Since I'm too old to lift engines...

[kpinnc 16,911]

Firstly, forgive my mess because I'm stuck indoors and I'll clean up when I can open the garage again.

 

I welded a hitch reciever to my welding table for using my mini crane and for using my tire changer. But I got to thinking that it wouldn't take much weight on the crane to tip the table. So I made a folding outrigger to support it. 

 

I won't lift anything heavier than a Kohler or Onan, and I'll stay inside the 90 degree space formed by the outrigger. My back just won't tolerate moving an engine from the tractor to the table. 

 

We'll see how it works soon. At least it looks neat...  and Rubble approves! 

 

Or maybe he just likes the heater... 

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by kpinnc

[ri702bill 11,116]

Next best thing in lieu of an overhead hoist on a trolley.....

[WHX?? 54,270]

19 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

forgive my mess

 

19 minutes ago, kpinnc said:

back just won't tolerate moving an engine from the tractor to the table. 

 

Preachin to the choir here ... 

[SylvanLakeWH 30,393]

That is cool! 

[kpinnc 16,911]

39 minutes ago, ri702bill said:

Next best thing in lieu of an overhead hoist on a trolley.....

 

Thank you! 

 

I'd love to have an overhead setup but my garage doesn't have support big enough in my opinion, and I don't have the avaliable steel currently to build one. 

 

There is a decent one at Harbor Freight but it's outside my price range at the moment. 

 

I got the idea of making the crane setup from Don @Lee1977. I can move it to the tractor whenever needed outside. 

 

 

Edited 21 hours ago by kpinnc

[SylvanLakeWH 30,393]

They are very handy!!!

 

 

[kpinnc 16,911]

10 minutes ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

They are very handy!!!

 

Yes they are!

[squonk 45,269]

I have a chain fall connected to an 8x8 beam and a HF hydraulic lift table. Still a bit of a lift to get it on the bench but more of a slide than a lift.

 

Save your back. There are so many lifts in it. I don't care what kind of shape you're in, how many times you've lifted weights or how macho you think you are. Doesn't take much to get something in the back out of sorts. Going 6 years on my back surgery and I'm sure if I live another 10 yrs. they will have to do the other side. Already starting to feel the symptoms.

[kpinnc 16,911]

8 minutes ago, squonk said:

Save your back. There are so many lifts in it. I don't care what kind of shape you're in, how many times you've lifted weights or how macho you think you are. Doesn't take much to get something in the back out of sorts.

 

You are absolutely correct. I've strained my back a couple times being stupid and it took a while to recover. That was when I was younger and (unbelievably) stupider. No way I'm gonna do it now. 

 

What started this whole thing is last year I removed my balance gears on the Bronco 14. Unfortunately the oil pan gasket I had to make up has failed and it has developed a leak that is more than a weep but less than a gusher. I don't want to use it this way and now the engine has the correct electric clutch on it. Last time I lifted the engine without a clutch and without the oil pan. It was still more than I liked picking up. Not gonna do that again! 

[ri702bill 11,116]

"Bring out your Dead...."

[c-series don 11,118]

I’ve been unfortunate to have back problems since I was in my twenties. Now I won’t even attempt to lift anything heavy. If someone asks me for help lifting something heavy have to apologize and say I simply can’t do it. I’d rather have someone be mad for not helping than be laid up for a week or more. When I bought the loader for my C-141, the guy said he felt like he was selling his best friend! He then explained anytime he needed to move something heavy he didn’t need to call anyone, he just used the loader. Now I know what he was talking about! The funny thing is though, like many of us here(I’m sure) my back has gone out picking up something that weighs next to nothing. Once I attempted to pick up my underwear off the bathroom floor and BOOM 🤯 I was down on my hands and knees in excruciating pain. When I crawled out of the bathroom my wife knew right away what happened. She had to help me in bed where I spent the rest of the day. I feel like I could have jinxed myself just talking about having my back go out!! 

[Bill D 2,568]

Based on the recommendation of another RS member, I picked up a small medical crane for moving disabled people.   Excellent for lifting small engines. 

