08-28-2015, 02:26 PM
I have one of those generic cranes and let me tell you that you are 'playing with fire' if you attempt to have the lift arm load point anywhere close or beyond the center line of the front casters. The littlest pebble that will stop a wheel will cause the load to swing and the instant it goes past the caster center you will be riding the back of the crane up in the air until the load hits the ground. It all happens in slow motion too.
Then as the load heads toward the ground the upper part of the crane starts moving in funny directions downward and can destroy whatever it comes into contact with. In my case it ever so slightly bent the top portion of a expensive racing distributor
Be careful with those swivel casters because the load point for the caster is its axle centerline. You can easily lose 4 to 6 inches in crane wheelbase based on which way the casters are pointing.
You will also note that the max load rating is with the crane boom arm retracted and not extended.
Bottom line...be careful and understand and pay attention to how the crane has to be set up for heavier loads.
Lastly bigger casters will almost make the crane useless for doing engine swaps in cars. I've had to go the opposite way on casters and remount them so I had minimal ground clearance on the bottom of the crane.
Then as the load heads toward the ground the upper part of the crane starts moving in funny directions downward and can destroy whatever it comes into contact with. In my case it ever so slightly bent the top portion of a expensive racing distributor
Be careful with those swivel casters because the load point for the caster is its axle centerline. You can easily lose 4 to 6 inches in crane wheelbase based on which way the casters are pointing.
You will also note that the max load rating is with the crane boom arm retracted and not extended.
Bottom line...be careful and understand and pay attention to how the crane has to be set up for heavier loads.
Lastly bigger casters will almost make the crane useless for doing engine swaps in cars. I've had to go the opposite way on casters and remount them so I had minimal ground clearance on the bottom of the crane.