Wheel replacement on an engine hoist

**elitts** · 10-20-2020, 10:04 AM

I've got a 1 ton engine hoist I've been using to move materials and equipment around, but the wheels on the damn thing are designed for perfectly smooth floors and I've got some pretty rough concrete in spots. I'm considering buying new wheels for the thing and getting some 4" wheels instead of the 2" ones that are on it. Has anyone had any issues with a replacement of this kind that I can't imagine? I'm going to get wheels good up to 1000lbs each, so even if the weight shifts weirdly, I've got enough wheel capacity for the full 1 ton. I can't think 2" of height would be enough to make center of gravity a concern, but I'm open to being told I'm wrong.

**thermite** · 10-20-2020, 10:25 AM

Originally Posted by elitts

I've got a 1 ton engine hoist I've been using to move materials and equipment around, but the wheels on the damn thing are designed for perfectly smooth floors and I've got some pretty rough concrete in spots. I'm considering buying new wheels for the thing and getting some 4" wheels instead of the 2" ones that are on it. Has anyone had any issues with a replacement of this kind that I can't imagine? I'm going to get wheels good up to 1000lbs each, so even if the weight shifts weirdly, I've got enough wheel capacity for the full 1 ton. I can't think 2" of height would be enough to make center of gravity a concern, but I'm open to being told I'm wrong.

Fair certain I can move my TWO-tonner HF POS about as easily with pads as wheels except for taking it out onto the street to git it from concrete carport & UPPER driveway to and from lower driveway and shop. Great concrete, both areas, asphalt only average. A wiser "improvement" might be to add an axle with LARGE rubber hand-truck tires so it could be tilted back like a KD-Bluebird tow-behind to git it to where it is needed?

Weight ALWAYS risks shifting "weirdly" on these vs a K-D Bluebird. Might then also find it easier and safer to put slabs of timber grillage under when making a lift so the wheels don't decide to go off sideways?

Even the larger wheels wanted to make divots when used on the asphalt driveways.

**digger doug** · 10-20-2020, 10:33 AM

Originally Posted by elitts

I've got a 1 ton engine hoist I've been using to move materials and equipment around, but the wheels on the damn thing are designed for perfectly smooth floors and I've got some pretty rough concrete in spots. I'm considering buying new wheels for the thing and getting some 4" wheels instead of the 2" ones that are on it. Has anyone had any issues with a replacement of this kind that I can't imagine? I'm going to get wheels good up to 1000lbs each, so even if the weight shifts weirdly, I've got enough wheel capacity for the full 1 ton. I can't think 2" of height would be enough to make center of gravity a concern, but I'm open to being told I'm wrong.

We can't see what's in your head..."Imagined" or not.

Please post some pix of the part(s) in question.

**thermite** · 10-20-2020, 11:10 AM

Originally Posted by digger doug

We can't see what's in your head..."Imagined" or not.

Please post some pix of the part(s) in question.

Make and model would be wiser.

H-F 2 ton specs are online. 3 1/2" casters.

THEIR one-ton uses two 3 1/2", two 3".

Dozen other makers brand the same Chicom product, different paint.

And those are the "cheap seats" hoists.

K-D's respected "Bluebird" line has been under new ownership for a long time - still US made.. "AFAIK", anyway.

Their specs:

Engine Lifts – ICF Industries

Ain't exactly elusive as unicorns, let alone as tedious as rocket insemination.

**Cole2534** · 10-20-2020, 12:21 PM

Originally Posted by elitts

I've got a 1 ton engine hoist I've been using to move materials and equipment around, but the wheels on the damn thing are designed for perfectly smooth floors and I've got some pretty rough concrete in spots. I'm considering buying new wheels for the thing and getting some 4" wheels instead of the 2" ones that are on it. Has anyone had any issues with a replacement of this kind that I can't imagine? I'm going to get wheels good up to 1000lbs each, so even if the weight shifts weirdly, I've got enough wheel capacity for the full 1 ton. I can't think 2" of height would be enough to make center of gravity a concern, but I'm open to being told I'm wrong.

You're working off the radius of the wheel, so it's really only a 1" height increase.

