Thread: Moving Machines

Hi Dsel,
Whilst I would not consider 800kg to be heavy, if you are unsure your best bet is to get a crane truck as you suggest. I moved my antrac lathe with a dual axle trailer and we lifted it on with 2 engine cranes and I got it off with one. It weighs about 1200kg. The biggest problem you have is the fence for sure, is that it in the pic or is it colourbond? You can pull a section of colourbond fence out pretty easily.

I would imagine the lathe should have lifting holes through the base that you can put a sling through.

I think a member called DJ's Timber has a crane truck and has done jobs before for members. I have no idea what he will charge. My last paid move was the 2700kg blohm surface grinder. It cost me about $400 from memory, that was a crane truck, 3t fork and driver. Probably took us 1 1/2-2 hours.

Ew

That is the fence from the other side. The shed is behind a few small bushes from that angle over to the right.
Once I get to know the neighbours, I'm might ask if I can convert part of the fence to gates for the occasional machine move. But that won't be until after I need to get the lathe in.

Unfortunately the access form the house drive passes under a carport and then goes around a tight corner, which prevents getting a truck in that way. Also the drive is lillydale toppings (gravel) so I would think trying to wheel it on an engine crane (if I had one) the wheel would did in.




I sent DJ a Pm but haven't heard back so thought I'd start asking around in case he isn't able to do the job.

Only other access is a pedestrian entry door at the front.
Screen shot 2013-11-27 at 3.13.25 PM.jpg

If you can't get hold of DJ, the next step I would think would be Lilydale Crane Trucks, as you get charged from their yard and back again unless they can book another job along with yours. So Lilydale being at most 15 mins away from Mt Evelyn, it's probably the best option... Never used them myself though, so no idea how they are with machine tools.

I have used Shane at Total Crane Trucks, but his yard is in Dandenong from memory, so that would add some cost. From memory, he moves a lot of machines for Newmac machinery in Bayswater.

The guy I've used the Total Crane Trucks. He charges about $100 an hour, min 3 hours, depot to depot. He is in berwick though so someone closer to one end would be better. There is a company in Bayswater I've seen around but I've never used them, I've got there number somewhere.

He has sheets of steel that he uses under dolleis.

Stuart

Originally Posted by DSEL74

Only other access is a pedestrian entry door at the front.

Perhaps a silly question, but can you remove some sheets of cladding (and maybe part of the frame) to lift the lathe straight out of the shed?

Michael

lol there is an echo in here.....

R J Engineering & Crane Truck Services Pty Ltd, Bayswater is the one I've seen, never used them though.

Stuart

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I sent DJ a Pm but haven't heard back so thought I'd start asking around in case he isn't able to do the job.

Sorry Dale, started to reply to your PM the other day but got sidetracked then forgot

I can help you out, as previously mentioned I can also bring skates etc to move machinery within garage/shed and thinking about it now that I've seen setup, I could bring Bobcat with forks as well to move stuff once landed over the fence.

Cant help with the container but know someone from Yarra Junction who could move it at a reasonable price for you.

I will PM you with my hourly rate

A friend of mine moved his bridgeport using the "Egyptian" method - rolled it across a significant stretch of gravel by rolling it on a bed of copper logs - of course, you have to have a few people on hand to keep moving the logs from the back to the front, but it meant that the mill got moved.
Of course, with the colchester you might need to slip it onto a sheet of 1/2" or more formply to get an uninterupted rolling surface.

Originally Posted by DSEL74

I'm needing some advice on moving my lathe. It is a Colchester Master 2500 as per the one in the link below:
COLCHESTER MASTER 2500 6.1/2" X 40" GAP BED CENTRE LATHE


As you will see it is just over 2m and weighs almost 800kg.

It can be moved on machine skates/dollies out of the garage this end and on to the drive pretty easy but I am thinking it will need to be lifted in over the back fence at the other end. THe Property has been sub divided and the separate drive/entry to the shed is now blocked off with a new fence.
Fence_4602.jpg

So I am thinking a crane truck is in order. The shed has full height 4m wide door at this end.

What would the best way to attach the lifting straps to the lathe?

There is some discussion here General about lifting Colchester lathes, and I would just add a couple of suggestions. If possible get hold of the manual for your lathe, and it will almost certainly have the correct lifting method. If that info is not available, I'm with the bloke who doesn't trust a single eye bolt to take the whole load. A sling through the webbing of the bed would be much safer. If there are no webs in a suitable position, then you may have to go around the whole bed, but if this is the case, you must ensure that the slings do not squeeze the lead-screw or other power shafts by blocking the sling/s out with wooden blocks or similar so that no load is put on any shafts as the weight is taken. Use packing under any sharp edges, be aware that you can have more tension in a sling than the total weight being lifted, so size your slings appropriately, and also if a sling is choke hitched, it must be derated to a factor of 0.7, in other words, a 1 tonne sling is good for only 700kg if it is choke hitched. If you are unsure about any of this, you'll be well advised to get someone who knows what they are doing, and who has the gear to do it. All the best,
Rob.

The Colchesters came with a lifting plate and eyebolt when new. Yours has probably been lost by the sound of it. In the bed, just in front of the chuck or the removable gap (I can't quite remember exactly where) there is a tapped hole about 1" or 1/1/4" dia. The lifting plate was shaped to fit on the ways of the bed and the eyebolt, which had an extended shank, screw through the plate and into the tapped hole in the bed. The shoulder under the head of the eye bold pulled the plate down tight onto the ways.
You could lift the machine using that and balance it by adjusting the position of the tailstock and saddle.
This info, whilst nice to know, isn't going to help you much without the plate and eyebolt though, unfortunately.
best of luck with it

bollie7

When friend Mike-the-Pilot purchased his square head Master the lifting eye was screwed into a steel block which clamped securely onto the bed, fitting tightly between the shears. Official Colchester part as instructions pertaining to positioning and balancing were in the manual. Certainly the best way to lift a machine, about 5 minutes to load and unload.

No I don't have the eye bolt or block, lathe was second hand and didn't come with one.

hi dsel. when have you got to move your lathe? do you need a hand? the crane truck seems to me like a good choose.
If you can afford one. i have to read the tread again.
you have a great lathe im shore with a little planning you can move it with no dramas,
Is there a threaded hole on one of the first bed webs for fitting a lifting eye?
azz

I have to move it sometime in April. All the S#iT needs to be move out of the way first so it has clear access. It has huge webs but the only bolt hole is where you bolt in the ways in the gap bed.