The problem with getting older is that my risk tolerance (and getting hurt) is getting less and less. Therefore, thinking through the consequences of taking g shortcuts is becoming way more frequent. Having the right tools to do the job not only reduces risk of injury but makes for a quicker, higher quality repair.
Side note, just what the heck does your grass grow on? That looks like a piece of steel cable!
My work periods are of 15-minute intervals. Can't go for any longer than that. Really sucks. Heh. 6 spine surgeries, missing 9 inches of colon and a valve, missing gall bladder. Hell, if I break a bone there isn't enough time left for healing. I know of which you speak!!
The only issue with that approach, is that the hoist's lift capacity is either its rated capacity, or that of which it is hung from, whichever is *lower*.
I would want to be really confident about my garage's construction before getting underneath something supported like that... Just saying.
I did select a beam, not just a rafter. And after lifting, I did keep an ear out for strange creaks... not a peep other than the ones coming out of my joints
As a teenager I was mowing the ditch out back with Dad's 2-cycle (read HIGH RPM!) and hit a galvanized pipe that was standing vertical with an open end. Had been mowing back there for years as one of my chores. No idea of the pipe. INSTANT stop of mower as the piston came through the wall.
Regarding the hoist, think I'd have used a 2x4 spreader and tied to 2 or 3 of those rafters, but then they HAVE called me chicken. :-)
I use a chain host for mower work as well, a 2 ton model, with one significant change in procedure: once the front has been raised for access, I lower the front edge of the deck onto a jack stand, letting it take some of the weight while the hoist takes the rest. That way I don't have a single point of failure.
Recently I had to work on the back part, under the engine. For that I raised the rear with the hoist, then set it down on car ramp supports that I had sitting around.
One thing that helps my confidence in the hoist is that it hangs from a large I-beam which is one of the main roof structural elements. I use a trolley, so the hoist can move to anywhere along that beam. Trolleys also come from Harbor Freight for a modest price; they handle beams up to 8 inches wide if I remember right. Mine is actually two inches wider than the limit, so I replaced the bolt that connects the two side pieces by a chunk of steel bar threaded M48 or whatever weird thread the Chinese put on it. It's good to have a lathe! :-)
The problem with getting older is that my risk tolerance (and getting hurt) is getting less and less. Therefore, thinking through the consequences of taking g shortcuts is becoming way more frequent. Having the right tools to do the job not only reduces risk of injury but makes for a quicker, higher quality repair.
Side note, just what the heck does your grass grow on? That looks like a piece of steel cable!
The real problem with getting older is the repair time expands exponentially with age. Which obviously leads to an increase aversion to risk.
20s: Broken bone, out partying the next day.
50s/60s/70s: Broken bone, it's ol' Yeller time.
My work periods are of 15-minute intervals. Can't go for any longer than that. Really sucks. Heh. 6 spine surgeries, missing 9 inches of colon and a valve, missing gall bladder. Hell, if I break a bone there isn't enough time left for healing. I know of which you speak!!
Yep! 😃😃
The only issue with that approach, is that the hoist's lift capacity is either its rated capacity, or that of which it is hung from, whichever is *lower*.
I would want to be really confident about my garage's construction before getting underneath something supported like that... Just saying.
🙄🙄😬😬🙏🙏🙏🫣🫣🤫🤫🤗🤗🤗
I did select a beam, not just a rafter. And after lifting, I did keep an ear out for strange creaks... not a peep other than the ones coming out of my joints
I told my wife if you can see out the windows the lawn doesn’t need mowing heh…
As a teenager I was mowing the ditch out back with Dad's 2-cycle (read HIGH RPM!) and hit a galvanized pipe that was standing vertical with an open end. Had been mowing back there for years as one of my chores. No idea of the pipe. INSTANT stop of mower as the piston came through the wall.
Regarding the hoist, think I'd have used a 2x4 spreader and tied to 2 or 3 of those rafters, but then they HAVE called me chicken. :-)
One word: combine.
Two words: hay baler.
Three words: pissed off wife.
Four words: I cut it anyway. (Slowly. On high cut setting. Repeatedly)
I feel your pain Miguel. We have 3 acres in North Texas, 70ºF+ @ 0700 and 50%+ humidity, and both are rising with time
I use a chain host for mower work as well, a 2 ton model, with one significant change in procedure: once the front has been raised for access, I lower the front edge of the deck onto a jack stand, letting it take some of the weight while the hoist takes the rest. That way I don't have a single point of failure.
Recently I had to work on the back part, under the engine. For that I raised the rear with the hoist, then set it down on car ramp supports that I had sitting around.
One thing that helps my confidence in the hoist is that it hangs from a large I-beam which is one of the main roof structural elements. I use a trolley, so the hoist can move to anywhere along that beam. Trolleys also come from Harbor Freight for a modest price; they handle beams up to 8 inches wide if I remember right. Mine is actually two inches wider than the limit, so I replaced the bolt that connects the two side pieces by a chunk of steel bar threaded M48 or whatever weird thread the Chinese put on it. It's good to have a lathe! :-)