engine cranes

[SierraV6]

Sorry I should have said, the other advantage of my OHCO crane is that it folds up and takes up very little space - it’s quite a clever design.

I don’t have a photo of mine but there’s one here:

cheap old engine hoist | Retro Rides

had this for a long time, has served me well, but It just hasn't got quite enough reach to clear my manta front panel without denting it, so to add funds to the replacement it needs to. will lift

forum.retro-rides.org

 

[Morris]

I've had a Sealey 2 ton one for about 28 years, it's been severely abused with American big blocks (on full reach!), my lathe and mill.
Just starting to go down very slowly if left with a load on.

 

[Morrisman]

Check how tall the front legs are and how wide they are.

It's a real pain if you can't push the crane under the car to get to the engine.....

I re-drilled the front wheel bolt holes on my Clarke hoist, to drop the lower legs 2", so they would fit under things. It seemed strange they would be so high in the original holes.

The ones nearest the corners are original, the legs are symmetrical.

 

[Erie Fred]

I thought someone by now would post "Build yourself one".....this being a Welding & Fabrication site and all......

 

[8ob]

Swing gantries work well if space is tight and engines are taken out or fitted in the same spot.

Bob

 

[JOEPRO]

I think I've posted this before but the welding can be quite bad.

View attachment 380665

China quality control guy - "Looks good to me!"

 

[MoreWellie]

I have an SGS 2 ton https://www.sgs-engineering.com/ec2000-2-ton-folding-engine-crane which could be as much as 10 years old now and has been used and abused. I bought it for the long reach and high lift (watch out if using under a garage door)

It has done a fair amount of work and been very stable and controllable in lift and lowering. The only thing is the size of it when not being used and the weight when moving between locations

I say I have an... Like lots of things it is currently on extended loan to somebody else who appreciates its capabilities and finds that borrowing is way more economical than buying

 

[Morrisman]

I thought someone by now would post "Build yourself one".....this being a Welding & Fabrication site and all......

It makes me laugh how awful the engine hoist is that the Roadkill guys use, home made back in high school days, and rough as guts. The guys must be pretty well off with the amount of cars and stuff they have, but Dulcich still uses that old junk hoist.

I've a Clarke one tonne. Wasn't long enough to get engines out of landrovers (and other forms of abuse), so I extended it. Big chunk of thick wall box instead of the original.


Had it twenty years, ram works same as first day, though I do spray silicon oil on the chrome on a regular basis.

I'd buy the same again.



What surface will it be used on? Size the wheels accordingly.

View attachment 380647

Mines a Clarke, 1000kg max lift, but I've had a big block Ford 390 with C6 trans hung on the end at max extension and it's been quite happy.

I'd have thought if you extend the beam beyond the front wheels the whole thing would rock forward under load, unless you put weight on the back end?

 

[Wildefalcon]

@Morrisman

I also extended the legs.

 

[awemawson]

I love my Epco - yes it's big but as I have the room it suits me just fine. Not happy using flimsy imported over rated ones when my fingers are at risk.

Playing with tractors and JCBs I needed something substantial.

 

[CompoSimmonite]

I've got a Clarke version. Had it for nearly 30 years. Had to change the original ram after around 10 years due to lending it to somebody who then left it outside with ram extended that went rusty

 

[winchman]

I love my Epco - yes it's big but as I have the room it suits me just fine. Not happy using flimsy imported over rated ones when my fingers are at risk.

Playing with tractors and JCBs I needed something substantial.

View attachment 380696

Remember an Epco is for life not just for Christmas.

 

[awemawson]

That Epco engine crane, like my Epco 60 ton press is going nowhere !

 

[Erie Fred]

Swing gantries work well if space is tight and engines are taken out or fitted in the same spot.

Bob

This one is portable too:

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70238-Receiver-Hitch-Mounted/dp/B008CE0WCW/ref=asc_df_B008CE0WCW?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80882941400083&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584482468699818&psc=1

Too bad your MOT won't allow a 2" receiver hitch....

 

[bricol]

This one is portable too:

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70238-Receiver-Hitch-Mounted/dp/B008CE0WCW/ref=asc_df_B008CE0WCW?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80882941400083&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584482468699818&psc=1

Too bad your MOT won't allow a 2" receiver hitch....

Got a 2" receiver hitch on the back of the Challenger - passed four MOTs now. Had to shim the ball mount to stop the damn thing clanking and banging under load . . .or even when not too.

 

[Erie Fred]

Got a 2" receiver hitch on the back of the Challenger - passed four MOTs now. Had to shim the ball mount to stop the damn thing clanking and banging under load . . .or even when not too.

I'm certain someone one here said they are not legal in the UK.
Please explain.

 

[8ob]

This one is portable too:

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70238-Receiver-Hitch-Mounted/dp/B008CE0WCW/ref=asc_df_B008CE0WCW?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80882941400083&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584482468699818&psc=1

Too bad your MOT won't allow a 2" receiver hitch....

Built a swing lift combo engine stand, that works well. Since fitted a two post lift and will move the swing lift part next to one of the posts of the two post. It will then be able to remove an engine from a vehicle thats on the lift and swing it straight onto the engine stand.

 

[Am333rcr]

hi

thanks for all the feed back i had a loan of a epco to put my combine v8 in the tractor.

main thing was storage or lack of.

cheers

 

[stuvy]

This one is portable too:

https://www.amazon.com/MaxxHaul-70238-Receiver-Hitch-Mounted/dp/B008CE0WCW/ref=asc_df_B008CE0WCW?tag=bngsmtphsnus-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=80882941400083&hvnetw=s&hvqmt=e&hvbmt=be&hvdev=c&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=&hvtargid=pla-4584482468699818&psc=1

Too bad your MOT won't allow a 2" receiver hitch....

local scrap man has one of these in his transit to save him struggling on his own

Sealey Static Mounted Crane 900kg SSC900 | at Zoro

Sealey - Static Mounted Crane 900kg available at Zoro.co.uk - UK's Leading Supplier of DIY Tools and Supplies'

www.zoro.co.uk

 

[sasquar]

i have a generic chinese 2t job off ebay, works fine, and handles all ive ever thrown at it. its on its second ram, but thats not its fault, a rather large welding table decided it didnt want to roll in quite the manner we had predicted, and took out the ram as it came round. could have repaired it easy enough, but a new ram was about £50, so not worth the bother... (theres a pic on here somewhere of the aftermath). Folds up reasonably well when not in use..... Im fairly confident it was made in china, reason being it self identifies as an 'enging crane' according to the sticker which is a constant source of amusement when using it.....

Interestingly (or not - depends on your point of view) the machine mart one is very, very similar (theres one at work, which got borrowed many, many times before i bought mine), but has fixed castors at the front, the chinese specials have swivels all round, which is bloody handy when you need to shunt the engine 1/2" one way trying to align the mounts.... Probably not as safe with swivels all round, but i havent died yet, not even once, and i can still count to 21, so i figure its probably ok.....