Life in America - I made the move.

[ClimbingTurtle]

To work on the underside, and if you are looking at the scissor option/style - perhaps have a removable centre section (or a series of removable sections, allowing versatility) that will allow some access without lifting the machine itself? so a series of plates that can pop out perhaps?

[Karel84]

So here's my solution with my extremely accurate drawing (feel free to build it to scale from the pic) of my design I think could work... Patent pending.

Have 2 full width v-blocks made of wood to act as wheel chocks. 1 block is adjustable to accommodate different wheel bases.

The entire thing needs to be made of either 5mm flat bar or a small square tubing.

Threaded bar at the bottom for lifting and lowering, obviously with a pivot point in the centre to create a scissors lift effect.

It should be pretty easy for you to get your hands on a plastic drip tray like the ones they install under home geysers, which would then be removable, allowing you to work under the lawnmower.

Pics are side and top view.

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[Sláinte Mhaith]

And not that I’m an ingineer at all. But I was wondering how you were going to get it to your place. I mean if you can pick it up to load it onto the back of your bakkie, then surely you can just carry it to your counter top.

Valid question. 

If I go with the scissor jack idea I will get a 12V winch for $50. Then I will make it easily removeable and find a way to fit it (also easily removeable) to the front of my bakkie's loadbed. Then I can just pull whatever up the loading ramps and onto the bakkie. And release it slowly to get it off again.

If you do that onto a bakkie then why not use the same ramps and winch onto a stationary table?

[Blou Zebu]

That took a while - for you guys to catch on that BO was messing with you 

I see trouble coming! Fumducker made it clear he can not stand that (also heat, cold, width, depth, color, wind rain, anyone doubting his superior Google-ing and rewording ability) but apart from that he is very flexible. Anyway make sure your insurance is in order because Butt Overlooker is coming!

[big oil]

That took a while - for you guys to catch on that BO was messing with you 

I see trouble coming! Fumducker made it clear he can not stand that (also heat, cold, width, depth, color, wind rain, anyone doubting his superior Google-ing and rewording ability) but apart from that he is very flexible. Anyway make sure your insurance is in order because Butt Overlooker is coming!

Butt Overlooker    dat made me waugh boo Zulu 

Fud's cool, he'll soften up once I take him out for dinner n drinks. 

Yeah, make sure your affairs are in order because your country will not ever be the same after the onslaught of heavy metal I deliver to your shores.

It takes a merican diablo to fight evildoers and we're gonna party like it's our last days 

He's the wolf screaming lonely in the night
He's the blood stain on the stage
He's the tear in your eye
Been tempted by his lie
He's the knife in your back, he's rage
He's the razor to the knife
Oh, lonely is our lives
My head's spinning 'round and 'round
But in the seasons of wither
We'll stand and deliver
Be strong and laugh and

Shout, shout, shout
Shout at the devil
Shout, shout, shout

He'll be the love in your eyes
He'll be the blood between your thighs
And then he'll have you cry for more
He'll put strength to the test
He'll put the thrill back in bed
Sure you've heard it all before
He'll be the risk in the kiss
Might be anger on your lips
Might run scared for the door
But in seasons of wither
We'll stand and deliver
Be strong and laugh

Turn the volume all the way up dogs 

[Fudmucker]

Mr Zog, please post a pic of your workshop where you want to fit this lifting apparatus.
I would like to see the head height and construction of the roof and walls.
I think you will be better off with a cable winch hoist setup, with cross beams to support the mower wheels and an oil tray on the floor.
That way the workshop floor will stay clear when you are not working on any mowers.

[Mr Zog]

Mr Zog, please post a pic of your workshop where you want to fit this lifting apparatus.
I would like to see the head height and construction of the roof and walls.
I think you will be better off with a cable winch hoist setup, with cross beams to support the mower wheels and an oil tray on the floor.
That way the workshop floor will stay clear when you are not working on any mowers.

I want the stand to be mobile. I may even mount it on castors. I will need to be able to move it completely out of the way when I want to put my Jon boat into the workshop when the next hurricane comes. So if it can lower down flat I can even lift up one side and slide it into a space.

