Hi all,
Probably a bit of a long shot but has anyone got a small(ish) folding engine crane they are looking to sell?? Will be looking to take the engine in and out a few times during the first couple of months of the build no doubt so got to be worth getting one i recon.
I am near Chester anyway so within reasonable travelling distance of there. If so could you provide details and price please.

Cheers
Paul

[Edited on 5/3/07 by Paul TigerB6]

hi paul dont know how you feel about it but the engine only weighs about 55kg

I lifted mine in and out on the cradle 2 people would be better and easier

I used a small hand winch from the rafters and it worked great, only cost about £15.

Cheers

Ian

I agree two people can easly handle a small car engine.

As said lightweight hoists can be bought cheaply.

No beam???? No problem. The engine is well light so fit a new beam and either support each end on wooden props or get some joist hangers. Of course you can decide how best to fix the props or joist hangers. Testing will be easy. If engine is only 55Kgs, most people are heavier than this so just hang off it for a while or lift something heavier a few inches off the deck for a while (with car etc out of the way of course).



I was lucky to get an ambulance lifting beam. This is extendable and has a sliding lifting eye. I placed one end on the garage header plate and supported the other end with 3 or 4 lengths of CLS as a prop. I did this cos i didnt fancy lifting a Pinto on std new build garage roof trusses (far too lightweight).

I too have a problem with my back and am currently having lots of physio so have to be pretty careful. I comfortably picked up both the R1 engine and the ZX9R engine I just sold though last year.
Problem i have is that I am building on my own so dont have a second set of hands convenient and am making a mass of changes to the chassis so recon the engine will be in and out several times. Not overly confident about the strength of the rafters in my rented garage with pitched roof (from memory they are approx 2" x 1" for a simple hoist as mentioned (although its probably me just being overly cautious and not wanting to drop an expensive Yamaha R1 engine onto my chassis. Maybe a piece of 4x4 timber or steel would spread the load across 2 or 3 rafters however??

Put in a new wooden rafter across the gap and fitted on the top of two uprights bolted to the walls.

6x2 rafter should do the job.

Pat...

quote:

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Originally posted by Avoneer
Put in a new wooden rafter across the gap and fitted on the top of two uprights bolted to the walls.

6x2 rafter should do the job.

Pat...

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Would struggle with my garage to get a decent sized beam on top of the wall (at least in the right place to allow me to drop the engine in to a static chassis fully in the garage.
I have now found somewhere that I can get a new 1 ton engine hoist for £95 which looks great value and about what I was expecting to pay 2nd hand (having seen the for £150 at Machine Mart)

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=015&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=250091069301&rd=1&rd=1 />
What d'ya recon??