Table Cart Engine Lift

Farrell · 06-25-2015, 11:22 AM

Hey guys,

anyone have experience with the harbor freight table lift? i had this propped up with and when i came back out it was all the way down and it will pump up but, not stay up.

does anyone know if i just need to bleed this? the real B*tch is that i need to find a way to suspend my engine to fix the lift and then get it back on the table cart. ideas?

thanks in advance,
TF

aston@ultrasw.c · aston@ultrasw.c's Garage

I just assume HF hydraulics will not support the load over time and drop in a 2x4 to block the lift mechanism.

rvanderpyl · rvanderpyl's Garage

Unless that table is heavy duty, you have probably exceeded its capacity and blown the seals. I think that tables rating is 500 lbs. a fully dressed engine with transmission attached is significantly more than that.

Farrell · 06-25-2015, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rvanderpyl

Unless that table is heavy duty, you have probably exceeded its capacity and blown the seals. I think that tables rating is 500 lbs. a fully dressed engine with transmission attached is significantly more than that.

i bought the big dawg, its rated for 1000lbs and i know that the motor and trans are less than that. motor is 500-600lbs and the trans is like 150-200.

this table should easily enough be able to lift this motor. its done it before a couple times....

yelcab1 · 06-25-2015, 02:46 PM

Harbor Freight, the place where they sell cheap knock off tools. I'll pass.

Dpmulvan · 06-25-2015, 02:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yelcab1

Harbor Freight, the place where they sell cheap knock off tools. I'll pass.

With cars like that I bet you don't have to pick up a tool

SoyRacer · SoyRacer's Garage

Yeah. Its a total POS. One of my friends bought one and the same exact thing happened. He brought it back, the swapped it out and that one sinks down too. He gave it to me because they swaooed it out two more times and they all failed. He got his money back and they just told him to keep it if he wanted it. I just wedged a 2x4 between the base and the table to keep it from sinking. I use it to transport transmissions around the shop. Otherwise it's scrap metal.

impactbumper · 06-25-2015, 03:33 PM

I have one I used on 997TT engine and transmissions coming out in one piece. I guess mine turned out a good unit.

yelcab1 · 06-25-2015, 05:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dpmulvan

With cars like that I bet you don't have to pick up a tool

And you would be wrong. I have not seen a mechanic in 20 years. That included 10 engine out on the 911s, clutch jobs on 997, 915 gear box rebuilds, 15 engine outs on Ferrari 348/355, and untold little jobs. It's also the reasons why I rely on good tools. Bad tools make the job longer, unsafe, and just plain bad...

Make generalizations (wrong) much?

turbo owner · turbo owner's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by yelcab1

And you would be wrong. I have not seen a mechanic in 20 years. That included 10 engine out on the 911s, clutch jobs on 997, 915 gear box rebuilds, 15 engine outs on Ferrari 348/355, and untold little jobs. It's also the reasons why I rely on good tools. Bad tools make the job longer, unsafe, and just plain bad...

Make generalizations (wrong) much?

With your lineup of cars I'd bet money you don't HAVE to, you do so by choice. You most likely enjoy doing so and that is why you do.

Me too, I use craftsman tools for the most part but I do have a Pittsburg jack from there and it seems to work fine.

SoyRacer · SoyRacer's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by Berk

I have one I used on 997TT engine and transmissions coming out in one piece. I guess mine turned out a good unit.

Harbor Freight can be Hit-or-Miss I bought an engine stand there and it's served us well, the folding heavy duty one. I had an online coupon so I ordered the same one online and the one that arrived was similar but not the same. Clearly a different batch and most annoying was that the yoke slot was much larger in diameter so the Porsche yoke couldn't work with it.

Maybe you got a different "batch".

impactbumper · 06-25-2015, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SoyRacer

Harbor Freight can be Hit-or-Miss I bought an engine stand there and it's served us well, the folding heavy duty one. I had an online coupon so I ordered the same one online and the one that arrived was similar but not the same. Clearly a different batch and most annoying was that the yoke slot was much larger in diameter so the Porsche yoke couldn't work with it.

Maybe you got a different "batch".

perhaps

Gordo2 · Gordo2's Garage

I have the same lift - it will lift the engine and hold, but not the engine and transmission.

I used it to reinstall the engine with transmission attached, but had to give it a bit of a boost with a floor jack under the trans.

For the price and what was hopefully a one time drop - it did the job. In hindsight, I would have went with a heavy duty ATV lift.

Gordo

impactbumper · 06-25-2015, 07:00 PM

What you may want to do is to support the transmission with a jackstand, it will take some of the weight off and balance.

Farrell · 06:42 AM

Rats, well I'll take it back. I'll prolly just go get a moto jack or atv jack. Bummer.

SCadaddle · 06-26-2015, 08:02 AM

Driven97 · 06-26-2015, 08:43 AM

I can't for the life of me find it, but I saw on some social feed the other day a site that lets you know which Harbor Freight tools are good and which ones suck.

My rule of thumb: the less moving parts, the better.
Sockets and screwdrivers? - Why not.
Jacks and air tools - have a backup plan.
Anything with a motor - expect one use out of.

I saw a test of the torque wrenches were they were actually a little more accurate than some big name brands. But they may have gotten lucky with some ringers.

pmax · pmax's Garage

Bought a cheapo multitester from HF, the lead wiring broke shortly after like a cheap toy.
The simple molded plastic tools I bought at the same time work fine.

Personally, I wouldn't buy anything from there which has to sustain a heavy force or pressure. You will never know when it snaps or breaks.

dos531 · dos531's Garage

I have a harbor freight motorcycle lift that someone gave me and it has been going strong for a few years now. The wheel chock was useless so I put a better one on, but the lift mechanism has no issues.

wachuko · wachuko's Garage

I have the same lift and it is great for working in the car... but I do not use it to leave the engine in the up position... just know the limitations of a budge tool from HF... the problem I have is with the plug bolt... have not been able to make it seal well... To be honest, I have not tried hard to fix it correctly...