P201 Engine Yolk Too Large Diameter for Stand ID

[craig.wilson1]

So this is still an issue. I recently bought a QSC "P201" Yoke with the 60mm OD shaft diameter from Amazon. Before that, I sold a Harbor Freight 1000# Engine stand that I had used on an Audi engine project because it had a 50mm ID head tube. I have been having trouble finding an engine stand with the 60mm head tube. I returned to my local Harbor Freight store and found that the floor display stand had the 60mm head tube. I checked with the counter staff to make sure that the new "in box" stands had the same head tube as the floor model and was assured that they did and that "Harbor Freight switches manufacturers all the time". So I thought I was home free. When I got around to opening the box a few days later, I found that the head tube was 50mm. I went back to Harbor Freight and found that all the stands in stock had the same SKU number as the one I had, so they were all the 50mm type. It turns out that the floor model was an older model stand that hadn't been changed to match current inventory. I asked if I could buy the floor model and was told by the store manager "I don't want to mess with the display models". Really?

So I'm still in the position of needing to find an engine stand with the 60mm head tube. Hoping others out there might know where I can get one. It seems that none of the manufacturers of engine stands include the head tube diameter in their documentation on the internet...

[917_Langheck]

Originally Posted by craig.wilson1

store manager "I don't want to mess with the display models".

"But I have no problem dealing with false advertising charges, and pissing off the 1% of buyers with an antique Porsche..."

[ian c2]

I have a couple of engine stands that I am currently modifying , that I believe has the bigger size opening to take a 201 yoke .
If you’re handy with a welder ?

If not , either keep looking on Craigslist etc for an older hf one to come up for $50 , or look for a new big-red on amazon
( these are what I am modifying right now) bought on sale so maybe wait until American thanksgiving

[Showdown]

I ran into the same situation last year with Harbor freight and the 50mm/60mm issue. I too was assured that the ones in the boxes were the same as the floor model only to find that none of them had the 60mm opening.

I was able to buy the floor model only after offering to assemble an in-box model to replace the floor model.

I love harbor freight for their single-use-cheap tools but man, that had me fuming.

[craig.wilson1]

So I found a couple of used engine stands on Facebook Marketplace and sent questions to the sellers requesting a measurement of the head tube. After several days of no responses, I went back to looking for a new engine stand on Amazon. The Vevor 1500# stand looked like it might work. I went directly to the Vevor site to see if I could find information on the head tube, nothing. I tried the "live chat" feature but the agent was just looking at the same information I was and gave me the diameter of the bolt sleeves on the ends of the 4 arms (28mm). I kept digging, found a Q&A section where one buyer had asked for the diameter of the head tube. Vevor said it was 60mm. So I've got one on order, hoping it works.

As my luck would have it, later last evening, one of the Facebook Marketplace sellers got back to me and messaged that he had the 60mm head tube on his stand...
Well at least if I have to return the Vevor stand (nothing surprises me) I might have a back-up

[craig.wilson1]

Forgot to mention that I'm not handy with a welder. I am certified to use a crescent wrench though .

[stownsen914]

The lack of knowledge from the employees of some of these vendors is just a joke. I recently bought a Vevor mini lathe to do small projects, knowing full well that it's a crappy lathe. I wrote the manufacturer to ask a question about upgrading something using Vevor's own products, and they just weren't helpful.

[Spetrow]

I cut off wrong size, got a QSC CLAMP02 and added to HF stand. Clamp is about $225 but 10x better than screw driver in hole. 2 angle iron sections can be bolted or welded.

[ian c2]

Similar to what I’m doing to the Amazon stands .

[craig.wilson1]

I ended up ordering a Vevor 1500# Capacity Engine Stand from Amazon. The Head Tube ID is approximately 61.5mm. There was a little too much free play between the Head Tube and the Yoke Shaft for my comfort so I bought a 4"X10"X.015" brass shim, cut the length to 188mm, cut it into 2 X 2" wide pieces, rolled them around the yoke shaft to get a preliminary "round" and then inserted them into the head tube, one at each end. This leaves a gap in the middle of the head tube to allow for the locking pin when rotating the engine.

The QSC Yoke needed a little modification (grinding) to clear the flange on the cross-over tube of my exhaust system.

[ian c2]

Now the rains have passed and the garage has dried out , I just now bolted together the pieces
I wanted it painting grey but the painters had a miscommunication , they offered to redo it but I’m happy enough with red .