redesigning the uprights to take the stress from side sway. Thicker at the top, tapering down to meet the running gear. The critical point is the connection between the beam, and the uprights. This is a hinge waiting to happen. A custom, built up, column won't be appreciably more expensive than going to a larger size of commercially available tubing.

Yeah, I got a forklift..............it mounts on the loader tractor So does the crane that would make lifting the thing upright a breeze I'm back to using the little 3pt crane I built the loader with, 20yrs ago But we gotta plan for that little problem.

[M J D]

I think you should recheck your numbers on the weight of those engines. Seems to me like a 14 liter Cummins is closer to 4,000 lbs. I'm sure it depends on accessories, but you need to keep in mind it may take substancially more force to iniatally break the engine free.

[farmersammm]

I think you should recheck your numbers on the weight of those engines. Seems to me like a 14 liter Cummins is closer to 4,000 lbs. I'm sure it depends on accessories, but you need to keep in mind it may take substancially more force to iniatally break the engine free.

https://www.barringtondieselclub.co....55-bigcam.html They're showing 2800#, other places I've looked show 2600# I've got the book on the thing somewhere, but I need to dig it up.

[farmersammm]

I like this, and it's probably the final design. Fore, and aft, sway is taken up by the usual braces that run down to the running gear. I favor around 4" at the bottom due to this. No need for a huge footprint on top of the running gear............you're only looking at a ton per column. The running gear is the least problematic issue.

[12V71]

https://www.barringtondieselclub.co....55-bigcam.html They're showing 2800#, other places I've looked show 2600# I've got the book on the thing somewhere, but I need to dig it up.

One thing to remember, pulling an engine from a cabover is going to require a bunch of extra span on a gantry to get the engine out over the side unless you have room to back it out over the rear of the frame.

[farmersammm]

[farmersammm]

One thing to remember, pulling an engine from a cabover is going to require a bunch of extra span on a gantry to get the engine out over the side unless you have room to back it out over the rear of the frame.

The yard is about 1.5 acres

[rhunt]

Sammm, I'm thinking of the ease of using a boom truck for this application of removing engine and moving from tractor. This has several advantages, height and ease of movement. If building a crane, a flat bed truck could be used or a heavy trailer. Just my thoughts here and I know these thoughts are taking this build in a different direction but the results would be the same. Bob

[12V71]

Nevermind.

[farmersammm]

This is looking worse by the day.

I priced 4x8x3/16 plate.....................$367 And it's too stinkin' short. They can't get 10 footers. Need to cut out 4 pieces per sheet.

4x1/4 flat.....................$52

I'm not sure this is right, I got one of the minions on the phone, not the owner........................4x4x1/4 square tubing........$450

I'm figuring every damn way I can to get around this without having to make this stinkin' thing. If I can get away with leaving the cab on (I have to work on the other Allis that doesn't have a loader first), I'll do the damn thing with a cherry picker Or, I'll pull the damn loader off the crap Allis, and do it (has no cab).

It just sticks in my craw to give a ton of money to some stinkin' merchant It's not his fault, but it's still a real killer. I can get the steel cheaper from another yard , but I don't believe in buying from out of town guys. And..........in the long ago past, I bought some steel from this other outfit, and it was seconds. The dimensions were weird.

Cut hay this weekend up near the house, and think about it I guess. This is BS. Then the whole stinkin' next week is doctor appointments, which kills the days.

I have enough steel on hand to build the splitting rails, and trolleys, to hold the tractor halves...................and that's about it for now. This is getting real depressing.

If you read your history, when JFK was in office, there was a steel crunch. He called the heads of the companies into the Oval Office, and read them the riot act. Price of steel came down to a fair price after the commotion. I believe he shifted Defense spending to companies that supplied cheaper steel. This changed the picture. The companies caved in, and kept prices down.



Ultimately, United States steel manufacturers refused to modernize, and eventually lost market share to imported steel.

None of this grousing helps my situation, but it feels better blowing off some steam.

[farmersammm]

And, I'll guarantee you that if I go in and buy this stinkin' steel, it's gonna be stamped "Made In Mexico". The high prices won't create American jobs. I'll just pay a tariff that the last dood in office placed on steel. I'm fed up with ALL STINKIN' POLITICIANS.

Steel comes directly from the Gulf, into Port of Catoosa in Claremore. All of it from Mexico for the most part. This is just plain CRAP.

[farmersammm]

Hey......my apologies......Politics doesn't belong in this discussion. I'm just bein' a jerk about it.

[SlowBlues]

Maybe you're looking at this the wrong way sammm,

a handful of times in my life my dad and I built a "temporary" ~12ft high x ~10ft span fixed gantry crane out of wood to work on his dump trucks. Just burried the legs a good amount (packed with gravel and rock), the first time we also built some braces on top of the soil, but found it was completely unnecessary. Simple metal straps and plates for brackets between wood joints, nothing welded.

Takes a few hours at most.

The wood and material was always free from work.

worked wonderfully every time.

Usually we would use 6x6 or greater, adding whatever material we felt was needed for the load. Once we used sistered 2x4s (nailed, screwed, and glued), with zero difference).

Had to pull the vehicle out/back trailer under instead of moving the crane, no big deal.

We later beefed up a car port ridge to act as our gantry crane, works great to this day (20 years later).

I would suggest you Use PL premium (I like the 3x version). I like to use nails for the main structural stuff, or REAL structural wood screws (Strong tie type), but deck screws will likely do.

I'm not sure how crazy lumber prices are in your area but sometimes building a lifetime tool is just not in cards, sometimes the easiest/cheapest way to go is the absolute best.

Cost wise, I would buy a bunch of 2x4s and sister them up with glue, nails, and screws for clamping force. basically home made LVL beams. Look up LVL beams sizes for approximate size requirements for your predicted load.

[lars66]

Forget the exact $$$ amounts my friend told me last night but 5'x10'x1/4" sheet $850.00 at our steel supplier for an example.

[Lis2323]

Forget the exact $$$ amounts my friend told me last night but 5'x10'x1/4" sheet $850.00 at our steel supplier for an example.

Holy crap. I haven't needed to buy steel for a while. Holy CRAP


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[lars66]

Holy crap. I haven't needed to buy steel for a while. Holy CRAP


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I might have used stronger language then that when I was told. Been working off inventory so probably haven't bought since late winter early spring. right now I think my steel inventory is worth more than the shop equipment.

[farmshop]

Lars is pretty close on the price. I priced a 5x10 sheet of 1/4 tread. Best price my guy could give me was 600 that was down 150 from list

[farmersammm]

[farmersammm]

K'kins called one of her bosses to see if he knew of some used beams for sale. He said he might have either a 6" or 8" beam up at one of the yards, and it's ours for the taking. THAT IS FRIGGIN' HUGE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Sometimes people amaze you.