My $75 shop crane

[Krooser]

I have a small shop crane that I bought 40 years ago and has served me well. But it does not have an extendable boom so dropping in an engine over a Mopar radiator support is tough.

I found all sorts of used deals but this one was a good deal @ $75...

Needs paint but I like it.

 

[YY1]

Looks heavy duty.

I like the stowable design.

Usually don't see both those features in the same unit.

A few years ago, I bought one that was owned by a pallet company mechanic.
He repaired their fork lifts and pallet jacks.
This one has been modified with an electric/hydraulic pallet jack ram.
It's a little fast, but nice not to do all that pumping, and it has a wired remote.
Was built to run 24v on two 12v car batteries, but I modified it to use a computer UPS.
Now it's cordless and rechargeable!

The best part- it was only 50 bucks and the guy threw in a heavy duty braced engine stand.

 

[Don Frelier]

Looks heavy duty.

I like the stowable design.

Usually don't see both those features in the same unit.

A few years ago, I bought one that was owned by a pallet company mechanic.
He repaired their fork lifts and pallet jacks.
This one has been modified with an electric/hydraulic pallet jack ram.
It's a little fast, but nice not to do all that pumping, and it has a wired remote.
Was built to run 24v on two 12v car batteries, but I modified it to use a computer UPS.
Now it's cordless and rechargeable!

The best part- it was only 50 bucks and the guy threw in a heavy duty braced engine stand.

I would think a 20v lithium ion for a DeWalt cordless would work pretty well. You just need a way to connect it.

 

[Daves69]

I have a small shop crane that I bought 40 years ago and has served me well. But it does not have an extendable boom so dropping in an engine over a Mopar radiator support is tough.

I found all sorts of used deals but this one was a good deal @ $75...

Needs paint but I like it.

View attachment 1927389

View attachment 1927392

That looks like some big tube there. What size is it?

I built mine last century with 2-1/2" X 3-1/2" X 3/16" wall tube. The boom extension is 2" X 3" X 1/8" wall.
I made the base to fit my pickup bed. My plan was to dual purpose the base to use as a run stand as well but that fizzled out.
It breaks down and mostly leans against a garage wall in its old age these days.
But............. I've found it's a good place to run the end of my rattle can paints out onto.

 

[493 Mike]

I built one 30 odd years ago with 2 1/2" and 3" schedule 40 pipe-used and wheels I dug out of a scrap dumpster. I initially bought a cheap long ram jack but it was so crudely machined, it wouldn't stop leaking. then I purchased a air over hydraulic that serves me much better. Can you tell I worked as a UA pipefitter?
Mike