grumpyvette Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47304 Ive got 4 engine stands in the shop,as some may remember I replaced the crappy steel wheels last month wwith 8" casters similar to these http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=41563 I HAD TO MOVE A FEW ENGINES AROUND TODAY IN THE SHOP, I can,t begin to tell you guys how much I was pleased with those engine stands Id recently installed the 8" swivel casters on! Ive managed to convert all but one at this point to the 8" swivel caseters from the 2.5" metal rollers that were previously installed from the original manufacturer, and the differance in ease of movement is truely amazing!:thumbsup: If youve ever tried to move a BBC or HEMI on a standard engine stand you know that at 600-800lbs they don,t move easily, and the factory engine stands only have casters on one end and single dirrectional rollers on the other end making them a P.I.T.A. to move in some situations. I should have done that simply mod YEARS AGO:laughing: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
m1noel Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Grumpy, I use that same caster on the jack wheels on my boat and raft trailers. Made a big difference in ease to move them around the place too. MIke Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrumpetRhapsody Posted January 5, 2008 Share Posted January 5, 2008 Very nice. I was just recently wondering if something like this could be had to replace those terrible metal casters on the harbor freight cherry picker. Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted January 5, 2008 Author Share Posted January 5, 2008 the old small casters on those HF engine stands simply unbolt, I used (2) 7/16" thread 3" square U-bolts to lock each of the NEW LARGER swivel casters into place then WELDED the flange to the engine stand TOO,and left the (2) 7/16" thread 3" square U-bolts in place REMEMBER I may be UNDER that engine at some point and its best to be really sure the casters can,t come loose btw youll need to drill out the mount holes just a bit to use the (2) 7/16" thread 3" square U-bolts because the holes are neither totally round or big enought and they are off set about 1/16" in un-touched form the two outer leg casters mount about 1/4" in from the ends the two rear casters were mounted to have the u-bolts stradle and place the flange dirrectly under the junction of the main legs, the diagonal braces and the rear cross brace on both sides, then welded Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete84 Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 What do you use for wheel locks? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grumpyvette Posted January 6, 2008 Author Share Posted January 6, 2008 What do you use for wheel locks? the large swivel casters come in two versions, LOCKABLE SWIVEL and free swivel, if you want temp locks they are available, I don,t see them on thier web site but they are in the next bin at the stores in my area, and cost only $4 more Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ktm Posted January 6, 2008 Share Posted January 6, 2008 My engine hoist has swivel casters at all points. I can't tell you how invaluable that has been when pulling/dropping engines. I've been thinkign about converting my engine stand to casters as well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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