Homemade Combine Maintenance Lift

To more easily access his combine’s engine, Peter McKay (Lone Wolf, OK) used heavy-duty tubing to build this 12-volt, winch-powered lift. Wired switches in two locations allow him to raise or lower the platform on a pair of barn door tracks. A safety mechanism such as a fall arrestor should be added to prevent the sudden falling of the platform should the cable break. Frequent inspection of the cable is critical to prevent such a mishap. Electric winch manufacturers declare their equipment is not designed for lifting people. Twelve-volt hydraulic power units can be used to operate hydraulic cylinders to raise manlift platforms safely even when the combine engine is not running.

Cost: $1000 for 12V hydraulic power supply and cylinder

Limitations Addressed: Lower extremity