Gantry or Machine Movers

[Brad93]

Has anyone local to Essex got a small gantry or machine moving skates?

I’ve got to lift a J&S 540, get it through a 800-900mm door then onto the trailer.

I was thinking of making a dolly/skate with four castors. But I still need to lift the machine clear to get it on the dolly. And then a gantry to get it on the trailer.

I saw either on here or YouTube quite a cool idea with some like m20 studding and two bits of angle iron with some castors. Anyone else seen that?
The studding pulls the angle up against the machine then you roll it round on the castors.

 

[JEZGUZ]

Have a look on Youtube for Oxtools channel, he did a video about moving a lathe with a similar method single handed.

 

[Shedendman]

piano trolly

 

[James1979]

The big hire places do them. Speedy, hss etc

 

[Gavlar]

I'm in Southend, Essex.
I've got a set of lifting gear specifically for shifting heavy machines single handed, including a steerable dolly, a set of the castors attached to a piece of angle, as you described (ajustable to the width of your machine) and a toe jack to get get your machine onto and off of the dollies. I'm not familier with your machine but I've moved 1/2 ton stuff single handed. The steering dollie and toe jack can take more, the other piece is home made so I don't know what it will take. I'll post a photo in a moment, you are more than welcome to borrow them.

 

[Gavlar]

Here you go. I've got a steering/pulling handle for the steerable dolly somewhere.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I use an engine crane for lifting and car wheel skates for moving heavy items

 

[Agroshield]

See this thread for weight (elsewhere it says 914kg, so same ball park) and cautions about lifting method (do not lift under the table).

Jones and shipman 540 weight

I have my eye on a J&S 540 surface grinder. But i need to know what weight it is before i make a bid on it. Online i have seen estimates between 750kg to 1100kg. Anyone know for sure ?

www.mig-welding.co.uk

The condition of the floor over which you are moving it will have a big influence on the success of any chosen apparatus.

 

[Keith 66]

I had one a few years ago, i would say 750kg at least, Be careful lifting it as they are quite tall & top heavy, lash the table so it cant move & do not lift the table otherwise you will bend the hydraulic drive rods, Couple of eyebolts screwed in the top of the machine & there are cast in lifting hooks on the front.

 

[pressbrake1]

Narrow base tall items can be a total menace on skates.
I’d use rollers

 

[fizzy]

This is how I moved a 900kg lathe - same sort of weight as the 540.
Engine cranes are pretty powerful when there is a small reach.
Jack up and get the crane under it.

 

[awemawson]

Do NOT lift a 540 by the table - only the double ended hydraulic ram shaft connects it to the base ! There are eye bolt holes in the top of the upper column casting and hooks moulded into the base lower down.

Many a 540 has been wrecked by people who don't know this !

 

[fizzy]

We have shipped plenty of 540s for people on pallets. Just make sure they are fully drained of hydraulic fluid.

 

[RobDaWrench]

This has been covered before https://www.mig-welding.co.uk/forum/threads/j-s-540-surface-grinder-lifting.90819/

worth looking at the link there is some very good info in there

 

[RobDaWrench]

and another

Transporting a Jones & Shipman 540 Grinder

I need to put my J&S 540 into storage ready for a move. I did not handle the delivery so it was easy to get in but I will be doing the move this time. The thing is light compared to the gear I have already shifted. My problem if I have one is that I do not know how to secure it on the drop...

www.mig-welding.co.uk

 

[pressbrake1]

Do NOT lift a 540 by the table - only the double ended hydraulic ram shaft connects it to the base ! There are eye bolt holes in the top of the upper column casting and hooks moulded into the base lower down.

Many a 540 has been wrecked by people who don't know this !

Any surface grinder
A idiot with a hiab lifted my plough grinder and bent the hydraulic rod

 

[mikegolding]

There is a block each end ( can't remember the exact setup ) fixing the ram to the table, If you remove these blocks two people can lift of the table off making the machine lighter and less top heavy.
That may help. Mike