The roof beams are just 2x4's, so I wont be suspending anything from them. I already have a wood-storage shelf in the roof beams and I am considering removing it because I just keep shoving more and more crap up there, until it all comes crashing down and then I have a workshop with a skylight   

[Mr Zog]

The reason why I'm not stressed about getting in under the mowers is because for the smaller push mowers I can just tilt it up to get access to the blades.

With the bigger ride-on mowers I can just drop the mower bed down and pull it out before I pull the mower onto the stand. Then I will turn the mower bed over to work on the blades and spindles.

Accessing the underside of the mowers isn't a big issue 

[Fudmucker]

Accessing the underside of the mowers isn't a big issue 

A conclusion is what you arrive at when you stop thinking. 

So is that your conclusion?
Can we all stop thinking with you? 

[hedleyj]

Why not build a gantry on wheels the you can move around in the workshop or even get onto your truck.

Seeing as you are not lifting huge weight you can make it adjustable in height and or width. I am sure you will find used tubing either on craigslist or at a recycler.

Once you have it in the air you can if needed move a pair of tables underneath it. A mobile gantry is super useful.

Another similar item is an engine crane for the same purpose.

[Rooikoos]

How about something like this? And then just build ramps for it.

https://youtu.be/veFh_Zwp1LA


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[Mr Zog]

KISS

Instead of raising the mower rather lower yourself.

I have a R100 tripod chair, most valuable tool in my garage

I am way ahead of you   

I have a milk crate, with a piece of plywood bolted to the bottom.

Multiple uses; it has served as a stand for my XL500S, I can carry parts around in it, I can sit on it when I work on low-down stuff, and I can even stand on it when I need a bit more height 

I may still add some castors, but right now it serves me well. I also have a similar one on my work truck that I use every single day 

[Mr Zog]

Hi Gary, have a look at this, maybe you can reverse engineer one of these: http://www.toolshop.co.za/products/motorcycle-equipment/10

I get a whole page with lots of pics, but I'm guessing you refer to the bike lift?

It's a great design, but maybe a bit too "fancy" for my purpose 

[Mr Zog]

I like the simplistic ideas like this one:

Initially I dismissed this one.

But then I thought about it...

It's actually really simple, very cheap and easy to make, and almost no moving parts.

I think it's genius!

So...… 

If I supported the plywood top with a couple of 2x4's, and beefed up the hinge point...

And made the cross-braces of the side walls easily removeable... so I can take it apart and pack it away... 

I think it will actually work really well!

I will give this one a whole lot more thought   

And if I add a pulley at the front of the table then I could use a winch / comealong to pull a heavy mower up... 

[Mr Zog]

Mr Zog, please post a pic of your workshop where you want to fit this lifting apparatus.
I would like to see the head height and construction of the roof and walls.
I think you will be better off with a cable winch hoist setup, with cross beams to support the mower wheels and an oil tray on the floor.
That way the workshop floor will stay clear when you are not working on any mowers.

Here are the pics.

The height to the bottom of the wood rack is 6' 2"

The height to the bottom of the cross beams of the roof is 7' 7" 

As you can see, the roof isn't a very strong design. The cross bars are just held to the pitches with those flat nail-in jobbies with all the little spikes. Fine for what it is designed to do, but no good to suspend anything meaningful from.

My wood rack has vertical beams screwed into both the pitched beams as well as the horizontal beams, but I have noticed that the weight of the wood rack is causing the double door at the back to bind slightly, so it has to go. 

[Tom van Brits]

Soon you'll have an appy to help Gary, 9 sleeps!! 

[Mr Zog]

Soon you'll have an appy to help Gary, 9 sleeps!! 

 

[Fudmucker]

WOW ! 
A picture of order.
'n Plek vir alles en alles in sy plek.
My wife mustn't see those pix... 

You could make a portal frame setup to lift stuff.
You would need to prop the horizontal beams on either side when doing so.
But it could be done.

[big oil]

WOW ! 
A picture of order.
'n Plek vir alles en alles in sy plek.
My wife mustn't see those pix... 

You could make a portal frame setup to lift stuff.
You would need to prop the horizontal beams on either side when doing so.
But it could be done.

Do you have a drawing 

[Fudmucker]

 

in the nicest possible way!