Creeping engine crane - suggestions?

[Torque&Recoil]

I have an engine crane that I got from Summit Racing years ago. It has always "crept" a bit, which is getting annoying. By "creep", I mean that the boom very slowly descends even though the release valve is closed. If I leave it extended overnight, it will be on the floor in the morning. The hydraulic cylinder is the usual Chinese elongated "bottle jack". Anybody have a suggestion for how to make it quit doing this ?

 

[nadogail]

The seal or seals on the piston is/are leaking.

In automotive terms, you are suffering from "Blow By" often cured by a "ring Job".

 

[Torque&Recoil]

Could be. I probably should have made it clear that it has done this since day 1, so this isn't a wear problem. Of course, considering the origin of the hydraulic cylinder ... who knows ? Is it possible to get seals for Chinese hydraulics ?

 

[Shade guy]

You can get a replacement cylinder from Harbor Freight that should work. I bought a air over hydraulic one.

 

[MFolks]

Take it apart,and head for a auto shop or a hydraulic repair place? Another place to look is a motorcycle shop,they have a variety of rubber O rings,there.

 

[59 wagon man]

You can get a replacement cylinder from Harbor Freight that should work. I bought a air over hydraulic one.

 

[Bogie1632]

Pull it apart and make sure they didn't put the seal backwards on the ram. If the seal lip is pointing the wrong way they will drift. I've had that happen on more than one cylinder across many manufactures. If you're lucky the piston can be unbolted and turned around on the ram saving you a few bucks. Seals can be gently pulled and reversed as well if the piston can't be removed from the ram, if not just about anything can be rebuilt with the correct parts and patience.

Good luck.

V/R
Bogie

 

[matt_i]

Other possibilities are a burr that prevents the needle valve from seating fully metal-to-metal or porosity somewhere inside the casting.

 

[sweetk30]

i did the replacement ram unit but upgraded to air control also and WOW do i love it over just a hand pump unit .

 

[crugg65]

I ordered this one at Home Depot for mine and problem solved [emoji6]


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[Kev442]

Yup. Replaced mine after 25 years with a new one from HF when the droop could be timed in minutes rather than hours.

 

[jubilee]

As Matt said, needle valve. Easiest to check and fix if they leak from new.

 

[Torque&Recoil]

I'll pull the needle valve this weekend. If that doesn't fix it, it's off to Harbor Freight. I don't really feel like taking this thing apart, possibly not finding new seals, or having to weld a porosity. Have to admit the air-over ram sounds pretty convenient. It takes a lot of pumps to get the thing up from storage position to near operating height.

Thanks to everyone for their advice !

 

[sweetk30]

bonus i found from stock pump to the air pump was i just lift the boom and it fills the ram by its self . great for going from storage to ready to pic in under 10 sec .

not saying all them will do this tho .

 

[SGKent]

my 2 cents worth, I hated the air style. Had to go get the air line, drag it over to the hoist, trip on it or move it every time I went to roll the engine to another location. Yes the non-air style takes a bit longer but the control is great and there are no lines to trip on or get in the way.

The cheap Chinese made jacks I have owned all bleed down in time. Just replaced the ram on one. HD didn't stock the rams locally and it was a by shipping only item when I looked for a replacement ram. HF had them in stock.

 

[Killer95Stang]

A few years back I borrowed an older large engine hoist from a friend, so I could put a new stroker in my Mustang. He told me before I borrowed it that it would creep. Turns out, it would creep even under the weight of the boom with no engine on it. I ended up buying a new ram from HF for $39, which fixed the problem. Worked out for both of us. I got to use a tool I had no place to store if I bought one and he got his hoist fixed. Used it a few times after that with no issues.

 

[sweetk30]

my 2 cents worth, I hated the air style. Had to go get the air line, drag it over to the hoist, trip on it or move it every time I went to roll the engine to another location. Yes the non-air style takes a bit longer but the control is great and there are no lines to trip on or get in the way.

The cheap Chinese made jacks I have owned all bleed down in time. Just replaced the ram on one. HD didn't stock the rams locally and it was a by shipping only item when I looked for a replacement ram. HF had them in stock.

this unit i have is both air or hand pump so its what ever you need or have at hand to run it .

side note : local junk yard one time had twin pump units they SUCKED cause your use to single pump then lift and repump . the twin units were pump up AND down on the handle .

 

[HoosierBuddy]

I have an engine crane that I got from Summit Racing years ago. It has always "crept" a bit, which is getting annoying. By "creep", I mean that the boom very slowly descends even though the release valve is closed. If I leave it extended overnight, it will be on the floor in the morning. The hydraulic cylinder is the usual Chinese elongated "bottle jack". Anybody have a suggestion for how to make it quit doing this ?

I have a similar hoist that will do the same thing if I leave the jack handle attached. If I take the jack handle off the pump, it won't bleed down. I finally figured out that the weight of the handle would press the jack actuator in ever-so-slightly and this would cause a small leak past the actuator valve from the high pressure side of the ram, back to the reservoir.

Not saying it is your problem...but make sure nothing is pressing on the "pump" portion of the jack when it is in the lifted position.

Phil