Heavy Duty Engine Stand

[Jeff NWOH]

I have an engine in my shop that needs some help. Unfortunately it is more than my 1000 lb automotive engine stand can handle. I've had a few big block V8 gas and diesel engines on it in the past that have tested it's limits as well.

I'm going to build something similar to the pic. That one is rated at 2500 lbs. I have no intention of getting into anything that would require a 6000 lb stand.

Anybody have one similar? Anything you'd change about it? Would it be possible to get some dimensions from it? Length, width, height, size and wall thickness of tube, approx ratio of gearbox, etc....

I can probably source most everything for next to nothing and I don't do enough of this stuff to justify $2700 to buy one.

Thanks for any and all info.

 

[Alan K]

Here is one I built for my M5 MM engine. It does get to be top heavy with the heads on so turning it over one has to be careful. I had to put the mounts on the side of the block so I can access the front end cover. The gear box is off of an old Lindsay silage wagon. One could make the bottom tube between the two sides extendable then you could mount it either way. I made this one extendable on the mount plates and shaft. Both of them slide in and out to accommodate a different size block. If you would like any other pictures I can get some for you.

 

[RusselAZ]

What a great idea! I like both of them. luckily I have the junk to make it from!

 

[Bob]

I have an OTC "Motor-Rotor" rated at 2000 lbs.

I bought it for 1/3 new price from a retired diesel mech who needed quick cash, they can be had for a little over a grand, new.

Sometimes I wish it was even bigger, but it's been adequate for the engine I get into these later years.

<img src = "https://www.tooltopia.com/_img/OTC/OTC1735B.jpg">

 

[fixerupper]

I made mine using the gearbox off an irrigation pivot tower. I don't know how much weight is on an irrigation tower wheel but when the pivot is full of water I'm sure the wheel has
a ton of weight on it or close to it plus the torque of the wheel pulling on the gear box. . I have had a 619 Deere engine on it with one side of the engine hanging on the gear box and the other side supported by a leg like an OTC. It worked fine with the 619 but I wouldn't want to handle any more than that.

 

[kcm.MN]

I hire someone else to do that work. :lol:

 

[guido]

Hello Jeff nwoh,

The one I used at work was an OTC. It had an 8 ton jack. In line 6 Cyl Mack Cummins Caterpillar, IH, for class 8 trucks all with the proper adapter. It had a catch pan that would catch al the drips and two screw down bolt, to hold it from moving. You may want to add them two items to your list? A trailer landing gear would be strong enough to turn it. Swivel casters where on the crank side. Here is a picture of it with an 8V71T on it.
Guido.

 

[matthies]

I have an older one like Bob has pictured, bought it from a JD dealer having an auction. Only gave $250 and had the jd mounts on it. Made some brackets with angle iron and have had a couple 310 waukasaus, a 5.9 cummins, a numerous 404/466 deeres on it. We had the same thing at the dealer and had a 531 on it and was made for a 619 also. The Sioux Falls craigslist had one like pictured for $700 a few weeks ago. My brother has it now at the CaseIH dealer he works at, they have had so many MX series engine failures they needed another stand to keep up. This style bolts to both sides of the engine and is pretty darn sturdy. chris

 

[John Achmann]

Had your same problem until I built my own. Not sure of gear ratio of my gear box but think the otc ones are like 60 to 1. Used picture and dimensions form the tool catalog and modified mine from there. The big plate for the adapters was made the same from an otc stand. Figured that then I could buy the adapters if needed and they would fit my stand. Good luck!

 

[jniolon]

Jeff, here's one I built for a 460 ford (800# dressed) you can turn it with one finger. it's 'foldable' and rolls quite easily with the 460 on it... legs screw down to hold it in place..

here's the article on the build
https://jniolon.classicpickup.com/enginestand/BDES.html

here's the finished product

john

 

[PaGlenn]

Nice Work !

 

[WGM]

MX engines must be failing only at the CaseIH dealer your brother works at because around here MX engines run forever. Perhaps they are doing faulty repairs to gin up work?

 

[matthies]

I misspoke, it was the Iveco engines in the newer tractors and combines. And NO they are not doing faulty repairs, in fact he has tractors brought to him from new customers because their dealers can't fix them. And the word is getting around about him!! And if you work for CaseIH and heard of the trans clutch problem with a pop can tab under the clutch piston(from factory) he is the one who found it.

 

[2x4]

take your vacation in Florida during Feb. Six big auction companies have 4 to 8 day sales that usually have several big ones.

 

[Jeff NWOH]

Thanks for the pics, info, and ideas. I think I have a pretty good idea how I want it to come together. I'll post a pic or two when I get it built.

Here's the first patient. John Deere 6.8L. Buddy it belongs to thinks it's somewhere around 1500 lbs. Probably not too far off. It made the skid steer feel a little light in the rear when we pulled it.

 

[Jeff NWOH]

I like the idea of building the engine mounting plate to a factory built standard. Wondering if you could give me the width and bolt spacing on that?

Thanks, Jeff

 

[John Achmann]

Here you go. This was from an otc stand that I measured up. Hope it helps.

 

[Jeff NWOH]

Thanks.