I couldn't agree more, no arguement here! You have the facts correct. Migating factors overode my after the fact common sense, as in: 1. material bought ($500.00+) and fabbed (my labor and time) for the spreader bars, when the thinking was it weighed much less. 2. Actually being in the op seat at the job site, all set up and rigged, with a waiting trailer to load it on. 3. Knowing the safety margin (not to be used, I get that) in the stated loads the rigging can handle. 4. How easily the 1300 handled it....., no lifting whatsoever of the opposite side pad, no unusual grunts or groans, no issues winching. 5. A POSSIBILTY my LMI reads heavy....., either due to the addition of the 1400 pound counterweight or just general out of calibration. The last time I picked a known weight, a 3,000 pound electric motor, it read 300 pounds heavy (after allowing for rigging etc.), pretty close, but that was 6 years ago, pre counterweight.
A bit different situation than doing the math at a desk after the fact at a remote location in other words, no pressure or incentive to continue with caution there. You missed the 3 part line (good only for 22,500 lbs), I should have been rigged for a 4 part. This whole thing reminds me of pilots telling flying stories, we all have stories that make us think "what was I thinking," when viewed in hindsight, but during the heat of battle, stuff happens and we end up being here to talk about it. Point being I guess, nothing broke or bent, nobody got hurt, and the job got done, so my proceeding with it wasn't too wild and crazy.. Again like flying, I am thankful knowing there is a significant safety margin over the stated limits, and I'm just stating how the job went down, not bragging about it, if nothing else a lesson in how an op can get sucked into exceeding the limits of his equipment. If the 80 ton Terex had been available, I'd have had the option of calling him but that wasn't possible
A bit different situation than doing the math at a desk after the fact at a remote location in other words, no pressure or incentive to continue with caution there. You missed the 3 part line (good only for 22,500 lbs), I should have been rigged for a 4 part. This whole thing reminds me of pilots telling flying stories, we all have stories that make us think "what was I thinking," when viewed in hindsight, but during the heat of battle, stuff happens and we end up being here to talk about it. Point being I guess, nothing broke or bent, nobody got hurt, and the job got done, so my proceeding with it wasn't too wild and crazy.. Again like flying, I am thankful knowing there is a significant safety margin over the stated limits, and I'm just stating how the job went down, not bragging about it, if nothing else a lesson in how an op can get sucked into exceeding the limits of his equipment. If the 80 ton Terex had been available, I'd have had the option of calling him but that wasn't possible