Hi Shipto, The thing is, how far do you have to move it? The only bits you can easily remove are the chuck, the tailstock and the toolpost, and although these do not remove much deadweight, they do remove some of the top heavy weight. All this type of machinery has a manufacturers recomended lifting point. there is usually a tapped hole in the bed for a lifting eye, or a sling point, and you then move the carriage left or right to balance the lift. If you use a fork lift DO NOT lift the lathe from underneath, or try to lift it on a pallet, as this is always a recipe for disaster. Use a lifting beam like this (
http://www.dlhonline.co.uk/h-bar-fixed-lifting-beams-palhf--1000-kg-to-10000-kg-9568-p.asp) and suspend the lathe below the forks. I have used landylift as well, he is excellent, experienced, and insured! They can be moved with engine cranes, but you need a really good one with a capacity at least a ton over the deadweight of the lathe, or you will find the wheels are not up to the job, and you will be able to lift it, but not move it. Lift the lathe with the crane, place some heavy timbers on the crane legs, lower the lathe onto them, and ratchet strap it down and pull the crane, don't push the lathe, and stay on level ground!! Extra long timbers ratchet strapped to the crane legs can provide insurance against toppling. If you are going to trailer it you need a flat, low bed 4 wheel trailer with a smooth metal floor and a good supply of ratchet straps with a rating of at least a ton over deadweight. You can use a ratchet strap to pull the lathe on to the trailer. Above all, take your time, think before you move, no sudden moves and have plenty of reliable bodies available. Four people pushing gently is a lot better than two people chewing their guts out, and a lot safer. You can do a lot on rollers, use steel conduit, 3/4 or 1" water pipe or even short scaffold poles, but you need a clean smooth surface or the rollers will jam, sweep off the surface before you roll across it. A couple of the biggest crowbars you can get can be used CAREFULLY to lift the machine one end at a time to get the rollers under, 3 or 4 rollers are enough, but move slowly. Once on the rollers, inch the machine with a crowbar rather than push it, you have more control that way, and can adjust and add rollers as neccasary. you can go round corners by angling the rollers in the direction you want to go. If you are not confident, get Landylift, Steve moves machines by himself, but he has the gear and the experience. If you see anyone using a forklift under a lathe SMACK HIM! ;-)
Phil
