i have a 3 leg engine stand that i bought off of market place. it sucks! the engine starts leaning forward immediately. does anyone have a 3 let that they like? what makes it good? i really dont want to buy a different stand. this is coming out of my motor fund so im trying to keep it tight. im not sure if im going to add a center brace on the bottom or what but im bummed.

 

I have a 3 wheel engine stand that was given to me. It’s not great, but the price was right. It will hold a SBC long block and rotate OK, but a fully dressed SBC with all of the accessories is a bit too much for it. A piece of 2x6 wood between the front leg and the bottom of the motor seems to work.

 

Most of the 3 leg stands you'll fine on the market are garbage. They will work but they will all sag to some extent. An engine puts a massive moment on the stand with the way it is cantilevered out. The stand would have to be so much beefier to prevent that. So beefy that it wouldn't be usefull. As mentioned above, a block of wood goes a long way to reduce the flex on the stands spine. I have a homemade 4 leg stand that is a thick boi (1/4 inch wall square tube) and it still sags a bit with a full engine on it.

 

I have a cheapo one too. I had a fully dressed with accessories & carb 500 cadillac engine I had on it one time just to see what would happen. That thing did a full 45 degree angle droop lol. I let it sit that way for a few minutes then I put a 2x4 to brace it up. I shoulda took a picture!

 

I have 2 stands. Both have 4 wheels. A lot more stable than the 3 wheeled ones. One is a heavy duty home made welded version. The other is typical inexpensive bolt together store bought. I've had my fully assembled BBC on both of them. The home made stand is a lot more stable but it's harder to flip the engine over. My store bought stand is currently beside my toolbox at work and has an LS 6.0 attached to it.

I think I would only recommend the 3 wheel stands for 4 cylinder and V6 engines.

 

I have about 20 engine stands at the shop. We threw out all the 3 wheelers years ago. They have a tendency to tip over diagonally. I find them hazardous personally.

GD

 

Think every 3 leg I've seen leans and why I've never owned one. First stand I bought was USA made found it at my local SAM's but they don't carry them anymore, wish I bought more. I got three HF four leg stands, they are ok but the last one I got wasn't made right and I had to weld it together, plus it came with a dinky handle. LOL almost forgot I made a video bout the handle extension. Also before I forget I found a big welding flaw(theirs not mine) on that same stand after I dropped something, so need to fix that when I get a chance. I'll attach a pic, can't rem if it's in the video, i just rem it was while working on a vid and I upload a short vid to FB

Handle mod vid

 

Harbor freight 2000 lb folding diesel engine stand. One of the best tools in my garage. Gave away my other two engine stands.

 

Get one with a wide "Y" out front. We have a few and those are the best.