We are talking bottle jacks and axle stands!

amacca

I'm thinking of doing a bit of work on a tractor here that means the back wheel will have to come off.

Anyone do their own work here and have recommendations on equipment?

Number one priority is to be safe so I want equipment that wont let me down and would like a bit of advice.

Im thinking I need a decent bottle jack to raise the back end, and when I get the back axle up I need a decent axle stand(s) to support the tractor while the back wheel is removed

Anyone any advice on brand and ratings......I was going to go a bit overboard on the axle stand and buy one rated for 10T as for the jack might as well get a good one while Im at it...dont mind hand cranking it so dont need one run off a compressor so whats the best compromise between price and quality here and what rating would you go for.

The higher rated axle stands Ive looked at online are too high (minimum height s well over half a metre - so wont fit under the back axel of the tractor )...presume they are for larger higher machinery but the 6T ones look a bit flimsy to me

I'd absolutely love a wheel trolley with rollers to hold the rear wheel and raise and rotate for re fitting as I know the wheels are dangerous and a pain to manoeuvre into position and get lined up on the nuts and they are difficult to raise due to carrying out the operation with the smaller lighter front wheels a couple of months ago.......but Ive resigned myself to this being a 2/3 man job and a time consuming pain in the hole with smaller jacks or air bags etc

Dont suppose anyone has fabricated a cheaper alternative to one of those wheel trolleys capable of taking big wheels of their own....

blue5000

I'm old school, so I prefer big flat timber blocks to axle stands. Last back wheel was put on with a ratchet strap swung out of a loader on a second tractor. Go at least 20 ton on the bottle jack I reckon. Go for a recognized brand as well, buy once cry once.

amacca

blue5000 wrote: »

I'm old school, so I prefer big flat timber blocks to axle stands. Last back wheel was put on with a ratchet strap swung out of a loader on a second tractor. Go at least 20 ton on the bottle jack I reckon. Go for a recognized brand as well, buy once cry once.

No second tractor without a long drive with one unfortunately.....

Might see if I cousin can borrow one locally.

20T Jack a good shout I reckon....
What are your thoughts on bahco, draper, big red as brands for Jack's and axle stands

I have bahco hand tools here (recent) and they've done fine albeit with not much abuse, the price of the big red axle stands are good imo

patsy_mccabe

Whatever jack you use, double up your safety with either solid concrete blocks or timber. I've taken both back wheels off here to do brakes and this is what I've done. So if the jack fails or slips the solid blocks will catch it.

SmartinMartin

Another shout for wood blocks, no safer method. I use a 10 ton bottle jack, but I'm only dealing with a 135.
I was considering buying a farm jack, but haven't got around to it yet. Anyone use one?

amacca

patsy_mccabe wrote: »

Whatever jack you use, double up your safety with either solid concrete blocks or timber. I've taken both back wheels off here to do brakes and this is what I've done. So if the jack fails or slips the solid blocks will catch it.

I used to do the blocks with rubber mats or carpet on top but got nervous of them crumbling, I welded up a frame as a fall back safety but now I'm a bit nervous of that so I'm going with axle stands and wood blocks as back up.....probably overkill but don't want to be crushed.

gctest50

Get someone to weld it if you are not certain of skills

Make the base a lot wider ( start the legs higher )

Donald Trump

amacca wrote: »

I used to do the blocks with rubber mats or carpet on top but got nervous of them crumbling, I welded up a frame as a fall back safety but now I'm a bit nervous of that so I'm going with axle stands and wood blocks as back up.....probably overkill but don't want to be crushed.

The more support the better. Once it doesn't get in your way. You can put them more or less in place before you start jacking it up. Definitely before you take the wheel off. You don't want to be firing blocks in beside the jack after it's lifted and the wheel off. Use solids rather than cavity blocks or as someone else said, decent blocks of timber



I saw some video on the HSA website/youtube I think of some fella who lost his leg rushing when jacking up a machine

Donald Trump

gctest50 wrote: »

Get someone to weld it if you are not certain of skills

Make the base a lot wider ( start the legs higher )

Not a hope would I stand near that machine if the wheel was off and that was all that was holding it up. Those sprayers might be light enough for their size, but still! They'd be faily unstable I'd say

Panjandrums

Don't ever use concrete blocks, wether they are solid or not. Hardwood timber blocking is perfect as a fail safe.

gctest50

Donald Trump wrote: »

Not a hope would I stand near that machine if the wheel was off and that was all that was holding it up. Those sprayers might be light enough for their size, but still! They'd be faily unstable I'd say

Wooden blocks ( and keep them stored happy in a shed )

Jacks are for lifting things - you are depending on a glorified O-ring

Donald Trump

Panjandrums wrote: »

Don't ever use concrete blocks, wether they are solid or not. Hardwood timber blocking is perfect as a fail safe.

It wouldn't be as bad to use solids if you have decent wooden blocks on top to spread the weight across them so that they don't crack or split from pressure of an axle in one spot across them

patsy_mccabe

Always timber blocks on top of solid concrete blocks here.

timple23

If buying axle stands I would be going for ones with a solid pin through them rather than those ratchet types.

https://www.airimpact.ie/c/axle-stands/164

SmartinMartin

I service the cars, bikes and tractor I have a good set of 6 tonne axle stands like those, but I just would not get under a car supported only by them. I made wood wheel stands, they're the only thing I trust.

foxy farmer

SmartinMartin wrote: »

Another shout for wood blocks, no safer method. I use a 10 ton bottle jack, but I'm only dealing with a 135.
I was considering buying a farm jack, but haven't got around to it yet. Anyone use one?

Are you referring to a Hi-lift jack about 4ft long with a punched vertical beam and a long red handle for ratcheting the mechanism up and down?

_Brian

12T bottlejack here.

We would use blocks of timber or have even used timber rings in the past.

Repaired rear wheel puncture few weeks ago and mauling the wheel around is a two man job, but easy enough with two men.

Not a fan of concrete blocks as they can crumble under load.

Bullocks

foxy farmer wrote: »

Are you referring to a Hi-lift jack about 4ft long with a punched vertical beam and a long red handle for ratcheting the mechanism up and down?

Are they good, I've seen them on YouTube and would often find a use for them. I don't think they would be the safest though

foxy farmer

Bullocks wrote: »

Are they good, I've seen them on YouTube and would often find a use for them. I don't think they would be the safest though

I have one here for lifting my LR Defender. It's fast but not very stable and requires a lot of effort. If you lose grip on the handle mid stroke it can ratchet down itself at high speed with the handle out of control. Wouldn't waste my time putting it near a tractor. I've used it more often for non lifting duties. A tool that requires respect and an understanding of it's capabilities.
Bottle jack trolley jack and a few nicely cut seasoned ash rings and 6x3 and 6x2 offcuts is what i use. Wouldn't dream of using concrete blocks.