Knuckle Boom Crane Adapted To His Shop Floor

2022 - Volume #46, Issue #3, Page #34

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When Stephen Garver began considering installing a shop crane, he decided he could adapt a knuckle boom crane that would normally be mounted on a truck.
    After finding one for sale on eBay, he set out to calculate the base size and weight he would need for his shop floor.
    The crane itself weighed 7,500 lbs. and after some searching for expert advice, a Memphis engineer cautioned him that “wider is better than deeper” and helped him decide on an 8 by 8 by 6-ft. concrete base.
    “I had a contractor come in and cut a hole in the floor,” says Garver. “Then we dug it out, put in rebar, and poured the concrete. It mushroomed out a little under the floor, which made it 17 yards of cement, or 70,000 lbs.”
    Garver fashioned an adapter and the base that went into the floor. A tow truck brought the crane inside the shop and set it on a 14-stud structure on 10-in. I-beams.
    He installed a 30-hp. electric motor, converter box, 2,500-lb. pressure rated 12-gal. hydraulic pump, and a 40-gal. oil reservoir tank. After some frustration getting the motor to run the crane properly, he added a separate 20-hp. motor, then wired the two together, which converted the three phases to single-phase and provided all the required power.
    Garver says he has used the crane to pick up a Detroit 60 engine and 13-speed transmission weighing over 6,000 lbs. in one lift.
    “It’s very handy and maneuverable,” he says. “It extends to reach throughout my entire shop and 20 ft. out the shop door. Maintenance is minimal because it’s indoors and out of the elements. I just grease it and change the oil.”
    He estimates he spent around $15,000 on the project, including the crane, concrete, and electrical components. In time, he’d like to add remote control operation to the crane.
    Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Stephen Garver, 9158 Wheeler Rd., Marion, Ark. 72364 (ph 870-735-8265).

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Knuckle Boom Crane Adapted To His Shop Floor FARM SHOP Maintenance When Stephen Garver began considering installing a shop crane he decided he could adapt a knuckle boom crane that would normally be mounted on a truck After finding one for sale on eBay he set out to calculate the base size and weight he would need for his shop floor The crane itself weighed 7 500 lbs and after some searching for expert advice a Memphis engineer cautioned him that “wider is better than deeper” and helped him decide on an 8 by 8 by 6-ft concrete base “I had a contractor come in and cut a hole in the floor ” says Garver “Then we dug it out put in rebar and poured the concrete It mushroomed out a little under the floor which made it 17 yards of cement or 70 000 lbs ” Garver fashioned an adapter and the base that went into the floor A tow truck brought the crane inside the shop and set it on a 14-stud structure on 10-in I-beams He installed a 30-hp electric motor converter box 2 500-lb pressure rated 12-gal hydraulic pump and a 40-gal oil reservoir tank After some frustration getting the motor to run the crane properly he added a separate 20-hp motor then wired the two together which converted the three phases to single-phase and provided all the required power Garver says he has used the crane to pick up a Detroit 60 engine and 13-speed transmission weighing over 6 000 lbs in one lift “It’s very handy and maneuverable ” he says “It extends to reach throughout my entire shop and 20 ft out the shop door Maintenance is minimal because it’s indoors and out of the elements I just grease it and change the oil ” He estimates he spent around $15 000 on the project including the crane concrete and electrical components In time he’d like to add remote control operation to the crane Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Stephen Garver 9158 Wheeler Rd Marion Ark 72364 ph 870-735-8265

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