A question re a lawn tractor
 

I spent today hooking up a chain fall in my garage for servicing the underside of the mowing deck.
I'm wondering if my sling straps are ok where they are? Or is that too much weight for the front end?
I could go under the whole belly of the frame, but then I'd need a longer strap.
The second pic shows close-up where it's the easiest to do it. I plan on lifting it about twice the height of in the pic.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1750457223.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1750457251.jpg

Why not just use a floor jack or two?

I had a MoJack for a few years. I didn't like having it in the way when scraping the underside. Then last year, the screw that raises the tractor started slipping, so I junked it.

I want enough room to do some good scraping....floor jacks won't do it. Removing the deck is a pain. (that's what I've been doing this season)

Rating on your straps? Pads or use axle straps to go around the metal and keep your straps from chaffing.

1600 lbs. each....I'm using two of them. The tractor weight is 680, but I'm only lifting about 400 max. The straps barely touch my hood, so that's not a problem.

I'm mostly worried about the front axle handling the lift. (that's prob not the correct name for it...it's the piece that the steering and front wheel is attached to. See the second pic)

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The front axle is cast iron so no issue with strength . I am not comfortable without a backup system in case the strap breaks . You only get one life . Be smart

Yes, I knew the cast iron would be no problem....but when the tractor is lifted beyond what the pic shows, does the attachment of the axle to the frame get stresses where it never would normally? I'm not sure how that is connected to the frame.
I'm safe with the straps (1/4 of capacity) the chain fall is using four rafters for support.
The chain fall is rated at 2000 lbs.

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The front axle is fine and the straps but what you have them hooked to on the celing?

A 4X4 over four ceiling joists.
I'll get a pic...it wasn't fun crawling 16 feet over the joists to get it in place.

How about leaning it against the wall? Put a sofa cushion against the wall and use your straps to almost pull it on its side

The deck sticks out too far to do that.

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It's a manual chain-fall....but it goes real easy.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1750461108.jpg

Let me get this right.
You have a lift. [I see a Targa parked on it]
You're messing around under a lawn tractor that is being lifted up via an unknown attachment point of the front axle and frame.
You're using cloth/nylon straps to do the lifting.
You've spent hours getting the chain fall 4x4 in place up in the attic.


How I'd do it?
MOVE the Targa off the lift.
Spend the time to move the rails into position so they fit the tractor tread width.
Get the tractor up onto the lift and in the air.
Work worry free knowing the lift isn't going to break or come down.

Work smarter, not harder.

So many disturbing things about this thread. A John Deere lawnmower sharing space with a Porsche - that’s just not right.

^^^ Scott
Lift rails do not move inwards. I know of none that do that on a 4 post.

The chain fall is for the tractor...it's capable and so is the attachment. The straps are def strong enough. I'm only lifting about half the weight of the tractor....4-5 hundred pounds.

My question is about the tractor being able to stand the force of lifting on the axle.

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The JD is only in there for maintenance....it has it's own parking shed. :)

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My brother's four post has moveable rails.

Yeah, I get what you're asking about and it also worries me as the attachment is going to be put in a shear situation not the 'normal' compression mode.

Here's an old pic of his lift showing how he's got them all the way outboard so he could put his other 'rails' on them so he could put two cars up on his.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1750468098.jpg

That's exactly what I'm concerned about.
The other stuff has been thought thru....the chain fall is only for the tractor.

The JD is in the same 'hanging' position now since noon. That part of the lift is the most weight on the whole works. As it gets lifted more...less weight, more on the back wheels.

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How did you tie the 4x4 into the joists?