DeltaElite121

So the first thing you think about when you hear harbor freight is the word "cheap" .. certainly, there's no doubt there - but I think some things from there are definitely buyers. One of them is the engine hoist and balancer setup. With a coupon, you get one of these hoists for a very good price. Ended up putting it together, and the directions were fairly straight forward for the most part... part quality was decent for the money spent. It probably doesn't have some of the extremely nice additions that some of the high dollar hoists do as far as "bells and whistles", but it does it's job and does it well. had no problems with it, and worked great right out of the box. The welds looked good, the coating was also decent on the metal, and the construction was overall fairly solid. I'd definitely recommend it to other people if you're trying not to spend a messload on one of the hoists.. just make sure you get the 2 ton variant or you're going to have problems getting down into the engine bay. It also folds up real nicely, and that's a plus.


Just figured I'd give you guys a heads up if some of you were on the fence like I was. I'd say this is one of the A+ harbor freight purchases that everyone should have if they work on vehicles in their garage.

Killerz187

iTrader: (1)

Totally agree with you. I bought one of these coming up on two years now, and it's still going strong.

Only complaint is that it has a tough time moving across uneven ground, but really, it's to be expected, and I wish the boom went out farther.

Side note, if you're ever in an Advance Auto Parts, don't buy one of their load levelers, it's really "bendy" if you know what I mean

87ohcamaro

I also bought a thousand pounder from HFT (my place of employment) and i also was surprised by how well it worked. I bought it for next to nothing after my 99.99 coupon and 20% employee discount.

I however didn't like the directions at all. It isn't rocket science to put one together, but i found that for someone with less experiance, they could be a touch hard to follow. Nothing major, just the fact that in the directions they label nuts and bolts, but in the bags there is no labeling what-so-ever.

tonys91rs

iTrader: (17)

i love mine. no problems at all and assembly was easy.

IROCtheRoad

I have one as well and the leveler. Overall it's one of the few products that they have that work really really well (including their engine stand). My only complaint are the bolts. They are, at best, grade 5.

I actually snapped one in half at 20 ft lbs

travis401

iTrader: (1)

i got mine a few years ago and have used it quite a few times with no issues. its JUST long enough to reach into the engine bay on a 3rd gen with the boom all the way out.

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

The 1 ton hoist from HF is too small for these cars, get the 2 ton version for sure

thebuffalo

I got one of these with the balancer for $150 brand new from HF, I got the gunmetal 2 ton one, for some reason it wasn't orange like the rest of the ones they had. But it works great and has never let me down, it does have a tough time with rough surfaces though, especially driveway bumps.

DeltaElite121

Mine is also 2-tone. I think it looks nicer that way, actually.

91phoenix

iTrader: (5)

I used one about 2 years ago and liked it much better than my AC Delco POS. I was using the 2 ton version and it worked great. The AC Delco 2 ton I have does not have the same lifting power as the HF. If I need to buy another one I am buying the orange HF 2 ton.

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

????? Never seen one like that. I want a coupon like that to get one of their small trailers that just went up by $20!

Ed1LE

iTrader: (39)

That was the common complaint I read about it, the boom is way to short. I was contemplating getting one b/c there was a coupon for the 1-ton for $99.

One of the magazines (I think Car Craft) did a test on HF's engine stands as to how much they could hold...test was done with a fork lift pressing down on a sbc block bolted to the stands ...and the HF stand was found to be the strongest. I forget the amount of force, it was a lot, but the stand didn't even break, the part that holds the engine just bent. Very impressive.

87ohcamaro

You can find the 99.99 coupon in a bunch of magazines. Pretty much any guy magazine will have coupons in it, but they'll be different in each magazine. Just go to walmart and troll the magazine section and you'll find one.

The gunmetal color is the color pittsburg changed them to, instead of the orange.

And last but not least, the other day, my store manager told me that pittsburg wrenches were now being made the same place as the new chinese craftsman stuff. No idea if that part is true or not, but intresting info for sure

87ohcamaro

Oh, and I never had a problem putting the engine in my car with the 1 ton. the boom is short, but it wasn't too hard to do. I just took the nose and fender off to make room. Did this with a broken hand btw...

DeltaElite121

Here's a picture:

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

so it clearly is too short if you had to remove the nose and/or fender

for $50 extra I bought some stock and modified mine to be able to pull the engine and trans together without dissasembling the car

IROCtheRoad

Like you stated, there is ABSOLUTELY NO WAY you can get the engine out of our cars with the nose/bumper installed. The boom is way too short.

When I did my engine pull I already had the bumper removed, so luckily this wasn't a problem for me.

We also used this hoist to remove my friends engine in his Ranger. It BARELY worked.

