Shop Crane Casters

[epanzella]

I was fairly happy with my Harbor Freight shop crane after converting it from a one ton to a two ton and widening the stance using Franko's modification. One thing I didn't like was trying to position it accurately while holding up my mill. The unit has six casters and they all swivel independently making the thing go all helter skelter when trying to put the mill exactly where I wanted it. I cut the ball bearings out of the two casters right under the load and TIGed them permanently straight. Now the unit handles great

 

[Ulma Doctor]

nice work!!

i'm very close to doing the same thing, thanks for the tip about locking the casters