Four legs, four decisions.
How Jekko outriggers fit the jobsite.

The SPX532.2 in the photo illustrates the access problem: a sidewalk beside a building, columns and vehicles nearby, with a structure overhead. Independent outriggers allow an approved footprint to be adapted around obstacles. The photograph alone does not establish the stability level or rated capacity of the setup; those come from the actual configuration and chart.

01The photo: a sidewalk, a wall, and a rail line

A constrained sidewalk can limit both the travel route and the setup area. Positioning approved outrigger combinations around obstacles can make a compact crane worth evaluating where an outside crane would need more room. Access, pedestrian control, permits and overhead clearances still require a site-specific plan.

02Every leg on its own

On the applicable Jekko SPX models, each outrigger has its own permitted swing positions and extension settings. The available choices differ by model. An open side may allow more spread while the wall side needs a tighter approved position. Follow the model's operating instructions rather than improvising an angle or extension.

Swing angle and extension are separate choices

Swing determines the leg direction and extension determines how far the telescopic beam reaches along it. Together they locate the pad. Approved positions vary by model and configuration; the SPX532.2 technical data illustrates its stability areas and examples. A theoretical count of combinations does not establish which setup is permitted for a particular lift.

03The crane re-rates itself: J-zones

The stability system uses the actual setup to select the applicable model-specific load chart. Reduced setups have their own ratings; the maximum headline capacity does not apply throughout the working envelope. The load moment indicator enforces the applicable limits, but it does not replace checking the chart, ground conditions and complete lift path.

What determines the level is not "how far out are the legs" in a general sense. It is the perpendicular distance from the crane's slew center to the nearest tipping line between two adjacent pads. Tuck one leg in and that distance shrinks on that side, and the J-level drops on that side. That precision is what lets the crane set up tight against a wall without giving up capacity everywhere else.

04How each model does it

Jekko models use different hardware and chart conventions. The SPX328 CL, SPX532.2, SPX650 and SPX1280 sheets referenced here describe model-specific stability levels. Do not assume another SPX model, generation or configuration uses the same settings or thresholds.

• SPX328EVO: use the approved pinned positions and the EVO-KIT chart set. The base SPX328 CL and EVO-KIT have different stability mappings, so confirm which configuration is present.
• SPX532.2: select approved leg positions and use the stability examples and chart-selection page for the actual sector. The referenced sheet provides J2 through J7 stabilized charts.
• SPX650: evaluate leg position and extension using its own stability-area drawing and thresholds. Do not infer a J-level from another model or assume full extension produces the highest level in every sector.
• SPX1280: match the chart selection to the counterweight configuration and working sector. Removing counterweight changes the stability mapping.

Discrete and stepless systems have different permitted setup positions and limits. Use only configurations and working sectors approved in the exact machine documentation. A footprint that fits the site is not automatically a rated lifting configuration.

05Strong side, weak side

An asymmetric setup does not produce one capacity. It produces a capacity per direction. In the photo, the sidewalk side with the wide legs is the strong sector, and the boom can swing there at a higher J-level. Rotate toward the tucked street-side legs and the tipping line gets closer to the slew center, the level drops, and the chart tightens. The crane tracks this by slew angle in real time and reduces allowable load as the boom crosses into the weaker sector.

Plan an asymmetric setup around where the load starts, where it ends, and every sector it crosses. Check the applicable chart at each radius and sector. A pick that is permitted on the strong side may be prohibited during the slew or at the set point.

06Plan the footprint before the truck leaves

Each leg placement affects the footprint, the applicable stability condition and the load carried by the supporting surface. CLE's Outrigger Spatial Planner is a preliminary way to explore layouts against site obstacles. Pair it with the Outrigger Simulator and the correct manufacturer data, then have the actual configuration, pad support and complete lift plan reviewed before delivery.

07What this buys you on site

• Evaluate sidewalk or lane setups with the required permits and traffic controls
• Work against a wall, a column, or a parked vehicle with the legs tucked on that side only
• Check each working sector against its own applicable chart and restrictions
• Fit through a gate or between foundations, then spread inside
• Use only configurations permitted and charted for the actual model and revision
• Show the reviewer a real stability level and pad reaction before the crane arrives

Compact Lifting Equipment rents and sells Jekko SPX mini cranes from Pottstown, PA, and delivers across Pennsylvania and the Mid-Atlantic. Send us a photo of the setup area and the load, and we will map the outriggers, the J-level, and the pad loads before the machine leaves the yard.