Made my engine hoist a little better.

[Super 55]

I didn't like the way the folding legs on my engine hoist tilted back in the up position, so I decided to make a stop so they wouldn't travel so far. The handle also doubles as a handle to move the hoist around the shop. I just welded a small piece of angle iron onto a piece of pipe, then attached it to the bolt that the lift arm pivots on. So, you can put it on or take it off by just undoing one nut. The handles are just $1 rubber handles from a hardware store.

[astroracer]

That does keep the foot print smaller! Good job!
Mark

[desbromilow]

I duplicated this idea on my crane - great idea

[tonyfoale]

I had made exactly the same addition. I also changed the top bolt on the cylinder to a QD pin. I pull the pin for storage and this allows the boom to fold down some more. I had to grind a bit off the mounting tabs to clear the cylinder.

[mansworld]

I replaced the hydraulic jack with a battery powered linear actuator (3000 lbs. capacity). Raising and lowering the boom became a breeze.

[tonyfoale]

I replaced the hydraulic jack with a battery powered linear actuator (3000 lbs. capacity). Raising and lowering the boom became a breeze.

That would be a great improvement but 3000 lbf would not be anywhere near enough for me. I will look for a bigger capacity.

[mansworld]

I was referring to the 1.5 - 2 ton foldable engine hoist pictured in the subject. furthermore, 3000 bls. /1.5 ton was the biggest capacity battery powered linear actuator available at Amazon, and I doubt if you can get any larger capacity than that. One thing you do is to add extra actuators and join them in a group till you reach your target capacity.

That would be a great improvement but 3000 lbf would not be anywhere near enough for me. I will look for a bigger capacity.

[tonyfoale]

I was referring to the 1.5 - 2 ton foldable engine hoist pictured in the subject. furthermore, 3000 bls. /1.5 ton was the biggest capacity battery powered linear actuator available at Amazon, and I doubt if you can get any larger capacity than that. One thing you do is to add extra actuators and join them in a group till you reach your target capacity.

The 1.5 - 2 ton is at the end of the boom. The actuation is way back from that and so through leverage you need several times 1.5 - 2 ton at the actuator to get 1.5 - 2 ton at the hook. Using a 3000 lbf actuator may give you a useful tool but it will not give you 3000 lbf where it matters.

[mansworld]

The 1.5 - 2 ton is at the end of the boom. The actuation is way back from that and so through leverage you need several times 1.5 - 2 ton at the actuator to get 1.5 - 2 ton at the hook. Using a 3000 lbf actuator may give you a useful tool but it will not give you 3000 lbf where it matters.

A one good thing about linear actuators/ screw jacks, is that they are oil-leak free. I have 3 oil leaking hydraulic jacks on my repair shelf. There are screw jacks with a capacity of up to 200 ton, and travel length of 3.5 meter/ 138 inch. Screw jacks are often custom-made to meet specific application needs.

[desbromilow]

I replaced the hydraulic jack with a battery powered linear actuator (3000 lbs. capacity). Raising and lowering the boom became a breeze.

just be aware that you've considerably reduced the capacity of the crane - most of the engine cranes use a 9T hydraulic ram, to alllow 2T at the short extension (no extension), and 500kg (1/2T) at max extension - by using a 3000lb ram, you've scaled your capacities by a similar factor (3,000lb is nearly 1.5T which is 1/6 of 9T, which means your capacity of no extension reduces from 2T to 2t/6, and your max extension capacity of 500kg (1/2T reduces to 1/2t divided by 1/6 = 1/12t which is about 80kg (call it 160 lbs)