"When the strap breaks the engine will fall.....
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Senior User
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 369
Likes: 0
From: Rochester, NY, USA
"When the strap breaks the engine will fall.....
and down will come engine, tanny and all"
Not quite the nursery rhyme from my childhood but it applied this weekend.
I was test fitting the engine this weekend so I could get the motor mounts tacked in. I'm not sure how or why it happened but one of my straps broke and my engine fell about 3 feet. Thank goodness no one was hurt. From a visual standpoint, the oil pan has 2 quarter size dents and my tranny plate is hosed. My only fear is that the crank bent when the harmonic balancer hit the leg of the cherry picker.
I'm going to throw a dial indicator on the front shaft tonight to see if I have a problem. What doesn't kill me can only make me stronger and I definitely learned a lesson this weekend.
- Brad
Not quite the nursery rhyme from my childhood but it applied this weekend.
I was test fitting the engine this weekend so I could get the motor mounts tacked in. I'm not sure how or why it happened but one of my straps broke and my engine fell about 3 feet. Thank goodness no one was hurt. From a visual standpoint, the oil pan has 2 quarter size dents and my tranny plate is hosed. My only fear is that the crank bent when the harmonic balancer hit the leg of the cherry picker.
I'm going to throw a dial indicator on the front shaft tonight to see if I have a problem. What doesn't kill me can only make me stronger and I definitely learned a lesson this weekend.
- Brad
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2001
Posts: 6,328
Likes: 124
From: Iowa
Hoping for the best for your engine. A buddy of mine dropped a 427 Rat using one of those cable come alongs. I called him a big dummy, but he showed me a picture on the box of a guy doing just that task with it. Company bought him some new parts.
Straps can be incredibly strong, but it's a little hard to tell when they are about to let go. You can usually tell when a chain is hurt.
Straps can be incredibly strong, but it's a little hard to tell when they are about to let go. You can usually tell when a chain is hurt.
Darksider
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 1,425
Likes: 0
From: Burlington, CT
i know your pain i dropped mine at the same height, 351 c and c6 trans both came down at a fast rate of speed. dented the oil pan and pickup tubeand dipstick tranny pan lived. my buddy was holding the tail stock of the tranny when it came down. The reason was a 1/2 inch bolt broke and the engine host came down to a the left. put a nice indent in the driveway. I still to this day remeber my wife sticking her head out the window to see what i did. Did not know it was that loud. well i replaced the bad parts and will have to see what happens when i start it up. Next time i replaced the bolt and welded the host as well! fool me once not twice! RT
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 358
Likes: 0
From: Joyce, WA
I used to use cargo straps to hold my racecar down on the trailer, until 1 strap broke setting up a domino effect of other straps breaking. When the noise stopped I had the front half of car still on trailer and rear half trailing behind the trailer. The rear chain held the car from getting completly loose. No straps for me! Chains and winch cables now.
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Lead Driver
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 9,352
Likes: 1,720
From: AKRON ohio
It all depends on the metod of use (choke, basket or straight) each method changes the rating of slings or cables or chains. I worked for the local power company and spent a week in proper useage of slings, cables and chains and how the method of use changes. As I recall you never want to use a chain in a choke method, But the chain is stronger than the strap in a straight position.
I use nylon slings for the removal of engines as I dont trust the 3/8" bolts used for the chain. If they can use these slings to move and set in the ground 40'+ wooden poles then I'm sure they can handle my Y-BLOCK!
Just remember to stay out of the way what ever method you use.
Kevin Bigwin
I use nylon slings for the removal of engines as I dont trust the 3/8" bolts used for the chain. If they can use these slings to move and set in the ground 40'+ wooden poles then I'm sure they can handle my Y-BLOCK!
Just remember to stay out of the way what ever method you use.
Kevin Bigwin
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Elder User
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 525
Likes: 0
From: New Braunfels TX
I've got four straps that i use on my car trailer. This got me thinking about switching over to chains and winches. Easier to fix problem before there is a problem. I lost a car dolly years ago. Didn't relize it for a couple miles when some one passed me and pointed back. Big surprise looking back there and seeing no car or trailer. Found dolly with the hitch in the side of road and dolly bent in half. Straps on front tires broke and car was turned into an accordian in the ditch. Thankfully no one hurt.
Hotshot
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 15,882
Likes: 88
From: Durham NC
Best to use a lift plate or plates bolted to the engine with more than one bolt, making sure to use at least grade 6 bolts (six radial raised lines on the head), NOT plain common soft bolts, and short welded link chains with hooks or clevises on the ends. This is not the place to try and save a couple bucks. The straps used by the power co etc are MUCH heavier and better constructed than the cheap ones sold at DIY stores, and are inspected carefully and regularly. The strap people have around the garage are usuall not very well cared for or stored properly and are often run over sharp edges. A welded link chain will not break suddenly unless drastically overloaded.
Senior User
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 221
Likes: 0
From: Michigan
If I had a dime for every time gravity got the better of me, I'd be fithy stinkin' rich
. Things like back in my younger days when a new cam got bumped off a bench and onto the concrete floor
; ditto for a piston & rod, a crank, newly milled head
...........
You work with this stuff long enough and it WILL happen...you are not alone.
Norb
. Things like back in my younger days when a new cam got bumped off a bench and onto the concrete floor ; ditto for a piston & rod, a crank, newly milled head ...........You work with this stuff long enough and it WILL happen...you are not alone.
Norb
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 2,575
Likes: 36
From: Greenville, SC
Sure glad no one was hurt. Safety is important at work and at home. We had some training at work that showed that grease and oil can dramatically lower the strength of the slings, so make sure they are stored properly and kept away from oil, grease, welding sparks and anything sharp.
Stay safe.
Stay safe.