Colt Case Ingersoll Garden Tractors

Thanks everyone for your likes and compliments on Maxine's trailer hitch project...

There was of course a reason why I made such a robust bracket for a trailer hitch. I'll admit I'm a little envious of everyone with Case loaders in your collections... I've wanted some kind of yard "crane" for lifting and moving heavy stuff for a while.

The concept of a crane that would mount on 2" receiver tube has been rattling around in my head for a few years now. When I built my 4x6 utility trailer I made the tongue out of 2" tube, and made it removable at the box. The idea was I could slide the tongue out, put the crane in place, and then reattach the tongue - giving me a crane at the front of my trailer. The outriggers are removable and also out of 2" thick wall tube.
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Today was my first chance to test my ideas. Gather the bits and pieces I've been collecting and go for a trial fit. Assemble it all and see how the parts would work together - and it looks like it will work ok, I'll probably shorten up the outriggers so they are in line with the tires, and possibly make a different, dedicated receiver assy so it could fit a little closer to the seat. ...and put a little hand winch on top of the swivel post with a sheave at the tip of the crane arm.
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Of course the frustrating thing now is that I can see it's going to work, and I can do some cutting and drilling of component parts, but I've got to wait until the weather gets a little more "spring like" again before I do any welding/painting.

If you have any comments/suggestions feel free to fire away. This project is definitely in the late design phase, but there is still time to tweak things...

I like the idea of using it on the trailer as well . As for the out rigger jacks . Make it so they are just proud of the rear tires and have them so the jacks come off and turn up parallel to the ground for transport . Other than that , I like what you got going on and I think adding a winch is a great idea .

Will be a handy thing Gerry. I know a fella on you tube that has a crane to lift up large rounds of wood that he can’t pick up him self. Crane is mounted in a small trailer and swivels. He picks up the rounds on the ground and sets them in the trailer. Trailer is hooked to a Sears garden tractor. Trailer is only big enough for two or three large rounds. The crane can be removed and set on his wood splitter. Picks up the rounds, sets them on the splitter. Manual boat winch operated the crane.

Noel

Some pictures of the set up I was mentioning. He lives in Ontario.

Noel

Thanks for the photos @propane1 - That's quite the setup he has. I don't think I'd be wanting to try and manhandle those rounds to get them in his trailer. I had considered putting the crane in a corner of my trailer, but felt in the long run it would be more useful if it could be moved around and mounted different equipment. It could even be used on my Samurai or Tacoma...

Nicely done Gerry! It looks like it’s going to work well.
My first thought was the same as Mr. Dave. I think I would want the outriggers set to outside of the tires. The stabilizers on my 648 are inline with the rear tires and it’s gets a little tippy. I’d much rather have them wider.

That's pretty impressive. It looks to be plenty strong.

Now it's time for action! Grab something heavy and pick it up! LOL

Bob

I posted this Project flow chart a few weeks ago because it seemed to perfectly explain a lot of my "almost finished" projects... and looking back at this post - it's been over a year since the last update - where has time gone?
Seems the older I get, the faster the days go past

Earlier this spring I finally cleaned rust off the repurposed 2x2 steel tube outrigger assemblies, and splashed some paint on them.
- And yesterday I distracted myself from 'real' work and took pictures while I played around with the completed garden tractor crane. It actually looks pretty good (I might be biased )
made an adapter so I could also tow a yard trailer behind it... Which is handy for bringing along all the outrigger parts decide to try it out and move some stuff in the yard Suzuki engine and transmission - no problem, boom has just enough reach to swivel around at the 500lb mark and drop stuff into the trailer Same thing with some Suzuki and Toyota axle assemblies - Originally I had put them behind the shed using a hand dolly - and it was a real pain - especially if I wanted to get an axle from the middle of the pile...
I added a 1000 lb strap winch on top of the boom, but left the original chain and hook as well - sometimes the 'stretch' in the webbing makes things a bit difficult. I fussed over how to make a roller assembly for the boom tip for ages - finally settled on 1/2" bolts with a pair of loose fitting 1/2 - 5/8 bronze bushings to act as rollers

An added bonus - The crane assembly slides over any 2" square tube - letting me mount it on the Tacoma trailer hitch. or on the removable 2" tongue of my 4'x6' utility trailer that's hiding up north

A well executed project in my book. Harry

Thanks for the compliment Harry!
There's even a few welds I'd be proud to show you - LoL

@RoamingGnome Gerry , I see that being very handy up north . Do you have a these to go with it . I think they might come in handy with that .

Thanks @DavidBarkey Those are great suggestions !

I am guilty of spending far too much time planning (or is that 'daydreaming' ) of things to make life a little easier when we spend more time up north...

I was explaining to last night that stuff I was making for the tractors was so we could struggle less and work 'smarter' not 'harder' - moving things with garden tractor and trailer is much easier on the body than using a wheelbarrow...

Since getting the property I have acquired logging accessories from Princess Auto when they go on sale and have a set of log tongs like the one in your picture - I've seen pictures of the double tong set up online and am tempted if the tongs are on sale at Princess again to buy a second set and weld up a double set... (or just be lazy and buy a set off Amazon...)
Doing basic log skidding behind the tractors and BluZuki is definitely in the plans.

We bought one of these log arches and the matching trailer from Princess when they were on sale last year... When we bought our first Case 446 it came with a bunch of attachments / accessories - and moving that tiller was awkward for one person to move - I combined a small come-along with an old bicycle carrier and used Max to move it around in the yard.
(yes, I know about the missing tins on the engine - I have some for it now... )
It worked pretty good and I will probably revisit the idea and make a simple solid arch and use another strap winch (or maybe a little electric winch) - don't really need the swivel feature of the crane for log skidding, and bouncing through the forest I would appreciate a little more room between the post for the crane and the back of my seat...

Seems projects never end

Gerry, moving the tiller by oneself is no easy task. When the troybilt tiller quit I had to dig it out of the leanto. I keep the standing on end against the back wall. I move then with my two wheel hand cart. So I installed it on the 444 but when that quit I moved it to the 646. Certainly a heavy piece of equipment. Harry

@Harry - at first I stood it up on end and walked it a short distance rocking it from side to side... It wasn't fun

My tiller sits on a cradle with caster wheels on it for easier mounting . I strap it all to a skid when not in use for easier moving and storage .

I take the mowing decks and tillers off the GT’s for winter storage. Move them with a two wheel hand cart. Then store them on end against a wall to save space. I struggle to do this but it’s what I do. Harry

Now I may have to build a lift that would go on a three-point hitch. I often need to move tractors myself. I do have a loader, and I can back up the whole way out to my storage woods. I wish I had a cover for them all with a roof. It would not take much to do it. I have mounting points already.

ssmewing wrote: ↑Sat Aug 02, 2025 4:22 pm Now I may have to build a lift that would go on a three-point hitch.

I like the fact that the crane rotates and can easily reach over things. My yard in the city is fairly small but with lots of "treasures" piled everywhere. When I hooked things onto the bucket of the 644 it seemed like I spent a lot of time making 10 point turns or going back and forth to move stuff in the pile

Playing with Maxine the last few days, reworking the fence line around the edge of the driveway to get a little more space before winter arrives... Started by pulling up some old railway ties,
and then on to fence posts First one came out pretty easy, The next couple were a little more stubborn, wasn't really expecting to lift the front wheels off the ground Decided to stop being lazy and put the outriggers on - definitely helped keep the front tires planted.
said it was cute, that I looked like I was having fun - I said it's just like being a kid playing in a sandbox...