**Scottl** · 10-20-2020, 12:48 PM

Originally Posted by elitts

I've got a 1 ton engine hoist I've been using to move materials and equipment around, but the wheels on the damn thing are designed for perfectly smooth floors and I've got some pretty rough concrete in spots. I'm considering buying new wheels for the thing and getting some 4" wheels instead of the 2" ones that are on it. Has anyone had any issues with a replacement of this kind that I can't imagine? I'm going to get wheels good up to 1000lbs each, so even if the weight shifts weirdly, I've got enough wheel capacity for the full 1 ton. I can't think 2" of height would be enough to make center of gravity a concern, but I'm open to being told I'm wrong.

I think the major effect of doubling the wheel size is increasing the side load on the axles. Instead of a 2" lever you will now have a 4" one so an increase in axle size might be a good idea along with the larger wheels.

100% agree about chocking the wheels before lifting.

**thermite** · 10-20-2020, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Scottl

I think the major effect of doubling the wheel size is increasing the side load on the axles. Instead of a 2" lever you will now have a 4" one so an increase in axle size might be a good idea along with the larger wheels.

100% agree about chocking the wheels before lifting.

Not "chock".

Lift clear off the deck.

Let a timber pad take the weight. Doesn't need a whole railway trestle bridge.

Coupla 4" X 6" cuts. Not hard to tote right along with the rig, wherever you need to take it.

**elitts** · 10-20-2020, 02:20 PM

Originally Posted by digger doug

We can't see what's in your head..."Imagined" or not.

Please post some pix of the part(s) in question.

The wheels needing to be properly weighted for the load and potential center of gravity issues were the only ones I was thinking of.

Here is what I'm talking about:

Hoist:

Casters: https://www.amazon.com/Finnhomy-Cast...ustrial&sr=1-2

**digger doug** · 10-20-2020, 02:23 PM

Originally Posted by elitts

The wheels needing to be properly weighted for the load and potential center of gravity issues were the only ones I was thinking of.

Here is what I'm talking about:

Hoist:

Casters: https://www.amazon.com/Finnhomy-Cast...ustrial&sr=1-2

So you want to "Hot Rod" a POS HF hoist for more capacity ???

BTW if you are planning on higher capacity wheels so that one side can "take the full load"
that crane has (or will very shortly) tipped over.

**thermite** · 10-20-2020, 02:29 PM

Originally Posted by digger doug

So you want to "Hot Rod" a POS HF hoist for more capacity ???

BTW if you are planning on higher capacity wheels so that one side can "take the full load"
that crane has (or will very shortly) tipped over.

Only if it don't bend and collapse FIRST!

DAMHIKT, but thankfully, I had figured their alleged 2 Ton was only a one ton anyway. Got that shot right at least.

**wippin' boy** · 10-20-2020, 02:35 PM

Originally Posted by digger doug

So you want to "Hot Rod" a POS HF hoist for more capacity ???

BTW if you are planning on higher capacity wheels so that one side can "take the full load"
that crane has (or will very shortly) tipped over.

you guys have all turned into a bunch of old rags
he just said he wanted it to roll a little better

next thing donie will show up and want fucking pictures of thermites hoist

**elitts** · 10-20-2020, 02:39 PM

No, I just want wheels that will actually roll on the concrete surface I'm working on; I'm not trying to get more capacity.

However since the weight isn't always static on these things as they raise and lower weight and roll, I've read that it's advisable to have wheels strong enough to support the total weight on only 2 or 3 casters. Not because you'll ever use less than 4 at a time, but because if the 2000lb motor ends up swinging slightly as it moves you can end up with the weight being unevenly distributed. So instead of each wheel taking 500lbs of load, you have a dynamic load on two wheels alternating from 200lbs to 800lbs as it swings.

**true temper** · 10-20-2020, 04:04 PM

You need a forklift, I don’t know how anyone can get by without one.

**thermite** · 10-20-2020, 04:09 PM

Originally Posted by elitts

No, I just want wheels that will actually roll on the concrete surface I'm working on; I'm not trying to get more capacity.