Edited 16 hours ago by Bill D

[Blue Chips 629]

1 hour ago, c-series don said:

I’ve been unfortunate to have back problems since I was in my twenties. Now I won’t even attempt to lift anything heavy.

 

Interestingly, my back seems to go out less often than it used to, and for shorter periods of time (touch wood). I joke that it's because there aren't many discs left to mash.  Or maybe I'm just subconsciously being more careful. I've lost over two inches in height over the decades, which might give you an idea of how I've used/abused my back. Be careful with that heavy stuff.

[8ntruck 8,557]

7 hours ago, SylvanLakeWH said:

They are very handy!!!

 

 

Lifting, OK.  I would not pulled on anything too hard - that is a really long lever arm to pull the tractor over backwards with.

[kpinnc 16,911]

46 minutes ago, 8ntruck said:

Lifting, OK.  I would not pulled on anything too hard - that is a really long lever arm to pull the tractor over backwards with.

 

With mine, and I think @SylvanLakeWH as well, I place a trailer behind me for the heavy stuff and lift the object onto the trailer before pulling too much weight. 

 

You can also lower a heavy object down to only an inch or two off the ground as well before pulling. You might drag it, but it helps keep the leverage lower. 

 

I said all that to say this: I agree with you 100%. And also there are ways to move things safely with this setup. I've been thinking of making a large Caster setup to use for that very reason, almost like a wheelie bar. Project for warmer weather! 

[Tonytoro416 1,305]

I’ll be 38 years old in April and had a spinal fusion when I was 32. I like to say I’m much more deliberate with every step or sketchy thing I attempt these days. I find myself thinking about how stable to object is that I may be thinking about jumping to or getting up on. Makes you think twice that’s for sure 

[SylvanLakeWH 30,393]

6 hours ago, kpinnc said:

With mine, and I think @SylvanLakeWH as well, I place a trailer behind me for the heavy stuff and lift the object onto the trailer before pulling too much weight. 

7 hours ago, 8ntruck said:

Lifting, OK.  I would not pulled on anything too hard - that is a really long lever arm to pull the tractor over backwards with.

Agree. Not used to tow.

[squonk 45,269]

I have large spurs growing on my vertebrae. Degenerative disc disease inherited from my mom. I had a spinal laminectomy  on my right side L4 and L5 . The sciatic nerve comes out of 5 and the femoral nerve comes out of 4. Everything from my back down to my toes on the right side was effected. It started in my hip. The nerves were crushed and caused muscle spams and pain. Pain so bad I wanted to jump out of my truck at 75 MPH coming back from the big show. Eventually it got worse and worse. To the point I couldn't lay flat, couldn't sit in a regular chair, could barely walk, and when I stood still I could feel tingling moving all thru my hip like a little toy train. The only relief I got was sitting in my recliner in a certain position. I slept in that chair for 6 months.

 

Of course they wanted to try therapy. Well that didn't work. Finally I convinced them to do a MRI. Going to see the doc about the results he starts yammering about therapy again and pain killing shots. Then he finally gets the computer to work and look at the pictures and says " How soon do you want to have surgery. This was during the onset of Covid so getting surgery was a big hassle.

 

I can feel tightness on my left side now on that same area. I know what's coming down the road. I still have that recliner. It's pretty beat up but I won't let my wife throw it out.

Edited 5 hours ago by squonk

[pfrederi 19,701]

Heck at 76 just pick the whole tractor up and put it on my worktable ....Back what back

 

 

[Racinbob 12,587]

With 10' ceilings I had plenty of height to install a chain hoist. The welded eyebolt exceeds the capacity of the hoist and runs up through a 4x4 spanning the trusses. Just for giggles I reinforced the trusses with additional web runners tying in the top and bottom chords. I figured it would be handy but didn't realize just how handy. Just cuz I'm a chicken I wear a hard hat while actually cranking on it. I'm not worried about the mounting but the cheap chain hoist maybe.