OT Engine Hoist

[OBwan]

Thinking about getting an engine hoist for lifting heavy pieces around the garage. Also for barn use for the tractors. Would like fold-able to save space and wheeled as opposed to a chain hoist for flexibility. Probably won't pull many engines but I cant lift this stuff by myself anymore. Looking for recommendations on brands and capacity and features.

Was thinking I could get by with a 1 ton but with the weight capacity reduced on full extension it might be down to 500lbs. Seems the extra money for a 2 ton is a better decision.

 

[gears]

They don't roll real nice if you don't have a totally flat/smooth/clean surface - think of a skateboarder hitting a bb.

I'd go cheapest I could find and put some pneumatic tires on it to move around the yard. There's alot of guys built them as carts to tow behind their garden tractors (cubcadetsonlydotnet)

 

[Ultradog MN]

Why not get a boom pole?
My pal Ken beside an engine we just pulled.

 

[OBwan]

I have one. It's great for moving stuff around, but there are places the tractor won't fit. Job one is removing the lift cover on a Ford 3600. Job 2 is lifting a leaning gravestone that's 60 miles away. I doubt the cemetery will appreciate me driving a tractor thru the yard.

 

[Hobo,NC]

I have a HD engine lift (Cherry Picker) Add a 3pt hook up to one...

 

[Jim L WA]

I have a fold up one from Harbor Freight. It works great as long as it's on concrete. But like one of the others said, if it's off concrete, forget it.

 

[2hot6ft2]

(quoted from post at 12:29:46 12/21/18) Job 2 is lifting a leaning gravestone that's 60 miles away. I doubt the cemetery will appreciate me driving a tractor thru the yard.

Ask to borrow theirs or ask if they will straighten it for you. You don't think they dig the holes by hand do you.. rhetorical question.
I'm sure they will fix it for you if they're any good at all before letting you injure yourself on their property trying to do it by yourself. :roll:

 

[sunbeam]

Great Idea.

 

[TomIn]

I've got a couple of used cheap (made in China) ones and they both lift fine. Just remember that you need room above what your are lifting for the "boom" and chain. They aren't much good for moving large items in and out of the bed of a pickup truck if you have a cap on it. You also have to remember that the legs have to extend beyond the load you are lifting (or the whole thing will tip over.) They aren't any good at moving items if you can't get the legs properly situated.

I don't use mine nearly as often as I envisioned when I bought them.

 

[showcrop]

They are a generic thing. There are few that are any real brand. They are just zipped out, painted, buyers stickers applied and shipped to any of twenty different brand buyers.

 

[sotxbill]

Use mine mostly for lift covers and axle housings. Works great for that. As others said,, best used on concrete. I have used mine a time or two in the dirt but did not have to move it under load...

 

[Eman85]

Harbor Freight is your friend. 2 ton foldable is the trick. As others have said concrete is best but I have put down old plywood and rolled it on that over dirt. Like a pressure washer or log splitter don't tell anyone you own it or you'll be asked to lend it out.

 

[Colin King]

I would definitely go with the 2 ton. They show up on Craigslist occasionally. I picked up mine for $75 bucks. Worked great until my then 3 year old decided to drain the oil out of the cylinder

Colin

 

[Hobo,NC]

My neighbor wanted to borrow mine to pull a engine out in his yard he put it in the back of a pick up hanging out right much off the back tied it down and pulled a engine... Its a wonder someone did not get hurt it was quite a site to see...

 

[gears]

Hobo, those 3 point tabs look like a neat trick, I'm making that my next welding project.....

 

[nashranch]

(quoted from post at 08:35:45 12/22/18) Harbor Freight is your friend. 2 ton foldable is the trick. As others have said concrete is best but I have put down old plywood and rolled it on that over dirt. Like a pressure washer or log splitter don't tell anyone you own it or you'll be asked to lend it out.

Here's a link to the Harbor Freight 2 ton cherrypicker

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-ton-capacity-foldable-shop-crane-69514.html

 

[Hobo,NC]

I had to make a few changes...

1) lower lift pins two low
2" upper top link mounting point had to extend out...

Both changes I think in pix... This one was not a fold up style so make it so I could take the lower part off and stack it on the rear of the lift...

My objective was so I could move it with a tractor into another building out of the way to store it... I brought it around 1980 from a traveling gypsy out of the back of a pick'em up truck made in the USA its a heavy mother....

 

[OBwan]

Done deal. Merry Christmas to me from me. 2 ton Harbor Freight. 229.00 minus 20% so 183 plus tax.