[busterwivell]

I've had my engine hoist for years and never had a problem.........'til today. OK, I added hydraulic jack fluid once, a few years ago. Today, I used it to put my 454 on an engine stand, worked fine. Used it to set a TH400 on a cradle, worked fine. Last project of the day to clean up the shop, was to put a 350 on another engine stand. Got the engine about half way up and it wouldn't do anything......pump away on the handle, but no movement. Put in more fluid, no help. Wrestled the engine stand onto the adapter, and it's oon the stand cockeyed now. Dropped the boom on the engine hoist. With no weight on it, it will come up a little, not much. Do they rebuild those cylinders, or do you replace them, or..........what the heck do you do to fix these things?

[Zdaddysdinosaurs]

Yes you can get you cylinder rebuilt, but some times it is cheaper to buy a new one. Labor isn't cheap.

[pmeisel]

Originally Posted by busterwivell

I've had my engine hoist for years and never had a problem.........'til today. OK, I added hydraulic jack fluid once, a few years ago. Today, I used it to put my 454 on an engine stand, worked fine. Used it to set a TH400 on a cradle, worked fine. Last project of the day to clean up the shop, was to put a 350 on another engine stand. Got the engine about half way up and it wouldn't do anything......pump away on the handle, but no movement. Put in more fluid, no help. Wrestled the engine stand onto the adapter, and it's oon the stand cockeyed now. Dropped the boom on the engine hoist. With no weight on it, it will come up a little, not much. Do they rebuild those cylinders, or do you replace them, or..........what the heck do you do to fix these things?

Check the yellow pages under "hydraulic" or "fluid power" or do an internet search with those words and your state or zip code. In areas with a lot of industry there are usually some people who rebuild. If not, previous poster was right, it may be as cheap to buy a replacement.

If you are a good mechanic you can rebuild your own but I wouldn't recommend trying to learn for only one.

[pepi]

HBF about 50 beans will get a NEW cylinder bring it home two bolts later all good, no waiting on some guy to get around to it to rebuild it.

[Rambo_The_Dog]

HF sells the regular 8 ton rams pretty cheap

But if you gotta buy a new one for $20.00-30.00 more - I'd look at this air powered one...



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94562

[busterwivell]

Rambo..........you da man! Thanks for the tip! I went and bought one of those. It's incredible! I'm actually glad the old one broke. That sure makes quick work of the job.

Thanks!

Bill

[Rambo_The_Dog]

Originally Posted by busterwivell

Rambo..........you da man! Thanks for the tip! I went and bought one of those. It's incredible! I'm actually glad the old one broke. That sure makes quick work of the job.

Thanks!

Bill

Bill...I still have my old "armstrong" ram...now I really hate you (garage tool envy )

Once I get some extra money or my ram decides to "go out" that is the one I'll get!

[busterwivell]

It is just so slick..........I'll be the envy of the neighborhood............no more pumpin' to death to get an engine up or down...........just hit the button! Outstanding!

[Rambo_The_Dog]

Originally Posted by busterwivell

It is just so slick..........I'll be the envy of the neighborhood............no more pumpin' to death to get an engine up or down...........just hit the button! Outstanding!

I can see you sitting out in the driveway in your favorite lawn chair with your favorite beverage in hand - casually operating the lift to the amazement and bewilderment of your Caveman neighbors!

Now just add one of these units to the hoist "toolkit" and really be the envy of the hood (really I thought the air ram would put this tool over the top)



http://www.accessiblesystems.com/bl01.php

[pepi]

Originally Posted by Rambo_The_Dog

HF sells the regular 8 ton rams pretty cheap

But if you gotta buy a new one for $20.00-30.00 more - I'd look at this air powered one...



http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94562

Oh great another hose to keep untangling , i am sure it will work great just seems like you complicate a simple machine and making it less portable. If moving a block around want to bet you run over the air line or have to move it. The hydraulic self contained unit is the better way to go, why reinvent the wheel and complicate the process in the exercise

[busterwivell]

Actually, I didn't have any trouble with the air line.
Rambo, I've already got a body twirler, my 47 2 door sedan body is on it right now. It has a hydraulic cylinder at each end.

[Rambo_The_Dog]

Originally Posted by busterwivell

Actually, I didn't have any trouble with the air line.
Rambo, I've already got a body twirler, my 47 2 door sedan body is on it right now. It has a hydraulic cylinder at each end.

Cool - The picture and link is really about the cherry picker attachment for lifting a car body to put onto a roller or twirler. That nice little apparatus would make it a 1 person job!

[tinman386]

Could you hook this ram up to an air tank? That would make it more portable and no tangling air hose. Or does the air bleed off when you lower it back down, into the air with no way to contain it to use back and forth from pump to tank? If there is a way to do this that would be the shtuff.

[tinman386]

WOW im shocked that know one seems to know the answer to this air tank question. Guess i need to get off my lazy butt and do some research.

[61bone]

Yes you could. However, I dont think you understand the principle. The air doesn't go in the ram, it has an airmotor powered pump to put the oil in the ram. It would take a large tank to run it very long.