Build a hydraulic track changing lift

Idea of the month: This 3-point lift makes changing tracks a breeze.

Illustration by Lant Elrod

Ethan Fehr and his brother Jason were frustrated. They needed to change tracks on multiple tractors at least two times a year. “It became challenging to lift one side at a time,” says Ethan. “We wanted to speed the process up by lifting the entire tractor at once.”

To build his lift, he started with two triangular cut 1⁄2-inch-thick plates to create the center of his lift to which he attached three 40-inch-long pieces of 4×4×5⁄16-inch tubing. He welded one be- tween the plates and drilled pin holes in two corners to secure the other two arms.

Using 4-inch barrel rams with an 18-inch stroke, he welded 4-inch pipe extensions on the pinned arms and then welded all rams to the ends of the tubing as seen in the diagram.

Using 1/8-inch plate, he welded wheels to the two pinned arms. He allowed for the wheels to lift them off the ground. When lifting, the plate will flex, which allows the lift to fully hit the ground. Lastly, he attached a 3⁄8 -inch hose, with a 3,000 psi rating, to the rams and used hydraulic ends to hook up to the tractor. Two rams run on one controller and the third on a separate controller.

“I would use a double pilot-operated check valve on the rams to prevent a wreck if one of the hoses blows out,” says Ethan.

Illustration by Lant Elrod

Ethan Fehr and his brother Jason operate a 1,300-acre organic row crop farm with corn, soybeans, and oats in West Bend, Iowa. They use narrow tracks in the summer and wide tracks in the fall.

Ethan and wife Kelsey have three children under age 5. He has an associate’s degree in diesel technology as well as drone certification. Email him at ethanfehr@ hotmail.com.