32,000 pound lathe moving across town, what am I getting into?

alonzo83 said:

The big man just bought a lathe, it has a 42 inch chuck and about a 15 foot bed. it weighs roughly 16 tons. the taper attachment is about 48" long. it was made in the late 30's early 40's and moved to its current location in 1947. still sitting on the hardwood skids it was moved in with. It has not been ran since 1993.

We will be moving it into the shop in the first week of October.

Can anyone give me a heads up on what to expect from a lathe this size? Moving or operating said behemoth.

We already arranged for the city police to block off the street and give us an escort if need be, We called our insurance man to make sure if we destroyed the street we have to drag it across we were covered, the vacant lot we plan to load the lathe from is owned by our bank they gave an okay, no power lines to move for the crane to lift it. we are building some steel skids to support the 60 plus year old wood skids to rest on.

The most experience I have is a lathe an eighth it's size. I am drooling to try it out but am scared as hell I will miss something that will put someone in a comprising or dangerous situation.

I got a few pics but they dont give much help, I will post some when I get the pile of lumber and steel moved away from it.

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JB @ C and L Machine said:

Not to rain on your parade....but this move should be left to the pro's. They have the proper insurance.

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Ox said:

32K somehow gets the cops involved?

You doo realize that most trucks can haul 45K legally, and then they sometimes put another 20K or so on top?

Not sure what part of road damage you are concerned about?

Any road should be able to handle that - even if your driving down the street with the forktruck.
(July/Aug afternoon or early March @ breakup may not be the best...)


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Think Snow Eh!
Ox

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GregSY said:

You don't say how far you are moving it which is one of those pesky questions that makes a lot of difference. 'Across town' is not that descriptive.

Assuming it is more than a couple hundred feet, you should be loading it onto an 18 wheeler and then unloading it at your shop. 16 tons is a nice load for a semi truck.

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alonzo83 said:

I agree. . . But I think that my boss who I love to death has cheaper ideas in mind. This is a small town Where you see large tractors parked in front of said operators homes. A rigging company probably will cost more than the machine cost him. . .

I just don't want anyone getting hurt if I can help it.

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Ox said:

32K somehow gets the cops involved?

You doo realize that most trucks can haul 45K legally, and then they sometimes put another 20K or so on top?

Not sure what part of road damage you are concerned about?

Any road should be able to handle that - even if your driving down the street with the forktruck.
(July/Aug afternoon or early March @ breakup may not be the best...)


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Think Snow Eh!
Ox

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oldbikerdude37 said:

Do it early morning about sun up to beat any traffic. Slow and easy

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Rob F. said:

He is planning on DRAGGING the machine across the street on skids. Cops will block the traffic until they get it to the vacant lot where it will be loaded. This is how I read the OP.

My question is are the skids running the length of the bed? Are you putting any kind of rollers under it? Pics of machine and of the move areas please
Rob

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michiganbuck said:

16 tons and what do you get... another day older and...Is that a coal mine lathe by any chance?

Where are the photos?

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Ox said:

... still - you are going to be ??? 12,000# under legal limit that goes over that "blacktop" every day?

This may seem like a HUGE load for you, but it is not anything that should raise anyones eyebrows that does this sorta thing.

Now - over width may be a bigger issue, but Shirley not the weight...



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Think Snow Eh!
Ox

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