Engine Cranes - talk to me
Discussion
So, I have the choice of paying a garage to remove and re-install my engine, or knuckling down and doing it myself, which is the far preferable option. Thus I need an engine crane.
Are there any recommendations? Any features that are a must-have, or really useful and worth paying for?
It'll be a one man job, so the kit to lift heavy stuff is useful!
Car is a Caterham 7 with a k-series, if that influences anything in terms of reach and lift.
Many thanks.
Are there any recommendations? Any features that are a must-have, or really useful and worth paying for?
It'll be a one man job, so the kit to lift heavy stuff is useful!
Car is a Caterham 7 with a k-series, if that influences anything in terms of reach and lift.
Many thanks.
I used the standard Sealy folding one you get from machine mart or wherever. That's taken the engines out of 3 cars, in and out of the dax several times. You'll need a couple of slings and some rope as well.
Oh, and remember that engine crane = device for testing the tensile strength of the hoses and ancilliaries which you forgot to disconnect....
Oh, and remember that engine crane = device for testing the tensile strength of the hoses and ancilliaries which you forgot to disconnect....
Smitters said:
I assume it's worth getting a 1000kg crane, not so much for the sheer DIY overkill on a 100kg engine, but because I can then extend the arm fully with engine and gearbox in place to pop the lot in from the front of the car (not being blessed with a wide garage...).
Yeah, extension is the biggest useful feature I'd say.FWIW, my sealy lifted my lathe at full extension, which should be limited to 250kg. I later found out that the lathe weighed just a smidge under 1000Kg...but it didn't seem to bother it.
Jimmyarm said:
Get a load leveler as well, if you are flying solo it makes things considerably easier.
Having done the Caterham engine removal dance several times, I'd suggest a leveller was essential. You'll also benefit from another pair of hands, especially when re-installing, as the tail of the gearbox will benefit from being guideed into place from underneath. Good luck.Last spring I bought a 2 tonne lift (for the reach) to remove my Lotus engine from my seven.
The purpose was to replace the concentric clutch unit.
I placed ramps under the front wheels as I only have 100mm of ground clearance and the base of the
crane was greater than that.
I bought 2m of chain and cut this into four and bolted these to the engine. By hooking into convenient links
this gave all the adjustment I needed. My engine lays over at 45 deg so not the easiest to judge the point of balance
as it's not just front to back but side to side also.
HTH
Paul G
The purpose was to replace the concentric clutch unit.
I placed ramps under the front wheels as I only have 100mm of ground clearance and the base of the
crane was greater than that.
I bought 2m of chain and cut this into four and bolted these to the engine. By hooking into convenient links
this gave all the adjustment I needed. My engine lays over at 45 deg so not the easiest to judge the point of balance
as it's not just front to back but side to side also.
HTH
Paul G
Another option would be to install a beam in your garage and use a hoist, often comparable price wise, slightly more effort to put in, but takes up much less garage space than any folding engine hoist I've ever seen!
Of course, if you have a garage with a decent joist then you could just use the existing ones!
By decent I mean something like this, anything less isn't safe! Remember that if you overload the roof truss, you potentially pull the building down ontop of you!
Of course, if you have a garage with a decent joist then you could just use the existing ones!
By decent I mean something like this, anything less isn't safe! Remember that if you overload the roof truss, you potentially pull the building down ontop of you!
Petrolhead_Rich said:
Another option would be to install a beam in your garage and use a hoist, often comparable price wise, slightly more effort to put in, but takes up much less garage space than any folding engine hoist I've ever seen!
Of course, if you have a garage with a decent joist then you could just use the existing ones!
By decent I mean something like this, anything less isn't safe! Remember that if you overload the roof truss, you potentially pull the building down ontop of you!
Bit difficult to move the garage around to line the engine/box combo up though...Of course, if you have a garage with a decent joist then you could just use the existing ones!
By decent I mean something like this, anything less isn't safe! Remember that if you overload the roof truss, you potentially pull the building down ontop of you!
An engine crane is a much better idea tbh
tr7v8 said:
Mines a Machine Mart one, been borrowed to do various engines, including a Caterham K build. Use seat belt instead of chains, it's softer & easier to work with. Can be cut out of old cars in scrappies.
A load leveler would be useful, although I've never used one over 40 years or so.
Get a load leveller, they make it MUCH easier !A load leveler would be useful, although I've never used one over 40 years or so.
normalbloke said:
Until something goes wrong, they have a pretty lousy caustomer service reputation.
Not that high up most people's priorities for a cheap engine crane - their stuff is better than the vast majority in the same price range Costs about the same as hiring one for a week for their 1t one
Edited by Toaster Pilot on Tuesday 4th October 11:26
Cracking info - many thanks. Joists a no go I think - for one thing I'd rather roll a crane back than the car if removing the engine and box together, for another, they're not going to take the weight...
I'll have to check the leg width too - be annoying to foul the chassis stands and not be able to get in and out.
Duly noted on a leveller. I think that (plus the spare hands) would be essential for reinstalling engine plus gearbox. Not sure at this stage if I should split them in the car, or take them out as one and split on the bench as AFAIK the box is fine, it's just the clutch fork and CRB that need attention.
I'll have to check the leg width too - be annoying to foul the chassis stands and not be able to get in and out.
Duly noted on a leveller. I think that (plus the spare hands) would be essential for reinstalling engine plus gearbox. Not sure at this stage if I should split them in the car, or take them out as one and split on the bench as AFAIK the box is fine, it's just the clutch fork and CRB that need attention.
Gassing Station | Home Mechanics | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff