so you have an engine going back in , you're an inch too far to the right, swivel castors will let you line up easily . Fixed would be a pita .Quote:
Originally Posted by Don 130
There's good reason every crane I've used has swivels all round
so you have an engine going back in , you're an inch too far to the right, swivel castors will let you line up easily . Fixed would be a pita .Quote:
Originally Posted by Don 130
There's good reason every crane I've used has swivels all round
A simple fix if you have the ingredients are a pair of adapter plates to set the front castors parallel.
You will need possibly 16 new csk screws , 4 up 4 down on each plate.
That still won't allow the front to move sideways for simple alignment should you need it.
The castors on my trolley jack are a pig too , seems if I pull it, it tracks ok , but doesn't like being pushed into position which is how it should move smoothly.
Hello All,
Well after a very unusual delivery my set of swivel castors for the engine stand arrived today - Saturday. Having a courier drop something off on a Saturday is a first for me!
Anyway, I adjourned to the shed and used my mobile crane to lift the front of the engine stand - complete with Ford 302 V8 motor - slightly off the ground. I fitted the new swivel castors and found them ....
... just about the equivalent of a intoxicated shopping trolley when pushed forward. However, this movement is done with a lot less effort than the prior arrangement of fixed front wheels. Repositioning the engine to get it back towards the desired direction of travel is highly achievable.
With the old arrangement of fixed front wheels forwards movement was arduous.
So apart from the foibles of steering having swivel castors all-round the engine stand is a positive movement forward.
Kind regards
Lionel
It wouldn't make much, if any, difference. The rear wheels would still be at an angle to each other and still bind.Quote:
Originally Posted by cjc_td5
Cut a V into the "legs" just behind the wheels (don't cut all the way through the back), bend them inward until they are parallel. Weld the V.
Like this but not as severely:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MxPPC6xd4GY
Yes on reflection that is true. The legs on my engine stand are parallel, but the fixed casters are at the pylon end.Quote:
Originally Posted by p38arover
I disagree. The fixed wheels are a great help to stop the whole assembly spinning on you when you are torquing down fasteners.Quote:
Originally Posted by discorevy
Hello All,Quote:
Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger
I would have to agree with Toxic when it comes to the fixed wheels assisting in holding things down during torquing down or rotating the engine on the stand. To be able to do this now with swivel wheels all round I would have to chock or tie the engine stand down.
However, being able to move the engine stand in and out of confined spaces - without getting a hernia, is a real boon.
There are pros and cons. For me the biggest pro is manoeuvrability; the swivels have achieved this. I can handle the con when the time comes.
Kind regards
Lionel
Quote:
Originally Posted by discorevy
Yes , my bad, I somehow thought it was about an engine crane, I didn't see the pic in the OPQuote:
Originally Posted by Toxic_Avenger
Apologies if I have caused confusion Lionel
Hello Discorevy,Quote:
Originally Posted by discorevy
No confusion at all - you did mention "crane" in your post. Both a crane and an engine stand carry a great deal of weight. Both can be sheer sods to move
Some advice given at the Stovebolt forum is to build a "dolly" out of heavy timber and do all the torquing off it instead of an engine stand. The dolly is much closer to the ground and the engine can be manhandled with greater confidence. The engine's height off the ground is only the height of the castors. The dolly can also be used to store the engine on for longer periods of time and the engine is still be able to be moved around.
Kind regards
Lionel