However since the weight isn't always static on these things as they raise and lower weight and roll, I've read that it's advisable to have wheels strong enough to support the total weight on only 2 or 3 casters. Not because you'll ever use less than 4 at a time, but because if the 2000lb motor ends up swinging slightly as it moves you can end up with the weight being unevenly distributed. So instead of each wheel taking 500lbs of load, you have a dynamic load on two wheels alternating from 200lbs to 800lbs as it swings.

Your are out of your tiny MIND you try to roll an IC engine dangling off a H-F grade engine hoist!

Those casters are for easy of getting the rig into PLACE whilst there is NO load on it!

You hand-roll the vehicle out from UNDER one of those fragile POS, lower the mill onto a bespoke cart without MOVING the hoist even a silly millimeter! No cart? Place timber across the upper side of the legs, lower the mill onto that for low CG move. Watch yerazz. It can still tumble!

It may not LOOK like a suicide kit. Those have three wheels, a motorsickle frame and engine, and an Asian driver. Your TOES are his front bumper!

But a cheap hoist will try to at least MAIM if pressed!

**elitts** · 10-20-2020, 07:44 PM

Originally Posted by thermite

Your are out of your tiny MIND you try to roll an IC engine dangling off a H-F grade engine hoist!

Those casters are for easy of getting the rig into PLACE whilst there is NO load on it!

You hand-roll the vehicle out from UNDER one of those fragile POS, lower the mill onto a bespoke cart without MOVING the hoist even a silly millimeter! No cart? Place timber across the upper side of the legs, lower the mill onto that for low CG move. Watch yerazz. It can still tumble!

It may not LOOK like a suicide kit. Those have three wheels, a motorsickle frame and engine, and an Asian driver. Your TOES are his front bumper!

But a cheap hoist will try to at least MAIM if pressed!

I will keep that in mind. I knew it was crap quality, being the cheapest one at HF, but I didn't get the documentation with it to see that it wasn't designed for moving while under load. I guess I'm glad I haven't moved anything much heavier than about 700lbs.

But that said. The thing rolls like complete shit even without anything on it.

**digger doug** · 10-20-2020, 07:47 PM

Originally Posted by wippin' boy

you guys have all turned into a bunch of old rags
he just said he wanted it to roll a little better

No, the OP said this: "I'm going to get wheels good up to 1000lbs each, so even if the weight shifts weirdly, I've got enough wheel capacity for the full 1 ton"

**thermite** · 10-20-2020, 08:25 PM

Originally Posted by elitts

I will keep that in mind. I knew it was crap quality, being the cheapest one at HF, but I didn't get the documentation with it to see that it wasn't designed for moving while under load. I guess I'm glad I haven't moved anything much heavier than about 700lbs.

But that said. The thing rolls like complete shit even without anything on it.

Even a well-built wheeled gantry is not meant for moving stuff "under load". SIDE force or TWIST can fail an otherwise overly stout beam in a New York Minute, EG: with not a great deal longer advance warning than a nuke warshot cooking-off.

What you want is a set of machinery skates to lay the load onto, down LOW, else a bespoke cart or a stout drop-down die cart, ELSE a pallet jack.

**thermite** · 10-20-2020, 08:40 PM

Originally Posted by wippin' boy

you guys have all turned into a bunch of old rags
he just said he wanted it to roll a little better

next thing donie will show up and want fucking pictures of thermites hoist

"Old rags" with professional rigging training enough to have later taught the damned course?

I wanted somebody kilt, I called for an air strike, not for an avoidable accident.

"F**king" pictures that sick f**k prolly has too many of for his own damned good already. "Carmine's Black & Blue" his favourite for "porking skanks"?

WTF IS that all about? Flagellation? S&M? Snuff porn? Sick puppy.

**john.k** · 10-20-2020, 09:19 PM

Ha got yers...wheels dont make any impression,cause thermies hoist is on air cushions.....hot air ,of course.

**thermite** · 10-21-2020, 01:38 AM

Originally Posted by john.k

Ha got yers...wheels dont make any impression,cause thermies hoist is on air cushions.....hot air ,of course.

Not funny. Half-assed piss-ant of a Campbell-Hausfeld air compressor shaped-object I still haven't upgraded has to do even media blast on "the installment plan"!

Not long enough to take a nap between shots as it struggles to refill, but seriously annoying!

More pressing s**t in the budget for "a while", already.