- Joined
- Oct 20, 2008
- Messages
- 5,547
I know, the title seems to say it all- but some of you who have done this very thing, or tried to, or have yet to try, have been or will be confronted by a singular problem: they make the stupid front wheels/legs of most engine hoists too close together to straddle many machines. What to do, when that's all you have, and you need to put a machine onto a pallet to move it around with a pallet jack or fork it onto a trailer?
You can crib the machine up off the floor with boards and then build a pallet underneath it... what a PITA. You can build a shop gantry/rolling hoist... but many of us don't have the extra time and extra steel lying around when we need to get 'er done.
Here's a way I've used a few times, and some of you will have thought of it yourselves, but I post it here so whatever neophyte gets his/herself into this situation next can get a workable result when consulting the almighty Google oracle.
Cut yourself some 2x6 pads, then cut some plywood squares to match, and holesaw or jigsaw some 2-3" holes into the centers of the ply squares, then screw the ply to the 2x6 chunks. These are blocks to hold engine hoist casters. You can then put these on top of any reasonable number of additional blocks (STURDY is the word) to raise your engine hoist until it will straddle your machine around the waist. Block the hoist up high enough that you will be able to slide a pallet under it when raised. Lift machine, slide pallet under, ease it down.
Pics:
Didn't want to take the hammer off the pad to move it-
Works good for a mill too:
A closeup of the well-used pad:
Disclaimer: Be careful, operate the hoist slowly and deliberately, and closely observe all parts under load or pressure at all times. Do not put any part of your body under the load anywhere or otherwise at risk. Use at your own risk.
You can crib the machine up off the floor with boards and then build a pallet underneath it... what a PITA. You can build a shop gantry/rolling hoist... but many of us don't have the extra time and extra steel lying around when we need to get 'er done.
Here's a way I've used a few times, and some of you will have thought of it yourselves, but I post it here so whatever neophyte gets his/herself into this situation next can get a workable result when consulting the almighty Google oracle.
Cut yourself some 2x6 pads, then cut some plywood squares to match, and holesaw or jigsaw some 2-3" holes into the centers of the ply squares, then screw the ply to the 2x6 chunks. These are blocks to hold engine hoist casters. You can then put these on top of any reasonable number of additional blocks (STURDY is the word) to raise your engine hoist until it will straddle your machine around the waist. Block the hoist up high enough that you will be able to slide a pallet under it when raised. Lift machine, slide pallet under, ease it down.
Pics:
Didn't want to take the hammer off the pad to move it-
Works good for a mill too:
A closeup of the well-used pad:
Disclaimer: Be careful, operate the hoist slowly and deliberately, and closely observe all parts under load or pressure at all times. Do not put any part of your body under the load anywhere or otherwise at risk. Use at your own risk.