Just an FYI for those that are thinking about buy the engine hoist.

travis401

iTrader: (1)

its possible with the 2 ton hoist. ive done it a hand full of times without removing the nose

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

To be clear I'm refering to the one ton hoist - sorry if i did not specify earlier

BlackenedBird

iTrader: (5)

ABSOLUTELY NO WAY? Really? Then explain what you already quoted.

So yeah.....It can be done, even with just a lift.


And I have yet to pull a nose on a good 3rd gen yet. Only time I have was when the nose was already smashed & I was pulling the engine. I pulled what was left off the nose off them cut the radiator support open si I didn't even have to lift it up very high either.

sailtexas186548

iTrader: (2)

I think he was refering to the one ton HF hoist specifically, with which there really is no reasonable to remove the engine, unless the car is on jacks and you come from the side and somehow manage to not scratch the car.

Also the mods I made to my hoist are pretty extensive, I only have about 50% of the original hoist left LOL. I've also extended the two long bottom legs to be slightly longer than the hook arm to prevent tipping, It was half done in this pic and could BARELY lift a motor without tipping, I had to stand on the back which is really unsafe so I further modified it. If I had to do it again I'd get the two ton lift

87ohcamaro

For the money difference, I'd just take off the fender and nose and use the one ton. Its not that big a a deal to remove the nose and fender

Sparkytfl

They work a lot better if you attach the chain bolt through a link closer to the hook instead of at the end of the chain. I was always hitting the end of the arm on the garage door trying to get it high enough.

DeltaElite121

There's not much of a money difference, really.. for the sake of making things easy and practical - I'd say it's $50 more that is well spent.

87ohcamaro

That is very true. $50 isn't alot of money. But, that same $50 is just about a tank of gas. IMO I'd rather pocket the 50.

Jim85IROC

iTrader: (2)

Go in from the side instead of the front. Plenty of lenght that way.

DIGGLER

iTrader: (1)

swivel casters on the baselegs was not a good idea. those should just be wheels that do not swivel. i often thought of fixing mine but never did. had it several years now and its held up fine. only complaint is the caster setup.

Camarslow

I've had issues with their hydraulics (on a few different items) bleeding down, I eventually replaced all my hydraulic harbor freight tools for safety reasons, when it came time to get an engine hoist I shopped elsewhere.

TPI86TA

So i know this is an old thread however, i plan on purchasing a 2 ton engine hoist from harbor freight. My question is, which 2 ton version works better on a thirdgen? Heres the specs on the 2 different 2 ton variations:
This 4000-lb. capacity foldable shop crane delivers the lift you need combined with the advantage of compact storage! The crane includes ram, chain and hook and is rated up to 2 tons. The foldable shop crane is easy to use and easy to store.

• Boom extends from 41 in. to 61-3/4 in.
• Crane height adjusts from 73-5/8 in. to 89 in.
• Clevis grab hook with safety latch
• Double ball bearing swivel casters

Version 2 difference:

• Boom extends from 42 in. to 63-1/2 in.
• Crane height adjusts from 75-1/4 in. to 90-3/4 in

TPI86TA

Also, the car receiving the engine transplant has the knight rider front bumper which extends a few extra inches

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

I pulled motor and tranny at the same time. worked fine ... from the front..

stayed home sick today..got me a cold..its an old post..cold meds working...

RQ Jay

You can get some really good really good stuff from Harbor Freight....
Just do not buy Fire Extinguishers and Condoms.

articwhiteZ

iTrader: (56)

good deal on sand paper..paint brushs for (POR15)
air hose..and fittings..

Sdmodified

iTrader: (1)

Black Friday is almost here. I am scooping up one of these hoists so I was searching and found this thread. Figured I would bump since there is a very good point made. Buy the 2 ton hoist, the 1 ton is too short without having to take the whole front clip off! Same is true today as it was in 2012, the 1 ton hoist boom is way shorter than the 2 ton boom.

BOOT77

I can't rem if I got my HF cherry picker back when it was just the catalog round here, cause I know my 1st HF stuff was that way or right when they opened up a local store but I've been using it for 20 or so years!

Sdmodified

iTrader: (1)

So many of my tools are Harbor Freight. For a hobbyist who doesn't use this stuff everyday, they are priced right and do the job. Looking forward to adding the 2 ton picker to my garage! Also going to grab their engine stand.

Ghiaguy

i agree... just buy some metal stock and replace stock boom slide... i found i needed an extra 18” to drop my 351with trans in my sd f250 an no issues... i have the 2 ton so no issue with extra length...
way i figure it the 1 ton for most stock cars, the 2 ton for truks an racers

ghiaguy

ploegi

I bought my 2 ton harbor freight engine crane back in the early 80's. I still have it, and it still works just fine. I also have the engine stand I bought at the same time...... It still works just fine too. The finish isn't even that scratched up. (and it was well used and abused for many years.)