Engine Hoist or Tranny Jack???

[CruiserMax]

Engine Hoist or Tranny Jack???

I have a SOA 78 FJ40 with an installed H41 & an Orion transfer case. I need to replace the shift stuff to stop the fawkin' case from popping out of gear.

I also have a SUA 76 FJ55 with stock running gear mated to a rare Eaton Overdrive which is positioned between the stock H42 and the bell housing. The 55 is going to need a new clutch.

So with both of these jobs looming large for the winter: Which would be better to get:

A) Sturdy engine hoist
B) Sturdy transmission jack
C) Homemade bracket that I can attach to a heavy floor jack

I would like to make one good purchase that would serve both rigs.
Any thoughts?

Thanks!
Max

[CruiserMax]

Any thoughts on this 800# tranny jack?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3185

[Poser]

" Sturdy engine hoist "


Hands down, the best investment from what you have listed...



You will be able to use this with so many other jobs over the years....


Do not go 'cheap'.


Good luck!


-Steve

[Poser]

I have a 'nice' tranny jack....do not like it. Plate style. similar to what you have pictured, allows movement/rocking of the unit on the jack, read not very stable...least not what I like.


The hoist is far more useful.

[CruiserMax]

Thanks for the quick response! Any thoughts on what to spend on a decent engine hoist. Want to get the right thing while avoiding the cheap crap or buying one for "silly money"

Max

[Poser]

I purchased a 4K# unit from a local tool distibutor...think it was around 400.00 or so...


Only thing I wish that it had was a double action pump on the ram instead of single..up and down produces movement, instead of just down. But I will replace that sometime here....


I do not think that I have a picture of it....there might be something in the shop cams at Mindcrater.com. but I cannot remember.

[CruiserMax]

Hmmm,

I was hoping to spend around $200 or less...

Max

[CruiserMax]

This one is $200 for a 2 TON CRANE

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=7620

[spotcruiser]

Here you go Max. Go with a folding model to save space (they spend most of their time not being used). The first one includes a leveler. However, you can find these locally and save the shipping.

http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/200305213.htm

http://www2.northerntool.com/product-1/200317240.htm

http://www.tndtools.com/site/515842/product/c-cp-f

Todd.

[CruiserMax]

Thanks Todd,

I will look into finding a local Seattle source for one of these hoists. The shipping charges cost more than the actual hoist itself!

Max

[REZARF]

I have one of the cheaper unit hoists. I use it for all kinds of things, it is a great shop tool. I spent around 150, but it was on sale.

It is a 2 ton unit.

I would only add, get the kind that the legs fold up saving a TON of space when it comes time to store it.

Rezarf <><

[honk]

I have the 8 ton folding Harbor Frieght hoist that looks much like the one you pictured, Max, and it's been great for over two years. Think it was on sale at $149.99 or so. When folded up, which only involves raising the forward legs, it only uses some 3' x 3' of floor space - parks out of the way really well. I took all of my machine tools off of my trailer with it and put them in place using that hoist and they run 1200# up to 2400#.

See if there's a HF nearby. They're putting stores all over the place.



OutFitting!

[nuclearlemon]

i'll ditto the cherry picker over the tranny jack...how often will you actually be using the tranny jack for the $ you put out. the cherry picker works great for trannys in the 40 series with that huge opening. i've used it on my 60, but i requires finesse. on the pig, i used it to set a motor/trans/xfer setup in the frame to store (not mounted) and i just used the floor jack on the tranny when i got it in. i've used it to put lift kits on , to redo suspension bushings, to move heavy stuff around the yard. i've also got the cheapy folding 2ton one from hf. i've gotten my $150 out of it.

definitely get the foldable version!

[Kofoed]

Originally Posted by CruiserMax

This one is $200 for a 2 TON CRANE

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=7620

I'd go for one with the 6 wheels, where you can pull pins and fold up the legs for moving around the garage/shop and for storage. Much handier

[droopydawg]

What a motorcycle/ATV jack? Mine lifts up to 1200lbs. Looks just like the one you have picutered in your 9/6 posting. I think it was $80.
Somthing like this...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/RV-Ja...QQcmdZViewItem

[haystax]

The HF folding hoists are pretty good actually, I've used the 6 caster model specifically - surprisingly one of HF's better tool buys. The 5 ton roll around floor jack is also surprisingly good. I've been using both of these tools for about 2 years now while I "store" them for a friend

The hoist is more versatile for more things, you can upgrade to an air operated lift cylinder(very handy) and beef it up as you see fit if the need arises. I don't care for tranny jacks, I do like to make plate adapters that fit onto the roll around jack specific to each tranny, diff, Tcase, etc...that seems to be the best method I have found.

For the first time ever, I would suggest buying HF junk and getting both - I have never reccommended HF junk before but for your purpose and not full-time shop use, these are pretty good. Just get both and you'll be set. Sell whichever you don't want to keep or sell both when the job is through, they won't loose much value...they don't have much to begin with

[RHINO]

max the $200 range is good for a w/e hoist, the cylinder is cheaper but thats ok for p/t use right?
i like a hoist better than a jack cause its handy all over the place, the obvious engine work, but i have also used it in the rig for tranny removal, suspending the tranny from it. i also use it on the bumper to lift the whole front or rear of the rig, fast way to get it up on stands.

[CruiserMax]

Thanks all for the input!

Max