Community Forums

allegroman · 07-28-2011, 10:28 PM

Sure, you can run to the local scales, but what if you want to have the ability of weighing the mh at home? oh yes, and don't have a lot of $$$ to spend on a commercial scale.

Well, 1st, how much does an axle weigh, say on my 31 ft '88 allegro? Next, what's the biggest weighing error that would be acceptable?

Now, what if I used some hd galvanized electrical pipe (or something strong enough) about 10 ft long as a fulcrum, and put the balance point about 6" from the axle. I'd have 20:1 leverage advantage. Per 1000# of axle weight, I'd have to push down 1/20th of 1000 or 50#, to get balance.

For the measure weights I'd hang a platform on the free end and fill it with cinder blocks. At 42.5 lbs each, maybe I'd need 10. Total cost might be about 50.00 for the project.

Is this even feasible?

**JohnRR** · 07-28-2011, 10:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by allegroman

Sure, you can run to the local scales, but what if you want to have the ability of weighing the mh at home? oh yes, and don't have a lot of $$$ to spend on a commercial scale.

Total cost might be about 50.00 for the project.

Is this even feasible?

How much are you thinking it costs to weigh at a commercial scale? To the best of my knowledge most local trash transfer stations will allow you to weigh for free.

xfirechief20 · 07-28-2011, 11:09 PM

DUDE you have way too much time on your hands

allegroman · 07-28-2011, 11:15 PM

"How much are you thinking it costs to weigh at a commercial scale? To the best of my knowledge most local trash transfer stations will allow you to weigh for free. "

It's not the price, and my situation is likely unlike most other folks. It's about convenience and control. At near 4.00/gallon for gas, I'm not running out multiple trips 50 or 75 miles each to see what my rig weighs dry and wet, no matter how cheap a weigh is. My monthly run consists of driving in the opposite direction of town, the whole of 6 miles, into the wilderness (64000 ac at the end of my street!), two or three times a month. But one day I'll head out for 'real' and I want to be prepared now, for the trip. 'sall.

allegroman · 07-28-2011, 11:18 PM

"DUDE you have way too much time on your hands "
I'm sure you aren't busy 24/7 either. What sort of things do YOU do for fun and relaxing?
Me, I think up stuff, mostly to keep my mind active by solving problems. They say it keeps the alztimers at bay. Not sure yet....

Kurmudgeon · 07-29-2011, 01:37 AM

What you want to do is pretty easy, and won't require any cinder blocks. First, I think you have fulcrum and lever confused. You certainly don't need a 10 foot long fulcrum, and you will need a lever much stronger than pipe or conduit. I would use a short piece of heavy angle iron as the fulcrum on one end, a bathroom scale on the other end, and a 12 or 16 foot 4x4 or 4x6 as the lever. Your load will go between the fulcrum and scale. Use a hydraulic jack centered on a precise load point somewhere near the fulcrum, say 6" or 8". Lift the load off the ground with the jack, read the weigth on the scale, and multiply. If your jack is at 8" on a 16 foot lever the factor will be 24, at 6" will be 32. To weigh something really heavy, get a longer lever.

It may sound crude, but if you measure and design carefully, it will be surprisingly accurate, and it's simple and cheap.

Alan_Hepburn · 07-29-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kurmudgeon

What you want to do is pretty easy, and won't require any cinder blocks. First, I think you have fulcrum and lever confused. You certainly don't need a 10 foot long fulcrum, and you will need a lever much stronger than pipe or conduit. I would use a short piece of heavy angle iron as the fulcrum on one end, a bathroom scale on the other end, and a 12 or 16 foot 4x4 or 4x6 as the lever. Your load will go between the fulcrum and scale. Use a hydraulic jack centered on a precise load point somewhere near the fulcrum, say 6" or 8". Lift the load off the ground with the jack, read the weigth on the scale, and multiply. If your jack is at 8" on a 16 foot lever the factor will be 24, at 6" will be 32. To weigh something really heavy, get a longer lever.

It may sound crude, but if you measure and design carefully, it will be surprisingly accurate, and it's simple and cheap.

The basic theory here is valid, but you don't want to use a 4X4 or even e 4X6 as the lever - it will flex and the end result will be innacurate. The lever needs to be rigid so that ALL the force is transferred to the scale...

wa8yxm · 07-29-2011, 02:00 PM

Find out where the "Diesel Smokies" (Motor Carrier officers or Weighmasters) go for coffee.. Make friends.. They have portable scales.

Kurmudgeon · 07-29-2011, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan_Hepburn

The basic theory here is valid, but you don't want to use a 4X4 or even e 4X6 as the lever - it will flex and the end result will be innacurate. The lever needs to be rigid so that ALL the force is transferred to the scale...

Someone has given you bad information. It can flex from now 'til next week and it will make no difference as long as your only points of contact are the fulcrum and the scale. Flexing won't magically make weight disappear into thin air. If the lever flexes so much that some part of it touches the ground, either raise it higher or get a stronger fulcrum. But for the weights we're talking about here, and only 6-8" from the fulcrum, a 4x6 should be more than strong enough.

JP

mikron · 07-29-2011, 02:54 PM

Pilot $9.50 gives you front and rear seperate weight.

Wayne M · 07-29-2011, 04:01 PM

Ya'll are just to darn smart. I got my MH weighed and the front axle is 9400 pounds. Now I have to figure out what that means on each wheel.

Sheeeesssshhhh!

Freebird23 · 07-29-2011, 07:03 PM

Yes,you have it about right.Back in the day we use to weigh out our old race cars like that at the track.We took a 3 in sq tube for a stand and a 11/2 sq tube arm.We made it at 10 to 1. you just had to adjest so you got tire off ground ,with arm being level. I got that old thing out in about 1990 after we had good dig. scales and it was very close. That said me thinks I would go to the Cat Scale.
Good topic ----lUCK---Bill

Kurmudgeon · 07-29-2011, 09:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freebird23

Yes,you have it about right.Back in the day we use . . . and it was very close. That said me thinks I would go to the Cat Scale.

That would be my choice too, but that's not what this thread is about. The OP wants to do it himself, and he's basically asking how.

JP

njs42 · 07-29-2011, 10:27 PM

So the OP has time in his day
And he comes up with a way to weigh
He wants to know what we would say
If this make sense or we say nay
As for me I'm troubled by
This plan he has but can't think why
So forge ahead at least I say
It seems you have found a clever ------ weigh