Ideas on moving a Bridgeport mill

[Yo Hoot]

I bought this machine today. Now I have to plan the move. Luckily it's in a garage that is ground level so I see rolling it out on pipe. I may rent one of those specialty hydraulic equipment trailers if I can find one local. It weighs 2400 lbs. I have to move it about 8 miles on good road. Back it up to my garage and get it into their. Open for tips and tricks.

 

[GHarman]

This is how I moved mine. Its not as hard as you might think. Important is low center of gravity. Lower the knee, rotate the head, upside down and lock into place. Wetting the floor and sliding the machine on the base casting works great. Two men with strong backs can do this easily. Just make sure the table, cross slide and knee are locked. Hoisting is done with the proper forged screw-eye that threads into the top of the RAM. I dont remember the eyebolt size

We moved mine on a low trailer and rolled it into the garage(8' overhead door).

The trick is getting it off the trailer. If you have joists in your garage? Or room to place an A frame? You need a lift point. I used a 3'X4" square tube with a 1/4" wall threaded between 6 joists. On each end I supported the tube with a 4"X6" wooden post set on the floor. I attached a chain fall and hoisted the Mill just high enough to clear the trailer. Drove the trailer out and lowered the mill onto the floor. Then you just wet down the cement and slide it into place.

Of course a 12' ceiling and open joists in my garage/shop really helps the off load. Hope this is helpful? Be careful and check every lift and have an escape plan before you throw your back into it!

GreegH

 

[Yo Hoot]

How did you get it on the trailer?

I have a backhoe at home. I don't have the means to take the backhoe over there.

Did you ever see one of these?

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[GHarman]

The man I bought it from had a stationary hoist in the ceiling of his shop. After prepping the machine as I described. We wet the floor and slid it under the hoist. We lifted it enough to clear the trailer. Backed the trailer under it, lowered it onto the trailer and strapped it down.
I dont know what situation you may have, but lowering the C/G is always the first step. Multiple lifting methods are available. You may have to engineer your own for your situation. That forged eye-bolt is the second most important piece of equipment. It is the easiest attachment point for your method to rig up that mill for lifting.
If you have one of those trailers available? You can probably slid it up onto the bed? However I would be very careful about a point loading on the base casting in a tilt. IMHO, Once it cracks, you will have a flaw that will haunt you for the life of the machine! GregH

 

[BIGNASTY]

Just pay to have someone that has the equipment to do the job correctly do it . Same as when I moved to MT I had to move 2 gun safes that were 880lbs EMPTY could I do it MAYBE. I called up the place that I bought them at they came out and did the move on to the tuck with the correct things for the job. Sometimes trying to save a buck will cost you several more in the long run maybe not. good luck with your plan.

BIG

 

[Yo Hoot]

I hear you but I know I can do it. Got a backhoe at home. I can borrow a skid steer for getting it on a trailer or I'll rent one of those hydraulic equipment trailers if I can find one.

It's pretty expensive paying to have it moved professionally. They roll around real easy on pipe.

Just hitting everyone up for tips and tricks. The more you know the better.

 

[JLEONARD]

Know anyone with a slider bed style tow truck?

 

[Yo Hoot]

Know anyone with a slider bed style tow truck?

No I do not.

 

[The patriot]

Moving gun safes is easy. Mine is about the same size as yours.
My, my Brother and 77 YO Dad moved mine from the garage to the bedroom.
I put it in my garage alone the year before, and I have a bad back & several other medical issues.

I moved my Clausing with a 2 ton engine crane (again alone). Mine is somewhat smaller than yours though. Probably 1/2 the size.

You might consider removing the head assy.
Breaking it down a little helps a lot.

 

[Sled Puller]

Call Triple A. . helps when your buddy responds to the call with his rollback,and can fudge the paperwork, lol!!

Then we just ran the winch cable through the building and pipe rolled the piece out of the building onto the truck and took off.

 

[Yo Hoot]

How was it going up the truck on the incline?

BTW, this machine appears to have been originally purchased in 1957 new. I purchased it from the original owner. I have all of the paperwork and manuals. He paid $2549 new. Today they are like $15,000.

Condition of it is pretty much brand new as far as wear is concerned. No visible wear on the ways. Came with the shaper attachment too.

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This is where I'm moving it out of...

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[The patriot]

Appears as if it's a very low hour machine.

Good luck with it!

BTW nice workshop. I'm using the 1 car garage.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Appears as if it's a very low hour machine.

Good luck with it!

BTW nice workshop. I'm using the 1 car garage.

That's not mine... that's where I'm taking the machine out of.

 

[rbattelle]

Drooool.....

If I were doing it I'd rent a Bil-Jax trailer like you showed. I've moved two machines that way, and both times it worked out perfectly.

8 miles on a good road should be a piece of cake. You could almost roll it the whole way there on pipes!

-Ryan

 

[Yo Hoot]

I tried getting one of those trailers. I got no response from the rental place. I'll try again tomorrow. Meantime I have access to a skid steer and a trailer. I figure raise it up and back the trailer under it.

 

[Yo Hoot]

Got ahold of the rental place (Hertz Equip). They said they had low demand and sold them off even tho they still list them on the website.

Looks like the skidsteer/trailer will have to do.

 

[JLEONARD]

I had a good chuckle yesterday... was passing a slider truck on the expressway and what was it hauling?

Yes, a Bridgeport!

I guess everybody's haulin' one!

Made my day. :-laf

 

[Dl5treez]

Did you get it moved?

 

[Yo Hoot]

Yea we got it moved. Wasn't that difficult just took most of the day. 1/2-13 eybolt lifted the whole thing. No dis-assembly required.

Only lifted it. Backed the trailer under it.

Here it is at the "from" location.

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Tucked the head under and lowered the knee onto some 2x4's and locked everything down.

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Lowered onto the trailer. .

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Away we go. .

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Lift and remove trailer. .

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Safe on the driveway. .

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High Lift jack to pull it up the incline. .

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[Yo Hoot]

Finally home. .

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