13 replies to this topic

[sibhs]

I've had this Engine Lifter for 15 years and every time I use it on a small lowish car it's a pain in the arse.  The problem is the front bars sit to high (190mm) and won't fit under the car suspension so all sorts of mucking about is done to get an engine out.

So!  Has anybody modified their lifter to make them work easier on our Toranas?

 

I'm going to try get smaller front wheels and cut the front legs so they drop down to a lower size then chop the legs so they're thinner at the front.  Before doing this I'd like to learn from others first.

 

Cheers

 

Marty

 

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[dattoman]

Engine goes in the other end of the car buddy

 

I've seen a few with mods... first one that springs to mind is straight legs... those wide legs always seem to hit on things

Can't say I've seen any lowered ones... good idea though

[Potta]

Yeah I had similar issues putting an engine in the back of my ute.

 

Had to put it back further than I would have liked because the legs wouldn't go under.

 

You'd have to be pretty careful modifying one though, last thing you want is for it to tip over because the legs are too close together and smash the front of the car.

 

You've seen what an engine hitting a nose cone can do Marty, not pretty.

[Rockoz]

Mate of mine was lifting an engine out of a car.

Looks like he didnt pin the legs in properly and long story short, the whole thing toppled over.

The width of the legs is what helps determine the SWL.

Narrow them up and you seriously affect the stability of it when lifting.

You could possibly use wheels that recess into the legs.

But that would effect any swivel function.

But if they are steel they will slide reasonably well on all but really rough concrete.

My engine stands have fixed wheels at the mount point and swivels on the end.

But the heavy end still slides pretty well on the concrete to move it around.

 

Cheers

 

Rob

[claysummers]

If you were to stitch some 2” angle under the legs so there is clearence to the floor or else some flat on the sides you could lower the profile at the ends where it hits the suspension. Wouldn’t worry about boxing it as it is the vertical walls that so the work.


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[V-SLR5000-P]

I have a pair of these low profile ramps which solve the problem

 

https://au.gktech.co...-car-ramps-pair

[mugginz]

A pair of those ramps are going on the shopping list.

Edited by mugginz, 28 July 2019 - 06:32 PM.

[mick_in_oz]

Relocate the original casters.

Attached pics are of my home built crane, that was based on a very old shop crane that was around town.

75mm x 10mm flat as a tab to mount the caster, fits under everything.
 

Its hard to believe everyone makes the cranes the same way and everyone has the same complaint, some things never change.....

 

Sorry the pics aren't better, crane is grubby and it was dark.

Attached Files

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[Rockoz]

Yep.

Getting the profile down is a god idea.

However it may make it difficult to move with a load on if the crane bottoms out on irregularities in the surface it is moving on.

 

I found a pic of the mates incident.

Various contributing factors.

 

 

 ec1.jpg   122.24K   15 downloads

 

 

Cheers

 

Rob  

[Indy Orange]

Was alcohol involved!

[yel327]

I use one of these. Awesome if you have pallet racking and take up bugger all space as can be parked under pallet. Easy to use. I have a lifter attachment that slides on the tynes and has a hook on it.

https://www.crown.co...te-stacker.html

You can buy them used in good condition for under $2500. Take 4 x FJ Holden 6V batteries. Example:
https://www.ebay.com...hcAAOSwyypc0khr

Mine is probably 30 years old or more. Will lift half cuts of cars up onto racking 2.5m in the air. Only ever replace batteries and tyres/casters.

I store all my firewood in the metal cages that hold IBC containers, stack them up to 3 high.

[Rainman]

Hey Martin, if your roof structure can take it ? Get a length of 75-100mm universal beam/ 1x push trolley/1x lever hoist. The trolley and lever hoist should only cost $300.00 max. Then you give yourself more floor space. Ray

[Rainman]

If you do modify your engine crane, give it a stability test. Use water for a test weight. 1 ltr of water = 1kg. Once you load the crane with desired weight (shake the crap out of it). Take a measurement from the bottom fixed section, where the tube extends out. Not the actual telescopic tube. After loading check measurements. Ray

[Swarbs]

Relocate the original casters.

Attached pics are of my home built crane, that was based on a very old shop crane that was around town.

75mm x 10mm flat as a tab to mount the caster, fits under everything.
 

Its hard to believe everyone makes the cranes the same way and everyone has the same complaint, some things never change.....

 

Sorry the pics aren't better, crane is grubby and it was dark.

 

BINGO

Edited by Swarbs, 30 November 2019 - 01:49 PM.